The Straight and Narrow Road of Compliance

Jeff Barbacci, Thomas Howell Ferguson, P.A.

Please join Thomas Howell Ferguson for an update on the quality assurance topics identified during this year’s monitoring cycle and how CTC’s can avoid findings during your own visit. This informative and interactive session will utilize open discussion and shared learning to explore the source requirements and best practices to maximize grant compliance and minimize the risk of financial consequences.  Everything is on the table for this compliance session, so bring your appetite for learning and we’ll see you there!

Vehicle Maintenance For 5310 Agencies

Todd O’Neal, Lively Technical College; Robert DuTremble, JTA; Tony Brandin, FDOT; Dean Kirkland, and Laurie Zeruto, CUTR

This session presented by the Florida Association of Paratransit Technicians will focus on vehicle maintenance directed specifically toward 5310 agencies. Outer barrier wheelchair issues will be explained, and simple solutions will be shared. Aligning an agency’s TOP and daily maintenance procedures in preparing for a review will be presented. Information related to warranty repairs and how to address and recover agency dollars will be included. Tony Brandin, FDOT, will discuss circumstances and problems many 5310 agencies are facing throughout the state.

Writing Successful Grant Proposals Part 1

Chelcie C. Beadnell, ADAC, OCPS, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, Easterseals Project Action

Join us as we discuss the basics of grant writing and how to craft compelling proposals. This session will cover topics such as grant writing basics and terminology, steps to writing successful grant proposals, common grant proposal sections, and what to know before writing a grant proposal.

How to Dress Your Local Coordinating Board for Success

Wendy Scott, Charlotte County Punta Gorda MPO and Virginia Whittington, MetroPlan Orlando

Have you ever wondered how to have LCB Meetings become places where participants are active and engaged? This session will cover membership, attendance, participation, educating/informing, advocacy/support and more. Come ready to share your LCB techniques at this brainstorming session.

Uncovering the Truth: Bus Accident Investigation

Roberta Yegidis, CUTR

Documentation is mandatory in the process of conducting a bus collision investigation. Accident reports are required by federal and state laws and are crucial in lawsuit preparations. This session will address three main topics when conducting investigations including the documentation of on-scene evidence, report writing, and witness statements.

Writing Successful Grant Proposals Part 2

Chelcie C. Beadnell, ADAC, OCPS, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, Easterseals Project Action

Join us for Part 2, as we continue discussing the basics of grant writing and how to craft compelling proposals.

TD 101 – Overview of the Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) Program

David Darm, Executive Director, Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged

If you are new to TD or if you just want to refresh your knowledge, this session is for you! Participants will receive a comprehensive overview of the Transportation Disadvantaged Program.

Small and Rural Transit Agencies Roundtable Discussion

Moderators: Tony Brandin, FDOT; and Stephanie Lewis and Roberta Yegidis, CUTR | Presenters: Jerry Stickney, and Laura Rice, Hillsborough County Sunshine Line and Neil Rodriquez, National RTAP

This session will feature a roundtable format to discuss a variety of challenges and successes met by small and rural transit agencies. Transit agencies face a multitude of challenges while providing mobility options in their communities. Hillsborough County Sunshine Line will describe their partnership with the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative (THHI) to support the transient population within the county. Additionally, a representative from National RTAP will provide an update of products, training, and resources available. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions and issues to share with the moderators and their peers.

Effective Communication Skills for Serving Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Carol Wright Kenderdine, Easterseals Project Action

Get onboard with assisting older adults and people with disabilities! These best practices explain how to best serve older adults and passengers with disabilities. This session addresses the basic rules of safety, customer service and understanding a variety of conditions that make communications difficult with older adults and individuals who have disabilities such as hearing impairments; visual disabilities; traumatic brain injuries or strokes; those who are difficult to understand intellectual disabilities; people with autism; passengers with service animals; individuals with hidden disabilities and much more. It covers effective communications, person-first language, and provides specific guidance for assisting people with disabilities; By following these tips, you and the passengers will have a great trip.

Everyone can be a Leader

Stephanie Lewis and Roberta Yegidis, CUTR

Leadership is an art, and the question has always been, “Are people born leaders, or can anyone become a leader?” The truth is that anyone can be a leader – all you need to do is develop the appropriate qualities and characteristics and most of all – believe in yourself. Many of history’s greatest leaders started life as very ordinary people; however, through passion and determination, they have become individuals that we all admire. This session will concentrate on traits that successful leaders possess and how to be an effective leader. You’ll learn how to improve your current leadership skills and about the key skills that will make you stand out in a crowd and be the one that others want to follow. Join us for a fun-filled session with interactive discussions on successful leadership traits.

Changing Demographics and Mobility Management Transformation

Martin Catala, CUTR; Rob Gregg, Madrid CPWG; Enjoli Dixon, FTA National Center for Mobility Management

This session will explore Florida's evolving urban and rural landscapes through insights from the 2020 census data. Delve into the effects of this data on the 2024 FTA Grant program allocations and its application in designing innovative services. Learn about Mobility Management as a catalyst for "Disruptive Innovation" and see a model example of how an inventive grant project addresses the shifting mobility scenarios.

Never Surprise Them at the Podium – Building Relationships and Informing Decision Makers in Advance

Karen Deigl and Chris Stephenson, Senior Resource Association; Mayor Susan Gibbs Thomas, Village of Indiantown; Beth Beltran, Martin County MPO

Participants will hear valuable information about building and maintaining relationships with local stakeholders and decision makers before a “crisis” occurs and communicating with them well in advance of presenting an action item at a public meeting.

TD Planners Session – Part 1

CTD Staff

Please join us as we review and discuss TD planning activities and more. We encourage you to share the challenges you have experienced and how your agency has overcome them. Sharing ideas, information and solutions is key to each of our successes.

TD Planners Session – Part 2

CTD Staff

Please join us as we continue to review and discuss TD planning activities and more.

Management: Refocus, Refresh and Renew

Enjoli Dixon, FTA National Center for Mobility Management

Are your mobility management activities reaching the masses? Are you looking to learn about unique mobility management activities and funding to support them? The role of a mobility manager wears several hats within a transportation agency, planning organization, or even a DOT. This session will teach you to reset your programs to step outside of your box in order to provide maximum outreach to ensure the public is knowledgeable about public transportation coordinated in your area. You will learn about innovative mobility strategies to address transportation gaps and the important role that mobility management has in facilitating community connections.

Attracting, Engaging and Retaining the Workforce of the Future

Mindy Price, Direct Effect Solutions, Inc.

Today's workplace doesn't look like the workplace of the past. It is getting harder and harder to compete to attract, engage and retain workers in today's environment. In this session you will hear techniques and learn tools to apply immediately for you to attract, engage and retain staff in your agency.

Opening Session: Welcome Transportation Disadvantaged

Presenter: David Darm, Executive Director, Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged

David Darm will kick-off the conference with a welcome and presentation on planning for the future of the Coordinated Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) System. In this presentation, he will revisit the vision and guiding principles of the TD Program and discuss goals for the next year to help the Commission and our partners plan for the future of serving Floridians who are transportation disadvantaged.

CTC Essentials

CTD Staff

This session will provide Transportation Disadvantaged Program information and updates. This will be an opportunity for discussion related to grant management, eligibility, invoicing, reporting, and other CTC items of interest.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld

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Last day to reserve in the block at the discounted group rate is August 4, 2023

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