Top 40 Under 40 2014: Jarrod Hampshire

Sept. 22, 2014
Jarrod Hampshire, Equipment Manager, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

Jarrod Hampshire of the Greater Cleveland RTA began his transit career his freshman year serving The Ohio State University students as a bus operator. He got his CDL license, began to train others, and went on to become a road supervisor while continuing as a driver. He even enjoyed operating charter buses for sporting events.

Hampshire’s OSU transit experience translated directly into a great opportunity with the Greater Cleveland RTA in the summer of 2011. All the systems that OSU used for their transit authority were almost identical to that of the GCRTA, which made for a smooth transition into his initial role as a business analyst. Having known the core of the transit industry first hand with his experience at OSU as an operator, he showed his superiors the great asset he was in this role. He worked with the director, the transportation manager, budgets, etc., and before he knew it, he slid into an acting role with equipment, having known the mechanics in-and-out as an analyst.

Hampshire now oversees 73 employees, including mechanics and hostlers (bus servicers) as the equipment manager for the Triskett Garage. It is a role that could be 8-5, but when duty calls, it may be any hour.

Hampshire was Employee of the Month April 2012 and also received the Champion of Safety award December 12, 2013, which was earned when he came across a man while on duty at the rapid station who seemed lost and out of sorts. Hampshire called transit police and stayed with the man until they arrived. The police found that the man, suffering from schizophrenia,  had wandered away from his assisted living and had been missing for 24 hours.

Hampshire was also selected to attend the Public Transit Academy, a year-long Federal Transit Administration-funded program pioneered by RTA and made possible through a partnership with Cleveland State University. He attended business courses at CSU, was assigned projects, including a team project that involved clean-up of old demand in the RTA inventory system, as well as to establish new parameters for safety stock. The project saw $109,000 in total annualized savings within the RTA supply chain.

Earlier this year Hampshire was part of the initial team for RTA to go through LEANOhio, which is a program designed to introduce six-sigma practices into Ohio's public agencies. Born and raised in Cuyahoga Falls, Hampshire loves his “comeback” city of Cleveland. He and his wife Megan enjoy traveling, spending time with their nephews — Rowan and Rylan, and their sweet Molly, a yellow lab.

Hampshire plays guitar and saxophone and sometimes even plays with his dad’s band. He says he enjoys being the “cool” uncle with the buses.

“I love coming to work every day knowing that we serve as a catalyst for what has become one of the most popular cities in the country. My goal is for our work to help strengthen the city of Cleveland’s image and aid in leading the city’s resurgence.”

“I never could have imagined that a student bus driving job at The Ohio State University could have turned into a career that I have developed a real passion for. This taught me that no matter the opportunity, give it your best and see what doors may open for you.”

Top40 2014 542179bdf2d22
Top40 2014 542179bdf2d22
Top40 2014 542179bdf2d22
Top40 2014 542179bdf2d22
Top40 2014 542179bdf2d22
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