Saturday, July 30

TIME (all times Mountain)
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Registration
5:30 PM – 6:15 PM Welcome to APTA – A New Member Orientation

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.

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Welcome Reception

Sunday, July 31

TIME (all times Mountain)
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM Registration
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast

THEME OF THE MORNING:  NATIONAL AND GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM Opening Session – Setting the Stage for Success
(Joint TBM/TBA session)

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
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM APTA Advocacy Update – A View from Washington
(Joint TBM/TBA session)This session will provide an overview of the current political climate and outlook for federal transit funding, including how to ensure the promise of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is honored. Experts will review how APTA engages on the Hill as the primary advocate for the transit industry, how to best communicate key advocacy priorities at this time, and how transit board members can play an instrumental role as the voice of the industry.

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
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Networking Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM A Focus on Grassroots Advocacy and Local Partnerships: Success Stories in Telling Transit’s Story

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
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch

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

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Rebuilding Ridership and The Value of Transit Beyond Ridership: What the Data Can Tell You and How They Can Support a System Redesign

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
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Networking Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Transit and Mobility Oriented Development and Communities: The Nexus Between Housing and Transit to Maximize Equitable Community Investments

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
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Networking Break
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Developing Transit Through an Equity Lens: What It Means in Practice and The Role of The Board

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
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM UTA Host Event
(Joint TBM/TBA Event)

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.


Monday, August 1

TIME (all times Mountain)
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Continental Breakfast

THEME OF THE MORNING: GOOD GOVERNANCE

8:00 AM – 8:05 AM Welcome & Daily Run Down
8:05 AM – 9:30 AM Board Governance: The Power of a Supporting Cast – Developing a Constructive Leadership Environment for the Board
(Joint TBM/TBA session)It is no secret that times have and are continuing to change like never before due to post pandemic effects, demographic and economic shifts, a changing workforce and new board & staff development and retention needs. According to Forbes magazine, organizations are being forced to conduct business differently from resource allocation to data-based decision-making to unlocking innovation and creativity and ultimately better understanding customers’ evolving needs. Developing a constructive leadership environment for the Board and transit executive leadership is more important than ever.

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

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Networking Break
9:45 AM – 11:35 AM Extraordinary Board Leadership – Finding the Right CEO and CEO Performance Evaluations
(a TBM-only session)Hiring the best CEO for your agency and establishing a sound CEO performance evaluation system are two of the most crucial responsibilities of a transit board. But how to establish sound criteria and processes for both hiring and evaluations is not an easy task. Join this TBM-only session for an open and extensive exchange on good practices and lessons learned from recent experience at agencies across the country. Come ready to share your questions, challenges and success stories.

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
11:35 AM – 11:45 AM Networking Break
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM Working Lunch & Group Discussions on Extraordinary Board Leadership – Effective CEO-Board Relationships
(a TBM-only session)An effective Board-CEO relationship is fundamental to the good governance of a transit agency. This TBM-only discussion will focus on building and maintaining a close, positive, productive, and enduring board-CEO partnership: what it takes and what has and has not worked well. Bring your experience and questions to the table and talk through key issues with your fellow board members.

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

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Lessons Learned and Best Practices in Addressing Workforce Shortages

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
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM Lessons Learned and Best Practices in Addressing Public Safety Concerns

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
4:00 PM – 6:30 PM UTA Tour: Commuter Rail, BRT and All-Electric Buses

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.

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM UTA Host Event
(Joint TBM/TBA event)

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


Tuesday, August 2

TIME (all times Mountain)
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Continental Breakfast

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

8:00 AM – 8:05 AM Welcome & Daily Run Down
8:05 AM – 9:15 AM Addressing Supply Chain Challenges through Contract Flexibility

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
 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM Creating Access for All:  The Convergence of Micromobility, Microtransit and Paratransit

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
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Networking Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM How Fare Policies and Technologies are Transforming What’s Possible

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
12:00 PM – 12:15 PM Closing Remarks
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