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Message from the Chair
By Bill Lochte, Bombardier
“Don’t Squat With Your Spurs On”
These words of wisdom from the late Will Rogers still
ring true today…even if you don’t fashion yourself a cowboy.
Well over a year ago, the talented and dedicated leadership
of the BMBG identified certain CORE issues that resonated as key strategic
targets/goals to be accomplished for the mid,- and long-term benefit
of the private sector members of APTA.
They were:
- Reauthorization of TEA21
- Improving procurement practices
- Positioning more business members in key leadership roles in APTA
- Development of a five-year Tactical Plan for the BMBG
Clearly, we have made measurable progress in each
of the first three areas, and happily have finalized and unanimously
adapted a comprehensive five-year plan for the BMBG. When successfully
accomplished, the plan will go a long way to redefine and improve the
private sector members’ role and contribution in APTA.
That being said, there is still much to do as we look
ahead, and the key priorities for this year include:
REAUTHORIZATION: Our industry depends on getting
a successful bill out of Congress by the second quarter of
2004. We need to help make that happen. Although things seem again to
be moving in the right direction, nothing is
over, as they say, until the ink drys.
PROCUREMENT REFORM: In addition to maintaining
our cross-education efforts on such issues as slow pay, shared risk
and mutual fairness in contract Terms and Conditions, there is an urgent
need to focus on the issue of bonding. Premiums are increasing at an
alarming rate (200% to 400%), with fewer sureties available to the industry
— a trend that negatively affects both buyer and seller.
ENHANCE BUSINESS MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS TO APTA:
Continue to assist APTA’s programming effort to assure quantifiable
“value-added” presentations and workshops, such as that of
Tom Peters, for the benefit of all members. Facilitate partnership forums
that focus on a paradigm shift in the old "buyer/seller" relationship.
GOVERNANCE: An extension of last year's objective.
Your overwhelming feedback to us is very clear ... the private sector
members of APTA desire unfettered inclusion in the planning and policy-setting
of the association. Many of you believe the business members bring skills
and influences that not all of our public sector colleagues enjoy. The
end goal is a balanced association and hopefully a more secure and enduring
industry. We will work with Chairman Dixon this coming year in a persistent,
patient and collaborative manner to bring about positive cultural changes
for the long-term benefit of all members.
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TACTICAL PLAN:
The outcome of this impressive "shared" effort is the identification
of seven key initiatives that, when successfully implemented, will significantly
improve the "value proposition" for all of us
in APTA. We now must properly execute our
first-year launch of the plan, assure effective
resource-planning and communicate to all
involved. In consideration of continued BMBG
leadership, Kim Green will ably direct this
effort, and I and you should look forward to
its eventual outcome.
In conclusion, and mindful of Will Rogers' words of
caution ... I can assure you that your Business Member Board of Governors
is engaged, energetic and focused on making a positive difference in
the year ahead.
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New bonding guidance also announced
Packed Agenda Tackled at Annual BMBG Meeting
By Cliff Henke,
North American Bus Industries
Procurement issues, last-minute reauthorization strategies
and the implementation of the year’s objectives of the BMBG’s ambitious
Tactical Plan were some of the items discussed and acted upon at this year’s
busy BMBG Annual Meeting held recently in Dana Point, Calif.
As was the case last year, highlights at the meeting were
remarks by FTA Administrator Jennifer Dorn and a free-flowing, candid discussion
of procurement issues that included three general managers, Dorn and APTA
Chairman and Cleveland’s Board Chair George Dixon. “We want you
to make money,” said Art Leahy, general manager of host agency Orange
County Transportation Authority, “but we also have to show value for
taxpayers’ money.” If there was agreement among both public and
private sector members of APTA present at the meeting, it was a general consensus
that the tension suggested by Leahy is natural.
Demonstrating her agency’s commitment to helping industry
suppliers with their concerns, Dorn revealed a new Dear Colleague letter on
bonding, which she hopes will encourage transit properties around the country
to require performance bonds only when absolutely necessary.
“In working with our grantees and their transit suppliers,
we have found some misunderstanding about the Federal Transit Administration
requirements regarding performance and payment bonds in federally assisted
procurements, particularly for rolling stock procurements,” Dorn’s
letter began. “In short, FTA does not require bonding in any amount for
rolling stock or any other non-construction contracts.” Indicating its
thanks of Dorn’s announcement, the BMBG voted unanimously its approval
of the new letter. In addition, the BMBG resolution urged that APTA appoint
a task force comprising both operator and supplier members of the association
to recommend longer-term solutions.
Next issue's Business In Motion will feature
a lengthy analysis of the new Dear Colleague letter and the growing concern
over the tightening surety market that prompted it.
Several other issues were discussed and acted on during the
meeting. These include:
Standardization: In an effort to standardize both
procurement processes and further consensus performance-oriented industry
technical standards, the APTA Executive Committee formally endorsed the idea
of the association becoming a formally recognized standards development organization,
and has appointed a joint supplier member/operating member task force to implement
this ambitious agenda.
Proposed threat to leasing averted: In an effort to
close corporate "loopholes" to pay for last year's tax cuts and
contain deficits, the Senate Finance Committee has floated the idea of taking
away tax-preferred municipal leasing transactions, including those for transit.
The committee has agreed to withdraw its proposal for now, but the BMBG's
Government Affairs Committee and APTA's Legislative Committee and staff will
be carefully monitoring the situation.
Reauthorization update: Both houses have now shown
progress on reauthorization of TEA 21. The Senate acted during the BMBG meeting
and the House's final action is pending. The latest information will be discussed
at the Legislative Conference, March 14 to 17 in Washington, D.C.
Business Members Begin
Tactical Plan Implementation
By Kim Green, GFI–GENFARE
At the APTA Annual Meeting in Salt
Lake City this past fall, the BMBG
adopted a Tactical Plan for APTA
Business Member activities. This plan was
the culmination of almost a year of hard
work by more than 100 business members
who devoted countless hours to working
through the issues critical to business members
and the industry.
The plan is designed to respond to the
needs and goals of business members in
order to enhance the benefits, involvement
and satisfaction they derive from APTA membership.
It is also designed to make a significant
contribution to business members’ public
sector partners, to APTA as a whole and
the revision of its strategic plan and, ultimately,
to the strength and long-term future of
public transportation in North America.
As BMBG Chair Bill Lochte puts it, “Our
plan points in two parallel directions: it presents
a compelling message about the commitment
of APTA’s Business Members to the advancement of the public transportation
industry, and it makes an equally strong statement
about the need for APTA’s programs to
support the interests and needs of its business
members.”
During the recent BMBG Annual Meeting in
Orange County, Calif., business members
began the second stage of the Tactical Plan
work — implementing the adopted plan. The
Tactical Plan is broken down into nine initiatives.
A team of business members will guide
each tactical initiative.
Each team has a volunteer leader who will
direct and focus each group. The teams are
now being formed, and each team leader is
looking for maximum participation from business
members who want to get involved with
this important effort. Following are the nine initiatives
and the team leaders who will be moving
us through the implementation process:
• Create and Disseminate the Business
Case for Transit — Cliff Henke
• Communicate the Business Case to State/
Local Officials — Sharon Greene
• Partnership Forums at APTA
Meeting — Jolene Molitoris
• Develop/Implement a Procurement
Partnering Module — Bob Brownstein
• Incentivize Agencies/Procurement
Guidelines — Nuria Fernandez
• Open APTA Leadership to
Business Members — Kim Green
• Educate Businesses on Value of
APTA Membership — Delon Hampton
• Business Members “Early Warning
System” — Don Nelson
• APTA Market Forecast — Al Engel
As the working groups begin the process of implementing the
Tactical Plan initiatives, APTA will be refining the update of its strategic
plan. Business members will have a valuable opportunity to work with this
larger group in shaping the final APTA strategic plan with priority issues
and strategies that are important to APTA Business Members. We invite any
interested members to contact Fran Hooper at fhooper@apta.com
to join the implementation working groups. We are looking for people with
a passion for the issues who are willing to make a contribution.
Committee Goals for the
Year
While all seven of the BMBG’s
committees are doing their part
to help implement the board’s
Tactical Plan, each has its own agenda for
2004. Here is a look at what each has on
tap for the coming year.
Business Development Committee:
This committee will continue to work with FTA to define missions
and populate trade delegations. Trade missions currently being developed for
2004 include a U.S. sub-sup- plier mission to meet with European bus manufacturers
and missions to China in November and Mexico in December. The committee will
continue to provide support for foreign delegations that visit the United
States during 2004. It is also working to broaden the committee charter to
include business development through marketing and communications with APTA’s
Marketing and Communications Committee.
Government Affairs Committee:
Focusing on advocacy, outreach and legislative initiatives,
the Government Affairs Committee will work to implement the next phase of
its Adopt a Congressional District initiative, and organize and promote business
participation in lobby days. It will also be encouraging business members
to use the Transit Action Center to keep in step with current communications.
New legislative initiatives include opposing anti-leasing proposals, as well
as monitoring issues in bills to be introduced.
Liaison Committee:
The Liaison Committee’s plans for 2004 include recruiting
and actively supporting business member representatives in running running
for leadership positions in APTA as well as increasing business member involvement
in the association’s mentoring program. The committee is also looking
to target five committees that business members should chair in the next few
years, and to get four articles on business issues published in Passenger
Transport.
Outreach Committee:
Responsible for keeping business members connected, the Outreach
Committee is looking to enhance that communication by using email for quarterly
threaded discussions, conducting surveys on business member challenges and
attitudes and involving more business members with Business in Motion. The
newsletter will be published on the same quarterly schedule.
Procurement Committee:
This committee has a 2004 plan of working on educational
modules in accordance with BMBG Tactical Plan strategy and continuing close
cooperation with the APTA Procurement Committee. The BMBG Procurement Committee
is also continuing its two-year goals, set in 2003, to raise awareness of
and modify procurement requirements (e.g., standardization and technical innovation),
improve cash flow, and continue dialogue within the business sector.
Programs Committee:
The Programs Committee is working to make all APTA conferences
more relevant to business members by trying to enhance attendance at product
showcases, create sessions that appeal to business members and encourage the
participation and presence of business members as moderators and speakers.
It is also working with APTA on strategies to successfully integrate in 2006
the Commuter Rail and Rail Transit conferences and on implementing the Partnering
Forum initiative in the Tactical Plan to involve top levels of transit agency
and transit business management in a discussion of key business concerns.
Technology Committee:
Projects that this committee has discussed or are working
on include clean diesel emission certification, California diesel emissions,
hybrid bus certification and 42 volt electrical systems. The Technology Committee
is looking at such potential projects as standards or guidelines for audible
wayside signs, onboard electronic component emissions and high voltage equipment
on buses. This committee currently has a shortage of members, particularly
from the rail sector. If you are interested in becoming a part of any of these
committees, please contact Fran Hooper at fhooper@apta.com.
Business Members Take
Action in Washington
By Cliff Henke,
North American Bus Industries
The first week in February saw a blizzard of messages hit
Capitol Hill from APTA Business Members emphasizing that Transit Means Business.
During Transit Takes Action Week, many member companies responded
to APTA’s call for action and mobilized their employees to deluge their
senators and congressmen in support of reauthorization of TEA 21. APTA staff
estimates that more than 6,000 messages on reauthorization reached Washington
during the week.
Examples of how business members used e-mails, letters and
faxes to support the Transit Means Business message include:
More than 90% of GFI’s employees responded to the call for action
and either e-mailed, faxed or mailed a letter to their Illinois senators
and congressmen in support of reauthorization.
Vapor Bus International, which developed an employee mobilization program
last August, repeated the effort during the February campaign. The company
prepared individualized letters supporting reauthorization for employees
to sign and mail, at Vapor's expense. Vapor achieved over a 90% positive
response — about 485 letters were sent by employees who reside in at
least 12 different congressional districts.
Parsons Brinckerhoff developed and distributed a letter for its approximately
5,000 domestic employees to send to their congressman. PB area managers
reinforced the need for everyone to participate in Transit Takes Action
Week on the local level.
Alstom Transportation reached out to its 1,500 employees, urging them
to deliver the reauthorization message via the APTA Website or with letters
that the company developed for mailing. The APTA Website recorded more than
250 letters generated by Alstom employees, and more messages were mailed
directly to congressional offices.
APTA's Website, which provided a quick and easy way to communicate
with legislators, generated thousands of letters from approximately 1,000
people who identified themselves as employees of APTA Business Members. Many
others chose not to provide a company identification. Among the companies
whose employees used the Website were Luminator (54), Parsons Transportation
Group (47), Systra (38), URS (20), General Electric (21), TTA Systems (19),
DMJM (15), Orbital (15), Periscope (15), Earth Tech (14), Stacy and Witbeck
(13), Gillig (13), and S&A Systems (12).
PROFILES IN BUSINESS
Raul Bravo
Bio
data: Came to the United States from Argentina in 1963 to work for the
automotive industry, first for Ford Motor Co. and then for Chrysler Corp.
Switched to the transit industry in 1975, working for Rohr Industries and
Amtrak, and became president of his own transit consulting firm, Raul V. Bravo
+ Associates, in 1979. Born in Cruz del Eje, a small town in the northwest
province of Cordoba, Argentina. Holds degrees in mechanical engineering, business
administration and industrial design. Currently lives in Vienna, Va., with
his wife of 45 years, Elsa. They have four children and four grandchildren,
of which Raul says, "They keep us young, and of course we spoil them!"
Raul has been a member of APTA for about 15 years and has been on the BMBG
since 2001.
Toughest career challenge: Bringing together customers
and contractors into a constructive relationship of trust and honesty, based
on reasonable common sense, and creating winwin situations.
Proudest success: On the personal side, having a wonderful
family that has and continues to support me. On the professional side, having
developed good friends in the industry. This has allowed me to conduct my
business in a fun and productive way, gaining the trust and confidence of
all concerned. I love what I do and enjoy producing meaningful, commonsense
results.
Outside of work: Playing with our grandchildren, barbequing
Argentinean style, racing go-karts and watching Formula 1 racing.
If there is only one thing APTA could do this year, I
want it to: Increase the awareness of a better quality of life through
transit.
Supports APTA because: It is the organization that
brings us together with a worthwhile goal.
Preferred mode of travel -- buses or trains: Trains.
Jolene Molitoris
Bio
data: In 1993, became the first woman administrator of the Federal Railroad
Administration, a position she held for 712 years (making her the longest-serving
administrator of the FRA). Previously, she worked at the Ohio Rail Transportation
Authority and as deputy director of the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The 13 new short lines that were created during her years in Ohio are still
in business and profitable, and either retained or created more than 40,000
jobs in the state. Became president and CEO of GeoFocus LLC in 2001. Has a
B.A. from Catholic University of America and an M.A. from Case Western Reserve.
She has been a BMBG member since 2001.
Toughest career challenge: Seeing the realities of
death and injury in the rail transportation industry and to work with all
stakeholders to find real ways to save lives.
Proudest success: Professionally is to have had some
part in instituting programs and practices that saved lives and reduced injuries.
One of the joys of serving as FRA administrator is to have had the opportunity
to support and promote young, intelligent, committed professionals in the
transportation industry. Bringing the brightest and best women and minorities
into positions of responsibility and leadership in our industry is one of
the most important commitments any of us can make.
Outside of work: Spending time with husband David,
family and friends, in that order. Laughing, traveling, cooking (especially
with vegetables from her garden), entertaining, reading and singing. Loves
Broadway and the opera.
If there is only one thing APTA could do this year, I
want it to: Mobilize all of us so that the reauthorization that adequately
supports the needs of the transit industry is realized in 2004.
Supports APTA because: It is the most powerful and
effective transit organization for our joint and individual company needs.
Preferred mode of travel -- buses or trains: Trains.
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The official newsletter of the American Public Transportation Association's
Business Members
Chair
William Lochte,
Bombardier
Chair, Outreach Committee/Publisher Cliff Henke, NABI
Associate Publisher
Frank Di Giacomo,
METRO Magazine
Editors Leslie Davis, METRO Magazine;
Graphic Designer
Joni Hutton, Bobit Publishing
APTA Staff Advisor
Fran Hooper
The official newsletter of the American Public Transportation Association's
Business Members
Ensure a positive R.O.I. … Get active in APTA.
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