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ITLC Spotlights Mentorship and Training Programs at the 2025 Transit Retreat
ITLC’s Transit Workforce Center joined several other Federal Transit Administration technical assistance centers in co-sponsoring and delivering information and training at the 2025 Transit Retreat in Des Moines, Iowa.
With a focus on the needs of attendees, primarily from smaller and rural agencies, Senior Workforce Development Advisor Maurice Beard and Program Manager of Instructional Design Kristen Ribaudo led two sessions on the Transit Workforce Center’s most requested offerings: Mentor Training and Train-the-Trainer. These programs continue to demonstrate measurable impact in developing frontline leadership, supporting effective training, and enhancing workforce performance.
Maurice facilitated the Train-the-Mentor session, which explored the essential role mentors play in workforce development and featured an abbreviated Mentor Training session for participants. Kristen led the Train-the-Trainer session, which included an overview of what makes training effective, adult learning theory, learning preferences, and the importance of structured lesson planning. Both interactive sessions wrapped up by welcoming feedback from engaged participants.
| | Kristen Ribaudo and Maurice Beard | | |
ITLC Workforce Development Initiatives at the 2025 APTA Rail Conference
Last week, Executive Director Jack Clark, Senior Advisor for Workforce Development and Technology Jason Macumber, and Program Manager of Instruction Design Kristen Ribaudo traveled to San Francisco to present at the American Public Transportation Association’s 2025 Rail Conference. The team shared innovative workforce development strategies with APTA Committees and emphasized the power of collaboration in building and sustaining a strong transit workforce.
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At the Transit Rail Committee meeting, ITLC was represented by Henry Li, an ITLC Board of Directors Executive Committee member and the CEO of Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT), who shared his agency’s experiences and in-depth knowledge about the impact and value of ITLC’s national training consortium model. Henry emphasized the increasing urgency facing public transportation agencies: an aging workforce, widening skills gaps in technical areas, and limited capacity to create high-quality, in-house training programs. He noted that ITLC’s consortium model offers a powerful solution by bringing agencies together to co-develop industry-aligned, standards-based technical training for frontline occupations in Signals, Rail Car, and Traction Power maintenance. The session closed with Henry’s reminder that when we work together, we build more than training; we build the future of our workforce.
The following day, Kristen and Derek Allen, SacRT’s Wayside Supervisor, presented on TWC’s new Foundational Skills Program, a scalable training initiative designed to close core knowledge gaps for both new and incumbent maintenance workers. The program includes modular, ready-to-use materials in basic mechanical, electrical, computer, and math skills. Agencies can implement these resources flexibly, depending on their workforce needs. When completed by this fall, all materials and resources related to the Foundational Skills Program will be publicly available through TWC. For more information on this program, contact Kristen at kribaudo@transportcenter.org.
| Session presenters (left to right): Bay Area Rapid Transit's Deputy Director of Human Resources Diane Iwata, SacRT's Wayside Supervisor Derek Allen, ITLC's Program Manager of Instructional Design Kristen Ribaudo, East Japan Railway's Railway Talent Acquisition and Development Yoko Tanaka, and Metro North Railroad's Chief Administrative Officer Yvonne Hill-Donald | | |
Driving Workforce Solutions: ITLC Speaks at the 2025 Northeast and Midwest Regions Joint Equipment Management Meeting
On June 19, Senior Advisor of Workforce Development and Technology Jason Macumber shared his expertise at the 2025 Northeast and Midwest Joint Equipment Management Meeting in Indianapolis. Jason presented “Training Technicians for the Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities,” addressing the practical challenges transit agencies are facing during their shift to battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses. His discussion outlined national strategies for preparing frontline technicians for fleet transition, emphasizing the need for safety protocols, foundational skills, and scalable training models.
Jason also highlighted ITLC’s current initiatives, emphasizing the importance of key elements, such as hands-on training, mentorship, and apprenticeship programs. The session’s attendees were highly engaged, and Jason will respond to follow-up requests for additional agency-level technical assistance.
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ITLC Shares Apprenticeship Insights at Florida Transit Workshop
Senior Workforce Development Advisor Maurice Beard traveled to Tampa, Florida, to participate in the 2025 Florida Public Transportation Association/Florida Department of Transportation/Center for Urban Transportation Research Professional Development Workshop.
This annual event brings together agencies across Florida to learn from industry experts and participate in professional development workshops. Maurice co-led a session titled "Apprenticeship Program Primer" alongside Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) Senior Manager of Recruitment and Workforce Development Dr. Sandy Beaumont and Machinists Union Lodge 759's President Melvin Smith. The workshop provided an overview of apprenticeship and mentorship programs and highlighted JTA’s progress and ongoing initiatives.
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Train-the-Trainer: ITLC Brings Expertise to Virginia and Missouri
Last month, ITLC delivered two Train-the-Trainer Level 1 sessions to Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) in Norfolk, VA, and Bi-State Development Metro Transit (Metro) in St. Louis. From June 2 to 6, Program Director of Instructional Design Julie Deibel-Pundt and Instructional Designer Brandon Liu led Train-the-Trainer Level 1 at HRT’s training facility. The class consisted of nine trainers, ranging from light rail to bus operations, bus maintenance, and human resources, with varying levels of classroom and hands-on training, as well as field experience.
| HRT Train-the-Trainer course instructors and participants | In St. Louis, Program Manager of Technical Assistance and Training Amri Joyner and Instructional Design Consultant Arnett Powell delivered Train-the-Trainer Level 1 from June 16 to 20 at Metro’s new training facility at Emerson Park Transit Center in East St. Louis, IL. The course included eight seasoned instructors from various Metro departments, including bus and paratransit operations, bus maintenance, rail maintenance, and operations systems. Participants brought a range of experience, from six months to over a decade in training roles. | Metro Train-the-Trainer course instructors and participants | |
Train-the-Trainer Level 1 is designed to build foundational knowledge of adult learning theory and principles, as well as methods, tools, and guidelines for delivering effective training. It includes an examination of classroom and hands-on training strategies and offers multiple sessions of practice training deliveries to the class throughout the week.
What Course Participants Are Saying:
HRT
- “I believe the HRT training team left with a better understanding of the adult learner, gained useful tips to assist with how we deliver future training, and learned how to make a lasting impact on our employees through our training preparation and follow-up.”
- “I feel like I learned and gained so much knowledge to make creating presentations and lessons easy.
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I hope we get to sign up for Part 2!!”
Metro
- “I enjoyed this class very much. Interacting with my peers was a plus, and I loved the feedback portion, so I can learn what I need to improve on.”
- “This was a pleasant and very informative course. I feel like I actually learned and retained useful material to apply during my current role as an instructor.”
- “You all actually kept me engaged and working to implement this training in my classroom.”
For more information regarding ITLC’s Train-the-Trainer courses, visit the updated Train-the-Trainer page on TWC's website, or contact Kristen Ribaudo at kribaudo@transportcenter.org.
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