Jeremy Rueter
Web Manager
Corporate Affairs Department

What are the three job elements you focus on the most—what are your primary responsibilities?
I provide tech support for APTA’s websites. That means I create new sites, like for meetings, develop new sections for our existing sites, and help other staff members update or add new content to their sections. I’m there to help.

I’m also migrating some of APTA’s older sites to SharePoint, which is our website and content management system. APTA has several different websites. A few of the ones I work on are our main site; for the American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF); our advocacy site for the general public; and for the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP).

I’m also taking a look at our main site to make it an even better resource for members. I’m trying to look at it through their eyes.

Do you have direct contact with APTA members? If so, please talk about the most recent times you’ve helped out a member.
I don’t have a lot of direct contact with members, but sometimes I’ll get phone calls or e-mails from members asking a question about the website. It’s always nice to talk to members and get their insights on the website. I really appreciate their feedback.

What initiatives, projects, or programs have you worked on at APTA that you have taken particular pride in completing?
This February, I was part of a team that launched a website specifically for veterans. The site is a great resource center, especially for careers in public transportation. It’s been pretty heavily used so far. The first month it launched, we had about 1,000 visits.

We feature a good selection of links to other resources and they get a lot of attention; we spotlight a public transit agency once a month, and that gets a lot of hits; and we have a calendar of events that tracks career fairs around the country, and that’s really well used. I’m also working with other staff members on improvements to the websites for TCRP and APTF.

How did you “land” at APTA? How long have you worked here?
I was working at an international development consulting firm, but I was looking for something better—a new job with more responsibilities and challenges. I saw the job opening at APTA and immediately after reading the job description, I knew I wanted this job. I’ve been with APTA for about five months. I feel lucky that I got the job, and I’m very happy to be here.

Have you held other jobs in the public transportation industry (besides working at APTA)?
This is my first job in public transportation, so I learn something new every day. I helped out at the APTA Legislative Conference, so that let me have a look at some of our government affairs and advocacy issues and gave me a chance to meet more members. I also learn a lot about public transportation by working on the website every day. There’s a huge amount of content online, so I get exposed to all kinds of information. I’ve definitely learned a lot in a few months.

And since I started working at APTA, I’m much more aware of all the “moving parts” of public transportation—all its complexity. Before, I just used the Metro and didn’t give it another thought.

Could you tell us something about yourself that might surprise us?
I’m terrified of ice skating. I tried it a few times as a kid and then again later with my wife, but I realized that I’m happy just to watch. I’m a big soccer fan and I’ve been watching the qualifying matches for the World Cup on television. I grew up in Texas, and I love Mexican food and Texas football.

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