Roach heads a large and diverse system that includes MetroBus, MetroLink, the Eads Bridge, the St. Louis Downtown Airport, and the Arch trams. He emphasizes innovation, consensus-building, and showing up, often alongside operators and mechanics who keep the system running. “Watch a pro navigate the streets of St. Louis with a 40-foot bus and do it with a smile and positive attitude—that will wake you up,” Roach says. He’s also championed partnerships with nontransit entities, such as Chestnut Health Systems, which places mental health professionals on transit lines to support riders and improve public safety in real time.
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2026 QUESTIONNAIRE
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
What advice would you give to the next generation of St. Louis entrepreneurs or leaders? Find the empty spaces, and go there. In sports, it is said, “Don’t go where the ball is now. Go where it will be.” Innovation takes risk.
MENTORS & PEERS
Who in your company (or industry) deserves more recognition for their impact? We have a strong group of mechanics who keep our fleets moving and looking good. They are the strength behind the trains and busses.
What’s a local organization, nonprofit, or initiative that more people should know about—and why? We have a partnership with Chestnut Behavior Health deploying mental health professional on our system. These folks serve to truly make a difference in an often overlooked field.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck or uninspired? I go to the front line of our business and watch our operators do their thing. Watch a pro navigate the streets of St. Louis with a 40-foot bus and do it with a smile and positive attitude—that will wake you up.
