The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has announced the appointment of Visual Marking Systems Vice President of Sales, Vicki Porter as a member of the Business Members Board of Governors (BMBG). Her two-year term commenced on October 2, 2011.
APTA is the leading force in advancing public transportation. Its mission is to strengthen and improve public transportation. APTA serves and leads its diverse membership through advocacy, innovation and information sharing. APTA and its members and staff work to ensure that public transportation is available and accessible for all Americans in communities across the country. APTA is instrumental in helping to craft public policy and make recommendations to regulators who oversee the industry. One component of the BMBG program is the support for APTA's transit advocacy efforts. It is Porter's strong background in this area, and her commitment to public safety in the industry that led her to apply for a position on the Board.
Porter has dedicated a large portion of her time and energy to working for transit safety and policy. She joined the APTA Railroad Safety Emergency Preparedness Task Force, and developed a cost saving idea for the transit industry. As a leader of the team at VMS, Vicki was key to developing HPPL material that emits light at a much lower foot-candle. She understood the cost involved with meeting the proposed standard of 5-foot candle at 7.5mdc and suggested a change to the standard to 1-foot candle at 7.5mdc. This change would result in creating a benchmark that was more feasible to implement, while continuing to ensure the safety of users of public transportation. This new standard will result in a savings of 30 percent on the cost of HPPL materials and a million dollar cost savings to the United States.
Porter began paving the way for her appointment many years ago. She has been an active member of the APTA Commuter Rail Executive Committee. While on this committee, she has used her primary expertise in the areas of graphics, printing, ADA, luminosity and HPPL to help the VIM task force to make decisions that are of vital importance to passenger rail safety.
"Vicki is an industry veteran who will bring her experience and expertise to the Board", says Kim Green, president of GFI Genfare, a past chair of the BMBG and long-time member. "With her understanding of the industry and her enthusiasm for what we are all trying to achieve for transit, Vicki will be an active contributor and represent the Business Members of APTA well."
Fellow APTA Business Member Board of Governors and Publisher of Bobit Business Media, Frank DiGiacomo states "Vicki Porter is an up and comer in the association. She has been very active on major APTA committees and she represents the interest of all Business Members as relating to the polices and direction of the American Public Transportation Association. She is a very hard worker and a great asset to BMBG."
