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