Kendra McGeady

Founder, The Navigation Firm · Chair, Southwest Transit Association · Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor (District 11)

Kendra McGeady is a force in Tribal leadership, transit innovation, and rural economic development. With a sharp mind, fierce heart, and boots firmly planted in the communities she serves, she builds better systems for people—and better futures for the places they call home.

About Kendra

A proud citizen and elected Tribal Councilor for District 11 of the Cherokee Nation, Kendra’s leadership is rooted in service, storytelling, and solutions. Whether briefing federal leaders or visiting a rural transit barn, her approach is personal, passionate, and unapologetically people-first.

Before launching The Navigation Firm, Kendra served as Director of Pelivan Transit and the Northeast Tribal Transit Consortium at Grand Gateway EDA, where she:

  • Secured $3M+ in discretionary grants

  • Helped secure $5M in recurring public transit funding through the Oklahoma Legislature

  • Led the only Oklahoma-based system ever awarded CTAA’s National Rural Transit System of the Year

From 2011–2024, she was also Director of Planning & Development at Home of Hope, Inc., a nonprofit serving adults with developmental disabilities—work that sharpened her advocacy and deepened her drive to champion underserved populations.

Today, Kendra serves statewide and nationally:

  • Board Chair, Southwest Transit Association (8-state region)

  • Tribal Representative, Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), representing Tribal communities across all 50 states

  • Co-Chair, Advocacy, Oklahoma Transit Association, helping shape policy and partnerships

Focus & Expertise

  • Tribal transit strategy, funding, and governance

  • Rural mobility and demand-response modernization

  • Grants (strategy, writing, compliance, post-award)

  • Intergovernmental agreements & partner alignment

  • Performance KPIs, board reporting, and oversight

  • Community engagement, story-driven messaging, and issues readiness

  • Economic development partnerships and workforce access

Professional headshot of The Navigation Firm founder, smiling in a black dress with a turquoise necklace on a warm backdrop.

Representative Results

  • Transformed a pilot into a multi-agency, ADA on-demand network serving 18+ rural communities

  • Built funding roadmaps combining FTA 5311, state support, and partner contributions

  • Designed plain-language rider info and expectation frameworks that reduce friction and build trust

  • Implemented simple, board-ready KPI sets and monthly report rhythms

Speaking & Training Topics

  • Sovereignty-aligned transit: funding, governance, and community voice

  • Rural mobility that works: demand-response, microtransit, and partnerships

  • From metrics to meaning: KPIs and board reporting leaders trust

  • Advocacy that moves policy: telling the right story at the right time