Leadership APTA Class of 2026 Donates $23,000 to Support Future Transit Leaders
By Zahara Vanderpuye | 10/14/2026
ZAHARA VANDERPUYE
Workforce Development and Educational Services Intern
APTA
At APTA’s 2026 TRANSform & EXPO in Chicago, IL—attended by nearly 14,000 transportation leaders, innovators, and experts in the field—the Leadership APTA class of 2026 donated $23,000 to the American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF) to aid in supporting the next generation of transit leadership.
The donation was presented at the APTF/Workforce Development Committee Speed Networking Event, which marked the first formal collaboration between APTF and the committee. The event was designed to connect participants across career stages and create space for meaningful conversations about leadership, career growth, and the future of the public transportation workforce.
During the speed networking session, attendees were organized into three groups: executives and leaders, early career professionals, and students. Participants rotated from person to person, giving them the opportunity to exchange insights, ask questions, and build relationships. The event reflected a broader effort to strengthen connections across the field and support the next generation of transit leaders—an effort further advanced by the Leadership APTA class of 2026’s $23,000 donation.
A special thank you is extended to the donors who contributed to the campaign. Their generosity reflects a shared commitment to investing in the future of public transportation leadership.