Katharine Eagan, CEO of Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), has been nominated for the White House "Champion of Change" program in the category focused on "Beyond Traffic: Innovators in Transportation".

On October 13, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the White House Office of Public Engagement will host White House Champions of Change focused on "Beyond Traffic:  Innovators in Transportation for the Future".

These Champions will be individuals who have provided exemplary leadership in advancing transportation and leading change that benefits the nation's transportation system for decades to come at the local, regional and/or national levels. Innovators will be considered for their work in improving the mobility of people, the mobility of freight, and overarching strategies for enhancing the nation's transportation system for moving things better. The DOT will notify selected nominees in late September.

"I'm honored to be considered for this award, which recognizes the efforts of the entire HART team to deliver next generation transit solutions in Hillsborough County," Eagan said. "Our communities have diverse transit needs and innovative solutions let us provide local answers to specific concerns.

HART provides nearly 50,000 passenger trips a day and about 15 million trips a year. Eagan officially took the helm of HART on May 2, 2014, following the retirement of HART CEO Philip R. Hale. Under her leadership, the Authority partners with employees, customers, transit stakeholders, and its communities to provide safe, innovative, and high quality transit services in Hillsborough County.

An energetic and sought-after leader in her field, Eagan is an effective communicator with strong analytical abilities who has a track record of leading teams to achieve outstanding results. She was chosen as part of Tampa Chapter 36, National Association of Women in Construction's Rookie of the Year in 2012, and one of the Tampa Bay Business Journal's 25 People to Watch.