Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
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Sheryl King Benford, Deputy General Manager, Legal

General Counsel for Legal Affairs

CLEVELAND -- As Chief Legal Officer for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), Sheryl King Benford oversees:

  • Contracts
  • Risk management
  • Litigation
  • Real estate
  • Employment matters
  • Safety
  • Claims
  • Worker’s compensation
  • Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Compliance with the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO)

RTA experience

  • Joined RTA as Deputy General Manager: April 2000
  • Supervises: 38 employees, including 9 attorneys
  • 2013 Operating Budget: $10.0 million
  • 1991-92, worked as an associate counsel to close out the $60 million construction and purchase of the Tower City Station.

Previous experience

  • 2002, Adjunct instructor, Ethics in the Public Sector, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
  • 1992-2000, Director of Law, City of Shaker Heights
  • 1981-1984 and 1988-1991, Assistant Director of Law, City of Cleveland
  • 1984-1988, Private practice, Bailey, Benford and Associates
  • 1980-81, Adjunct instructor, Cleveland-Marshall School of Law, Cleveland State University
  • 1979-1981, Assistant Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University
  • 1971-79, Teacher and principal, East Cleveland City Schools

Education:

  • 1996 & 1998, Attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
  • 1979, Juris Doctorate, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University
  • 1975, Master of Science in Education, University of Akron
  • 1971, Bachelor of Science in Education, Cum Laude, Wilberforce University

Honors

  • 2004-Present, She has earned a spot in Who’s Who in Black Cleveland.
  • 2017, Named Cleveland-Marshall Law Hall of Fame "Living Legend"
  • 2014, YWCA Women of Achievement Award
  • 2013, Finalist in Crain's Cleveland Business General and In-House Counsel Award
  • 2013, Honored at Annual Trailblazer Luncheon of Norman S. Minor Bar Association.
  • 2006, George B. Davis Award for Service
  • 2004, Distinguished Alumna Award from the Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association.
  • Board Member, FBI Citizens Academy Foundation

Leadership

  • Board Member, FBI Citizens Academy Foundatio
  • 2013, President-elect, International Municipal Lawyers Association
  • 2013 Past President, The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
  • 2001-2, President, Greater Cleveland Chapter, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)
  • 1998-99, President, Cuyahoga County Legal Directors Association
  • 1998, President, Ohio Municipal Lawyers Association
  • 1992-3, President, Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association
  • 2012, Executive Mentor, YWCA Leadership Wisdom Circle

 Volunteerism

  • Board Chair, Cleveland Sight Center
  • Diocese of Cleveland, television Mass, 22 years
  • Member, numerous legal and professional organizations

Updated Dec. 7, 2017

APTA Health and Safety

APTA Health and Safety


Source URL: http://www.riderta.com/leadership/benford?qt-service_updates=1