APTA Hosts First Virtual Workforce Summit
2/13/2025
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APTA held its first virtual summit Feb. 12, sharing success stories and new ideas and posing the question: “What’s next for the workforce in the public transportation industry?” More than 430 industry professionals registered. View a recording here.
Among the many event’s many features, Aaron Vogel discussed IndyGo’s success with updating operator schedules to create a better work-life balance. Attendees also learned about technology and cybersecurity apprenticeships from OpenClassrooms and Clark University. Navonna Morrison and Jen Thomas shared updates on the grant-sponsored program for new and/or current employees to participate as apprentices.
Pillars of the summit were strategies for recruitment, retention, and reskilling the workforce.
Recruitment:
Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) strategy for being 100 percent fully staffed.
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer Rosa Medina-Cristobal shared steps to succeed, with two key factors: partnerships and leadership training for frontline supervisors. The DART HR team uses data from exit interviews and employee surveys to gain insight on how to structure programs. “We listened to our staff and provided supervisors with the tools they need to lead,” says Medina-Cristobal.
Retention:
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) partnering with Goodwill of North Georgia to provide support services for staff.
Interim Chief Administrative Officer LaShanda R. Dawkins described how the retention rate is at 100 percent for employees who are hired via Goodwill. Keith Parker, president and Jenny Taylor, vice president, of Goodwill North Georgia shared the training and support services that are offered by Goodwill for one year after hire.
Reskilling:
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District’s (AC Transit) Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) University. is Training and Education Manager Michael Flocchini shared the agency’s strategy for collaborating with maintenance training staff, the unions, and universities to use augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) to reskill employees to use new technology. AC Transit is building a state-of-the-art facility that will be home to its ZEB University.
APTA wants to hear your workforce success stories. Contact driddy@apta.com and workforce@apta.com to share your story.