Solomon has been a champion for sustainable
business practices. A proudest
achievement was collaborating with the
executive management team to update
and establish a new strategic planning
process, the organizational strategic plan
and facilitate its ongoing implementation.
She worked closely with a consultant and
top RTA executives to develop the 5-year
Strategic Plan and has developed a dashboard
for continuous tracking.
Since 2013, she has led the RTA in
eff orts to win the Malcolm Baldrige National
Quality Award. Under her leadership,
RTA earned the silver award in
2015, then earned the gold award in 2017.
At the national level, Solomon is involved
in the American Public Transportation
Association’s Sustainability Committee
and has been a speaker at APTA’s
Sustainability Workshop.
RTA Congratulates Kari Solomon,
one of Mass Transit’s 40 under 40!
Kari Solomon
Budget Management Analyst,
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
For more information, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/10066382 For more information, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/10263522
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 51
A LIFELONG COMIC BOOK SUPER-FAN,
Kari Solomon was inspired by justice
and changing the world for the better.
One step of meeting that, she began her
career at the Greater Cleveland Regional
Transit Authority as a business analyst
in the Management Development
Program (MDP). She earned her commercial
driver’s license with passenger
endorsement as a part of her MDP experience,
and maintains it to this day. Aft er
completing the program, she began her
role as a budget management analyst in
the Offi ce of Management and Budget.
Solomon started the authority’s
first, comprehensive sustainability
and performance excellence programs.
As the programs matured from idea to
authority-wide, she strengthened her
skills by attaining an MBA with a focus
in sustainability.
She is a team leader in RTA’s implementation
of the ISO 14001 Environmental
& Sustainability Management
System. Th rough this process, one facility
has been ISO 14001 certifi ed, and
two additional facilities are in progress
of defi ning their programs.
Fact:
Solomon is
a member of
the Emerging
Professionals
(a young
professionals
subset of the
Ohio Green
Building Council),
and a board
member with
Urban Shepherds.
MassTransitmag.
com/12354870
“Blinders are necessary sometimes, but
never forget they’re removable. It’s truly beneficial
to look around and seek innovation, or you’ll stunt
your own growth and that of your team.”
Kari Solomon,
MBA
Budget
Management
Analyst
Greater Cleveland
Regional Transit
Authority