ThinkTransit, the annual Trapeze Group and Vontas user conference, is around the corner. This year, the conference will take place in Fort Worth, Texas, from March 20-23, 2022, with host agency Trinity Metro.
ThinkTransit brings together over 500 transit industry experts across North America and provides agencies the opportunity to learn, connect, and discuss the future of transit. There's a massive wealth of knowledge at ThinkTransit that creates an industry-wide ripple effect; What you learn at ThinkTransit can be taken back to your agency and applied to make real, impactful changes.
Blog and Podcast Manager, Tris Hussey, and Social Media Marketing Specialist, Randi Reshef, have teamed up to bring you a behind-the-scenes interview series, aptly named "Destination: ThinkTransit." "Destination: ThinkTransit" covers your need-to-know questions featuring ThinkTransit keynote speakers, Trapeze Group and Vontas employees, and key players that help bring the conference to life each year.
We connected with Ashley Di Iorio, Manager, Events and Marketing Analytics, at Trapeze Group to kick off the series. Ashley oversees the ThinkTransit Awards of Excellence, which recognize those who are creating change and innovating in our industry. Let's jump right in!
Destination: ThinkTransit, with Ashley Di Iorio
Tris Hussey: Welcome to “Destination: ThinkTransit.” I'm Tris Hussey, and I'm here with our PR and social media guru, Randi Reshef. Today, we're talking to Ashley Di Iorio about the ThinkTransit Awards of Excellence, which are coming up in March, on the last day of the conference. Nominations are now open. First off, Ashley, what are the ThinkTransit awards?
Ashley Di Iorio: The ThinkTransit Awards of Excellence recognize those that push the industry forward. These individuals are constantly pushed to think of bigger and brighter ideas to enhance transit and transform its role in everyday life.
TH: Now, how long have we been giving the Awards?
AD: I’m excited to share that this will be our 4th year celebrating the ThinkTransit Awards of Excellence!
TH: Oh, fantastic! Now, you’ve been at more than a few ThinkTransits. How many is this for you?
AD: This will be my fifth year.
TH: There's more than just one award that people can be nominated for. We have five industry awards, but we have a new, special award this year. Can you give us a brief rundown of all the awards?
AD: Of course! As you mentioned, we do have six awards in total. Five of the awards recognize the attendees, plus our new award, which I can share more about a little later. The award categories are Advancement, Innovation, Alliance, Community Building, and Best Live Session. I will give a little bit of an overview of each:
The Advancement award recognizes transit agencies, organizations, and individuals who are striving to expand the boundaries of transit. The Innovation award is for an agency, organization, or individual who is simply doing things differently for the betterment of the transit industry. The Alliance award recognizes the best joint Trapeze and Vontas initiatives with transit agencies. We have a customer community called Collaborate and the Community Building award recognizes individuals who actively demonstrate leadership in the community and have gone above and beyond to be engaged with their peers. Last but not least is Best Live Session which goes to the best live session at the 2022 ThinkTransit conference, selected by attendees through polling.
TH: People are nominated for these awards by attendees and others in the industry, how does that work?
AD: Our Advancement and Innovation awards are both ones where others can nominate. Both awards are open for nomination on our Awards page on our ThinkTransit website!
www.trapezegroup.com/thinktransit/awards
TH: I was at Virtual ThinkTransit last year, and there are some really cool people who win these awards. With so many amazing nominees, how do you choose who wins?
AD: You’re right…It’s not an easy process! There are so many inspiring individuals who are doing such great work every year to help bring our industry forward. We have a full committee that helps review the nominations to select a winner. We wish all nominees could be winners! But to make the selection, we look at the information provided with each nomination. Usually, it’s the story shared – the motivation and passion behind the person, team, or agency who worked to make an impact on the industry. It’s about the “why” they did it and the outcome of that why.
TH: So, it really pays to spend some time on these nominations. You don’t just throw any name in. Those who are nominating themselves or their peers really should take some time and craft a good nomination.
AD: Definitely! Tell us the “why” you're nominating those individuals and that story, because it’s a huge help.
TH: There is a new award this year, which I think is really exciting. Tell us about the sixth award.
AD: We’re excited to introduce the ThinkTransit Employee Award, which recognizes our Trapeze and Vontas employees going the extra mile. Our employees care so much about our customers and being there for their journeys – day in and day out. We wanted to create an award that recognizes this! This is an opportunity for our customers to nominate an employee that they worked with in the past year, who they felt went above and beyond for them.
TH: Do you have a favorite award? Is there one that inspires you?
AD: This is a hard question! I’m inspired by each of the awards. If I had to choose just one, I would have to say the Advancement award. I think it’s powerful to hear how agencies, partners, and other organizations are advancing the industry. If we look at the industry, it’s evolved so much in the past 5, 10, 15 years – this award helps recognize what steps agencies are taking to make change happen into the future.
TH: I know you don’t like to pick favorites, but do you have a favorite memory or recipient from past awards to share?
AD: Truthfully, I have to say that every year I enjoy the awards ceremony, as a whole, at ThinkTransit. It’s great to present the award to the winners, have our attendees at the event cheering in the crowd. Really, it’s about the whole ambiance. The awards truly recognize our recipients for their great accomplishments.
TH: This is your fifth ThinkTransit. What are you most looking forward to this year?
AD: I'm excited to have everyone together again. I’m excited for Vontas and Trapeze employees to engage with our customers and partners, to be able to have conversations, and really bring back that in-person dynamic that has been missed over the last couple of years, and the collaboration that the event will bring.
TH: Ashley, thank you for being our first guest on “Destination: ThinkTransit.” Now, where can people go for more information and to nominate someone for the ThinkTransit Awards of Excellence?
Do you know someone who would be a perfect nominee for the ThinkTransit Awards of Excellence? Nominations are open until February 28, 2022. Submit your nominations here and don’t forget to register for ThinkTransit!
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