METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

The Best of the Best

New responsibilities deepen appreciation.

by Frank Di Giacomo, Publisher
September 19, 2007
3 min to read


As many of you know, I’ve held a seat on APTA’s Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG) for several years, affording me the opportunity to contribute to the association and the industry and, importantly, to view the contributions of others.

I’ve seen hundreds of hours of work volunteered to the association by individuals already burdened with incredible workloads at the office. As APTA representatives, they attend numerous face-to-face meetings and conference calls, prepare reports and presentations, travel widely and rarely complain about the additional burden.

Ad Loading...

This perspective was broadened recently as I took on new responsibilities as a member of APTA’s Nominating Committee. Each year, this group is convened to evaluate transit professionals who are seeking positions for the upcoming year as officers and vice chairs on APTA’s Executive Committee, as well as vacancies on its board of directors.

To be considered for these positions, applicants must submit a statement of qualifications that describes their background and experience and reflects their commitment to both the association and industry.

Strength in every corner
This year’s group of applicants represented a cross-section of the industry. Some are employed by small agencies and companies, while others work at medium-sized and large concerns. The applicants’ diversity also included gender, race and geographic location. Their only common trait was the compelling nature of their qualifications.

In reviewing these statements, I can’t tell you how impressed I was by the breadth of work experience, knowledge levels, industry involvement and talent displayed by the candidates. Each applicant offered an extraordinary resumé of accomplishments during his or her career, and many had decades of experience in the transit industry.

There’s no doubt that the association will be well served by this crop of candidates. The only difficulty was deciding which of them should be nominated. They all presented such strong cases for inclusion that it was incredibly challenging to create a single slate of candidates to send forward for nomination at this year’s APTA Annual Meeting in Charlotte, N.C.

Ad Loading...

My experience on the Nominating Committee has given me a renewed appreciation of the talented people who lead our industry. Fact is, many of them are modest about their accomplishments, almost to the point of self deprecation. But when you see their accomplishments on paper in black and white, you have a better understanding of their capabilities.

We’re in good hands
The extraordinary guidance provided by APTA’s leadership has served the industry well for many years, and judging from the most recent applicants for Executive Committee posts, things are going to continue in the same vein.

Although we’re all facing challenges that seem to grow daily, the association is in good hands. Not only is it superbly run by President Bill Millar and his fine staff, but the Executive Committee and all of its board members, are among the most hard-working, committed and talented professionals that you’ll find in any industry.

If you have the opportunity, please thank them for the generous amount of time and energy that they donate to the betterment of the association and the industry. Until you’ve walked in their shoes for a year, you would have a hard time believing how much spirit and enterprise they contribute to the association.

Topics:Management
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Management

Security and Safetyby StaffJune 16, 2026

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades

Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.

Read More →
An LA Metro D Line train in Union Station
Managementby StaffJune 16, 2026

D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System

Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.

Read More →
Manhattan Congestion Relief Zone Sees Traffic Reduction
Managementby StaffJune 15, 2026

Q4 Travel Data Reveals Drop in Vehicle Traffic to Manhattan Congestion Zone

NYMTC’s quarterly Travel Patterns Report provides a snapshot of travel activity throughout New York City, Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley, and northern New Jersey using data collected from the agencies operating the region’s bridges, tunnels, and public transit systems.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
An image of a ticket validator in front of a security gate.
Managementby Staff and News ReportsJune 12, 2026

STL Metro Transit To Launch Next-Generation Fare Collection and Security Gates

The St. Louis transit agency will begin the phased rollout of gated station access and integrated fare technology to improve security and the customer experience.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An aerial view of the CATS light rail.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 12, 2026

CATS FY27 Budget Prioritizes Safety, Service

New investments in security, service expansion, and rail development aim to improve the rider experience while keeping fares flat.

Read More →
A person holding up a TransLink Compass Soccer Mini to a navigation terminal.
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 11, 2026

Transit Agencies Nationwide Gear Up to Move World Cup Crowds

As millions of fans prepare to descend on host cities, transit leaders are turning a month-long global event into a proving ground for the future of customer experience, mobility, and crowd management.

Read More →
A blue and white OCTA public transit bus parked in the street.
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

OCTA Approves $2 Billion Budget for FY 2026-27, Prioritizing Transit Investments

More than half of the agency’s upcoming spending plan is dedicated to transit as OCTA balances infrastructure investment with fiscal stability.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
New MobilityJune 5, 2026

Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility

In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.

Read More →