Authorization, workforce development, and procurement, among other issues, are the central topics at APTA’s Business Members Board of Governors upcoming meeting, Jan. 22-24 in Del Mar, CA. The meeting, the first of the year for the BMBG, is open to all business members.

“In addition to the critical issue of authorization, we will also focus on the need for entry-level engineers to staff our companies in the future, procurement issues that support a healthy business environment, and comprehensive finance initiatives that support a greater private-sector role in financing transportation projects in our communities,” said Angela Iannuzziello, BMBG chair and vice president, Canada National Transit Market Sector Lead, AECOM. “Plans for EXPO 2014 will also be on our agenda,” she said, encouraging all APTA business members to attend and participate.

In addition, five public transit agency general managers will participate in a CEO Roundtable to discuss issues, challenges, and opportunities facing their public transit systems and focus on private-sector partnerships and opportunities to collaborate.

They are Stephen Banta, chief executive officer of Valley Metro, Phoenix, AZ; Darrell Johnson, chief executive officer, Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange, CA; Matthew Tucker, executive director, North County Transit District, Oceanside, CA; Kenneth McDonald, president and chief executive officer, Long Beach Transit, CA; and Paul Jablonski, chief executive officer, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, CA.

Other guest speakers include Janet Kavinoky, executive director, transportation and infrastructure at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and vice president, Americans for Transportation Mobility Coalition, and Jeff Loveng, principal and chief executive officer, Vandor Strategies. APTA staff will review the association’s recommendations for reauthorization, communications and advocacy plan for 2014, and the latest research on engaging millennials as public transportation riders and advocates.

For details, click here.