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John Schiavone Speaks About Apprenticeship at Keynote Address of Small Urban Network Conference

Posted August 2019

John Schiavone Speaks at SUN Conference Keynote Address

The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) held its Small Urban Network (SUN) Conference August 7-9 in Athens, GA. Despite its size, Athens boasts among the highest per capita transit usage rates in the nation. Now into its fifth year, the SUN Conference gives leaders at small-urban transit agencies a chance to gather with their peers to network, and share ideas and solutions in a collegial, retreat-like setting.

The Center’s John Schiavone joined FTA’s Region IV Administrator Dr. Yvette Taylor to provide a keynote luncheon address. John reviewed the Center’s role in advancing apprenticeship in five transit occupations as part of the Department of Labor’s American Apprenticeship Initiative. Understanding that many small-urban agencies have little if any transit capacity, John emphasized that growing your own technicians through apprenticeship is an effective way to build needed skills, especially given the ever-advancing nature of today’s transit buses. Apprenticeship is a time-tested learning activity where experienced agency technicians provide essential on-the-job training. Agencies with no internal training could then coordinate with community colleges and vocational schools to provide related classroom instruction. For more information about the Center’s apprenticeship programs contact the Center’s Karitsa Holdzkom, kholdzkom@transportcenter.org .