the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today announced his intention to nominate Carlos A. Medina, Esq, Kiabi Carson, and Evan Weiss to the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors. The Governor will also directly appoint Rashonda Brown and Karen Thomas to serve on the board. As the Murphy Administration continues to improve and invest in NJ TRANSIT, the new members will bring “fresh and diverse” perspectives to the Board.
“Under our Administration, NJ TRANSIT has made great strides in improving performance, upgrading critical infrastructure, and hiring needed staff,” said Governor Murphy. “Carlos, Kiabi, Evan, Rashonda, and Karen are the right choices to join the NJ TRANSIT Board during this transformative time to ensure appropriate oversight and accountability as we continue to make key improvements. Their diverse perspectives will serve as tremendous assets to benefit NJ TRANSIT and New Jersey commuters.”
While promoting transparency in the state agency the Governor failed to reappoint James D. Adams, who has served on the NJ Transit board since February 2020. During his tenure on the board, Adams voted against more agenda items than any other current member and asked detailed questions of agency officials in full board meetings and on the committees he served on. Adams seemed to be the only board member who ever said NO .
The Governors pics are as follows :
Carlos A. Medina, Esq. is the President and CEO of the New Jersey Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he has been a longtime advocate for expanded business opportunities and inclusion of Hispanic business owners. He is also the President and majority owner for Robinson Aerial Surveys, Inc. Medina also serves on the Boards of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, and New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, and formerly served on the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Medina received his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, and his J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law – Newark.
Kiabi Carson is the Head of Human Resources for the North American region at Turner & Townsend, a is global professional services company specializing in large scale construction projects and programs across infrastructure, real estate and natural resources. She has 20 years of experience in human resource management, including prior leadership roles at Bristol Myers-Squibb and Prudential Financial. Carson received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and her master’s degree from Rutgers University.
Evan Weiss is the President and CEO of the Newark Alliance a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the ongoing economic revitalization of Newark. Prior to his current role, Evan served in the Murphy Administration as Senior Advisor for Finance and Major Projects to the Governor, where he advised Governor Murphy on New Jersey’s most pressing economic and community development problems, including managing the fiscal response to COVID-19, establishing New Jersey as the base of the US offshore wind supply chain, and financing affordable housing, transit, and water infrastructure projects. He was also the administration’s point person for key city initiatives in Newark, Trenton, and Atlantic City. Most recently, he helped craft the legislation to reform the Urban Enterprise Zone program and the $14+ billion suite of Economic Development Authority tax credit programs, as well as lead the State’s financial review of the Gateway Project, the largest infrastructure project in the United States. Prior to his work in the Administration, Weiss was Director at the Pennsylvania Economy League and HJA Strategies. Weiss received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.
Rashonda Brown has worked as a Conductor for NJ TRANSIT where she has ensured the safe transportation of New Jersey’s commuters for over 15 years. She previously served as Chief of Staff for the United Transportation Union. Brown is also a Co-Founder and President of Brickmobb Steelers Charities.
Karen Thomas is currently a Procurement Processor at NJ TRANSIT where she has worked for over 33 years. She serves as Chair of the Somerset County Commission on Status of Women and sits on the Board of Trustees for CASA Shaw – Court Appointed Special Advocate for Somerset and Hunterdon counties – a non-profit that helps place abused and neglected children into safe and loving permanent homes. Thomas attended Rutgers University and has completed certificate programs at Union County Vocational & Technical in Electrical Technology and New Brunswick Theology Seminary in Theology Studies.