2025 FPTA/FDOT/CUTR PDW & Transit Safety and Operations Summit: Full Schedule

8:00am EDT

Leadership Self-Perception – Transit Immersion Leadership Experience (TILE)

Tuesday June 10, 2025 8:00am - 9:45am EDT

Launched in 2022 by the Florida Department of Transportation, 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 2025 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.

Speakers

James Bradford

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Safety Officer, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

James A. Bradford, Jr. has worked in the public transportation industry for over twenty-five years.He was named to Mass Transit magazine’s top 40 under 40 in 2009 and is a proud member and graduate of both the Leadership APTA (’15) and ENO Senior Transit Executive (’20) developmental... Read More →

Tamika White

Sr Organizational Development Manager, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

Dr. Tamika Gunn White is the Deputy Director of Talent Management at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). She oversees recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, professional development, and strategic organizational initiatives that support culture, engagement, and performance.Dr... Read More →

Dave Newell

Transit Coordinator, FDOT

Dave Newell is currently a Transit Coordinator in the Modal Development office at the Florida Department of Transportation in Tampa, Florida. He has been with the Department for the last 9 years working in various transit programs both Federal and State. He is responsible for grant... Read More →

Michael Baker

Jacksonville Transportation Authority

Michael A. Baker, is currently a Training Specialist at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. He is a certified Transportation Safety Institute, Smith System defensive driving and CDL test preparation instructor. He supervises the fixed route training team and has a strong background... Read More →

Sabrina Swoy

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

Sabrina Swoy is currently a Projects and Grants Coordinator at Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. She has a wide range of skills including managing cross-departmental communication, leading budgeting initiatives, procedure writing, and is currently learning grants administration... Read More →

Brooke Peters Samman

Palm Tran

Brooke Peters Samman, MURP, is the Service Planning & Scheduling Manager at Palm Tran in Palm Beach County, Florida, where she leads initiatives that bridge data-driven insights with practical transit solutions. With a strong foundation in land use, transportation, and transit planning... Read More →

Otis Jackson-X

Broward County Transit

Otis Jackson – X, is currently a Transportation Instructor for Broward County Transit. He has worked for Broward County Transit (BCT) for 12 years. He started as a bus operator and was later promoted to operations supervisor. He previously worked in the funeral service industry... Read More →

Liliane Finke

President, ExecuCoach360 Training and Consulting, LLC

Dr. Liliane M. Finke, Ed.D., ExecuCoach360 PresidentAs 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... Read More →

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... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 8:00am - 9:45am EDT
Salons F & G

Presentation

1:15pm EDT

FTA Drug & Alcohol Regulatory Updates

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

Salons A - C

This annual session will provide the latest information related to FTA and USDOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. Topics will include an update on the implementation of oral fluid testing, the roll out of new FDOT drug and alcohol policy templates, and a new Florida Drug and Alcohol Program Manager website, as well as federal messages from the FTA Annual Drug & Alcohol Program Conference. The session will conclude with the ever-popular “State of the State”: an analysis of the drug and alcohol test results in 2024.

Speakers

Diana Byrnes

Certified Substance Abuse Program Administrator (C-SAPA), CUTR

Diana Byrnes, CSAPADiana is a Certified Substance Abuse Program Administrator (C-SAPA) with more than 25 years of experience in DOT regulated workplace drug and alcohol testing. Diana has been the Project Manager for the Florida Department of Transportation’s Substance Abuse Management... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Salons A - C

Presentation

1:15pm EDT

Measuring Impact: Evaluation Practices for Workforce Planning and Development Programs

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT

Cypress Room

Evaluation is essential to ensuring that programs are achieving their intended outcomes. This session will address how workforce planning and development programs are evaluated for effectiveness. Participants will explore current recruitment and retention programs, learn about different evaluation methods, and gain insight into the outcomes of these evaluations, including notable practices and common challenges. Through interactive discussions, attendees will also have the opportunity to share and learn how their peers track the success of their workforce planning and development programs.

Speakers

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 →

Tia Boyd

Research Associate, CUTR

Tia Boyd, AICP, is a Research Associate with the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. Tia’s work focuses on transportation decision-making with an emphasis on access management, interagency coordination, public participation, strategic and... Read More →

Jodi Godfrey

Senior Research Associate, Center for Urban Transportation Research

Jodi Godfrey is a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida (USF), where she works on the Transit Safety and Workforce Development Program. Ms. Godfrey received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:15pm - 3:00pm EDT
Cypress Room

Presentation

3:15pm EDT

Human Trafficking – Capturing Innovation Initiative in Public Transit

Tuesday June 10, 2025 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT

Salons A - C

Do you provide human trafficking training? Do you have a policy/procedure in place to compliment the training and inform employees how to recognize and prevent human trafficking? This session will be a discussion format for transit agencies to share what they are doing, what is working, what has missed the intended mark, and what has exceeded expectations. Discussions will not only include training and reporting protocols, but we will also discuss implementation challenges and successes, community partnerships, law enforcement coordination, use of technology, funding sources, impact measures, and more. You will leave this session with additional resources to assist you, and your agency, in the fight against human trafficking.

Speakers

Jodi Godfrey

Senior Research Associate, Center for Urban Transportation Research

Lexi Higgins

Palm Tran

Lexi Higgins is the Director of Industry Engagement at TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking). In this role, she oversees TAT’s bus program, which works to educate and mobilize members of the motorcoach, transit and school transportation industries to combat human trafficking in the... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 3:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Salons A - C

Presentation

10:00am EDT

Transit Development Plan (TDP): Rule, Process, and Guidance Updates

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:00am - 11:45am EDT

Salons F & G

In this session, participants will learn about current updates on the Transit Development Plan (TDP), including, but not limited to, information on the current Rule, highlights of the 2025 TDP submittals, future TDP submittals, new handbook highlights, upcoming workshops, and open discussion on the most pressing issues related to the TDP.

Speakers

Martin Catala

Program Director, TMI, Center for Urban Transportation Research/USF

Martin Catala is the Program Director of the Transit Management and Innovation Group at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida. With over 28 years at CUTR, he specializes in public transportation performance evaluation, innovative mobility... Read More →

Jonathan Roberson

Research Associate, Center for Urban Transportation Research/USF

Kayla Huetten

Planner, Benesch

Kayla Huetten holds a Master of Urban & Regional Planning from the University of South Florida and a B.S. in Sustainability in the Built Environment from the University of Florida. Currently a Senior Planner at Benesch, Kayla specializes in transit planning with an emphasis on accessibility... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:00am - 11:45am EDT
Salons F & G

Presentation

10:00am EDT

Understanding CTD’s Annual Operating Report: Submission Guidelines and Clarifications

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:00am - 11:45am EDT

Magnolia Room

With the September 15th reporting deadline fast approaching, we invite CTCs to join us for an informative session where we will review the requirements for the Annual Operating Report. We’ll walk through the data collection system and provide guidance on what information should be included. You are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to share your thoughts, ask questions, and gain the clarifications you need.

Speakers

Sheri Powers

Project Manager, Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged

Project Manager | Florida Commission for the Transportation DisadvantagedDriven by a commitment to public service, Sheri Powers has over 30 years of experience in state government, including roles in emergency management and transportation. She currently serves as Project Manager... Read More →

Dan Zeruto

Commision for Transportation Disadvantage

Daniel Zeruto is a Project Manager with the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, where he has worked since 2011. With over 25 years of experience in management, he oversees the Commission’s Data Collection System and plays a key role in compiling the Annual Performance... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:00am - 11:45am EDT
Magnolia Room

Presentation

2025 FPTA/FDOT/CUTR PDW & Transit Safety and Operations Summit