Are you ready to kick-off the TRANSform and EXPO conference in Chicago? Join your industry peers for an exciting two and a half days of learning and networking. The conference will begin with this opening session where you will have the opportunity to hear from APTA leadership, local dignitaries, and the hosts, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, Pace Bus, and Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), as they share all the exciting and relevant information you will learn and see over the next three days.

But that's not all! The opening session will also feature an important and thought-provoking message from our keynote speaker, Cassandra Worthy. She is the world’s truly DISRUPTIVE thought-leader on CHANGE that companies need to build organizational resilience and adaptability. She has created and cultivated the unique strategy of Change Enthusiasm® which is arming individuals around the world with the means to harness the power of emotion, a resource in infinite supply, to embrace and accelerate change and transformation journeys.

Keynote Speaker:

• Cassandra Worthy

Remarks:

• Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association
• Leanne Redden, Immediate Past Chair, APTA; Outgoing Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority  
• Denise Figueroa, Chair, APTA; Immediate Past Chair APTA TBM Committee; and Board Member, Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA)

Welcome:

• Brandon Johnson, Mayor, City of Chicago

Introducer:

• Raymond Melleady, APTA BMBG Chair; and President, STER North America LLC

Sponsor Remarks:

• Henrika Buchanan, National Transit & Rail Market Leader, HNTB Corporation

Federal partners from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) provide an update on October 5, 2026.

Moderator:

• Randy Clarke, General Manager and CEO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

Speakers:

• Matthew Cahill, Acting Deputy Administrator and Chief Counsel, Federal Transit Administration 
• Rusty Roberts, Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Railroad Administration

Chicago Transit leaders share what’s next.

Moderator:

• Leanne Redden, Immediate Past Chair, APTA; Outgoing Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority

Speakers:

• Maulik Vaishnav, Chief Transition Officer, Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)  
• Nora Leerhsen, Acting President, Chicago Transit Authority
• Jim Derwinski, Executive Director/CEO, Metra
• Melinda Metzger, Executive Director, Pace Suburban Bus

Introducer:

• Denise Figueroa, Chair, APTA; Immediate Past Chair APTA TBM Committee; and Board Member, Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA)

Celebrate the achievements of the industry’s finest individuals and organizations!

Join us as we celebrate the achievements of the industry’s finest individuals and organizations. We will honor the “best of the best” of the public transportation industry during the awards. These winners are outstanding role models of excellence, leadership and innovation, whose accomplishments have greatly advanced public transportation.

Opening remarks for the Innovation Summit at the 2026 TRANSform conference.

• Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association
• Jannet Walker-Ford, Secretary/Treasurer, APTA; Business Line Executive, Advisory and Planning, WSP

High energy, fast-paced presentations led by industry experts. These exciting presentations with high-quality visuals show the latest in innovative, technology, and solutions-based projects leading the way.

Host:

• Jannet Walker-Ford, Secretary/Treasurer, APTA; Business Line Executive, Advisory and Planning, WSP

Speakers:

• Janice R. Thomas, Deputy Executive Director, External Affairs, Metra
• Christopher Crawford, Senior VP, OT Cybersecurity & Fleet Innovation, WSP
• Joy Buenaflor, Deputy Director of Transit and Rail Programs – Capital Delivery, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority
• Cara Mazzei, CFRE, Project Communications Director, Hitachi Rail Honolulu
• Daniela Gutierrez, Senior Project Manager/Capital Programs Manager, South Central Regional Transit District
• Harold Samms, Deputy Executive Director, Los Angeles World Airport
• Jefrey Jakalski, Sr. Vice President, EXP
• Paul Cohoon, Senior Systems Engineer, INIT Group

Closing remarks for the Innovation Summit at TRANSform 2026.

Host:

• Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association

Panelists:

• Denise Figueroa, Chair, APTA; Immediate Past Chair APTA TBM Committee; and Board Member, Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA)
• Jannet Walker-Ford, Secretary/Treasurer, APTA; Business Line Executive, Advisory and Planning, WSP
• Leanne Redden, Immediate Past Chair, APTA; Outgoing Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority
• Art Guzzetti, Vice President – Policy, Mobility, Technical Services, and Innovation, APTA