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LEADERSHIP APTA — the American Public Transportation Association’s premier professional development program designed to develop and support the next generation of leaders of the transit industry and within APTA.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Join the ranks of more than 250 program graduates who today lead and serve in executive and senior leadership roles at transit agencies, in the private sector, and in related transit organizations world-wide.
Be part of a select group of rising transit leaders chosen from a competitive pool of program applicants.
Develop and deepen your understanding of
the transit industry, strengthen and refine
your core competencies as transit leaders, build your network of professional colleagues and friends.
Engage in a year-long leadership program
that connects class members with worldclass leaders and respected leadership and industry experts.
Learn and grow as leaders through customized
sessions, focused workshops, team assignments, online venues, site visits, leadership projects and much more. Have the
opportunity to be featured speakers at APTA conference sessions, meetings, workshops and events.
Give back to the industry and to APTA. Help
promote APTA’s vision and mission of public transportation.
| Each year, the Leadership APTA
Committee selects 25 individuals
from among APTA applicants to
participate in a year-long program that
includes a combination of intensive
workshops, conferences, class leadership
projects and assignments, teleconference
and online meetings, and web-based
events. |
PREPARING TOMORROW’S
LEADERS TODAY FOR THE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
INDUSTRY
LEADERSHIP APTA’S GOALS
The goals of the Leadership APTA program are to:
Dentify, develop, and support the next generation of transit industry leaders and future leaders of APTA.
Offer expert-led sessions and workshops facilitated by world-class leaders to help participants develop and refine their core leadership competencies and skills.
Provide meaningful class assignments and projects
specifically designed to address tough leadership decisions, thought-provoking issues, and real-world public transportation challenges.
Connect class members with respected leaders both within and outside the transit industry.
Stimulate and foster individual development, teamwork, and class growth.
Educate participants about APTA, including its governance, organizational structure, and leadership and development opportunities.
Provide an immediate process for class members to give back to the industry and to APTA.
Provide first-hand opportunities to join, participate in, and address APTA committees.
Enable participation in APTA’s Legislative Conference and Annual Meetings.
Identify and address services, challenges, trends,
and major issues in public transportation.
Support and sustain a collegial and professional environment that facilitates team building, networking, and strong communication with a diverse group of
Leadership APTA program participants, alumni, and APTA members.
Incorporate direction, guidance, faculty assistance, and programmatic support from members of the Leadership APTA Committee.
ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
LEADERSHIP APTA
Leadership APTA is specifically designed for APTA
members working for public transportation systems,
private corporations, businesses, and organizations
related to the public transportation industry.
Potential candidates might be general managers,
assistant general managers, middle management
personnel, and other individuals identified with
strong leadership potential. Leadership APTA is
committed to identifying a diverse group of
individuals from throughout the entire public
transportation structure.
Leadership APTA’s agenda includes attendance at
conferences, leadership projects, teleconference and
online meetings, use of APTA’s Online Communities
and Learning Center, and planned web-based events.
Key events and activities include:
One four-day intensive workshop in December 2008.
Full participation in APTA’s March 2009 Legislative Conference.
Selected Leadership APTA workshops connected to
APTA’s March 2009 Legislative Conference.
One four-day intensive workshop in July 2009.
Activities and sessions at APTA’s 2008 Annual Meeting and EXPO and 2009 Annual Meeting.
Team-based leadership projects, based on current topics identified by class members.
Through all these events, participants will hear from
and have numerous opportunities to talk with APTA’s
executives and senior leadership; key transportation
industry and transit agency leaders; elected and appointed
officials; labor leaders; communications and media experts;
and workforce development, diversity, and leadership
experts.
Discussions will include such topics as federal and local
funding, labor/management relations, strategic planning,
building and developing relationships, and leadership
development and its related challenges.
Over the course of the program year, APTA and industry
leader and leadership experts will direct workshops on
the evolving role of today’s leaders.
Project teams will begin working on assignments at
the end of the March 2009 Legislative Conference in
Washington, D.C. They will conduct interviews and
related research and make presentations at the July 2009 session and at the October 2009 APTA Annual
Meeting in Orlando, Florida, after which they will
provide copies of their project papers.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
To be recognized as a graduate of the Leadership
APTA Class of 2008-2009 and receive a certificate
of completion, each member of the class must:
Attend and actively participate in the required December 2008 and July 2009 Leadership APTA workshops.
Attend and actively participate in the March 2009 APTA Legislative Conference.
Attend and actively participate in related required
Leadership APTA workshops.
Actively participate with fellow team members and complete agreed-upon assigned tasks.
Actively participate in conference calls and web-related events.
Participate and contribute to Leadership APTA online forums, and teleconference and online meetings.
Class members will be introduced at the 2008 Annual
Meeting and Expo in San Diego and attend related
Leadership APTA sessions and activities there. The 2009
APTA Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida will feature
the class graduation.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are selected to participate in Leadership
APTA, and you change jobs during the course of the program
year, your new employer must be an APTA member and must
write a letter of support to APTA for your continued participation
in the program. You will be responsible for resolving the tuition
fee payment between your new and former employers.
LEADERSHIP APTA COSTS AND
WHO PAYS
Leadership APTA participants are sponsored by
the public transportation system or organization
where they are employed. Sponsoring a candidate,
providing the monetary resources, and allowing
the time necessary for candidates to participate in
the related events and activities are critical to the
success of Leadership APTA.
The $3,000 tuition fee for the program, due at APTA
by Friday, October 3, 2008, includes:
Workshop books and materials, some meals, and related expenses during the three required Leadership APTA workshops (December 2008, March 2009, and July
2009).
March 2009 APTA Legislative Conference registration materials and some meals.
2008 APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO registration, including a Leadership APTA luncheon and some meals.
Participating agencies and organizations sponsoring participants in the program are responsible for:
Tuition fees.
Travel costs to and from the Leadership APTA workshops, legislative conference, and Annual Meetings.
Hotel expenses, some meals, and related miscellaneous expenses.
Participating agencies and organizations should plan for
participants to attend the December 2008 workshop;
March 2009 Legislative Conference and workshops held
in conjunction with the conference; and the July 2009
workshop.
Logistical costs associated with these events include:
Five hotel nights, two travel days, and four days for the December 2008 workshop.
Five hotel nights, two travel days, and five days for the March 2009 Legislative Conference.
Five hotel nights, two travel days, and four days for the July 2009 workshop.
A minimum of one-to-two hotel nights and two travel days each for the 2008 Annual Meeting and EXPO and 2009 Annual Meetings.
Complimentary conference registrations will be provided
for the May 2009 Bus and Paratransit Conference and
the June 2009 Rail Conference.
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION
COMMITMENT
All general managers and CEOs recognize that
sending a participant to Leadership APTA is of
ultimate value to their organizations and understand
that their commitment and support means allowing
their Leadership APTA participants to attend
numerous APTA meetings and workshops. Sponsoring
organizations also recognize that Leadership APTA
participants will spend time over the year working
on projects and participating in related conference
calls, online meetings, and web-based events.
APTA encourages each sponsoring organization
to support at least one additional year of APTA
Committee involvement from its Leadership APTA
participant after he/she graduates from the program.
Leadership APTA class graduates serve as mentors
for the next incoming class.
LEADERSHIP APTA CLASS OF
2008-2009 TIME SCHEDULE
June 27, 2008: Leadership APTA applicants deadline
for applying. The application materials must include
the completed online application form, one essay, resume/
description of current position and experience, including
timelines, and two letters of recommendation.
Mid-August 2008: A diverse Leadership APTA Committee meets to review and evaluate the applications and select the Leadership APTA Class of 2008-2009.
Late August 2008: Applicants are notified of the
Committee’s decision.
October 3, 2008: Tuition payment of $3,000 due at APTA.
October 5-7, 2008: APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO in San Diego, CA. Incoming class introduced to APTA leadership, members, and Leadership APTA alumni.
Mid-November 2008: Teleconference meetings with class members, Leadership APTA committee leadership, and APTA staff, as preliminary review and preparation
for December workshop.
December 2008: (dates to be confirmed) Four-day Leadership APTA workshop in Washington, D.C., including discussion of leadership project topics.
January and February 2009: Teleconference meetings with class members, Leadership APTA Committee members, and APTA staff to discuss leadership projects
and review class preparations and planning for March 2009 Legislative Conference.
March 7-11, 2009: 2009 APTA Legislative Conference and Leadership APTA workshops in Washington, D.C. Class leadership projects assigned.
Mid-June 2009: Teleconferences, online practice sessions, and discussions with project teams in preparation for July 2009 delivery of class leadership projects.
July 2009: (dates and location to be confirmed) Four-day Leadership APTA workshop. Class teams deliver leadership project presentations.
October 4-7 2009: APTA Annual Meeting in Orlando,
Florida. Graduating class honored at graduation program
and luncheon. Class members deliver project presentations
during committee meetings and conference sessions at Annual Meeting. All class leadership project papers/ reports due.
HOW TO APPLY
Individuals interested in applying for the program
must provide the following information:
Completed application online form.
1,000-word essay stating how and why you will benefit from Leadership APTA. The essay should state career goals, including where you will see yourself in APTA and the public transportation industry.
Complete resume, including current and past positions with dates of your experience in the public transportation and related industries. Job descriptions or equivalent documents are not acceptable submissions.
Two industry letters of recommendation. The first letter must come from the highest ranking official of your transit agency, company, or organization. The second may come from your direct supervisor, a client or a recent/former transit agency senior official.
ONLINE APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Click here to apply online for the Class of 2008-
2009. APTA will accept only online applications.
All required application materials must be submitted
by 5 pm Eastern Daylight Time, Friday, June 27,
2008. Note: The web site will not be open after this
deadline date.
APTA POINT OF CONTACT
If you have questions, please contact Joseph
Niegoski, Director – Educational Services, at
202-496-4870 or jniegoski@apta.com.
American Public Transportation Association
1666 K Street N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006–1215
202-496-4800
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