APTA Hosts Impactful MCX Workshop

More than 400 public transportation communicators, nearly half of whom were first-time attendees, gathered for APTA’s 2026 Marketing, Communications & Customer Experience (MCX) Workshop Feb. 22-25 in Savannah, GA. The workshop served as a forum for sharing ideas, exchanging information, and networking.

Jaime Kazlo, chief of staff, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, NY, and chair of APTA’s Marketing, Communications & Customer Experience Committee, opened the workshop by stressing the importance of the event and the role of those in attendance: “We have only a few months to persuade Congress to pass a new Surface Transportation Authorization that fully supports transit. As professional communicators, marketers, and messengers, our work is essential to achieving that goal.”

Stephanie Cutter, CEO of host agency Chatham Area Transit (CAT), then welcomed attendees to her city. CAT offered attendees the opportunity to tour its Joe Murray Rivers Jr. Intermodal Transit Center, central office and bus yard, and the Savannah Belles ferry system.

APTA Chair Leanne Redden, executive director, Chicago Regional Transportation Authority, addressed attendees via video, saying that, “When I became APTA chair last fall, I pledged to make my top focus the passage of a new five-year Surface Transportation Authorization bill. Everything we do—every day—should contribute in some way to winning passage of a law that helps our industry innovate, grow, and meet new demands and bigger dreams. APTA’s Legislative Committee has done a remarkable job of developing close to 60 pages of recommendations for a new bill. Now, we need to convince lawmakers in Washington to include as many of these provisions as possible in the legislation, and then we must secure its passage.”

In his remarks, APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas noted, “This is APTA’s first major meeting of the year. And that’s fitting, because everything that APTA and its members do relies on effective communications.” He told the audience that, “It all starts with you, and a memorable story. You are essential to our success, as transit agencies, as businesses, and as an industry. You are the professionals whose words ignite imagination and inspire action. And today, we all know that how we communicate and what we communicate are more important than ever.”

The workshop’s keynote speaker was Anthony L. Huey, president, Reputation Management LLC. He shared with attendees some pragmatic communications tools, tips, and techniques and explained how a single sentence can overshadow years of meticulous brand-building, perception can often overrule fact, and every interaction is a silent judgment of an organization and the people within it.

In addition to a wealth of educational sessions and networking opportunities, workshop highlights included a special luncheon recognizing the 50 First Place Winners of the 2026 AdWheel Awards. Top First Place winners will face a final round of judging to determine 15 Grand Awards, which will be presented at APTA TRANSform & EXPO, Oct. 4-7 in Chicago, IL. View images of the winners, and other scenes from the workshop. Also, learn more about the winners’ campaigns.