DeKalb County approves Sarah Galitza for MARTA board seat

DeKalb Countys Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on Aug. 28 approved the nomination of Sarah Galitza to Post 5 on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors.

During a brief interview before the committee, Galitza, who said she is vice president of transportation at The Home Depot, described nearly 30 years in supply-chain and transportation roles and told commissioners she would advocate for DeKalb County priorities on the MARTA board.

"One of the things that I do every single day is make trade offs," Galitza said. "It's about what's going to deliver the most value, what's going to meet the customer needs, and then also making sure we're taking into account all the other impacts." She told the committee she has experience managing large capital projects, including distribution-center builds in the $40 million to $60 million range, and oversees an approximately $3.8 billion transportation budget in her current role.

Commissioners asked how she would represent DeKalb Countys interests. Galitza said she would regularly communicate with county leaders and advocate specifically for county needs at the MARTA board level. On emerging technology, she said autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence present opportunities and challenges, and she urged prioritization of initiatives so the board focuses on projects that will be completed and deliver value.

County staff presented the statutory composition of the MARTA board as context for the appointment, citing the reconstituted board structure in the amended MARTA act: 11 voting members and two nonvoting members, with four members appointed as residents of DeKalb County through county and municipal processes. Staff also noted that Galitza would take the seat previously held by Jim Durrett.

The committee approved the appointment by voice vote.