The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) of Northeastern Illinois named Kevin Bueso as its new chief financial officer (CFO) and senior deputy executive director of finance, innovation and technology. Bueso is charged with overseeing the financial function and responsibilities of the RTA at an unprecedented inflection point for the Northeast Illinois transit system.
“Kevin’s accomplishments in local government administration and finance are extensive, and his commitment to public service is admirable,” said RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. “His experience over the past 16 years position him to deliver the level of leadership our agency needs at this critical time.”
Bueso will oversee the financial function and responsibilities of the RTA, which includes a $3.58 billion regional transit operating budget across the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace and a $5.72 billion 2023-2027 Regional Capital Program. He will also help guide the regional response to challenges accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, manage a group of highly skilled professionals and provide counsel to leadership as the RTA and its partners collaboratively develop and implement long-term funding solutions while supporting and advancing system-wide transformation and improvement.
Bueso has spent his career in local government and finance, serving for the last three years as the CFO for McHenry County. He is experienced in strategic planning and has a background in change management, succession planning, oversight of IT functions and capital and finance planning. Bueso has overseen the deployment of strategic plans to achieve accounting, compliance and financial reporting targets. In addition, he is experienced in developing financial policies and operational procedures, which includes negotiating to gain internal and external stakeholders’ support. This experience will be particularly crucial as the RTA begins implementation of its “Transit is the Answer” regional transit strategic plan.
Bueso is affiliated with a variety of professional associations and helped to create the initial Illinois Chapter of the Local Government Hispanic Network (LGHN). He was recently profiled in Government Finance Review and CFO Magazine for his accomplishments and leadership in his field. Born and raised in Honduras, Bueso is fluent in Spanish. He is a graduate of Roosevelt University, where he received both graduate and undergraduate degrees.
“I am thrilled to join the RTA at this critical time,” Bueso said. “The agency—and transit across the country—is facing financial challenges that call for innovation and strong leadership. I look forward to working with staff and stakeholders to advance transformative improvements to our system.”
