SPRING CONFERENCE AND VENDOR EXPO

Holiday Inn Downtown
200 S. Pattee Street
Missoula MT 59802
(406) 721-8550

May 4-8, 2026
Tentative Agenda

Conference Sponsors
pass_table_of_contents.pdf
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Monday, May 4 _ Driver Training 
7:30 - 8:00am          Registration 
8:00 - Noon             PASS Training -downloadable course                                    description above
Noon - 1:00 p.m.     Lunch - on your own
 
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.       PASS training cont'd

Tuesday, May 5 - Driver Training

8:00 - Noon              PASS Training cont'd

Noon - 1:00 p.m.      Lunch - on your own

1:00 - 5:00 p.m.        PASS training concludes


Wednesday, May 6 - Driver Training
8:00 - Noon       Transportation Active-Threat Response                                    Training.  Levine Security Solutions.
                          This workshop will blend a focused  classroom instruction and hands-                                    on bus-based exercises,  participants  learn how to recognize early                                           warning signs of escalating  behavior, manage high-stress passenger                                     interactions, and make  sound decisions under pressure. The training                                     emphasizes practical  de-escalation techniques, seated survival                                                positioning, and effective  communication with dispatch and riders                                          during emergencies.  Operators are taught how to  remain in control                                        of both themselves  and their vehicle, even when circumstances                                              rapidly deteriorate. 

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  Q'Straint Wheelchair Securement Training
                          - Lisa Nippolt - Q'Straint  - Learn how to properly
                                     secure any mobility devise. Tricks to help you provide exceptional                                            service   to your riders.

Wednesday, May 6 - Agency Training
7:30 - 8:00 am    Registration
8:00 - 8:15 am    Conference Welcome - Elizabeth Wood, MTA President
8:15 – 9:45 a.m.   Unlocking the Power of Microtransit in Smaller Communities.                                      Kade Marquez, City of Idaho Falls & Greater Idaho Falls Transit (GIFT)
                               Participants will learn how two small cities in Idaho have deployed on-                                     demand mobility services to best serve their communities. They’ll                                          share:    What did they learn along the way? What are the performance                                    metrics that measure their success? How will they continue to evolve the                                service to meet growing demand?       
 
9:45 – 10:00 A.M.    BREAK
 
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.    AI in Transit Marketing: Friend or Foe?
                                   Chris Ackerman, Victor  Valley Transit Authority
                                   Are you thrilled, skeptical, or stuck in an AI-free zone at work? No                                           matter where you stand, this exclusive AI session is designed just for                                     marketing pros in the transit industry! Join us for a fun, interactive,                                         and eye-opening deep dive into the power of AI. We'll explore game-                                        changing tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Photoshop, Illustrator,                                        and more! Get ready to learn, be amazed, and laugh out loud as we                                          uncover how AI can boost creativity, streamline workflows, and make                                      your job easier (and way more fun). Don’t miss out—this is your                                              ticket to the future of transit marketing!
 
 11:30 – 2:00 p.m.  Vendor EXPO and networking luncheon

2:00 - 3:00p.m.      Making Change Happen: Transforming your Operations -                                       Brenda Schweitzer, Sioux Falls, SD 
                                  Since OMB says that pass-through entities should “exercise                                                     judgement” when they make the required determinations, this session                                     will take a fresh look at all of the factors that might affect the decision,                                     including some that aren’t included in OMB’s guidance document. We                                     will examine the requirements from the differing perspectives of the
                                 federal awarding agencies, the pass-through entities and the sub-                                            grantees that are receiving awards.             
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.        Break
LEARNING ZONES
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.       Prepping for Your Compliance Review, Lyn Hellegaard,                                                      MTA & Barb Sheridan, MDT
                                    This workshop will provide attendees with information on the                                                     updated  version of the MDT Compliance Review documents and                                             receive the makings of a binder to easily consolidate all the                                                       documentation necessary for a successful review.
3:45 - 4:15p.m.            Bus and Van Spec 101 – Did you get what you needed?   
                                      Chuck Nelson, Davey Coach.
                     This workshop will provide attendees with knowledge to effectively                                          procure the vehicles that best suit their agency. Getting the spec                                              and unit you need instead of just accepting what shows up.
                                      Use current order forms proven to provide best spec for Transit                                               Operations and Understand how a unit is made for transit and why                                           they are built the way they are.

4:15 – 4:45pm.        Transforming Rural Transit: Technology and Lessons from 70+                             Community Launches. Triumph Kerins, Blaise Transit
                                This session address real-world challenges by presenting proven                                            strategies drawn from more than 70 on-demand transit deployments                                        with rural and community transportation providers. Learn practical tool
                                 and  approaches you can implement today. 
5:30 – 8:00 p.m.      Networking Event – Bowl-A-Rama – Westside Lanes and Fun Center.                                    Sponsored by Davey Coach
 
 
Thursday, May 7th
 
7:30 - 8:00 a.m.         Late registration
                                               
8:00 –9:00 a.m.           MTA Strategic Planning – members only.
                                            Board Elections

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.      Own It! How to Build an Accountability Culture.                                                               Marianne Renne, Renner Coaching Solutionsr
                                  Stop behaviors that sabotage organizational, team, and career
                                  success. Start new habits that build accountability, empowerment
                                   and trust. Teams want accountability – Really!. They just don’t                                                   know  how to become more accountable in a world filled with chaos,
                                   competing priorities, and constant change. This presentation offers
                                   tools to create an accountability culture, where teams thrive with
                                    more empowerment, trust and accomplishment.
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.      Break
 
10:15 – Noon                Own It! - How to Build an Accountability Culture. cont'd
                                
 Noon – 2:00 p.m.         Vendor EXPO and Networking Luncheon
 
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.         Change the Direction of Your Connection – Just because
                                        You’re Talking, Doesn’t Mean You’re Connecting, Marianne Renner.
                                        When you understand personalities, you can learn to communicate                                         with far greater impact. You can connect on a level that inspires and
                                      influences. Whether you’re trying engage your team, resolve
                                     strained workplace relationships, or deliver a high-stakes message to
                                      key stakeholders, this presentation based on the DISC behavior
                                     styles will give you practical tools to get the results you want.

3:00 - 3:15 p.m.            Break

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.             MDT Update
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.             FTA Update

5:00 - 6:00 p.m.        Happy Hour - hosted by Davey Coach.                    
 
6:00 p.m.                     Awards Banquet and Silent Auction (bar open until 6:30 or 7:00 –                                             cash bar)

                      DON'T FORGET YOUR SILENT AUCTION ITEM