When and where was the LIT Annual Summit held?

The summit was hosted by the COTA from September 10 to 13.

What was the theme of the LIT Annual Summit?

The theme of the summit was 'Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence, Leadership, and Impact'.

What kind of program did the LIT Summit offer?

The program focused on honoring the people, agencies, and partners who contributed to LIT's success over the past decade.

Who were the primary honorees at the LIT Summit?

The summit honored the people, agencies, and partners who played a crucial role in building LIT over its first 10 years.

LIT Marks 10-Year Milestone at Annual Summit

Hosted by the COTA from September 10 to 13, the Summit carried the theme “Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence, Leadership, and Impact,” with every part of the program honoring the people, agencies, and partners who built LIT over its first decade.

Alex Roman・Executive Editor

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September 17, 2026

LIT 10-Year Anniversary Graphic — What began as a call for a space where transit professionals could grow and lead has become a national nonprofit and one of the fastest-growing organizations in the transit industry, LIT officials said.
Credit:
METRO

2 min to read

LIT marked its 10-year anniversary at the Annual Summit hosted by COTA.
The Summit took place from September 10 to 13 and revolved around the theme of celebrating a decade of excellence, leadership, and impact.
The program honored the contributions of the people, agencies, and partners integral to LIT's development over the past ten years.

*Summarized by AI

LIT closed its four-day 2026 Leadership Summit, capping a milestone year that marks 10 years of impact for the organization.

Hosted by the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) from September 10 to 13, the Summit carried the theme “Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence, Leadership, and Impact,” with every part of the program honoring the people, agencies, and partners who built LIT over its first decade.

A Quick Path to Success

What began as a call for a space where transit professionals could grow and lead has become a national nonprofit and one of the fastest-growing organizations in the transit industry, officials said. The 2026 Summit reflected that growth, with a record number of sponsors, 55 LIT Leadership Academy graduates, and a Legacy Awards program recognizing the partners who have stood with LIT since the beginning.

"Ten years ago, LIT started as an idea that our industry needed a place where transit professionals could grow, lead, and lift each other. This week in Columbus showed how far that idea has come," said Christina Villarreal, executive director of LIT. “Ten years of impact is measured in the careers we have helped launch, the leaders we have helped build, and the small businesses we have helped grow."

Highlights of the Summit

During its Annual Membership Meeting, LIT also announced its 2026 member award recipients:

Transit Agency of the Year: Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA)
Member of the Year: Aida Berry, WSP
Ambassador of the Year: Stephanie Daniels, Valley Metro
Small Business Member of the Year: ABRAC LLC

The summit concluded with LIT's Legacy Gala and Awards Night, marking the organization's 10th anniversary and recognizing 55 Leadership Academy graduates.

LIT presented its 2026 Legacy Awards to MV Transportation, ABRAC, LLC, Hitachi, GILLIG, HDR Engineering, HNTB, Bradley Consulting and Training, Keolis America, New Flyer of America, Olivier Inc., Terravanta, The Solis Group, Transdev North America, TransitGUARD Inc., TSI (Transportation Solutions and Innovations), and WeDriveU.

LIT presented Partner Awards to the California Transit Association, Texas Transit Association, BuildIT, COMTO National, WTS International, and APTA.

The evening concluded with a celebration marking LIT's 10th anniversary.

Quick Answers

The LIT Annual Summit aims to celebrate the organization's 10 years of excellence, leadership, and impact, as well as to honor the contributions of its people, agencies, and partners.