The director of the Flint Hills Area Transportation Agency, Anne Smith, has received the Willie M. Murry Award at the annual Kansas Public Transit Association meeting. The award is presented to an individual who has distinguished themself in serving public transit in Kansas.

Smith has 13 years of experience writing federal, state and local transportation grants and budget requests, including a $2 million American Recovery Reinvestment Act grant for the construction of a regional transit facility. She has experience in all aspects of transit operations and has progressed from a driver to the director position over the past 15 years with the agency.

In her current position Smith is responsible for all budget preparation and management. She serves as liason with city, county, state and federal agencies, plans, directs and coordinates the transportation operations, is responsible for general administration and office management.

Smith has worked in collaboration with others to develop and implement fixed route public bus transportation within Manhattan, and the Riley, Geary and Pottawatomie County areas including Junction City and Grandview Plaza.