APTA: Business In Motion

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Table Of Contents

Message From the Chair
Committees Outline Progress, 2005 Goals
Funding, Reauthorization Issues Make Business Hill Visits a Top Priority
So You Want to Run: An APTA Leadership Primer
BMBG, Members Active In Overseas Trade Missions
Corrections
Credits

By Kim Green, GFI Genfare

THE WORK HAS ONLY BEGUN

This year, APTA’s business members are in a great position to help new APTA Chair Dick White with the theme he has chosen for his tenure: “Getting Down to Business.”

For those of you among the 80-plus attendees at our Annual Business Meeting in Coral Gables, Fla., we certainly lived up to that phrase. (We also had some fun, too.) In addition to White, CEOs/general managers Paul Skoutelas (Pittsburgh), Ron Barnes (Miami) and Mike Mulhern (Boston) were there to talk about local political funding and procurement issues.

The full agenda tackled some challenging issues that we face this year, such as the future of the (PT)2 campaign, industry standards development and proposed association bylaws changes. Some of these issues cut to the very core of the relationship between the industry’s public and private sectors, and as such they are not going to be resolved overnight. We continue to make progress and the dialogue will go on, so stay tuned as we will have some major announcements for you soon.

In addition, I asked each BMBG committee to prepare a “background paper” that identified key strategic issues for our membership to discuss. We had some stimulating debate on these topics, which ranged from how the content at the major APTA meetings can be more relevant to business members, to how to engage members of Congress more effectively, to how we can best put more business members in leadership positions on APTA committees, including the Executive Committee. We expect concrete progress on all these issues this year.

Until we get a bill, however, all these other issues pale in comparison to reauthorization. We must get this done soon; as has been documented in a new brochure funded by our Activity Fund, many business members are starting to feel some real pain as a result of the reauthorization delay. Copies of this brochure, called “Delaying TEA 21 Reauthorization: Slowing Down America...and American Business,” will be distributed at the APTA Legislative Conference.

Speaking of that meeting, mark the dates on your calendars between March 6 and 8. Once again, the BMBG has been heavily involved in the planning of this conference. If you can, please fly in Saturday, when many of the BMBG committees will be meeting, and stay an extra day, when several should ramp up into high gear. Once the committee is published, the candidate, the campaign steering committee and the candidate’s supporters (such as members of the BMBG!) should coordinate a conference call to discuss a strategy, including an analysis of the Nominating Committee (e.g., the personalities involved, their “hot buttons,” influencers, who they know, etc.).

Candidates should write letters to the committee members explaining their interest and qualifications for the position. While letter writing will not win the campaign, it is an important element. These letters should come from the candidate as well as independently from supporters. For the latter, the candidate should compile a one-page summary of campaign points and qualifications. Turney said that he initially placed low emphasis on this aspect of the campaign, then discovered that he almost waited too long to write the letters (hence the importance of having a campaign steering committee watching and looking for the soft spots!). He found that he was being “conspicuous by his absence” without these letters. People do not vote for letters; they vote for and support candidates in whom they believe. But all elements of the campaign fit together to create a success!

The goal of each candidate should be to secure at least two “believers” on the Nominating Committee, Turney said. The committee goes into its tough job with an open mind to present a level playing field for all. However, that does not preclude having a few on the committee that really believe in the candidate; in fact, absent that, the campaign will not be a success, Turney stressed.

Every good campaign has literature. The key piece here is your resume, Turney added. You should develop one suitable for this campaign, stating positions/objectives and relevant experience both in the industry and in APTA and other associations.

In addition, candidates need to have letters of support from peers to the Nominating Committee, not too many but not too few, either. Letters of support should be delivered to committee members within the last few days prior to the early August meeting. Note that this is a different set of letters than discussed above, which are sent earlier in the campaign. Candidates should also use their work colleagues to spread the word of their candidacy. Indeed, everyone that you or your employees come into contact with should be aware of your intentions.

The Nominating Committee typically meets in early August to propose a slate of candidates. This is announced 30 days prior to the actual election (i.e., approval of the slate of candidates), which takes place at APTA’s Annual Meeting. The “real election,” then, is the nominating process, because the election is virtually always a ratification of the proposed slate. Turney stresses that campaigns should not be so well-planned that they miss opportunities. For example, Linda Bohlinger was recently elected as chair of the Research & Technology Committee, which became available unexpectedly. Either way, the most important message here is go for it. Do not be afraid to throw your hat in the ring, and if unsuccessful the first time, keep trying. APTA has campaign guidelines available. This year’s positions open to business members are human resources and management and finance.

Committees Outline Progress, 2005 Goals

By Cliff Henke, WestStart/CALSTART

Fun and (not necessarily) sun aside, the BMBG worked through a busy agenda at its Annual Business Meeting in Coral Gables, Fla. The major issues on this agenda included:

Procurement: The APTA Procurement Task Force has concluded its work, handing implementation to a newly created Procurement Steering Committee led by Ronald J. Tober (CEO, Charlotte Area Transit System) and Bob Brownstein (PB Consult). Its core responsibility will be to tie together the various committees that handle procurement issues within APTA in order to implement the task force’s objectives more effectively.

(PT)2 Program: The current (PT)2 program ends in June 2006. The Executive Committee approved the establishment of a (PT)2 Task Force under the leadership of Dave Turney, APTA’s vice chair of marketing, and Rich Bacigalupo, APTA’s vice chair of government affairs, to assess the current (PT)2 program and develop a successor program and funding recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.

Standards: APTA staff briefed the BMBG on the various APTA-led standards-setting programs to date, its current work program and the proposed dues increase to support the effort. Action on the proposal by the Executive Committee and Board of Directors is planned for their meetings in March.

In addition to the above issues, the BMBG’s committees outlined the progress each made in 2004 and their goals and objectives for 2005. Following is a brief synopsis of their work:

Business Development: Successful trade missions to Russia and China involving many members of the committee were highlights of 2004. The committee also deepened the working relationship with the APTA Marketing and Communications Committee (particularly since Turney is now APTA’s vice chair of marketing). For 2005, the committee is looking at a trade mission in Mexico in the spring, as well as the U.S. pavilion at the UITP Congress and Expo in Rome in June. Finally, the committee will continue to further two initiatives of the BMBG Tactical Plan: the creation of an industry market study and a “sentinel” service for upcoming procurements.

Government Affairs: The committee continues to monitor the progress of TEA 21 reauthorization and various business member-specific concerns in the legislation. A new brochure is being created to publicize the impact of reauthorization’s delay on the business community and on the industry’s suppliers, which will be distributed at the Legislative Conference in March. In addition, business members will be meeting with key members of Congress and their staffs during the weeks of February 14, March 7 (Legislative Conference week) and April 14 to convey suppliers’ concerns.

Outreach: In addition to publishing four issues of Business in Motion in 2004, the Outreach Committee merged with the Liaison Committee because their issues and work are closely related. In addition, progress was made on disseminating the business case to federal officials and national opinion leaders, an important responsibility given to the committee in the BMBG Tactical Plan. In February, Powell Tate, the public relations firm retained by the (PT)2 program, launched a new media campaign titled “We Make Communities Go.” It is designed to create awareness about the business case for public transportation. The Outreach Committee will continue working with Powell Tate as the campaign progresses. Finally, the committee is studying how business members can be elected to prominent positions in APTA, building on the successes of Turney’s election and Linda Bohlinger’s selection as the new Research & Technology Committee chair.

Programs: The Programs Committee suggested that, despite the success of the newly created Executive of the Year Award and black tie dinner at the APTA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, it would not be repeated in Dallas this year due to a full agenda in an Expo year. However, procurement-related sessions will be held at the key meetings this year. The committee is also looking for Annual Meeting speakers that the BMBG will sponsor, mindful of the need to maintain the high standard set by Tom Peters in Salt Lake City and Andrew Young in Atlanta.

Funding, Reauthorization Issues Make Business Hill Visits a Top Priority

By Art Guzzetti, APTA Staff

In February, the Bush Administration released its Fiscal Year 2006 budget proposal, which recommends a funding level of $7.781 billion for the federal transit program, an increase of $134 million, or 1.8%, over the FY 2005 final appropriation (which itself was a record increase over FY 2004 levels).

This slight increase in transit assistance is part of an overall budget proposal to cut total non-defense, non-homeland security discretionary funding by 1%, including overall funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The president proposed to zero out all federal subsidies for Amtrak. Instead, the administration would provide $360 million for the Surface Transportation Board to maintain existing commuter rail services and freight operations in the northeast corridor.

These proposals are likely to spark an intense fight for money throughout the federal budget. At a time when we also still need a multiyear reauthorization bill, business members will be called upon like never before to help the industry make the case for increased public transportation investment.

TEA 21 Reauthorization and the Budget

In its February budget request for next year, the Bush Administration proposed a six-year funding level for TEA 21 reauthorization of $283.9 billion, an increase of $27.9 billion over the administration’s proposal last year. The DOT budget release states that this “figure reflects the emerging consensus in Congress that was developed in a conference committee in 2004.” The budget proposal gives a preview of the administration’s new SAFETEA reauthorization proposal, but it does not provide much detail. A full proposal was expected shortly after press time.

The budget proposal begins to set the stage for this year’s debate over TEA 21 reauthorization. It proposes to fund the transit program at $49.1 billion over six years (FY 2004-2009) but, like previous administration reauthorization proposals, it does not propose to guarantee the portion of the Federal Transit Administration program that is funded with general funds. The administration again proposes to eliminate such programs as the Bus and Bus Facilities and Fixed Guideway Modernization programs and move that funding into the formula and other programs. Many of these proposals were considered and rejected or modified by Congress last year.

Transit Security Proposals

Meanwhile, for the first time, President Bush proposed in his FY 2006 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget to create a new security infrastructure program, called the Targeted Infrastructure Protection (TIP) program, under which public transportation is eligible for funding. This new program would provide $600 million in federal grants for the protection of critical infrastructure, including not only public transportation but also seaports, railways and energy facilities. Specific allocation of TIP money would be left to the discretion of the secretary of DHS.

In addition to the TIP program, there are two other programs for which transit is eligible, also at the discretion of the DHS secretary. The administration proposed $1 billion for the Urban Area Security Initiative, which would provide discretionary grants to urban areas and regions; and another $1 billion for discretionary grants to states to meet national preparedness priorities identified in state homeland security plans.

Business Member Activities

Accordingly, the Business Member Government Affairs Committee has stepped up its efforts for a big push this spring. Beginning the week of February 14, business members visited several key members of Congress, particularly new members of the appropriations, tax-writing and budget committees of the House and Senate, where action on the legislative agenda for transit will begin.

During the week of March 6, in conjunction with the APTA Legislative Conference, and the week of April 11, more business delegations to Capitol Hill are being organized, this time adding the authorizing committees in both chambers. If you would like to participate in the remaining visits and have not yet registered, please do so immediately.

In addition, the BMBG is rolling out two new related information sources. The first is a new brochure that documents the impact of the delay in reauthorization on business activity. Tentatively titled “Delaying TEA 21 Reauthorization: Slowing Down America... and American Business,” the new brochure assesses the economic impact that delay in TEA 21 reauthorization has had on the transit industry, including impacts to shareholders and employees. The brochure uses such examples as declining order backlogs for buses and railcars, delayed hiring and/or layoffs, and deferred research and development projects.

In addition, the BMBG helped to launch “We Make Communities Go,” a campaign designed to disseminate the ideas of the business case for public transportation that were developed as part of the BMBG Tactical Plan adopted in 2003. (PT)2 will use this information campaign in its efforts to interest major media in the importance of public transportation. Ideally, the campaign will result in favorable media coverage that will be timed as Congress debates reauthorization this spring.

Finally, the Legislative Conference will again feature the Monday morning “Hot and Hearty” breakfast that will spotlight the business message. In addition to this session, business members will sponsor an afternoon event on Capitol Hill. See you in D.C.!

So You Want to Run: An APTA Leadership Primer

By Franny Yuhas, Orbital TMS, and Cliff Henke, WestStart/CALSTART

An objective of the BMBG Tactical Plan is to put more business members in key APTA leadership positions, including as chairs of the standing committees and as the APTA vice chair positions for which supply-siders are eligible. These latter positions are part of the association’s Executive Committee, where all important APTA decisions are initially made, some subject to vote of the full Board of Directors.

However, many in APTA do not know how to successfully campaign for these positions. Notice that we used the word “campaign.” It is well chosen because successful candidates develop and execute a carefully crafted plan for getting elected (or in the case of committee chairs, getting chosen) for these positions.

To learn more, we turned to Dave Turney, CEO of Digital Recorders, and the one business member who has run a successful election. In 2003, Turney was elected as APTA’s vice chair of marketing and communications. His insights are invaluable to anyone aspiring to more responsibility within APTA.

The first thing that Turney stresses is to become involved. He has made it a priority to become involved both in general APTA activities and the core activity to which the position being sought relates. However, above all else, you must be involved, active and visible in a positive context. Turney is a former chair of the BMBG and, as such, a former Executive Committee member. In addition, he was one of the co-chairs of the (PT)2 campaign. He served on many committees and task forces. This visibility is critical for aspiring APTA leaders, he said. This takes time, but it is vital.

Once you have this experience under your belt and feel that the timing is right, then you must develop your campaign plan. This should begin by sounding out a few people you know and respect within the association during the months prior to the spring before the election, which is held at the Annual Meeting. By the APTA Legislative Conference of the campaign year, you should start to make it known more openly and formally.

During the spring, Turney also called at least one influential general manager in the industry per day for about four weeks straight, stating that he was running for the position and to invite feedback/thoughts on the prospect. He also sought the ideas and concerns of these contacts. At the APTA Bus and Paratransit Conference which is held in May, Turney spent about 20 minutes per day during the conference — and each day he could up to the election at the Annual Meeting—letting people know of his interest and why he was qualified.

By this point, a campaign steering committee should have formed. This committee should be chaired by a person well known to the candidate, a person who will “tell it like it is.” This committee should meet by telephone at least every two weeks, more often in the latter stages of the campaign.

Once the Nominating Committee members are known, which is usually by June 1, the campaign should ramp up into high gear. Once the committee is published, the candidate, the campaign steering committee and the candidate’s supporters (such as members of the BMBG!) should coordinate a conference call to discuss a strategy, including an analysis of the Nominating Committee (e.g., the personalities involved, their “hot buttons,” influencers, who they know, etc.).

Turney said that he initially placed low emphasis on this aspect of the campaign, then discovered that he almost waited too long to write the letters (hence the importance of having a campaign steering committee watching and looking for the soft spots!). He found that he was being “conspicuous by his absence” without these letters. People do not vote for letters; they vote for and support candidates in whom they believe. But all elements of the campaign fit together to create a success!

Candidates should also use their work colleagues to spread the word of their candidacy. Indeed, everyone that you or your employees come into contact with should be aware of your intentions.

Turney stresses that campaigns should not be so well-planned that they miss opportunities. For example, Linda Bohlinger was recently elected as chair of the Research & Technology Committee, which became available unexpectedly. Either way, the most important message here is go for it. Do not be afraid to throw your hat in the ring, and if unsuccessful the first time, keep trying.

APTA has campaign guidelines available. This year’s positions open to business members are human resources and management and finance.

BMBG, Members Active In Overseas Trade Missions

Aslew of APTA business members have been instrumental in the success of a recent international trade mission to China designed to promote and win business for U.S. transit products and services. BMBG’s Business Development Committee, led by Al Engel of Systra Consulting and Don Nelson of the Washington Group, has been actively supporting these government-led efforts.

The most recent of these missions was to China in November. Led by FTA Deputy Administrator Robert Jamison, U.S. companies were able to meet directly with key commercial and government contacts in Beijing, Chongqing and Chengdu. All three cities are actively exploring expansions of their urban transportation networks, including BRT, light rail, metro and commuter rail. Particularly useful was the unique access to transit decision makers in all levels of the Chinese government responsible for Beijing’s infrastructure who must put their city’s development plans on a fast track as they prepare to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The committee also hosted FTA officials and some of these Chinese dignitaries at a very informative industry briefing during the APTA Annual Meeting in Atlanta. The encounter helped to lay the groundwork for further dialogue during the trade mission.

This year’s trade mission to China and the one last year to Russia have resulted in return visits by foreign transit officials to the U.S. In November, a 10-member delegation from Moscow Oblast visited Washington and New York to learn more about U.S. transit and school bus operations. The group, from suburban Moscow, hosted APTA members on last year’s trade mission. Most recently, a delegation from Chongqing, China, one of the cities on this year’s trade mission, met with APTA staff to discuss the formation of a delegation to attend EXPO 2005.

Additional international opportunities will be available in 2005. These include the chance to participate in the U.S. Pavilion in City Transport, the exhibition attached to the UITP’s biennial congress, which will be held in Rome the first week of June. Space is still available to attend the U.S. Pavilion. Contact Fran Hooper at fhooper@apta.com for more information.

A trade mission to China in November took APTA business members to Beijing, Chongquing and Chendu to learn more about business opportunities. In addition to meeting transit providers and potential partners in each city, the delegation also met with officials from China’s Ministry of Construction (which has responsibility for transit construction), Ministry of Railroads and Ministry of Science and Technology. APTA past chair George Dixon and FTA Deputy Administrator Robert Jamison led the trade mission.

CORRECTIONS

Following is the corrected text for the New Member Profile for Cimage, which ran in error in the January 2005 issue of Business in Motion:

Founded in 1990, Cimage NovaSoft is a supplier of enterprise content management (ECM) solutions to industry and government. Its ECM solutions comprise imaging, records management, document management, workflow and collaboration software that provide:

Creation, capture and secure storage of information.
Retrieval, viewing, collaboration and distribution of information.
Control of document changes for secure, automated, traceable processes.
Management of document revisions.

Cimage is used for the management and distribution of document-based information to ensure regulatory compliance and increase productivity. Some of the company’s customers include BART, the London Underground and GE Railcar Systems.

Business In Motion

The official newsletter of the American Public Transportation Association's Business Members

Chair
Kim Green,
GFI Genfare

Chair, Outreach Committee/Publisher
Cliff Henke, NABI

Associate Publisher
Frank Di Giacomo,
METRO Magazine

Editor
Leslie Davis,
METRO Magazine

Graphic Designer
Joni Hutton,
Bobit Business Media

APTA Staff Advisor
Fran Hooper

Ensure a positive R.O.I. …Get active in APTA.

To receive Business in Motion electronically, email Fran Hooper at fhooper@apta.com.

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