Effective media relations is essential to an agency’s community and stakeholder success. How do transit board members most effectively communicate with the media, what is good practice in media management and messaging, and how do board members prepare to respond to reporters when the time comes? What do you need to know about your agencies’ crisis management strategy and communications protocols and how can you be as prepared as possible?

Moderator:

• Julie Hile, Vice-Chair of the Board, Connect Transit, Normal, IL

Speakers:

• Maggie Skogsbakken, Chief Communications Officer, Pace Suburban Bus, Arlington Heights, IL
• Tom Brede, Public Information Officer, Regional Transit Service, Rochester, NY
• Joni Honor, Executive Officer, Communications/Public Relations, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), Los Angeles, CA

Join transit industry leaders to discuss how they are addressing equity and race within their own organizations and what impactful actions they are 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, and how is that operationalized and communicated from the perspective of employees, customers, business and community partnerships?

Moderator:

• Flora Castillo, President, Pivot Strategies

Speakers:

• Caitlin Vargas, Board President, Lane Transit District, Eugene, OR
• Alex Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Transit Authority, New Orleans, LA
• India Birdsong, General Manager|CEO, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland, OH

A solid Board CEO relationship is key to effective governing of a transit agency. Join us for this interactive session that will cover topics such as the process for hiring a board-savvy CEO; clarifying the CEO’s role in supporting the board and developing the board’s governing capacity; effective processes for board evaluation of CEO performance and compensation guidelines. This session will provide overall guidance on building and maintaining a close, positive, productive, and enduring board-CEO partnership.

Moderator:

• David Stackrow, Immediate Past-Chair, APTA; Board Member, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, NY

Speakers:

• Ari Jolly, Board Chair and Nathaniel Ford, CEO, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
• Gail Carr Williams, Board Chair and Steve Bland, CEO, WeGo Public Transit, Nashville, TN
• Vince Buzek, Board Chair and Director, District J and Debra Johnson, General Manager/CEO, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO
• Paul Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

As agencies have adapted to the realities of pandemic operations, they have shown exceptional creativity and innovation in maintaining essential levels of service while meeting the evolving mobility needs of their communities and addressing operator shortages. What may permanently change about how transit agencies do business and how transit is positioned as a key community partner? How are agencies building in greater resiliency as they prepare for and aim to attract new ridership and develop and retain a diverse and skilled workforce?

Moderator:

• Gary Giovanetti, Vice-Chair, APTA Transit Board Members Committee; Vice-Chair of the Board, San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Stockton, CA

Speakers:

• Carl Sedoryk, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Monterey-Salinas Transit, Monterey, CA
• Nadine Lee, President and CEO, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX
• Beth Holbrook, Member, Board of Trustees, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT

This session will provide an overview of the current key national legislative processes and programs critical to federal transit funding, financing and oversight and how they can be accessed and applied locally. How does APTA engage on the Hill and with the administration as the primary advocate for the transit industry, how do we best communicate our key advocacy priorities at this time, and how can transit board members play an instrumental role as the voice of the industry nationally, regionally and locally?

Moderator:

• Doug Tisdale, Chair, APTA Transit Board Members Committee; Board Director, District H, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO

Speakers:

• Ward McCarragher, VP Government Affairs and Advocacy, APTA, Washington, DC
• T.J. Doyle, VP Communications and Marketing, APTA, Washington, DC
• Kammy Horne, Vice-Chair, APTA Planning, Policy and Program Development Committee; Senior Vice President Development, VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio, TX

As a transit board member, how do you review and clearly understand agency annual budgets and financial plans. What are the questions you need to be asking about operating budgets versus capital budgets and financing? What are the different ways transit authorities are funding capital projects across the United States? What does the new infrastructure funding mean for transit budgets? How is the current job market influencing agency pay rolls? Learn the answers to these questions and more at this informative session.

Moderator:

• Charles Edmonds, Board Member, Trinity Metro, Fort Worth, TX

Speakers:

• Dennis Anosike, Chief Financial Officer, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
• Erik Johanson, Director of Operating Budgets, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
• Heather McKillop, Chief Financial Officer, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), Petaluma, CA