Steve Hewitt
Chief Executive Officer
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Close alert message“On the road again …” —Willie Nelson
The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) maintains 236 miles of user-fee supported roadway from the Oklahoma border to Kansas City. The KTA doesn’t receive state or federal tax funds. Our mission is to move Kansas forward by operating a safe, reliable and customer-valued turnpike system in a fiscally responsible, businesslike manner.
The Kansas Turnpike was created in 1953 as a quasi-public organization.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA), who operates the Kansas Turnpike, works closely with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to provide a strong roadway system throughout the state.
On July 1, 2013, legislation formalized the partnership between KTA and KDOT, with both organizations directed by the Kansas Secretary of Transportation.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority is led by KTA’s Chief Executive Officer and a nine-member leadership team. The organization employs over 400 people who are charged with maintaining, preserving and redesigning the 236-mile roadway and improving its function as a vital corridor to move people and goods in Kansas. The commitment to safety is realized through a partnership with the Kansas Highway Patrol Troop G, assigned specifically to the Turnpike.
Steve Hewitt
Chief Executive Officer
Eric Becker
Director of Roadway Operations
The Director of Roadway Operations leads both the Maintenance and Tolling Departments, directing roadway maintenance and cash toll collection. The position also works closely with the Engineering Department to help maintain the integrity of the pavement and structures that make up the Kansas Turnpike.
Rachel Bell
Director of Business Services & Customer Relations
Diana Ensign
Director of Human Resources
David Jacobson
Director of Engineering
Brandon Kauffman
Director of Finance
Bruce Meisch
Director of Technology
Melody Hawkins
Executive Assistant
Melody Hawkins serves as the Turnpike's Executive Assistant managing office systems to maintain an efficient workplace and assists in the overall execution of company policies and procedures. She joined KTA in 2016 with more than a decade of prior leadership and business operations experience in the technology industry.
Alan Streit
General Counsel
Capt. David Hundley
Commander of KHP Troop G
The Authority acts through a board of five members, one of whom is elected chairperson by the other members. Two members are appointed by the Governor of Kansas for four-year terms, two members serve by reason of their legislative positions— one is Chairman of the Kansas Senate Committee on Transportation and the other is a member of the House Transportation Committee, appointed by the Speaker of the House. The fifth member is the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation. The latter three serve as members of the Authority for the duration of their state terms. On July 1, 2013, in accordance with Kansas Statutes, the KDOT Secretary also became the Turnpike’s Director. The board meets monthly and consults with the CEO in approving major contracts, policies and approving the annual budget.
View dates of upcoming Kansas Turnpike Authority Board meetings.
Deb Miller
Chairperson of the Board
Deb Miller was appointed to the Kansas Turnpike Authority Board by Gov. Laura Kelly in July 2020 and was elected Chairperson of the Authority in August 2021, but is no stranger to transportation. She carries the distinction of being the longest-serving Secretary of Transportation in Kansas history and has held national leadership positions in the transportation sector. Currently, she serves as the director of the KU Public Management Center.
Senator Mike Petersen
Board Member
Senator Mike Petersen was appointed Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee following the retirement of Senator Dwayne Umbarger from the Legislature. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2004. He is an industrial electrician in Wichita, where he resides with his wife Shelby when not in Topeka.
Senator Ty Masterson
Board Member
Sen. Ty Masterson was appointed in August 2021 by Gov. Laura Kelly for a term expiring at the end of FY25, but is no stranger to the KTA Board, having served a prior term. Sen. Masterson is a small business owner, working as a developer/contractor, and has served in the legislature since 2005. He is a life-long resident of Butler county, currently residing in Andover with his wife, Marlo, and their six children.
Calvin Reed
Secretary of Transportation and Director of the Kansas Turnpike
Rep. Shannon Francis
House Transportation Committee Chair
Representative Shannon Francis was appointed Chairman of the House Transportation Committee following the retirement of Representative Richard J. Proehl from the Legislature. He has served in the Legislature since 2015. Rep Francis owns a housing and mortgage business in Liberal, where he and his wife Carol have raised their three children.