Katharine Eagan, AICP, is Chief Executive Officer of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART). HART averages over 50,000 passenger trips a day, and about 15 million trips annually, on local and express bus, flex services, HARTPlus paratransit, and the TECO Line Streetcar. Under her leadership, HART has greatly expanded public-private partnerships with entities such as MegaBus, Red Coach, Coast Bike Share, Yellow Cab, and TransDev, and HART is continuing to pursue partnerships that provide travel options beyond traditional buses.

In 2016, the agency kicked off a paratransit-cab service pilot program that curbed the growth of paratransit while providing patrons same day service for the first time. HART was awarded the ISO-14001 certification, and is the first transit agency in Florida to receive this certification. HART also introduced a performance scorecard and pay for performance this year, launched a farmers market at its busiest transit center outside downtown Tampa, and on September 5 launched the first phase of a regional fare program, allowing patrons to purchase regional three day fares on their smartphones. HART recently became the first transit agency to introduce OneBusAway’s trip planner feature, combining trip planning with real time arrival information. In the end of 2016, HART and Transdev launched HART HyperLink, the country’s first transit agency-operated rideshare program.

Prior to stepping into the role of CEO, Ms. Eagan was HART’s Chief Operating Officer. During her tenure, from 2010 to 2015, ridership increased over 20% and farebox recovery increased over 25%; during the same time, service miles have expanded only 4%.

Ms. Eagan was awarded the Florida Diversity Council’s 2016 Powerful and Influential Women award and WTS 2016 Woman of the Year by Women in Transportation Seminar. She was a finalist for the Tampa Bay Business Journals’ Businesswoman of the Year award in 2014 and 2016 and the winner in 2016 in the Economic Development category, is one of Business Journal’s People to Watch in 2016, was the National Association of Women in Construction’s Tampa Rookie of the Year in her inaugural year, and was listed in the transit industry’s prestigious Mass Transit 40 under 40 List.

Ms. Eagan has also worked in the MTA of Baltimore, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and the City of San Angelo. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Angelo State University, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. She and her husband have two delightful boys.

Jeff Seward joined HART in November 2011, and is responsible for the following departments: Accounting & Financial Reporting, Budget, Cash Management, Internal Audit, Procurement, Contracts Administration, Grants & Planning, Project Management Office, Performance Management, Sustainability and Environmental ISO compliance. These departments execute the long-term financial strategy of HART, manage major capital projects, secure grants to enhance our current infrastructure, and ensure HART’s impact to the environment is minimal and sustainable.

Mr. Seward has more than 30 years of local government, private-sector and military experience, providing leadership for various areas, including, strategic planning, economic development, Six Sigma process improvement and auditing. He received his Bachelor's degree in history/government from Columbia College, and his Master's degree in public administration from California Lutheran University. He is past president of the Southwest Florida Government Finance Officers Association and was the 2014 Tampa Bay Business Journal CFO of the Year for Governmental entities.

Kenyatta Lee is the organization's Chief Administration Officer (CAO). Ms. Lee has over 20 years of public sector work experience. As CAO, Ms. Lee leads a team of more than 30 employees who have key functions within the agency including risk and safety, human resources, and information technology.

Prior to joining HART, Kenyatta worked at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) as the Senior Manager, Technology and Innovation, she served as Senior Director, Administration for the Jacksonville Port Authority and Senior Director, Finance and Administration for the Port of Palm Beach. 

In her role as Senior Manager at the JTA, she was responsible for implementing the latest transit industry innovations such as an enterprise resources planning system, real time passenger information and mobile ticketing. Throughout her professional career, Kenyatta has provided leadership and management for information technology, internal audit and compliance, risk management, human resources and finance. She has been successful in establishing and strengthening overall administration functions including policy and procedure development and using innovative technology solutions to achieve organizational goals and objectives.

Ms. Lee has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the Bethune-Cookman University and a master’s degree of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is a graduate of the 2015 Leadership APTA program.

Before being appointed to the Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Burckard was previously the Director of Van Operations, which includes services such HARTPlus, HARTFlex and Travel Training. She oversaw HART Dispatch and Customer Service Departments. Prior to joining HART, Mrs. Reyes Burckard worked at New York City Transit Authority as the Paratransit Staff Analyst managing the supplemental service provider and taxi reimbursement contracts for the paratransit division.

Mrs. Reyes Burckard came to HART in 2002 as the Paratransit Certification Assistant. From 2004 to 2006, she was appointed to HART Internship Program, which required rotation through the Marketing, Community Relations, Planning and Safety, Security and Training departments. Prior to her appointment as Director of Van Operations in July 2013, she served as the Paratransit and Customer Service Manager, managing the Paratransit Eligibility and Customer Service departments while ensuring that HART delivers the highest level of customer service. During her tenure at HART, Mrs. Reyes Burckard was instrumental with the implementation of live booking for paratransit trips gaining overall efficiencies in the productivity of trip scheduling.

Ms. Reyes Burckard has a bachelor's degree in Education from the State University of New York, College at Old Westbury. She is a member of the Hillsborough County and City of Tampa Alliances for Citizens with Disabilities, Hillsborough County Transportations Disadvantaged Coordinating Board and HART ADA Accessibility Committee.