Transit Board Members Seminar Program

Whether you are a seasoned APTA member or completely new to the association, join this session to get (re-)acquainted with APTA’s role as an association, what services and resources are available to you and how you can become engaged. Meet with the leadership of APTA and the APTA Transit Board Members and Administrators Committees and bring your questions and ideas.

THEME OF THE MORNING:  NATIONAL AND GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

Welcome Remarks

• Jeffrey A. Nelson, Chair, APTA; CEO/Managing Director, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLink), Moline, IL
• Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
• Doug Tisdale, Chair of the TBM Committee; Board Director and Past Chair, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO
• Kathryn Jane Smith, Chair, APTA Transit Board Administrators Committee; Board Administrator, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL

Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees and Leadership Round Table

As Utah Transit Authority welcomes you to Salt Lake City, the Board of Trustees will lead a round table discussion about the agency’s governance structure, unlike any other across the nation. Here from the board, executive director and a local elected official as they discuss how the governance structure is re-shaping relationships with local governments, the state, and even changing the agency internally.

• Carlton Christensen, Chair, UTA Board of Trustees
• Beth Holbrook, UTA Board of Trustees
• Jeff Acerson, UTA Board of Trustees
• Jay Fox, UTA Executive Director
• Mayor Jeff Silvestrini, Millcreek City

Moderator: Beth Holbrook, Trustee, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT

• Ward W. McCarragher, Vice President-Government Affairs and Advocacy, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
• Dan H. Renberg, Partner, Arent Fox LLP, Washington, DC
• Raymond J. Melleady, Chair, APTA Research, Communications and Advocacy Council; Executive Vice President, United Safety & Survivability Corporation, Exton, PA

Strong community relations are essential to an agency’s success and board members play a fundamental role in engaging with local stakeholders and the general public. What practices have been effective in building local support and what messages have resonated with communities around the country? As funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law becomes available, how do agencies plan to communicate the benefits locally? Here from agency leaders across the countries to discuss what is working well in making the local case for transit and how they are setting up their agency for success going forward.

Moderator:  Theodore Smith, Board Chair, Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority, Birmingham, AL

• Jeffrey Travillion, Board Chairman, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX
• Rita A. Scott, Board Chair, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, GA
• Robert Clark, Board Commissioner, Memphis Area Transit Authority, Memphis, TN

THEME OF THE AFTERNOON:  TRANSFORMING TRANSIT FOR A NEW MOBILITY ERA

As transit agencies focus on rebuilding ridership, many are also looking at how to measure the value of transit beyond ridership to guide their decision-making. Unveiling the true economic, social, and environmental benefits, both for those that use transit and those who do not, can provide valuable information on how to optimize transit services. Join this compelling discussion on rethinking how transit’s value is measured and how more comprehensive data are being applied to improve transit equity, accessibility and sustainability.

Moderator: Kevin Holzendorf, Vice-Chair, APTA; Immediate Past-Chair, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL

• Ehren T. Bingaman, Principal, TransPro Consulting, Spring Hill, FL
• Caitlin Vargas, President, Board of Directors, Lane Transit District, Springfield, OR
• Katie Valenzuela, Board Member, Sacramento Regional Transit District, Sacramento, CA

Creating intentional connections between public transportation and affordable housing is a heightened priority as transit agencies bolster service to their core ridership and focus on equity. Panelists will discuss how Transit and Mobility-Oriented Development is being can create a stronger, healthier, and more equitable community, facilitating access to jobs, education, health care, and opportunity.

Moderator:  Troi Taylor, Member, APTA Board of Directors;  Board Secretary, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), Houston, TX

• Beth Holbrook, Trustee, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT
• Tracy Hadden Loh, Ph.D., Board Member, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington, DC
• Chessy Brady, TOD Manager, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO

Join transit board leaders to discuss how their agency approaches equity as a lens for decision-making. What impactful actions have and are their agency’s taking to advance equity internally as well as in their communities. What does it mean for a transit agency to make a commitment to equity, what is the role of the Board and how is that operationalized and communicated from the perspective of employees, customers, business and community partnerships?

Moderator:  Arezou C. Jolly, Member, APTA Board of Directors; Chair of the Board, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL

• Marlon Moore, PH.D., Board Vice Chair, Central Ohio Transit Authority, Columbus, OH
• Michele Wong Krause, Secretary, APTA TBM Committee; Board Chair, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX
• Robert DeJournett, Board President, METRO Regional Transit Authority, Akron, OH

Location:  Rice-Eccles Stadium, University of Utah

Ride the TRAX light rail line to Rice Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah campus, which provides sweeping views of Salt Lake City and the entire valley at sunset. Join the UTA Board of Trustees and leadership for appetizers and drinks, dinner and live music by a local Jazz/Blues band.

Meet in the hotel lobby by 6:30 p.m. to walk to the TRAX Library Station (approximately 2 ½ blocks).

Sponsored by UTA and Stadler.

THEME OF THE MORNING: GOOD GOVERNANCE

This interactive keynote address will provide the opportunity for thought provoking engagement for transit board members and administrators. Key areas of focus will include:

• Defining your new normal
• Tools to strengthen effective two-way communication
• The importance of supportive change management processes
• Best practices to work together as one

Guest Speaker: Dr. Kenston Griffin, CEO, Dream Builders Communication, Inc., Huntersville, NC

Facilitator:  Kevin Holzendorf, Vice-Chair, APTA; Immediate Past Chair – Board of Directors, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL

Facilitators:

• Caitlin Vargas, President, Board of Directors, Lane Transit District, Springfield, OR
• Valarie J. McCall, Ex-Officio Member, APTA Board of Directors; Past Chair, APTA; Past Chair, Transit Board Members Committee; Member, Board of Trustees, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland, OH

Testimonials by:

• Paul Smedberg, Board Chair, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington DC
• Gary Giovanetti, Vice-Chair, APTA TBM Committee; Vice-Chair of the Board, San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD), Stockton, CA

Facilitated by:

• Doug Tisdale, Chair of the TBM Committee; Board Director, District H, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO

THEME OF THE AFTERNOON: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Workforce shortages are a challenge many if not most transit agencies around the country are facing. It is having significant impacts on how much service agencies can currently provide just as many are seeing an uptick in ridership. Join workforce development leaders to discuss how agencies are addressing these shortages and what innovative strategies are being deployed across the country to attract, hire, train and retain employees.

Moderator: Gary S. Giovanetti, Vice-Chair, APTA TBM Committee; Vice-Chair of the Board, San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Stockton, CA

• LaShanda Dawkins, Esq., Assistant General Manager, Labor & Employee Relations, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, GA
• Geisha Ester, Vice President, Training and Workforce Development, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL
• George F. Fields, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Deputy General Manager, Human Resources, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland, OH
• Kimberly Shanklin, Chief People Officer, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT

As crime rates rise in cities across the country, public safety concerns have increased for transit users. How are agencies addressing these concerns and what approaches are having a positive impact? Engage in a discussion with three agencies that have taken innovative and successful approaches to public safety.

Moderator: Jeff Acerson, Trustee, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT

• Dr. LaVerne Lewis, Board Director, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, OR
• Vince Buzek, Board Chair and Director, District J, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO
• Craig Treneff, Chair, Board of Trustees, Central Ohio Transit Authority, Columbus, OH

Join UTA on a multi-modal tour from Salt Lake City north to Ogden City. Buses will take you to Salt Lake Central Station to board FrontRunner, UTA’s commuter rail system, to Ogden. After a brief welcome by Ogden City officials, board UTA’s new all-electric vehicles that will serve the agency’s second bus rapid transit project, the Ogden Express (OGX), which is still under construction. The tour will follow the route along Ogden’s historic 25th Street and show how the new route connects key destinations in the community, including Weber State University.

Meet in the hotel lobby at 4 p.m.

Note the tour will conclude at the location of the reception.

Location: Garden Patio and Grand Ballroom, Weber State University

Enjoy an evening of drinks and dinner in the Garden Patio and Grand Ballroom at Weber State University. Mingle and network to the live bluegrass music provided by popular local band Molly in the Mineshaft.

Following dinner, UTA buses will provide transportation directly back to the Marriott hotel

Sponsored by Stacy & Witbeck

THEME OF THE MORNING:  INNOVATION, INTEGRATION, THE NEW MOBILITY LANDSCAPE AND FARE  AND PROCUREMENT POLICIES

Global disruptions to the supply chain, leading to material shortages and price volatility, are already adversely impacting the public transit sector. These supply chain challenges, coupled with outdated contract terms and conditions, can result in significant construction and delivery delays at a time when transit infrastructure projects are multiplying. Take this opportunity to engage directly with the Federal Transit Administration and augment your understanding of the fiduciary responsibilities of the Board and what direction the Board can and cannot provide on contract flexibility.

• James Harper, Jr., Director, Office of Acquisition Management; Chief Business Advisor, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Transit agencies have shown exceptional creativity and innovation in maintaining essential levels of service while meeting the evolving mobility needs of their communities. They are deploying new technologies and working with key community partners to augment accessibility, the customer experience and integration of systems including micromobility, microtransit and paratransit. Here from a variety of agencies across the country.

Moderator: Carmen Garcia, Board Member, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas TX

• Francis Julien, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
• Martin Gombert, Board Chair, Access Services, El Monte, CA
• Jaron M. Robertson, Acting Planning Director: Innovative Mobility Solutions, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT

Fare policies need to take into account how we reattract ridership, ensure equitable access to our systems and maintain sufficient fare box recovery. Some agencies are going the free fare route, others are experimenting with fare capping and eliminating extra charges and others are decidedly not making radical changes. Here from two agencies that have taken very different approaches and join in a vibrant discussion on fare solutions, fare equity and financial viability.

Moderator:  Carlton Christensen, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT

• Jay Mitchell Fox, Executive Director, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT
• Nichol Bourdeaux, Chief Planning & Engagement Officer, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT
• Reginald Townsend, Board Vice-Chair, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, Kansas City, MO