Joe Reardon Receives RideKC Award

During last month's Rosa Parks Spirit Awards, a RideKC Award was given to Joe Reardon, President and CEO of Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, former mayor of the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County, and former CEO of KCATA.

The RideKC Award was presented to Joe Reardon for making great strides in building a more integrated regional transportation system. His leadership in support of jobs access through The Chamber’s Big 5 Initiative are invaluable to a united pursuit to connect people to opportunities.

As Mayor, he was credited with introducing Sunday bus service in Kansas City, Ks. and building the first major transit center in KCK through partnerships with KCATA and TIGER grants.

Joe Reardon was named President and CEO of the KCATA in 2015 when he said, “public transportation is the glue that holds communities together.” He soon moved on to The Chamber’s top spot, but not before playing a pivotal role in the successful rollout of the regional RideKC brand on both sides of the state line. 

"Public transportation is an essential tool that connects people to opportunities in their day-to-day life, whether that's accessing healthcare, or education, or work," Reardon said.

About the Rosa Parks Spirit Awards

The Rosa Parks Spirit Awards celebrate individuals and organizations that, in the spirit of Civil Rights Leader Rosa Parks, are making a difference in metro Kansas City and in public transit. This marks the sixth year for the awards, whose honorees have included U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, one of KCATA’s first black bus operators Ray Harris, Mayor Sly James, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Downtown Council.