Resource Center

Session Description: In this engaging session attendees explored strategies for bridging the skills gaps of new hires and heard from presenters as they shared how they identified critical needs and implemented solutions. Participants took part in a working group to provide feedback on national resources being developed in key areas such as mechanical, electrical, computer skills, shop math, and technical writing.

Moderator: 

• Kristen Ribaudo: Senior Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Michael Hanssen: Supervisor of Technical Skills Training Washington – Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Ona Veda: Manager, Rail Training and Development – Metro Transit (MN)

MC24 Successful Career Pathways slides

Session Description: Apprenticeship programs are rapidly expanding at transit locations across the country. With quality training tied to clearly-identified career ladders and advancement, these programs are commonly regarded as the “gold standard” of workforce development. Documented benefits include increased retention, reductions in absenteeism, and the creation of a sustainable talent pipeline. These programs also result in better employee morale and a more engaged workforce. In this session, presenters walked through the essential steps to developing, registering, and implementing an apprenticeship program. Attendees heard from and engaged with transit labor and management about their joint programs including bus maintenance, traction power, HVAC/facilities, and signals/communications—and explore how to locate and access resources to support new and existing programs.

Moderator: 

• Brian J. Turner: Founding Director – International Transportation Learning Center

Speakers:

• Michelle Allison: General Manager – King County Metro (WA)
• Maurice Beard: Senior Workforce Development Advisor –
• Norman Blessant: Financial Secretary/Treasurer – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 381 (UT)
• Rod Dunn: President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 382 (UT)
• Brandee Gross: Program Manager, Workforce Development – Maryland Department of Transportation
• Dimas Koral-Arocho: Program Manager – King County Metro (WA)
• Stephanie Lewis: Workforce Development Project Manager – Center for Urban Transportation Research
• Kylee Parker: Shop Steward/Joint Apprenticeship Committee Chairman – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300 (MD)
• Jeff Stambaugh: Vice President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 (WA)
• Greg Woodfill: President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 (WA)

MC24 Apprenticeship 101 slides

Session Description: As the transit industry works to reach out to the communities it serves to establish strong and effective career pipelines, agencies and their partners often explore how to best attract young people into the industry. In this session, attendees heard from and engaged with young people themselves, along with national and local experts who have conducted research and worked directly with youth. Topics covered include the most effective approaches to connecting with young people and creating awareness and excitement about career opportunities in public transportation.

Moderator:

• Dr. Beverly Scott: Founder and CEO – Introducing Youth to American Infrastructure

Speakers:

• Justin Augustine: Project Manager II – Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
• Kayla Cooper-Redd: 12th Grade Student – TransSTEM Academy, Cardozo High School (DC)
• Sean Holley: Bus Transportation Instructor – Maryland Transit Administration
• Cheryl Rodgers: Director – TransSTEM Academy, Cardozo Education Academy (DC)
• Edwin Rodriguez: Director – Office of Research Management, Innovation, and Outreach – Federal Transit Administration
• Jamaal Schoby: Transportation Planner – Transportation Research Board

MC24 Youth in Transit slides

Session Description: Employment in public transportation is affected by broad economic and demographic dynamics, but honing in on transit workforce trends can be challenging. The Transit Workforce Center created the Transit Workforce Data Dashboard to distill relevant data points from national datasets. In this session, TWC highlighted specific employment patterns and challenges in transit-related occupations and panelists covered research and trends in national and agency-level datasets.

Moderator: 

• Michaela Boneva: Research Associate – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Nick Biggar: District Director – Greater Cleveland RTA
• Valerie Campo: Mentor Program Coordinator – Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit
• Douglas Nevins: Senior Researcher – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Darnell Morris: Vice President – ATU Local 268, Greater Cleveland RTA
• Dr. Shanta Hejmadi: Senior Data Scientist– Metro Transit (MN)

MC24 Tracking Your Impact slides

Session Description: Are you looking to establish a program that increases retention, provides an edge in recruitment, and advances a positive and collaborative organizational culture? Well-organized mentorship programs with carefully-selected and trained mentors provide documented benefits for frontline workers and the organization as a whole. Check out this intensive full-day workshop to explore how to:

• Initiative, develop, manage, and maintain a strong mentorship program
• Establish a collaborative structure and culture that runs and maintains that program
• Select and train effective mentors
• Explore occupation-specific approaches, challenges, and systems
• Track metrics that measure progress and success

Throughout this full-day intensive, attendees engaged with experienced instructors, facilitators, and peers to:

• Review the foundational elements of transit-based mentorship programs
• Experience TWC’s mentor training program, including: a review of mentor roles; an introduction to varied learning styles; an exploration of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in mentoring; and an examination of communications and problem-solving skills

Moderators: 

• Maurice Beard: Senior Workforce Development Advisor – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Karitsa Holdzkom: Senior Policy Analyst – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Stu Bass: Principal – Progress Worx; Founding Director – Keystone Development Partnership
• Nick Biggar: District Director – Greater Cleveland RTA
• Valerie Campo: Mentor Program Coordinator – Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit
• Lee Estis: Mentor Program Coordinator – Metropolitan Council-Metro Transit (MN)
• Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Steve Jovel: Operations Manager, Workforce Development – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
• Vanessa L’Esperance: Apprenticeship Program Coordinator – Metro Transit/ATU Local 1005 (MN)
• Dionna McCane: ATU Mentorship and Apprenticeship Coordinator – IndyGo
• Darnell Morris: Vice President – ATU Local 268, Greater Cleveland RTA
• Harpreet Singh: JWI Co-Director – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

MC24 Making Mentoring Matter slides

Session Description: Check out this immersive half-day session designed to provide information, tools, and strategies that build a foundation for career pathways for community members into good jobs and great transit careers. Participants engaged in dialogue with transit professionals on the opportunities in the industry, gain insight into communicating about these opportunities, and explore approaches to establishing working partnerships with transit agencies and their labor and workforce partners.

Attendees dove into strategies and principles for impactful engagement, hearing firsthand accounts of successful collaborative initiatives and messaging strategies that emphasize the impact and value of working in an industry providing a vital public good. Participants gained invaluable insights into building sustainable workforce solutions that mutually benefit the industry and the community.

Key topics included:

• Exploring transit career opportunities
• Messaging and framing
• Building collaborative partnerships
• Real-world success stories

Moderator:

• David Stephen: Senior Communications Specialist – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Rich Diaz: Workforce Development Coordinator – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575
• Theus Jones: Recording Secretary – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 (DC)
• Antonio Pollard: Organizer – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 (DC)
• Vanessa Sparks: Committee Member – Community Board 12-Queens Transportation Committee
• Carlene Thorbs: Chairperson – Community Board 12-Queens Transportation Committee

MC24 Community Partnerships slides

The purpose of this Directory is to connect transit managers looking to contract with grant writing consultants available for hire. Agencies can contact grant writers using their information provided by clicking the link below.

Link to Directory

Along with the Framework, the ETA released additional resources including:

• Implementation Guide and Self-Assessment and Action Planning Tool: Resources to help practitioners implement the Framework and assess and strengthen existing sector strategies efforts.
• ETA Blog Post: “Demand-driven training: Reimagining sector partnerships to build career pathways”
• Training and Employment Notice No. 08-24: Release and Availability of Updated 2024 U.S. Department of Labor’s Sector Strategies Framework
• Virtual Training Series: Learn more about the Framework and strategies to implement and scale sector strategies by viewing each session in this three-part series.

Sector Strategies Framework