Leadership APTA Alum Discusses the Value of Mentorship

Leadership APTA alum and Metro Transit Assistant Director-Service Development Erin Mitchell discussed her career progression with the Minneapolis/St. Paul-based agency. The agency’s Career Tracks highlights the paths employees have taken to their latest assignment and where they see themselves going next.

How did you begin your career with Metro Transit?

My transit journey started when my education in aviation was cut short due to vertigo. I transferred to the local community college, was living on my own and needed to get a job. I found a position as a nighttime dispatcher for the Anoka County Traveler, a small bus company. I fell in love with transit and operations and decided to study transportation, enrolling at the University of Minnesota where I was required to take internships. My first position was in the budget department at Metro Transit, then at the USDOT in Washington, DC, and finally, thanks to my former boss in the budget department, as an intern in Metro Transit’s Service Development. After graduation, I was brought on as an associate planner analyst.

What were your career goals and what steps did you take to achieve them?

My current position as assistant director of service development has always been my dream job! Throughout my career, I’ve held positions with progressively more responsibility and worked on many cross-functional projects. I credit mentoring by my predecessors as a key factor contributing to where I am today, and I aspire to pay it forward with my team.

Developing quality schedules brings me great satisfaction, and improving this part of our work has been an intentional goal as we implement Network Now. Our schedules are more than just times. Each number represents a person, whether that is someone traveling to a doctor’s appointment, to school, or someone who works here providing for their family. I am grateful for the opportunity to help shape transit in our region in this meaningful way.

What advice do you have for others who want to take on more or different responsibilities?

My number one piece of advice is to ride our system. It helps to see the rider and employee experience and bring those observations back to work. Secondly, step up to be a part of projects. Offer to help and learn from those leading. Lastly, participate in training and seek a mentor. I am so grateful for being a member of the 2025 Leadership APTA cohort and the familial fellowship we formed. As part of this year-long program of education and training opportunities, we met with CEOs of transit agencies, learned new ways to adapt to change, and developed a great network with other industry peers.

About Leadership APTA

Leadership APTA is APTA’s premier professional development program designed to develop and support the next generation of APTA executive and senior leaders and the public transportation industry. Leadership APTA’s transformative year offers access to top industry leaders, a distinctive executive program experience including executive roundtables, thought-leadership sessions and activities, skill-building workshops, in-person and virtual sessions, and the challenge to address critical issues through capstone project journeys. Learn more.