NEW ORLEANS - Today, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) announced the swearing in of its two newest members of its Board of Commissioners, Timothy P. Coulon and Joseph J. Ewell, Jr. Judge Kern Reese of the Orleans Civil District Court administered the oath during the RTA’s May 24, 2022, board meeting. Commissioner Coulon will serve as a member of both the Finance and Operations and Administration Committees. Commissioner Ewell will serve on the Finance Committee. 

Both Commissioners, Timothy P. Coulon and Joseph J. Ewell, Jr., will represent the residents of Jefferson Parish. Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng appointed Timothy P. Coulon to replace Sharon Wegner and Joseph J. Ewell, Jr. to replace Walter Tillery who ended their board service on April 26, 2022. The appointments were ratified by the Jefferson Parish Council on April 27, 2022. The third Jefferson Parish RTA board vacancy left by Dr. Mostofa Sarwar will be filled at a later date. 

“We are excited for the appointment of Commissioner Coulon and Commissioner Ewell to the RTA Board of Commissioners,” said Flozell Daniels, Jr., RTA board chair. “As the agency looks to provide better connectivity across parishes, it is essential that we work with key regional leaders to shape the policy and direction of the Board of Commissioners which we hope will positively impact the residents of the Greater New Orleans region for the next 50 years.” 

The Regional Transit Authority is governed by the RTA Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners is composed of eight publicly appointed representatives and sets agency policy as well as overseeing funding and the expansion of public transportation in the region. Five representatives are appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans, and three representatives are appointed by the President of Jefferson Parish.

“The RTA Board of Commissioners has led the RTA through a number of challenges from the Hard Rock collapse to COVID and overactive hurricane seasons,” said Alex Z. Wiggins, RTA CEO. “Today’s appointment will allow the agency to continue to improve connectivity throughout our region and better position the RTA to compete for federal infrastructure funding. We welcome Commissioner Coulon and Commissioner Ewell.”

Joseph J. Ewell, Jr. is a retired healthcare executive, currently serving as New Orleans Market Manager with Humana Marketpoint since 2012. Civic and professional organizations and affiliations include Past Vice-Chairman of Jefferson Community Foundation, Jefferson Parish Workforce Development Board, Past Chairman of the Southeast Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce, and Past Chairman of Jefferson Community Health Care Centers. Recently, he served as Chairman of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission. Mr. Ewell most recently obtained his master’s in Business Administration from the University of New Orleans, graduating with honors in 2009, and is currently an Adjunct Professor in Management and Marketing at UNO.

Tim Coulon, the former President of Jefferson Parish, has over 50 years of progressive government and business experience. Executive Director of the Jefferson Business Council, Government Relations Consultant, Member of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Commission, Treasurer with the Jefferson Community Foundation, Chairman of the Regional Planning Commission, and Chairman of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District are some of his civic and professional affiliations. Tim earned a bachelor's degree from Southwest, LA, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, studied Urban Planning at the University of New Orleans, and studied business administration at Loyola University.