Natasha Rae Williams
Manager of Recruitment & Employee Engagement
First Transit
- Alma Mater: University of Cincinnati
- Favorite Book: "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks
- Favorite TV: "Platinum Weddings"
- Favorite Movie: "The Notebook"
- Favorite Hobbies: Researching wines and cooking
When Natasha Rae Williams was first exploring her professional future, human resources and transit weren’t the first things to come to mind. She wanted to work as a high-profile public relations professional akin to Colin Farrell’s character in “Phone Booth.” However, she got set in a position recruiting workers for an amusement park and she soon discovered a passion for recruiting.
Williams joined First Transit in 2014 as manager of recruitment and employee engagement and brought her passion for human resources to the company. She works to recruit college students into the transit profession and get them excited for the field. Exposing students to the true elements of what the transportation industry does is something that can get college students excited for the field and the innovative nature of the field, so Williams wants them to understand what kind of impact they can have if they chose it as a career path.
She developed a corporate internship program and partnered with the University of Cincinnati to allow students chances to gain knowledge of the transit industry.
Williams also is working on relationships to increase veterans in the transit industry by forming relationships with recruiters and trade organizations to build veteran outreach.
Williams also joined the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and is working to revive the local Cincinnati chapter of the organization.
“You know, I enjoy the people and connecting people with jobs. Part of my job — a huge part of my job — is finding a good fit, not just someone who wants to be a driver, but people who want to be a driver and they enjoy the customers.”
