UTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Carlton Christensen - Board Chair
Representing Salt Lake County
boardoftrustees@rideuta.com
Carlton Christensen is chair of the board of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), a position he has held since 2018. Prior to his tenure at UTA, he was the Director of Regional Transportation, Housing and Economic Development for Salt Lake County. He was also a Community Development Representative for Zions Bank. He has an extensive background in finance and accounting, with nearly two decades of experience in the banking and property management development industries. Mr. Christensen is committed to public service and spent sixteen years on the Salt Lake City Council. He has been the chair of the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency, Salt Lake City Council, and Wasatch Front Economic Development District; president of the Utah League of Cities & Towns and the Associates Board for the Museum of Natural History of Utah; is an ex officio member of the Salt Lake City Airport Board; and served on the board of Shelter the Homeless and as a member of the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council. Mr. Christensen currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Utah Foundation, and on the Board of Governors for both the Salt Lake Chamber and ChamberWest, representing UTA. As a community member, Mr. Christensen serves as a trustee for the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District as well as a board member for Friends of the Salt Lake City Cemetery, the latter of which is dedicated to the restoration and maintenance of an important historical site in Utah.
Beth Holbrook
Representing Davis, Weber & Box Elder Counties
boardoftrustees@rideuta.com
Trustee Holbrook brings a wealth of experience to UTA in a governor-appointed position as a UTA Trustee in 2018. Holbrook strives to support critical state legislation that focuses on strategic developments around transit stops as well as community input on Station Area Planning that is critical to addressing growth in Utah. Key to UTA’s success is making sure our transit system maximizes connectivity to growing communities.
Holbrook believes transit benefits most from being a valued economic development partner with all the communities. She looks for ways to maximize transit service as strategic infrastructure investment through transit-oriented development and transit-ready communities of the future.
Holbrook began her career in the financial sector, established a real estate firm, and went back into the financial sector to work in business development. Holbrook would go on to work with the public sector for a private company. She was first elected to the Bountiful City Council in 2007 and has served on several boards, including the Bountiful Power Commission, Planning Commission, and the Utility Facility Review Board with the Public Service Commission. Holbrook is a former President of the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT).
Since being appointed to the UTA Board of Trustees, Trustee Holbrook has worked to increase community engagement throughout Davis, Weber, and Box Elder counties. Service on other local boards and committees include the governor-appointed Commission on Affordable Housing, the Utah Association of Special Districts (UASD), EDCUtah, Envision Utah, Chair of the Olene Walker Housing Fund (OWHLF), and Chair of the Utah Urban Land Institute (ULI).
Holbrook also works closely with the American Public Transit Association (APTA) as a Transit Board Member in addition to Chair of the Transit Board Member’s Legislative Committee, Executive Committee, and Board Member. APTA represents most transit agencies, business members, and CEO’s across North America and is critical to working with our federal government and partners to ensure any federal legislation represents transit agencies as well as addressing key policies.
Jeff Acerson
Representing Tooele & Utah Counties
boardoftrustees@rideuta.com
Trustee Acerson comes to UTA having already served in several UTA board and oversight positions. He began his career with 15 years in the software industry working with WordPerfect and Novell Corp. Trustee Acerson has an extensive track record of public service including serving Lindon City as both City Councilmember and most recently as Mayor. He chaired the Utah Governor’s Coalition on Y2K, served as president of the Utah Jazz 100 Club, and worked with the Salt Lake Olympics and Special Olympics. Trustee Acerson has also taught leadership development courses as an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University for the past ten years. Trustee Acerson joined the Utah Transit Authority on December 2, 2020.