Within the past several weeks, Amtran has lost its CEO and its finance director — and has begun searches to replace them.

CEO Josh Baker submitted his resignation June 1, effective July 3 — his last day on the job, Baker said in a phone interview Thursday.

“It was time for me for a change,” he said. For the agency, it was also “time for a change in leadership,” he said.

At a special meeting Wednesday morning for which a public notice was published in that morning’s Mirror, the board accepted Baker’s resignation and appointed Deputy CEO Michele Barnes as interim CEO.

Barnes is in her second stint working for Amtran, with a tenure at Camtran in between. She was rehired at Amtran to be the CEO-in-waiting, Baker said.

“She’s tailor-made for the position,” Baker stated. “This is why we brought her here.”

Baker himself started at Amtran in 2014.

He became CEO-in-waiting during the executive directorship of Eric Wolf.

The expectation became formalized in early 2022, according to Baker.

Still, upon Wolf’s retirement at the end of 2022, the board conducted a search for a replacement, rather than simply appointing Baker to the job.

“That was the right move,” Baker said. “Thankfully, it ended up being me (anyway).”

The board is repeating that step in Barnes’ case.

Despite her being CEO-in-waiting, the board will again conduct a search, according to the minutes of Wednesday’s meeting.

Baker’s leaving the organization was voluntary, according to Baker and solicitor Carl Beard.

Finance Director Mandy Murphy left about a month ago, according to Beard.

Asked why, both Baker and Beard declined comment, based on her exit being a “personnel issue.”

Barnes’ response was similar.

“A personnel matter was addressed, and because of the outcome, we are currently seeking a CFO (chief financial officer) to fill the role,” Barnes stated in an email.

“My transition into Public Transit seven years ago was not an easy one, (and) I became accustomed to adversity due to staff shortages,” Barnes stated in the same email. “I’m thankful for that now, (because) it prepared me for this.”

She’s confident that a strong management team is in the works, as long as the organization perseveres, she stated.

“Every single person in this organization, including the Board of Directors, came together to help move AMTRAN forward during this difficult time,” she wrote.

The board increased Barnes’ salary to $90,000 to account for her new responsibilities, according to the minutes.

For Baker, the future is “a little open-ended at the moment,” he said. “(But) I have a few options that I’m exploring,” he added.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.