The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has selected Kimberly Sharp to be the new senior director of development, joining the team Nov. 11.
Sharp has been the deputy director of planning and development for the city of Westerville since 2013. In that time, she has led development projects, zoning regulations and incentives with local and regional partners. She was integral in establishing Main Street America Uptown Westerville, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to preserving and revitalizing historic Westerville.
Sharp has also served on several community boards and committees, including COTA’s NextGen Advisory Group and the Insight 2050 Corridor Concepts Steering Committee.
Patrick Harris has been promoted to assistant vice president of government affairs and corporate communications. Harris joined COTA in 2018 as director of government affairs and special projects, working with local, state and federal policymakers and public influencers to help them better understand the value COTA and its role in supporting workforce, economic development, higher education and access to a high quality of life.
“It will take collaboration by all levels of government to help COTA create a seamless transportation network that supports our growing economy and encourages prosperity across the region,” Harris said. “I look forward to continuing this work in my new role, and to helping our community better understand the value of mobility and the direct correlation to the success of central Ohio.”
Harris also leads internal and external communications at COTA, working to promote COTA to the media, community leaders and COTA employees.
Additionally, Mallory Donaldson joined COTA on Oct. 28 to manage COTA’s Community Relations efforts. Donaldson has more than 15 years of community relations experience in the Columbus area, most recently as executive assistant at One Columbus (formerly Columbus 2020). She was also the executive assistant to former Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman during his administration and assistant director of scheduling for E. Gordon Gee when he was president of The Ohio State University.
“I’m grateful to continue to serve our community through COTA” Donaldson said. “This organization is committed to providing mobility needs for a growing population. I look forward to sharing COTA’s bold plan of providing equitable and inclusive service for our diverse customers.”
Donaldson will be instrumental in engaging community stakeholders, promoting COTA’s mission and initiatives in the region and organizing community events such as COTA’s annual tribute to Rosa Parks.
“We have built a strong team driven to move every life forward,” said Joanna M. Pinkerton, COTA president and CEO. “COTA is a destination organization for leaders in the mobility space. Our team is passionate about improving mobility systems for the region, focused on excellent customer service delivery through innovation to connect people to prosperity.”
