Several employees of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) received awards at this year’s Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) National Meeting & Training Conference in Cleveland.

Loretta Kirk, RTA’s Deputy General Manager, Finance and Administration, won COMTO’s Thomas G. Neusom Founders Award for her dedication to the growth and development of minorities in the transportation industry. It is the highest award given by COMTO and is presented to a member or group for outstanding contributions towards the growth and development of minorities in the transportation industry.

Kirk has been with RTA for more than 30 years. In addition to her role as Deputy General Manager, she serves as the Chief Financial Officer and is the RTA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Liaison Officer, where she advocates for minority contractors.

The Northeast Ohio/Cleveland Chapter won the National Chair's Award for outstanding commitment to COMTO. Organizers say the team did a terrific job in hosting the National Conference. Dr. Floun’say Caver of RTA, former Cleveland Chapter president, worked with Percy Dangerfield from Cleveland Airport System to coordinate this conference. Current Cleveland Chapter president Danielle Bennett, also from RTA, accepted this ‘signature’ award at the COMTO conference.