Sacramento RT unveils executive leadership reorg

As part of the immediate turnaround strategy, Sacramento Regional Transit District's (RT) new GM/CEO, Henry Li announced an executive leadership reorganization that focuses on putting the customers first in everything that RT does, building effective partnerships throughout the community, inspiring RT employees to journey for excellence, striving for organizational efficiency, and ensuring performance excellence through the implementation of fiscal policies and strict accountability.

Recently, RT has identified five key initiatives:

• The Transit Service Delivery initiative centers on improving cleanliness, safety and security and on-time performance.

• RT’s Transit Service to the Golden 1 Center will function as a “calling card” to a large segment of the population that may be unfamiliar with RT’s service. Serving the Golden 1 Center is a rare opportunity for RT to show the region the convenience and value of public transit and to build new ridership.

• Internal and External Communication is a high priority in this new era of RT.  There will be no mystery surrounding RT’s vision and the steps being taken to achieve and exceed desired goals. Total transparency at all levels will propel RT initiatives forward.

• Accountability and Performance Management is the key to making excellence the new “normal” at RT.  

• Fiscal Management and Innovative Funding will be the foundation on which the future of RT will be built. Though the recent elimination of 10% of management and administrative positions was difficult, it began the process of addressing RT’s structural deficit.  

To ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives, Li has assembled a strong executive leadership team — a team of change agents that will work to inspire employees and build their capability, seek continuous organizational improvements, and properly align responsibilities and resources with the goal of building a stable, flexible and resilient agency.  

The new leadership structure will be more business-like and will include six key functions in addition to:

• Board-appointed Chief Counsel: Accountability & Performance, led by Laura Ham;
• Transit Services/Operations, led by Mark Lonergan;
• Communications & Partnerships, to be led by Tamma Adamek, a seasoned communications professional, who will join the team on July 25, 2016;
• Safety & Security, led by Captain Norm Leong;
• Strategic Planning & System Development, to be led by Neil Nance, an executive from the Jacksonville Transportation Authority — the 2016 winner of the APTA Outstanding Transportation System award, will join the team on August 1, 2016;
• and Business Services/ Financial Operations, a position to be filled through an open recruitment process with an anticipated start date of September/October 2016.

“I believe these changes will make RT’s leadership stronger than ever, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of our riders and stakeholders” Li stated. “We will build trust and confidence, and rebrand RT as a customer-oriented and accountable public agency.”