Feb 27, 2019
Erica Tucker, Community Relations Specialist
21 years at RTA, 19 of official service credit at RTA
Erica was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She is married to Service Quality Crossed Trained Supervisor Anthony Tucker, and they have three adult children and two grandchildren. Erica has a bachelor of art in political science from Central State University, a master of public administration from Cleveland State University, and a certificate in marketing from David N. Myers University. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, and loves to cruise, shop, and photography.
Erica began her career at RTA in 1996 as a Cleveland State University graduate student working in the Strategic Planning and Research Department, conducting surveys and making presentations at the districts on the 2010 Long-Range Plan. After graduating from Cleveland State University with a master of public administration degree, she worked at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority for one and a half year as a grant coordinator over the federally funded Youth Violence Prevention Program.
In 1999, Erica came back to the Authority as a personal services contractor, who spearheaded Cuyahoga County and RTA’s first access to jobs program. She was instrumental in developing program services for the Beachwood Vanpool program, along with developing the former Work Access and Transportation program.
In 2000, Erica was hired as a mobility specialist and worked in county neighborhood family service centers with self-sufficiency coaches helping individuals transitioning from public assistance to full-time employment, while eliminating transportation barriers to jobs in outlying suburban areas. In 2001, Erica joined the Community Relations Department as the Community Relations Manager and managed a staff of five. She introduced the Authority’s first Customer Feedback program, which was very successful and resulted in over 1,000 customer responses.
As a result of organizational restructuring, Erica became a community relations specialist and has performed this role since that time. As the sole community relations specialist, she has managed the day-to-day activities of the Community Relations Department over the last 12 years, and usually participates in over 250 events per year.
Erica is considered to be a jack of all trades. She does public speaking, marketing, service promotion, advertising, customer service and loves to volunteer and assist her team members. She has served on the Downtown District Council and at one time, oversaw the Citizens Advisory Board (now referred to as the Community Advisory Committee). Erica continues to serve on the Communications and ADA Committees for this organization. Erica loves to participate in community events which include manning tables at fairs and festivals or taking a bus out to schools for career day or safety programs. Erica makes speeches throughout Greater Cleveland about policies, programs, and discounts and garners support in the community for public projects and services. She works closely with staff in many departments and gets along great with others. Sometimes you will find Erica facilitating a public hearing, community or open house meeting.
Since 2001, Erica has received over 50 letters of appreciation, commendations or thank you notes from the community, and was nominated in 2006 and 2014 for the General Manager’s Customer Service Award, and received the Taking Stock in RTA award in 2010.
Erica loves her job, is friendly and always has a smile on her face. She enjoys helping others and being the positive and professional face of RTA. The community loves her and always looks forward to her coming back to provide information on these programs.
