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Conference Workshops

TAM is proud to bring world-class trainers to our members. Our training team is still filling out the conference schedule, and we will be posting session times in the coming weeks.

Every Day

Member Presented Sessions

TAM is calling on our members to submit proposals for sessions to be presented at our annual conference. Workshops should be:

  • 60 minutes in length.
  • On a topic of interest to Conference attendees.
  • May be presented by a single presenter, multiple presenters, or a panel.

Vendors are welcome to participate if they can present a session in partnership with a transit or nonprofit agency. Presentations are due to TAM by the end of July. You can submit your proposals at: https://www.taminc.org/membersessions

 

 

Keynote Speaker - Mentalist Brian Curry

TAM is proud to bring our keynote speaker to our members to kick off the conference right. 

Brian Curry is a mentalist, magician, and professional liar—though he’d prefer you call him The Good Liar. Based in Washington, DC, he’s spent years dazzling audiences with mind-reading stunts, impossible predictions, and just the right amount of snark.

He’s performed at hundreds of corporate events, and been named Washington City Paper’s Performing Artist of the Year. He also claims to have won the prestigious Milbourne Christopher Award for Mentalism—but given his profession, you’ll have to decide for yourself. For TAM, he'll be giving an informative, entertaining, and participatory experience on the value of honesty, the difficulty of detecting it, and the subtle ways our minds can trick us behind our backs.

LOTS Workshop - Title VI Plans

Presented by Lynn Winchell-Mendy and KFH Staf

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. As subrecipients of MTA, LOTS and 5310s are required to develop and implement a Title VI Plan to ensure fairness in delivery of transportation services. The approval process for 2027-2029 Title VI Plans is right around the corner. In this session MTA and KFH staff will ready you for the update process by explaining the requirement, walking through the updated template and the purpose behind each section, and providing insight on how to implement the plan. A fun Mentimeter “quiz” will test your knowledge pre and post presentation.

Practical AI in Transit: Building Clearer Goals, Better Training, and Safer Outcomes

Presented by Tom Eser of Oceans Transit

This 90-minute session is designed for transit professionals who want a practical, non-technical introduction to using AI responsibly in safety, training, supervision, HR, and program development work. The focus is not on coding, advanced technology, or replacing professional judgment. The focus is on helping transportation professionals understand how AI can support clearer goals, better training materials, stronger safety communication, and more efficient program development.

During the session, participants will see how AI can be used to:

  • Turn rough ideas into structured training objectives;
  • Develop lesson plan outlines and class materials;
  • Improve safety and workforce communication;
  • Create prompts using plain language or voice-to-text;
  • Check and verify AI-generated information;
  • Understand the difference between AI as a drafting tool and AI as a decision-maker;
  • Explore introductory examples of AI-supported voiceover, graphics, and training media.

The session will include a live interactive demonstration using an index card activity where participants provide both transit-related terms and unrelated words. Those inputs are used to show how AI can work with imperfect, real-world information and still help create useful training concepts. This keeps the session engaging while reinforcing the core message: AI does not require perfect prompts; it requires clear direction, human review, and responsible use.

Beyond Inspiration - Vision that Works

Presented by Dioane Gates of Cornerman Consulting

Transit leaders are often asked to guide people through uncertainty, workforce pressure, competing priorities, and public
expectations. In those moments, vision cannot simply be a slogan or a speech. Vision must create clarity, responsibility, and
movement

This session is designed to be practical, reflective, and immediately applicable. Mr. Gates will use a facilitated learning
approach that combines short teaching segments, guided discussion, real-time reflection, and applied practice. Participants will not
simply hear about vision casting; they will examine where vision is needed in their own leadership context and practice shaping
vision language that can help mobilize people toward adaptive work.

The workshop will connect vision casting to the leadership realities facing transit professionals, including uncertainty, workforce
pressure, competing priorities, operational complexity, and the need to create ownership beyond formal authority. The goal is to help
participants leave with a clearer understanding of how vision can move teams from concern to commitment, confusion to clarity, and
compliance to shared responsibility.

 

 

Introducing: Transit 101

On Wednesday, September 23, TAM is introducing a new element to our annual conference: Transit 101. Intended for:

  • The frontline worker new to supervision and management
  • The transit manager or supervisor new the transit
  • The long-time supervisor or executive in need of technical grounding.

Transit 101 is a series of 90 minute workshops running all day.

Transit Basics — Presented by Dan Mulraney
This session lays the groundwork for everything that follows. Participants will get a clear picture of what public transit actually is — from fixed-route to demand-response service — and how Maryland's locally operated transit systems fit into the broader landscape. Dan will walk through how transit is funded at the federal, state, and local levels, and demystify how service is planned, scheduled, and delivered day to day. Whether you're brand new to a leadership role or simply want a refresher on the big picture, this session will give you the vocabulary and context to understand how your system works and why.

 

 

Compliance — Presented by Jill Nagy, Esq.
Transit doesn't just move people — it carries significant legal obligations. In this session, attorney Jill Nagy will break down the civil rights framework that governs public transportation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Participants will learn what these laws require of transit systems in practice: accessible service, nondiscrimination in service delivery, reasonable modification, and complaint procedures. This session translates legal requirements into plain language, helping new supervisors understand where compliance risks arise on the front lines and what their role is in protecting both riders and their agency.

Finance — Presented by Rex Knowlton, CTAA
Money makes the buses run, and understanding where it comes from — and where it goes — is essential for anyone stepping into a leadership role. Rex Knowlton of the Community Transportation Association of America will introduce the fundamentals of transit accounting, including the critical distinction between operating and capital expenses, how budgets are built, and the metrics that drive decision-making. The session will also cover the basics of grant applications: how federal and state funding programs work, what match requirements mean, and how accurate reporting and documentation keep the funding flowing. No finance background required — just a willingness to follow the money.

Supervision — Presented by Lynn Berger, Strategic Evolutions LLC
Perhaps the hardest transition in any career is the move from peer to supervisor. One day you're sharing the break room; the next, you're writing the schedule. Lynn Berger of Strategic Evolutions LLC will tackle the interpersonal challenges that come with promotion: managing former coworkers, earning credibility with employees who have decades more experience than you, setting boundaries without burning relationships, and finding your own leadership voice. Through practical strategies and real-world scenarios, this session will help new supervisors navigate awkward dynamics with confidence and build the respect that effective leadership requires.

There is no special registration necessary or charge to attend. Those attendees who attend a full day of Transit 101 courses will receive a special certificate. 

5310 Workshops - Part I and II

The Maryland Transit Administration will be hosting workshops during the conference to cover critical areas for those agencies receiving state and federal funding. Part I in the morning will cover Invoicing and Mobility Management, while Part II in the afternoon will deal with the 5310 Grant Application itself along with Q&A.

Roundtable Discussions

TAM will host moderated roundtable discussions in which free-flowing discussion of topics critical to success in the modern community transportation world will be covered. We will be hosting two separate sessions - one for transit agencies, and one for our nonprofit members.

Wake Up!!! How to Combat Driver Fatigue

Presented by Michael Noel of Noel Training

The data is irrefutable. 30-40% of accidents suggest operating fatigue as a component cause. 24 hours without sleep is equivalent to a Blood Alcohol Content of .10. Operator fatigue results in lost work time, accidents, bad customer service, and even workplace violence. In this interactive discussion, we will discuss the best strategies transit agencies and organizations can use to make sure their drivers are rested and ready when it's time to roll out.

Meaningful Public Engagement in a Changing Landscape 

Public engagement services many purposes at once: It enhances the rider experience, serves as a marketing tool for the agency, allows your community to contribute knowledge and resources to your system, and helps build crucial public support that no system can survive without. Well-timed, meaningful engagement also helps to surface risk before it turns into delays, litigation, or political blowback. Panelists will discuss critical moments for engagement, how to encourage a culture of engagement among your employees, and how use engagement to enhance agency operations.

Foundations of Successful Training

Many transit supervisors find themselves in the position of lead trainer for their agencies. However, technical skill is not enough to make sure training is not only comprehensive but effective. This workshop will go over scientific principles of adult learning, the dos-and-don'ts of presentations, cover best practices for creating a training program, and deliver an example of a short, effective presentation style that you can take back to your agency.

Transit Succession Planning

Presented by Lynn Berger of Strategic Evolution, LLC

This session is designed to help TAM members and transportation organizations identify, prepare, and support future leaders for critical operational, supervisory, technical, and administrative roles.

Because transportation agencies rely on continuity of service, safety, compliance, customer trust, and experienced staff knowledge, succession planning should be practical, transparent, and connected to real workforce needs. The session will focus on how organizations can reduce leadership gaps, retain institutional knowledge, and create realistic development pathways for employees who may be ready for future responsibility.

Recommended Audience

  • Leaders and senior transportation members
  • Transit and transportation managers
  • Supervisors of operations, dispatch, maintenance, safety, compliance, and customer-facing teams
  • HR, training, and workforce development personnel
  • Leaders responsible for identifying, developing, or retaining future supervisors, managers, and key technical staff