Awards7/17/2020

COTA Honored Among Best U.S. Companies for Women

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Parity.org has released its 2020 Best Companies for Women to Advance List, including Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) among 35 nationally-recognized brands. Parity.org, which advocates for gender equality at the highest levels of business, releases its list each year to recognize companies that offer benefits, policies and programs that are beneficial to women in the workplace. COTA made the 2020 list alongside such elite U.S. businesses as Adobe, Best Buy, NASDAQ, PepsiCo, and Ralph Lauren Corporation.

“We are grateful to Parity.org for this recognition of our work,” said COTA President/CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton. “Our vision of Moving Every Life Forward includes providing opportunity and equity for all people in the workplace. It is gratifying to be recognized for the concentrated efforts COTA has made towards having a representative and inclusive workplace which reflects the population of the community. We understand how companies who put beliefs in to action by making more room at the table for others does not diminish opportunities for those already in the room – on the contrary – it brings diversity of thoughts and backgrounds that makes us more resilient and productive.”

Under Pinkerton’s leadership, 64 percent of COTA’s executive leadership are women. Over the past two years, the number of women in director-level or higher positions has increased by 14 percent. COTA offers programs that encourage the advancement of women, including a college tuition reimbursement program. COTA also signed a commitment to pay equity in 2019 and raised the minimum wage for new and existing employees to $15 per hour.

“These companies are examples of commitment and intentionality in leveling the playing field for women and paving the way for them to succeed and advance their careers, making gender parity at the top levels possible,” said Cathrin Stickney, Parity.org founder and CEO. “The efforts they have undertaken are not just worth recognizing, they are worth emulating. We hope that more companies will follow their lead and take similar actions to pave the way for the women in their organization to advance.”