News

Driving Recruitment & Retention: ITLC Presents at the MPTA Conference

Posted October 2024

In early September, Research Associate Shayna Gleason and Communications Manager David Stephen attended the Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) State Conference and Expo in St. Louis. Shayna and David staffed an exhibit table and led two respective conference sessions. Shayna’s session, led by Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) Executive Director Julia Castillo, was titled "New Avenues for Recruitment and Retention.” The session targeted recruitment efforts for untapped, underserved, and underrepresented populations, including: veterans, older workers and retirees, people with disabilities, second-chance populations, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

David's session, titled "Recruitment & Retention for Rural Transit Systems," panelists included OATS Transit Inc. Midwest Regional Director Tracy Walkup and East Region Director Pam Knox, and Metro Transit, St. Louis’s Assistant Executive Director Trenise Winters. The panelists highlighted several practices that positively impacted driver recruitment and retention, including driver referrals, applicant ride-alongs, and emphasizing the strong community bond drivers develop. Trenise also shared how they have achieved success with Metro Transit's mentorship program.