Mitch Wood
Graphic Designer
Communications & Marketing Department

What are the three job elements you focus on the most (your primary responsibilities)?
I primarily work on the design and layout of Passenger Transport, our biweekly newspaper.

I receive text, photos, and illustrations from our editorial team and determine how best to incorporate both into issues that are readable, attractive, and informative. I particularly enjoy creating the huge issues—the ones we call “behemoths.”

I also develop graphic designs for a range of APTA documents and publications, including:
* Leadership APTA flyers;
* APTA Awards call for nominations postcard and award winners booklet;
* The handy, pocket-size Facts at-a-Glance informational tri-fold;
* American Public Transportation Foundation brochures and invitations; and
* An APTA-branded cover design used annually for such publications as the Public Transportation Fact Book and the Management Compensation Report.

This past year, I developed a template for the Policy Department’s white papers and designed a book providing suggested responses and counterpoints to frequently made criticisms of high-speed rail projects. I also work on some of the graphics displayed on the APTA website.

What initiatives, projects, or programs have you been part of at APTA that you have taken particular pride in completing?
Definitely the ARRA book (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act)—a massive collection of clippings from Passenger Transport that delineated the value of federal investment in the industry, particularly in terms of creating and supporting jobs.

In 2008, we redesigned Passenger Transport, incorporating more color, photos, in-depth stories, and original reporting. Since that time, we have won a number of awards from different professional organizations, all publication related, including a silver award for Most Improved Newspaper from Association Trends magazine.

On a less serious note, I have the pleasure of designing the “farewell” Passenger Transport front pages that we give to departing employees.

How did you “land” at APTA?
I landed here formally after 15 years at a local [Maryland] printing company. While I worked for that company, which was and is still a vendor that APTA uses, I spent a significant portion of my time designing layouts for APTA’s preliminary and final conference programs.

Before that, I worked for a typesetting company in Washington, DC, doing composition and paste-up for Passenger Transport. So I feel like I’ve come full circle.

Also, prior to working at APTA, I served for many years as an AdWheel judge.

And may I add—how printing has changed since I started, since now it’s all electronic. Give me InDesign and computer-to-plate printing over Linotype machines, X-Acto knives, and bluelines any day!

How long have you worked here? 5 years.

Do any of your job responsibilities give you direct contact with APTA members? If so, please talk about recent times you’ve helped out a member.
Even though I don’t communicate directly with members, I feel many times as if I do, having been working on APTA issues and documents for 25+ years.

I had a particularly memorable experience that directly involved working with a member in 2009. During APTA’s Telling Our Story Capitol Hill advocacy day, I was tasked with taking photos of a transit user from Myrtle Beach, SC, as she presented APTA’s petition book, signed by thousands of individuals supporting federal investment in public transportation, to then-Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC). It was so gratifying to see APTA facilitate the engagement of citizens and know that its grassroots effort could have a positive impact at the highest levels of government.

What professional associations do you belong to?
Association Media and Publishing (serving as a judge for its annual Excel Awards).
National Capital Area InDesign Users Group.

Is there something readers would be surprised to learn about you?
As a high school student in suburban Detroit, I attended an American History civics class assembly and had the honor of meeting civil rights icon and public transportation “saint” Rosa Parks. When I was in college at Georgetown University, I was managing editor of our student newspaper, The Hoya.


Make sure you see Mitch's video, now that you've read this!