News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Kim Britton, Chief Communications Officer
STAR Transit
[email protected]
Terrell, TX – With the support of the STAR Transit Board of Directors, Tommy Henricks has been named Executive Director effective September 1. In his new role, Henricks will manage daily operations, including financial oversight and other initiatives aimed at growing and maintaining the agency’s service to local government partners, businesses and nonprofit entities.
The STAR Transit Board of Directors has addressed succession planning by making it a multi-year goal to ensure continuity of leadership and continued high quality service to the riders and local governments. Omega Hawkins, current Executive Director, and Mike Sims, Deputy Executive Director, have worked to develop a professional, well-trained leadership team.
Hawkins said, “After 40 years at the helm of this great agency and with the support of my family, I have decided it is time to reduce my role within the agency. I’ll remain part of the management team, helping support Tommy in this leadership position.”
Henricks has been with the agency for over three years, serving as the Chief Financial Officer. In this position, he is responsible for managing the business office, IT, fleet and facilities. He has been instrumental in the development of STAR Transit’s current business model that has been recognized by the Texas Department of Transportation. A state established public transportation agency with no dedicated sales tax support, STAR Transit operates under a combination of state and federal grants as well as voluntary local contributions.
Hawkins continued, “The STAR Transit Board and I have full confidence that Tommy will do a fantastic job. He is a very proactive, hands-on and strategic thinker. His dedication to STAR Transit’s success comes with an unwavering pride in his work.”
Henricks said, “I would like to thank the STAR Transit Board of Directors for this tremendous opportunity to serve our partners and clients. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work with Mike and Omega for the past three years and I know that I have learned from the best. I look forward to working with our leadership team to achieve the mission and goals of our Board. We have accomplished a lot working as a team, and we will continue to take significant steps in providing transit services to the communities we serve.”
Henricks has 15 years of financial and management experience in the transit and healthcare industries. He also serves on numerous Boards including the Kaufman Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of Promiseland Learning Center and Treasurer of The Purpose Project.
Henricks graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University. He was named the Texas Transit Association 2019 Rising Star and graduated as part of the 2018 Texas Transit Leadership Initiative.
Along with the change in Hawkins’s role, Mike Sims, has resigned as Deputy Executive Director effective later this summer.
“We are positioned well to take on new challenges and I look forward to working with Omega and members of our team in the months ahead”, said Henricks. “Public transit is of great importance to our quality of life; whether providing rides to jobs to healthcare services to grocery and retail centers or to simply pursue recreational opportunities.”
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About STAR Transit. Founded in 1988, STAR Transit’s mission is to provide safe, affordable and convenient transportation to the general public, seniors, veterans and persons with disabilities for access to jobs, health care, personal services, retail, and entertainment, to name a few reasons why riders use STAR Transit. Its highly trained and experienced staff and operators are customer-service driven and safety-focused. STAR Transit is a political subdivision of the state of Texas, has more than 100 employees, and provides over 230,000 rides every year, with that number always increasing. The agency is headquartered in Terrell, TX. For more information, visit STARtransit.org.