Executive Leadership Team

Cleveland Ferguson III

Executive Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer

Cleveland Ferguson III is Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Jacksonville, FL. He is charged with improving Northeast Florida’s economy, environment and quality of life through JTA’s administrative, technological and economic development initiatives. Some highlights include leading P3 teams to create transit-oriented development, reducing food deserts, and pioneering data science analytics usage through JTA's public benefit corporations.

Cleveland has successfully represented the JTA at congressional hearings and the U.S. Department of Transportation on federal support for safety-sensitive operations, housing and transit, autonomous vehicle technology, workforce development initiatives, and enhancing analytics in public transportation. He provides subject matter expertise through industry panels at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA). His leadership has contributed to the JTA's recognition as a forward-leaning mid-size agency, including earning Outstanding Public Transportation Agency of the Year in 2016 and 2020.

Among the Authority’s recent awards under Ferguson’s leadership contributed to JTA receiving the 2024 National Weather Service StormReady Certification, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration’s 2023 Gold Standard Award, the FPTA 2021 Innovation Award for its opioid intervention program, the Urban Land Institute’s 2021 Judge’s Choice Award, FPTA 2018 Gold Bus Safety Excellence Award.

He previously served as the Deputy CAO for the City of Jacksonville, Florida. There, he led the effort to expand the use of analytics through JaxScore, reform the delivery of citizen-based services and increase transparency in city operations. Successes include establishing the property asset management optimization process, innovations in procurement with online auctions, and developing the employee performance management system, JaxOps. He also coordinated the Renew Jax effort, which secured $50 million in investments in infrastructure and community development projects.

When Cleveland was a tenured law professor, he led a summer abroad program in France to accreditation by the American Bar Association. His scholarship on contracts, regulatory policy and constitutional law has been translated into multiple languages, and courts and regulators have cited his writings. He has a distinguished record of board service in civic, nonprofit, legal, and international associations, including being a mayoral appointee to the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Chairman of the Florida Legal Services Board of Directors, and Secretary of the Legal Affairs Committee of APTA.

Onyx Magazine recognized Cleveland as a 2023 “Man of Honor.” He is a member of Leadership Broward Class XXIII, Leadership Jacksonville (2010), Leadership Florida Class XXXIII, the 2017 ENO Transit Senior Executive Program, The Florida Bar, and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar.

Cleveland received his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law and a B.S. from Nova Southeastern University (NSU). He was conferred with a Doctor of Humane Letters by NSU in 2018. Additionally, he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Conflict Resolution and Analysis.

Jeffrey H. Smith

Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer

Jeffery H. Smith is the Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) directing the performance of passenger transportation services serving Jacksonville, Florida metropolitan region with an annual budget of $175M, 850 employees and providing public transit service seven days a week to the communities of Duval, Nassau, Clay, and St. Johns counties.

Smith is responsible for the safety, productivity, and accountability of transit operations, including service planning, operations, and maintenance of all vehicles related to JTA's transit system including fixed route, bus rapid transit, paratransit, microtransit, and waterborne systems. Smith joined the JTA in 2021 with over 35 years of experience in the transportation industry. He was hired as the Assistant Vice President and Chief Transportation Officer. In 2023, he was promoted to Vice President of Transit Operations.

Before arriving in Jacksonville, Smith worked in the following capacities for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA): Director of Training and Instruction, Director of Rail Operations, Director of Bus Operations, GM of Rail Operations, GM of Bus Operations and Senior Manager of Bus Operations. Prior to working for the CTA, Smith was the President and CEO of Omega Transport Services, Inc. He is an expert in strategic planning, contract negotiations, management consulting, operations management, business needs assessments, and proposal development.

Smith holds an MBA from Purdue University and the following certifications from Villanova University: Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Six Sigma Lean Belt, and Six Sigma Green Belt. He also holds certifications in Transit Rail and Transit Safety and Security from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Greer Johnson Gillis

Senior Vice President/Chief Infrastructure & Development Officer

Greer Johnson Gillis is a senior vice president and Chief Infrastructure & Development Officer for the JTA. During her 29-year career, Ms. Gillis has implemented sustainable policies and managed large-scale infrastructure projects.

Ms. Gillis oversees the System Development Division and is responsible for the following departments: Automation & Innovation; Construction & Engineering; Planning & Sustainability; Facilities Management & Transit Amenities; Small Business & Community Impact; and the Capital Projects Office. Ms. Gillis joined the JTA in April 2020. In her first months at the JTA, Ms. Gillis established the JTA's Capital Projects Office to focus on efficient project delivery, the Sustainability Program Office to elevate sustainability and resiliency initiatives throughout the agency, and initiated the first phase of the Authority's strategic planning efforts.

In 2014, Ms. Gillis was honored by President Obama and U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx as a White House Champion of Change: Transportation Ladders of Opportunity. In 2017, she was honored by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) with the Women Who Move the Nation Local Government Award. In 2022, Ms. Gillis was honored with the COMTO Thomas G. Newsom Founders' Leadership Award, which is the highest award given by the organization. It honors transportation executives and policymakers who have contributed to the growth and development of people of color within their organization. In 2008, she was appointed by the interim director of District (DC) Department of Transportation to serve as the city's transportation lead for the 2009 presidential inauguration.

Prior to serving at the JTA, Ms. Gillis held several executive positions in the District of Columbia Government, including commissioner on the Public Service Commission, director of the DC Department of General Services, and deputy director of the District Department of Transportation. She also has many years of private-sector experience working for several engineering companies.

Ms. Gillis is an active member of the Women's Transportation Seminar NE Florida Chapter and serves as the 1st Vice President of the COMTO Jacksonville Chapter. She is also a steering committee member of Elevate Women NE Florida, the City of Jacksonville's Better Jacksonville Plan Finance and Project Administration Committees, and a member of the Jacksonville' Women Network. She is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2022, and a graduate of the 2022 Eno Center for Transportation's Senior Executive Program.

Ms. Gillis holds a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, and a Master's of Science degree in civil engineering with a concentration in transportation, both from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a licensed professional engineer in Virginia and Washington, DC.

Raj Srinath

Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

Raj Srinath is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). Srinath is responsible for directing financial planning and analysis, accounting, budgeting, treasury, grants and revenue management for the organization. He also oversees the department of information technology, and the fixed assets program for the JTA.

Srinath has over 25 years of experience in the transit/transportation industry. Before joining the JTA, he served as the Chief Financial Officer at Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), where he was responsible for MARTA’s strategic direction, operational and capital budgets, debt & investments programs, financial viability, and daily management of MARTA's Department of Finance. In addition to the Department of Finance, he managed the Federal and State Grants Programs, and the Department of Contracts, Procurement & Materials. He also advised the General Manager and the Board of Directors on fiscal management matters.

Prior to MARTA, Srinath served as Deputy General Manager/CFO at Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) where he was responsible for all finance functions, real estate development, risk management, information technology, human resources, employee relations, grants, procurement, and contracts.

Srinath holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Bangalore (India) and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Jessica Shepler

Senior Vice President/Public Affairs

Jessica Shepler is Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). In this role, Jessica oversees local, state and federal Government Affairs, Economic Development and Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience Departments.

Prior to her current role, Jessica served as AVP and as Director of Government Affairs for the JTA. She also previously worked alongside her husband to start a family business, served as the Director of City Policy at the City of Jacksonville and as Director of Public Policy for JAX Chamber.

Jessica is a native of Jacksonville and attended the University of North Florida. Her expertise in public affairs and government relations helps guide the JTA each day.