FirstGroup America Appoints New Vice President to First Transit Division

FirstGroup America recently announced the appointment of Thomas J. Harris to vice president, Safety and Human Resources for its First Transit and First Services division. Harris joined the company in May 2010 as a senior attorney for FirstGroup America, utilizing his legal counsel on numerous matters, including those concerning safety, risk management, and employee relations. To this new role, Harris brings with him nearly 20 years of legal experience.

“I am very excited about this new opportunity,” Harris said. “I look forward to the new challenges that face me in this position as I work to assist the organization in producing new policies and continuing to maintain its current procedures, all in an effort to improve the company and the work environment for its employees.”

While in his new position, Harris will be responsible for the development, recommendation and implementation of safety and human resources programs, policies and procedures for the organization, as well as ensuring compliance with these practices. He will have a lead role in establishing the organization’s safety targets and setting the plans to achieve them. In addition, Harris will be responsible for overseeing and facilitating human resources strategies.

Previously, Harris worked for Comair where he managed the employment caseload and handled labor, risk management and compliance matters. Prior to Comair, he served as Assistant General Counsel at Alderwoods Group in Cincinnati, was a Senior City Attorney with the City of Cincinnati, and a Senior Associate Attorney with Burlew, Caliman & Youngblood, LLP. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati Law School.