HART is excited to observe Women's History Month, and is committed to celebrating our diverse team every day. That is why HART is proud of its own women who are trendsetting leaders making a tremendous positive impact in key senior management positions. Women lead three key transportation agencies in Hillsborough County - namely HART, The Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Planning Commission. In fact, 43 percent of HART senior management is comprised of women.
Katharine Eagan, AICP, is the CEO of HART, and in that role she oversees an agency that provides over 52,000 passenger trips a day and about 15 million trips a year. She was included in the prestigious 2012 "Mass Transit's 40 Under 40" list and under her leadership HART annual ridership has grown more than 20 percent and farebox recovery revenue has increased over 25 percent. Eagan also led the way as HART launched the innovative OneBusAway app and Google Live technologies.
Ruthie Reyes Burckard, who joined HART in 2002, was recently promoted to HART chief operating officer. She now leads a team of more than 650 employees who carry out vital functions including service planning, scheduling and operations for the agency's fixed-route bus service - plus HARTFlex on-demand van service, HARTPlus paratransit service for people with disabilities, and the TECO Line Streetcar System.
Vasti Amaro, a 22-year veteran of the industry, started her career at HART in 1992 and left in 1999 to pursue private sector opportunities - including leadership of Vasti Transport Inc., a local woman and minority-owned business. Last year she returned to HART, and now serves as HART director of maintenance.
Joan Brown, HART director of financial operations, has been with the agency for 16 years. "One of the things I like about HART is their flexibility with their employees' time as it relates to time off for family obligations," she says. "Being a single mother, this has been very beneficial to me when time off could unexpectantly be needed for doctor appointments, family sick leave, school events, etc., especially when my son was young."
Other women ensuring that HART leads the way are Dara M. Chenevert, Esq., SPHR, CCM, director of human resources and organizational development, and Lena Petit, HART director of executive office and board affairs. Both of these women explain, "How they work with a team of dedicated professionals at HART who bring commitment to the organization every day. Everything they do is with the focus on enhancing the community living standards. I am very proud to be a part of this team that makes difference."
HART believes that having strong representation by women in its workforce sets a good example for other organizations and industries. Plus HART women in leadership set a stellar example to encourage and inspire the up-and-coming generation of young women and girls to follow their career dreams and also help lead the world forward.
