Top 40 Under 40 2014: Jason Dunn

Sept. 22, 2014
Jason E. Dunn, Chairman of the Board, Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority

As chair of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, which operates Cincinnati Metro, Board of Trustees, Jason Dunn volunteers approximately 140 hours per month in support of one of the most vital economic drivers for Greater Cincinnati — public transportation.

Since 2012, he has helped the organization meet the community’s need for greater access to jobs, education, healthcare and more. He helped spearhead the community conversation required about the future of the area’s public transportation system to ensure SORTA successfully contributes to the economic development of the region.

Dunn led the SORTA Board of Trustees to pass a resolution to extend health and dental insurance benefits to same-sex married couples/domestic partners to help enhance Metro’s standing as an employer of choice. He also developed the first “State of Metro” annual meeting, held in November 2013, where SORTA leaders presented accomplishments and its vision for the future. He also helped present a University of Cincinnati Economics Center study that showed Metro as the most operationally efficient compared to peer cities. Audiences included government, business/civic leaders, transportation partners, and media.

Success is evidenced by a news series about the public transportation system and broader community dialogue about public transit’s future in greater Cincinnati. Dunn is leading the planning for the 2014 State of Metro, which will continue to advance this discussion. Dunn was integral to the implementation of SORTA’s strategic plan, which places the attainment of regional transit at the center of all SORTA operations.

During one of greater Cincinnati’s most successful endeavors, the 2012 World Choir Games, he was a leader in ensuring Metro bus service successfully provided about 60,000 rides during the 11-day international event.

Dunn has impacted the community by helping to demonstrate the importance of an engaged conversation about public transportation. Cincinnati leaders have since embraced this subject and are working to improve it so that, ultimately, the economic vitality of the region continues to thrive.

In his role as the director of Multicultural Affairs and Community Development for the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau, Dunn develops and manages the CVB’s comprehensive multicultural strategy. He has taken his regional perspectives from his job and applied them to his roles with SORTA, enabling him to have a 360-degree view of the issues that affect public transportation and the region at large.

Dunn has gone above and beyond to initiate and maintain the topic of public transportation. He knows that in order to improve the region’s economic vitality, public transportation must continue to be improved, and to improve it, it must first be discussed. Dunn was also named a "40 Under 40" young industry leader by Connect and Rejuvenate magazines and the Cincinnati Business Courier's 2013 Forty Under 40. He led the effort to develop the 2011 Cincy Culture Splash in partnership with African-American and Hispanic Chambers, and led the community effort to increase Multicultural conventions by 1800 percent, which has boosted the region’s  economy.

Dunn enjoys spending time with his 3-month-old son Jason II, 11-year-old daughter Mya and wife Tiffany.

“I enjoy the thought and act of helping Cincinnati reach its fullest potential. In order to do that, we have to drive economic development, create jobs and get people to work.

“Public Transportation is the key to all economic development, without transportation a city’s economy is stagnant.”

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Top40 2014 542179bdf2d22
Top40 2014 542179bdf2d22
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