The New Jersey Transit board of directors will soon have some new members bringing fresh and diverse perspectives. Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday that he is nominating Carlos Medina, Kiabi Carson and Evan Weiss, while Rashonda Brown and Karen Thomas will be directly appointed.
“Under our administration, NJ Transit has made great strides in improving performance, upgrading critical infrastructure and hiring needed staff,” Murphy said. “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.”
“NJ Transit looks forward to having a full complement of board members, and will be working closely with them to build upon the significant progress we have made over the past four years,” NJ Transit CEO and President Kevin Corbett said.
Medina, who worked in the transportation industry for over 25 years, is the CEO and president of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, 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. Medina also serves on the boards of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, and formerly served on the board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
“Transportation is essential to moving the state’s economy, and I hope that my commitment to the diverse business community adds a unique point of view and value to the organization,” Medina said.
Carson is the head of human resources for the North American region at Turner & Townsend, a 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.
Weiss is the CEO and president of the Newark Alliance, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the ongoing economic revitalization of Newark. Prior to his current role, Weiss served in the Murphy administration as senior adviser for finance and major projects, where he advised 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 U.S. 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-plus 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 U.S. Prior to his work in the administration, Weiss was director at the Pennsylvania Economy League and HJA Strategies.
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.
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 nonprofit that helps place abused and neglected children into safe and loving permanent homes.
