METRO Regional Transit Authority

During the monthly board meeting in August, three METRO team members received special recognition for their hard work and dedication. Romale Shelton - 25 Years of Safe Driving as a METRO Bus Operator Dietra Goggins - Selected for the 9th class of Diversity on Board program for Leadership Akron. Jarrod Hampshire - Named a member of Leadership Akron’s Signature Program, class number 41.

Today METRO RTA accompanied the Akron NAACP through the 49th Annual East Akron Labor Day Parade on the new Vote Bus! Members of the Akron NAACP distributed voter registration information and other resources during the parade. Thank you to the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC) for making it all possible.

Thank you to our team members, families, and friends who participated in the 2024 Akron Equity March & Pride Festival! Being a part of this celebration is always an honor, and we couldn’t be happier to stand with our community in support of love, equity, and inclusion.

METRO Team excited to attend APTA Sustainability/Operatuons Planning and Scheduling workshop in Washington, DC. I’m proud to work with people dedicated to serving our communities through the power of public transit.

Congratulations to Dawn Distler, METRO RTA CEO, for winning the Outstanding Chief Executive Officer Award. This recognition, awarded by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), highlights Dawn’s exceptional leadership, innovative vision, and commitment to public transportation. The award will be officially presented at the APTA TRANSform conference in Anaheim, California on September 29, where Distler will be recognized alongside other notable leaders in the industry. — “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire METRO team. Through our collaborative efforts, we have made significant strides in providing reliable, efficient, and equitable transit services. This recognition inspires us to continue our mission of enhancing mobility and improving the quality of life for all residents.” – Dawn Distler, CEO of METRO RTA To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/3WSNNRj

Dietra Goggins, a member of our METRO Police Department has been selected as a member of the ninth class of the Diversity on Board program for Leadership Akron. Her dedication to fostering a safer and more inclusive community is truly inspiring, and we are incredibly proud of her outstanding achievement. Learn more about the ninth class of the Diversity on Board program for Leadership Akron: https://lnkd.in/gztrGSbe

METRO recently hosted a successful hiring event for potential Operators at the Stark State College Akron Campus. This event mirrored our "Come Drive with (B)us" event held in 2022, providing potential Operators the opportunity to apply, interview on-site, secure a mobility device, and test drive a bus. We were thrilled with the turnout of 97 attendees and the submission of over 100 resumes from highly motivated candidates. We look forward to welcoming these individuals to the METRO team and supporting them as they begin their careers as Operators.

Congratulations, Jarrod Hampshire, on being named a member of Leadership Akron's Signature class number 41! Jarrod Hampshire serves as the Chief Operating Officer for METRO, where he oversees both the Operations and Maintenance departments. With twenty years of dedicated experience in the transit industry, Jarrod brings invaluable expertise and leadership to our organization. To learn more about Leadership Akron, click here: https://lnkd.in/grqcFE7G

Yesterday, METRO's CEO, Dawn Distler, had the privilege of meeting Pete Buttigieg, the United States Secretary of Transportation. The event, hosted by Congresswoman Emilia Sykes, featured a discussion on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.   The discussion proved to be highly productive and inspiring, emphasizing our dedication to enhancing transportation networks for every community.