METRO Executive Recognized With National Award

Patience, the ability to make tough decisions and solid listening skills are some of the attributes Kim Williams, chief administrative officer of the METRO Solutions program, touts as characteristics that make a good leader.

It’s also these qualities that helped Williams garner the National Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)’s Emerging Leader of the Year award during its conference in Cleveland, Ohio, July 10-13.
 
“I was very honored to be recognized for that award. I think it speaks to transit as a career.  A lot of people are now seeing it as a viable career,” said Williams. “I certainly didn’t do it on my own and so I owe a great deal of thanks to everyone at the agency [METRO] for their support.”
 
The award recognizes individuals who have been in the transit industry for five years or less, and who have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to the industry.
Williams, who has been with METRO for nearly three years, is also the newly elected president of the local chapter of COMTO – a position she’s excited about as she would like to see COMTO play a bigger role in transit in Houston.

Among the organization’s initiatives this year are increasing and diversifying its membership – not just culturally but professionally, including all modes of transit.

“’We want to reach out to our friends and colleagues at Continental, at the port, anyone who is doing transportation in this city, to have them be a part of the organization. And part of our goal is to foster transportation as an initiative throughout the city. We really believe that it improves the quality of life for all those in the city of Houston.”