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Tuesday, June 9
 

8:00am EDT

Level Up Your Leadership – Transit Immersion Leadership Experience (TILE)
Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:00am - 9:45am EDT
Salons F & G
Launched in 2022 by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), TILE is a dynamic year-long leadership development program for leaders at all levels. Participants engage in shared learning, innovation, and skill enhancement throughout the program, gaining invaluable insights into partner agencies' operations.
Take advantage of our special presentation featuring the Class of 2026 showcasing their final projects. But that's not all! Dive deeper into how you can become a part of future cohorts and unlock this program's incredible benefits
Moderators
avatar for Liliane Finke

Liliane Finke

President, ExecuCoach360 Training and Consulting, LLC
Dr. Liliane M. Finke, Ed.D., ExecuCoach360 President
As a leadership development consultant, Dr. Liliane M. Finke offers over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors and is a seasoned professional with a strong vision and mission to initiate a positive impact on the workplace by supporting the development of indiv... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Lewis

Stephanie Lewis

Workforce Development Project Manager, USF/CUTR
Stephanie Lewis, M.Ed., is currently a Workforce Development Project Manager and Instructional Designer at the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. She has a wide range of skills in online and instructor led course development, webinar coordination, video production... Read More →
avatar for Robert Dutremble

Robert Dutremble

Director Fleet Maintenance, Jacksonville Transportation Authority
avatar for Maria DeJesus

Maria DeJesus

Transit Coordinator, FDOT
Maria serves as a Passenger Operations Specialist III (Transit Programs Coordinator) in the Modal Development Office at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in Tampa, Florida. She supports public transportation systems throughout District 7, which includes Citrus, Hernando... Read More →
avatar for Candice Kennon

Candice Kennon

Administrator, Suwannee Valley Transit Authority
Candice T. Kennon, CPM, MSM, serves as the Administrator for the Suwannee Valley Transit Authority in Live Oak, Florida. She brings more than 20 years of experience working within government agencies, with expertise in public administration, budget management, procurement, human resources... Read More →
avatar for Douglas Steiger

Douglas Steiger

Assistant Director, Pasco County Public Transportation
Douglas Steiger, is currently the Assistant Public Transportation Director for Pasco County Public Transportation.  In his role, he oversees contract negotiation and management, the demand response service program, the agency transit asset management plan, and community outreach... Read More →
avatar for Charles Abbatantuono

Charles Abbatantuono

Senior Planner, LYNX
Charles Abbatantuono is a Senior Planner with LYNX’s Strategic Planning Department. Charles is an Orlando native who has a passion for helping guide development in his hometown sustainably so visitors and residents can continue to enjoy the City Beautiful for generations to come... Read More →
avatar for Rachael Cappolla

Rachael Cappolla

Executive Assistant/Certified Records Manager, PSTA
Rachael Cappolla is currently the Executive Assistant/Certified Records Manager for Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) in Pinellas County, Florida. She has over 35 years of experience as an administrative professional, working in both public schools and the transit industry. Originally fro... Read More →
avatar for Liz Soriano

Liz Soriano

Project Manager, Collier Area Transit
Liz Soriano is a Project Manager for Collier Area Transit. With over 22 years of dedicated public service experience within Collier County Government, including 7 years in transit Project Management, she brings extensive experience in planning, coordinating, and delivery of construction... Read More →
avatar for Sandra Stanley

Sandra Stanley

Miami-Dade DTPW
I am a proud mother of two daughters and a seasoned Miami‑Dade County transit professional with over 30 years of experience in operations, workforce management, and service delivery. I currently serve as Superintendent of Bus Operations, where I lead operator performance oversight... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:00am - 9:45am EDT
Salons F & G
  Panel Presentation

10:00am EDT

Navigating the ADA Toolkit for Transit Services
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am EDT
Salons F & G
Join Enjoli Dixon for a session on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it applies to public transportation services. This session will cover key regulations, standards, and service type requirements, including fixed route bus, demand response, and ADA complementary paratransit services. Learn about vehicle and facility accessibility, accommodating riders with mobility devices, and ensuring effective customer service for all riders, including those with service animals. We will also dive into important topics like rider information, outreach, emergency management, funding considerations, and new developments in the field. Also, sample policy templates for various service types, along with a template for the ADA paratransit eligibility appeal process, will be provided to help you maintain compliance and provide high-quality services to all riders.
Speakers
avatar for Enjoli Dixon

Enjoli Dixon

National RTAP
Enjoli Dixon is the Founder of Mobilitique Consulting, where she provides transportation planning, training, technical assistance, grant writing, outreach, and capacity-building services focused on urban, rural, tribal, and mobility management initiatives. She also serves as an Advisor... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am EDT
Salons F & G
  Training

1:15pm EDT

Transit Asset Management (TAM) – Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Rural Transit Agencies
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Salons F & G
Transit Asset Management is a strategic, systematic approach to managing capital assets throughout their life cycles to optimize performance, control risks and costs, and ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective transit service. This workshop highlights practical lessons learned and proven best practices tailored to the distinct operating realities, resource constraints, and unique challenges faced by rural transit agencies.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Bechtel

Elizabeth Bechtel

As a transportation planner, Ms. Bechtel has contributed to a variety of transportation projects and activities including transit asset management, transit technology studies, transit systems design, feasibility studies, strategic business plans, grant applications, proposal support... Read More →
avatar for Aarion Franklin

Aarion Franklin

Aarion Franklin, Ph.D., AICP is an accomplished transportation planner with experience in transit planning, asset management, and long-range planning. He is an associate vice president with Michael Baker International and currently manages their Florida planning practice. Dr. Franklin... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Salons F & G
  Presentation

3:15pm EDT

Florida Small and Rural Transit Agency Roundtable Discussion – Rural Transit Fleet Mix and Vehicle Size Decision Tools
Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Salons F & G
This session will feature a roundtable format to discuss a variety of challenges and successes encountered by small and rural transit agencies. This session includes a presentation on using a decision tool to support the selection of an appropriate vehicle fleet; further information is provided below. TRIPS staff will be available to discuss the importance of vehicle inspection during the vehicle acceptance process. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions and issues to share with the moderator, presenters, and their peers.

Rural Transit Fleet Mix and Vehicle Size Decision Tools
Rural public transportation providers face several challenges in determining the proper mix of vehicle types and sizes for their operations. They need to consider the demand for service, passenger characteristics, the types of trips they are providing, service area size and characteristics, trip pattern type, availability of drivers, vehicle cost, and other factors. This presentation will present results from a National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) project that developed guidance and tools to assist state DOTs and rural public transit providers in deciding what types of vehicles will best serve their communities. The presentation will discuss findings from surveys, interviews, and case studies conducted of rural and tribal transit agencies and state DOTs that explore the decision-making process for vehicle procurement; present an analysis of rural transit fleet data; and demonstrate tools that rural agencies can use to help with vehicle fleet mix decisions.
Moderators
avatar for Stephanie Lewis

Stephanie Lewis

Workforce Development Project Manager, USF/CUTR
Stephanie Lewis, M.Ed., is currently a Workforce Development Project Manager and Instructional Designer at the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. She has a wide range of skills in online and instructor led course development, webinar coordination, video production... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Lazara Stinnette

Lazara Stinnette

TRIPS Assistant Program Manager, University of South Florida CUTR
Lazara Stinnette is an Administrative Specialist for the Transit Safety and Workforce Development Programs at the Center for Urban Transportation Research working on the Transportation Research Inspection Procurement Services (TRIPS) program. Her primary responsibilities include the... Read More →
avatar for Carlton Allen

Carlton Allen

TRIPS Program Manager, CUTR
Carlton Allen is the TRIPS Program Manager and is assigned to the FDOT Springhill Inspection and research facility in Tallahassee. He has worked for the Center for Urban Transportation Research for 15 years. Carlton also interacts with engineering related to crashworthiness testing... Read More →
avatar for Jeremy Mattson

Jeremy Mattson

Jeremy Mattson is an associate professor of transportation and supply chain at North Dakota State University. Previously he spent 17 years conducting research on rural and small urban transit with the Small Urban and Rural Center on Mobility, a program of the Upper Great Plains Transportation... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Salons F & G
  Roundtable
 
Wednesday, June 10
 

8:00am EDT

Fare Free Frontiers – Successes and Challenges
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:00am - 9:45am EDT
Salons F & G
In this session, attendees will learn real‑world outcomes of fare‑free programs transit systems. Presentations will demonstrate how each agency approached financial and operational challenges and will highlight key successes. The presenters will provide actionable takeaways on funding models, ridership trends, and stakeholder engagement that can guide any transit agency considering a fare‑free services. A portion of the session will also examine how these systems are evolving to meet future demands.
Moderators
avatar for Stephanie Lewis

Stephanie Lewis

Workforce Development Project Manager, USF/CUTR
Stephanie Lewis, M.Ed., is currently a Workforce Development Project Manager and Instructional Designer at the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. She has a wide range of skills in online and instructor led course development, webinar coordination, video production... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Omar Peerzada

Omar Peerzada

Senior Planner, HART
Omar Peerzada is a Senior Planner for the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART). Omar leads on National Transit Database (NTD) reporting and supports major planning projects and development review on behalf of HART. He has a background in transit operational analysis, collaborative... Read More →
avatar for Chris Stephenson

Chris Stephenson

Director of Transportation, Indian River Transit
A proud Texan, Chris was born and raised in the Lone Star State. Chris received his undergraduate degree in Communication and his MA in Non-Profit Business Management from Abilene Christian University.   Chris previously worked for Sears Methodist Retirement Systems, the largest... Read More →
avatar for Jesus Peraza-Garcia

Jesus Peraza-Garcia

Planning & Scheduling team, Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART)
Jesus Peraza Garcia is the Manager of Planning for the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART). Jesus leads in the development of HART's major planning projects and acts as an agency representative for projects impacting the Tampa Bay region. He holds a variety of skills including data... Read More →
avatar for Tracy Jahn

Tracy Jahn

Tracy Jahn is St. Lucie County’s Transit Operations Manager.  She joined the Transit Team in September 2020.   Tracy is responsible for overseeing operational and fiscal aspects of the County’s transit system, Area Regional Transit (ART), and other special transit programs... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:00am - 9:45am EDT
Salons F & G
  Panel Presentation

10:00am EDT

Transit Modernization Playbook: Practical Strategies for Delivering More Efficient and Reliable Service
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am EDT
Salons F & G
This session addresses the “what” and “why” of transit modernization — exploring how and why agencies evolve their service models. Discussion may include transitions across fixed-route, hybrid, and on-demand service; strategic decision-making under fiscal and performance constraints; implementation realities; and lessons learned from agencies navigating these shifts.
Discussion topics include:
  • What conditions or triggers most often prompt agencies to consider a service model shift
  • Implementation realities: technology, procurement, staffing, training, and change management
  • How agencies define success for fixed-route, hybrid, and on-demand services in different contexts
  • Decision frameworks and trade-offs under fiscal constraints, performance expectations, and public/administrative expectation
  • Common pitfalls, course corrections, and lessons learned from agencies that have made a system transition
Moderators
avatar for Jonathan Roberson

Jonathan Roberson

Research Associate, Center for Urban Transportation Research/USF
Jonathan Roberson, AICP, is currently a Research Associate with the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation (CUTR). Jonathan has over twenty years of expertise in transit planning and project implementation, including leadership positions at Manatee County... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Jacob Labutka, MCRP

Jacob Labutka, MCRP

Planning Manager, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
Jacob Labutka, as the Planning Manager at PSTA, leads a variety of planning projects such as the agency’s system redesign. He also leads the development of PSTA’s discretionary grant applications such as federal grants for buses & technology programs and state grants for operating support of new services. Jacob oversees several... Read More →
avatar for Mansoor Lajmiri

Mansoor Lajmiri

Planner II, GoPasco
Manny Lajmiri brings more than 30 years of transportation planning experience, including planning, development, and implementation of a variety of transportation planning plans and programs. Manny worked at the Pasco MPO for 30+ years developing several Long-Range Transportation Plans... Read More →
avatar for Thaddeus J. Davenport

Thaddeus J. Davenport

Mass Transit Director, Escambia County Area Transit
Thaddeus Davenport serves as the Mass Transit Director, overseeing Escambia County Area Transit and all public transportation operations for the Mass Transit Department. Davenport brings over two decades of industry experience to the role, with a proven track record of success in strategic transportation... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Maddox

Heidi Maddox

Transit Operations Manager, Charlotte County Transit
Heidi Maddox has served as Charlotte County’s Transit Operations Manager since 2023. She directs policy development, ensures contractual compliance, and oversees both long-range planning and daily operations. Heidi has driven key improvements, including implementing scheduling software to reduce... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am EDT
Salons F & G
  Panel Presentation

1:15pm EDT

Marketing Meeting
Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Salons F & G
In this open forum discussion, we’ll discuss challenges and solutions affecting marketing, communications, and customer experience in transit agencies. Come prepared to share recent wins, ask questions of peers, and collaboratively workshop solutions for increasing ridership, improving passenger communication, maximizing public engagement, and enhancing the rider experience.
Speakers
avatar for Amanda Baird

Amanda Baird

Director of Communications and Marketing, PSTA
Amanda Baird is the Director of Communications and Marketing for PSTA, serving St. Petersburg and Clearwater in Tampa Bay. She joined the team in 2021, and immediately dove into the go-to-market strategy for SunRunner, the region’s first bus rapid transit offering. She’s so proud... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Salons F & G
  Meeting
 
2026 FPTA/FDOT/CUTR PDW & Transit Safety and Operations Summit

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