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.
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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