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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority - 06/17/2008 - Workshop 1520 21 y + CO REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHOR! City Filo i-ist ^ oNs CEO EXECUTIVE SEARCH OUTREACH PLAN WORKSHOP MITA U'Ag S c' WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008 The Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors met at 10:30 xrr.-irithe Regional Transportation Authority Facility located at 5658 Bear Lane, Corpus Christi, Texas. Board Members Present: Crystal Lyons (Board Chair), Mannti Cummins, Anna Flores, Mike Rendon, Sara Salvide, and Judy Telge Board Members Absent: Dr. Maurice Portis, John Longoria, David Martinez, Ricardo Ramon, and John Valls Staff Present: Ricardo Sanchez, Ruth Willey, Lamont Taylor, Beth Vidaurri Public Present: Stephanie Pinson, Gilbert Tweed Associates, Inc. (via-telephone); Fanny Chirinos, Corpus Christi Caller-Times; Lucinda Garcia, RTA Legal Counsel Ms. Lyons called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m. Presentation on CEO Executive Search Outreach Plan and Development of CEO Executive Search Profile Ms. Stephanie Pinson, President of Gilbert Tweed Associates, explained that this meeting was considered the pre-search process to determine the current condition of the agency; where the Board would like to see the agency grow,; and identify the type of person that could lead the agency in the direction that the Board wanted the organization to grow. She stated that she would be providing the Board with a memo summarizing the input received from this meeting. She invited each Board Member to contact her personally if they had any questions or needed to talk to her. She would be providing weekly reports to Ms. Willey on the progress of the search and would be representing the Board and their interests to the public. Ms. Pinson stated that immediately following this meeting she would start contacting persons whom she felt would be good candidates for this position and validating compensation levels. It would take about two weeks to find out who was interested in working for the Agency. She said that she would like to meet with the Board again in approximately three weeks. Basically, the search was putting together the job specifications, defining the financial and physical needs, and presenting this information to the Board. Within five to six weeks, she would like to have the top candidates interviewed and be able to present them to the Board for review. Explaining the search process, Ms. Pinson stated that approximately 35-50 persons would be interviewed by her company. A slate of approximately 10-12 persons would be chosen and presented to the Board for their review in order to select 3-5 SCANNED tgional Transportation Authority CEO Executive Search Outreach Plan Workshop June 17,2008 Page 2 persons as the top candidates. These persons would undergo interviews with the Board. The Board would then select the top two candidates and Ms. Pinson would provide the candidates' employment requirements. After the Board had decided which candidate would receive the job offer, Ms. Pinson stated that she could assist the Board by making the first offer to the candidate. She recommended this strategy because she could facilitate negotiations in case the candidate refused the first offer. She could also assist the Board in identifying a relocation package if needed. Ms. Pinson stated that her company guaranteed a successful well-functioning CEO for the first year and if any issues arose during that time, that she be contacted immediately and the issues would be resolved. Regarding the hiring timeline, Ms. Pinson stated that her company would work within the identified 90-day requirement, but acknowledged that sometimes unexpected circumstances could arise. She did advise not delaying the process too much because you could lose potential candidates. Responding to Ms. Pinson, Ms. Lyons stated that the Board of Directors would be conducting the interviews. If a quorum of the Board could not be established, then the Executive Committee would be conducting the interviews. Ms. Pinson stated that it was important that the same persons interview all the finalists in order to provide a consistent screen. Ms. Pinson asked how the potential candidates' privacy needs could be accommodated because of the potential effect on the search activities. Ms. Garcia, Legal Counsel, advised that the agency must comply with the Public Information Act and the list of finalists would be subject to the Act. Since Gilbert Tweed was conducting the search, the initial candidates' identities would not be subject to the Act. Ms. Pinson stressed the importance of maintaining the applicants' privacy since they may be employed at another transit agency. The release of their identity could have some adverse effects. Ms. Willey, in response to Ms. Pinson, stated that for the final applicant(s), the Corpus Christi RTA would be conducting the background checks normally conducted for all RTA employees and requiring them to go through the Work Step Program which determines if they have the ability to perform the job. Ms. Pinson asked for information regarding the Board composition and the working relationship between the Board the General Manager. She asked what they felt was working well and what they would like to see done differently. t`s a - gional Transportation Authority CEO Executive Search Outreach Plan Workshop June 17, 2008 Page 3 Ms. Lyons explained that it was an 11-member Board and the Corpus Christi City Council would be appointing 2 new members today. The new members would be sworn in at the July Board meeting. The appointing entities were the City of Corpus Christi (5 members); Nueces County (3 members); and Small City of Mayors Committee (2 members). The Chair was elected by the Board from its members. Referencing the Agency's funding sources, Ms. Lyons stated that it received '/ cent sales tax, formula and discretionary funds, and revenues from fares. Some of the issues and/or major projects identified by the Board Members present were the finite base of funding; the rising cost of fuel and its impact on the Agency's budget; pending bus purchases; and renovation of the maintenance facility. Discussing some of the criteria needed for the CEO position, the following was identified: the need for the CEO to have transit experience and hands-on management in the areas of finance to ensure that the Agency is financially sound, marketing or planning as well as operations and maintenance; someone who is an innovator; able to maintain and enhance the respect and strong relationships within the community as well as with the Board; promote public/private financing opportunities; be able to develop new policies and procedures consistent with changing transit options such as reducing the carbon footprint of the Agency; be strong in recruitment since several management positions will need to be filled; be able to develop and promote succession planning which is a priority for the current Board; provide direction and leadership to the Board on transit related operational ideas; be able to work in a highly diverse setting especially with the Hispanic community; the ability to integrate and implement the findings from the "Sharon Greene Study" and the Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA); a proven track record with providing transportation services to persons with disabilities; knowledge of the legislative process in Texas; and understanding of how to work with an appointed Board. Ms. Telge noted that after attending a workshop on Managing the Cost of ADA service, she realized that of the conference participants, the RTA was the only agency performing functional assessments to determine eligibility to use the Paratransit service. Ms. Lyons, in response to Ms. Pinson, acknowledged that the Agency was active in the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). There was a brief discussion related to persons from whom to seek input regarding the type of CEO they felt should be hired. Identified were community stakeholders, key RTA staff, Employee Association and ECE representatives. • gionai Transportation Authority CEO Executive Search Outreach Plan Workshop June 17, 2008 Page 4 Responding to Ms. Pinson, Ms. Willey stated that three RTA employees had attended an ENO foundation training, but no one had participated in Leadership APTA training. Regarding the CEO compensation package, Ms. Willey stated that the position was not identified as a formal grade in the compensation plan; the current annual GM salary was $135,000 and included $6,000 for car allowance, and an estimated $5,000 for deferred compensation. The proposed base salary for the new CEO was budgeted at $125,000 and included car allowance and deferred compensation. It was noted that the cost of living in Corpus Christi was generally lower than in other areas. Ms. Willey agreed to send Ms. Pinson an outline of the Corpus Christi benefit plan. Ms. Pinson stated that she would like an opportunity to tour the Corpus Christi community. Ms. Willey reported that the Director of Operations would be retiring as of July 1, 2008 and the Director of Finance and Administration position was being advertised. She briefly outlined the current organizational structure. Ms. Pinson requested a copy of the organizational chart and a briefing on the strengths and weaknesses of the current RTA senior staff members at a later date. Regarding establishing a timeline for the search process, Ms. Pinson stated that she would check her calendar and communicate with Ms. Willey to identify potential meeting and conference dates. Ms. Lyons requested that as many meetings as possible be held on days when the Board was already scheduled to attend an RTA meeting. Ms. Pinson asked that Board Members contact her at her office 212-583-000 if they had any questions. Ms. Pinson requested the contact telephone numbers for each Board Member. Ms. Willey stated that she would verify with the Board Members which would be the best telephone number to use when contacting them. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m. - Board Secretary Date