2026 Summit Program 8.5x11-1 - Flipbook - Page 18
Thursday, September 10
Networking & Connection
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · Building the Bench: Succession Planning Made
Easy, Elijah Pierce "B", Lobby Level Tower 401
Join us for an interactive workshop that demystifies succession planning and equips
attendees with practical tools to strengthen their agency's leadership pipeline. Through
hands-on activities and group discussion, participants will learn how to identify and develop
talent within their organization, ensuring readiness for key roles and continuity in
leadership, while exploring best practices for building a robust succession plan, avoiding
common pitfalls, and fostering a culture of growth and opportunity. Attendees will leave
with practical strategies and a customizable template that makes executing succession
planning straightforward and effective.
Althea Neilson
Director of Training and Organization
Development at Dallas Area Rapid
Transit (DART)
Sponsored by
3:40 PM – 4:40 PM · Accelerating Engagement: Innovative Approaches
That Drove Significant Increases in Frontline Participation and
Employee Satisfaction, Elijah Pierce "B", Lobby Level Tower 401
Frontline employees are the heartbeat of every public transit system, yet they are often the
hardest group to consistently engage. This presentation highlights a year-long initiative that
transformed frontline employee engagement through intentional communication, targeted
and meaningful rewards systems, enhanced labor partnership, and a renewed focus on
listening to employee needs. By reshaping our approach - meeting employees where they
are, tailoring engagement to operational realities, and building trust through transparency TARTA achieved a 30% increase in frontline participation and a five-point increase in the
satisfaction index in our 2025 Engagement Survey.
Ursula Barrera-Richards, J.D.
Chief Human Resources Officer
Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority
Sponsored by
