JTA names Kimberly Dunham as chief of staff

JTA names Kimberly Dunham as chief of staff

Kimberly A. Dunham has been named chief of staff of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) following a national search.

Dunham comes to Jacksonville after serving as CEO of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) in Toledo, Ohio, since 2019. Prior to that, she was executive director at the Greater New Haven Transit District in Connecticut, where she moved up the ranks since joining that organization in 2014.

“Kimberly joins the JTA at an exciting time as we embark on transformational changes to the authority, and as we fulfill our responsibility of improving the quality of life for our community,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “She brings a wealth of executive-level experience, having served at the highest levels at public transportation agencies in both Toledo and New Haven. We look forward to welcoming her to Jacksonville.”

Dunham is an industry-recognized leader who serves on the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Board of Directors, and is a member of the Transportation Research Board Report Panel. She is also an alumni of Leadership APTA Class of 2016. Throughout her career, Dunham gained experience with intergovernmental finance, leadership, FTA regulatory compliance, strategic planning and workforce development among other areas. In addition to those skills, she has advocated for her agencies on the federal, state and local levels, is well-versed in current policy issues, and has direct experience in working with advocacy groups, unions and elected officials.

“It is a distinct honor to join the JTA team of outstanding transportation professionals in the next chapter of my career journey. The JTA is at the forefront of industry innovation and multimodal connectivity, driving next generation transportation planning while ensuring mobility access for all. To serve as chief of staff under Mr. Ford’s leadership will be an incredible opportunity, and one I very much look forward to,” said Dunham.

When she begins her work in Jacksonville on Nov. 8, Dunham will work directly with the JTA’s CEO, the executive leadership team and board of directors to help guide the authority’s strategic and organizational initiatives, and to implement greater efficiency and accountability measures across our agency.