The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has named Frank Di Giacomo, former METRO Magazine and SBF Publisher, to its prestigious APTA Hall of Fame. 

“Frank’s contributions to the industry were many, and with Frank now in the Hall of Fame, those contributions will be enshrined in perpetuity,” said Patrick Scully, CCO at Complete Coach Works (CCW). “For those of us who have had the pleasure of working with Frank, such as myself, it is with great pleasure knowing that Frank is smiling from above on this award.” 

The APTA Awards Hall of Fame began in 1983. This special honor is reserved for individuals who have had long and distinguished careers in the industry, made extraordinary contributions to public transportation, and actively participated in APTA activities.

Joining Di Giacomo in APTA’s Hall of Fame are:

• Mark Donaghy, Petersburg, Ky.

• Jeanne Krieg, Antioch, Calif.

• Feysan Lodde, Dallas

• William R. Mooney III, Chicago

• Peter Varga, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Watch Di Giacomo's tribute at the APTA TRANSform conference awards ceremony:

Leaving A Lasting Mark on the Industry

Few individuals have left a more lasting imprint on the public transportation, motorcoach, and pupil transportation industries than Di Giacomo. His career began in 1981 when he joined Bobit Business Media as the eastern sales manager for METRO Magazine and School Bus Fleet (SBF). 

Over the next four decades, Di Giacomo helped shape both publications' editorial and commercial direction, becoming the publisher of SBF in 1991 and METRO in 1992. His leadership was pivotal in establishing both brands as leading voices in the passenger transportation sector.

“Anyone who had the pleasure to work with Frank over the past 40-plus years through METRO Magazine and SBF can tell you that he was first class all the time — honest, trustworthy, and fair,” former Publisher and current Business Development Manager at CCW Mark Hollenbeck said when Di Giacomo passed away in May 2024. “METRO and SBF have been the gold standard in the industry for years, because Frank has dedicated his career to creating something the entire industry looked toward for knowledge and integrity.”

Beyond publishing, Di Giacomo was a committed advocate for the broader industry. He was deeply involved with APTA, serving on several committees within the Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG) and acting as associate publisher of Business in Motion, the BMBG’s official newsletter.

In 2002, he was named APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation Business Member, an honor recognizing his extraordinary dedication to transit advocacy and industry advancement.

Even after his retirement in 2021, Di Giacomo remained a prominent figure in the industry as Publisher Emeritus for METRO and SBF, and a lifetime BMBG member. 

He was also active in the National Association of Pupil Transportation for over 30 years, receiving the Distinguished Service Award in 2014. He strongly supported motorcoach operators through his work with the United Motorcoach Association and American Bus Association. 

APTA’s 2025 Award Winners

The 2025 APTA Awards recognized organizations and leaders in the public transportation industry in North America who have demonstrated significant leadership, are outstanding role models of excellence, and have significantly advanced public transportation through their accomplishments and innovations.

“The achievements and legacies of our awardees inspire us all to continue striving for excellence in our industry and to make a lasting impact on countless individuals,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Congratulations to all who have been recognized for their accomplishments and impacting their communities and our industry positively.”

In addition to the Hall of Fame announcements, this year’s winners include:

Organizational Awards

Outstanding Public Transportation System

• Monterey-Salinas Transit, Monterey, Calif. – 3 million or fewer annual passenger trips

• Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority, Akron, Ohio – More than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips

• Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City - More than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips

• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, D.C. – 50 million or more annual passenger trips

Outstanding Partnership in Public Transportation

• WMATA, Kimley-Horn, and Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning

Innovation Awards

• Oklahoma Transit Association, Oklahoma City, Okla.

• Metropolitan Transit Authority, New York

• Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, Portland, Ore.

• Sound Transit, Seattle

Individual Awards

Distinguished Service

• Matthew Welbes, Executive Director, Federal Transit Administration

Outstanding Chief Executive Officer

• Kenneth A. McDonald, Long Beach Transit, Long Beach, Calif.

Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member

• David M. Stackrow, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, N.Y.

Outstanding Public Transportation Business Member

• Francis “Buddy Coleman,” CCO/Principal, Clever Devices, Woodbury, N.Y.

“It is my honor to congratulate the winners of the 2025 APTA Awards and the Hall of Fame inductees for their dedication to advancing the future of public transportation, creating vital connections between communities, and driving innovation,” said MJ Maynard-Carey, APTA Board Chair and CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in June 2025 and was updated on September 18, 2025, for additional on-site coverage from the APTA TRANSform conference awards ceremony.