Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address by Cassandra Worthy (TRANSform 2026)

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