Carter Baldwin named new director of Linn County LIFTS

Linn County has a new director for its LIFTS program.

Carter Baldwin has taken on the role, succeeding longtime director Tom Hardecopf, who had been in the position since first joining Linn County in 2009.

Baldwin’s first day on the job was Sept. 26. Prior to joining Linn County, Baldwin worked as the Director of Transportation for the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments and has worked as an operations supervisor for Johnson County SEATS. Baldwin also worked for Linn County in the past as an associate director of options in the mid 2000s.

“I am excited about returning to Linn County and I look forward to contributing to LIFTS and collaborating with our local, state, and federal partners to serve the community,” Baldwin said.

Linn County LIFTS is a public transit service providing door-to-door rides for eligible elderly and disabled residents in the Cedar Rapids metro area and public transportation to all Linn County residents outside the metro area.

Hardecopf, who just recently retired, helped advance the LIFTS Department by overseeing the move to a new building that provides indoor parking for buses, updated staff training and updated the bus fleet to enhance operational efficiency.

Hardecopf also served on the Linn County and Cedar Rapids ADA Commission.

“It has been a privilege to work with such dedicated people, serving the residents of Linn County,” Hardecopf said. “Our residents are the reason we are here. I have enjoyed waking up every day and knowing that I have a great job where I can interact with our clients and know that we make a positive difference in their lives.”

Hardecopf added that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, LIFTS never shut down.

“I was part of the hiring committee when we interviewed Tom and I remember he was from a completely different industry. But during the interview, he was already talking LC3 language (customer-centered culture) before it was even a thing here with Linn County,” said Linn County Supervisor Chair Ben Rogers. “Tom has been a tremendous advocate for people with disabilities. Through his work with the ADA celebrations, working to improve customer satisfaction, and looking at how we can better serve people and families that find themselves challenged, Tom’s legacy is a system much improved for people with disabilities.”

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