As a past Mass Transit 40 Under 40 honoree, I am excited to share space in this issue with the newest cohort. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to build my career in an industry that recognizes our contributions and invests in our growth and development. 

My organization, the International Transportation Learning Center (ITLC), was founded 25 years ago on exactly that premise for the frontline workforce. Our founders believed that no matter where your transit career begins, you should have clear pathways to opportunity that collectively form a comprehensive workforce development ecosystem. Key elements of that ecosystem include high-quality training, mentorship, apprenticeships, educational partnerships and other structured skills and leadership development—all in an organizational culture that recognizes and values worker expertise. That commitment to the frontline workforce not only provides a return on investment for an industry whose mission is to move America’s communities, but it also opens doors for community members, taking them places as both riders and workers. 

Since 2021, ITLC has operated the Transit Workforce Center (TWC), the Federal Transit Administration’s technical assistance center for workforce development. TWC’s central mission is to support organizations in building and strengthening systems that recruit, hire, train and retain the transit industry’s workforce.

Through TWC, we’ve continued to closely connect with people whose stories demonstrate the impact of the industry’s commitment to growing the frontline workforce and illustrate why transit is an employer of choice. 

TWC has highlighted some of these remarkable individuals from across the industry and how their careers in transit unfolded: 

• Mentor Program Coordinator Valerie Campo at Champaign-Urban Mass Transit District, Finance Director Jerry Garcia at Mountain Rides and General Manager Dottie Watkins at the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority have taken varied journeys within their organizations, each beginning as a bus operator.  
• Leah Anderson at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 in Washington, D.C., Gwen Gibson at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and Transport Workers Union Local 234 in Philadelphia and Ryan Reynolds at Sound Transit have established their careers as mechanics, taking pride in applying their skills and preparing newer generations of workers. 
• Veterans from across the country and with various career trajectories shared how transit offered a natural transition from military service, allowing them to continue serving their communities. 

We recognize that success does not come about by accident. Every one of these individuals, and so many more whose stories deserve to be told, reached this point through hard work and commitment. They were also supported by intentionally designed workforce development ecosystems and a workplace culture that values learning and growth. Now, they are recruiting, mentoring and training in ways that pay it forward to newer colleagues, further strengthening their own organizations. 

The transformative impact of this industry on people’s lives underpins our mission to help advance the incumbent workforce while also positioning the industry to attract the next generation of talented frontline workers. Research supports what we see in the field: Our frontline workers are our most effective recruiters. Their images, voices and stories about career opportunities connect with others in the communities that transit serves, bringing in new recruits to our industry. 

So, let’s lay the groundwork for future generations of 40 Under 40, starting with the people currently on the frontline behind the wheel and in the maintenance bays. Together, we can support, build, expand and sustain those workforce development ecosystems that help move all of us forward.