December 1st, 2022 Event: NNTW partnered with the National Transportation Training Directors to present a workshop with The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA/PATCO) that has successfully made use of the principles of comedy improvisation, such as deep listening, empathy, and collaborative trust to nurture leadership skills and cooperation throughout the organization and continue to build a transformative organization to produce award-winning projects. This builds on an introductory workshop offered last March. The recording of this workshop can be found at this link.
Events
Building Bridges of Trust: An Approach to Cultural Transformation
March 17th, 2022 Webinar:
The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA/PATCO) was engaged in several large, mission-critical projects at a time when morale and trust, both internally and among external stakeholders, were low. They turned to lessons based on the principles of comedy improvisation, such as deep listening, empathy, and collaborative trust. Using a new strategic plan combining the tenets of servant-leadership and the tools of improvisational comedy, DRPA transformed its culture and produced award-winning projects. The Philadelphia Inquirer has the whole story here.
The skill of improvisation is increasingly valued by top executives today because they see in it a tool that enables their companies to be more nimble, flexible, and responsive. Join CEO John Hanson, Director of Strategic Initiatives Christina Maroney, and improvisor Nick Gillette to learn how introducing these essential skills changed the company from the top down. Hosted by the Northeast Transportation Workforce Center.
Webinar Date/Time: Friday March 17th, 2022, 12-1pm Eastern
Webinar Recording: Watch here
T-STEM Webinar Series
Attention K-12 students and teachers (and college students)!
During the 2021-2022 School year, the NNTW hosted six Transportation STEM webinars focused on student career pathways that lead to employment as a transportation industry professional. Presented to students and faculty of K-12 institutions, these webinars offer academic and career-path perspectives from diverse panels of professionals, faculty, and community college, technical school, and university students, with the goal of engaging the audience around the possibilities and opportunities that a career in the transportation sector can offer.
For College and University students:
November 5th, 2021: Flyer and Recorded Session
For Community College and Tech School students:
December 3rd, 2021: Flyer and Recorded Session
For 6-12 students and teachers:
January 28th, 2022: Flyer and Recorded Session
February 25th, 2022: Flyer and Recorded session
March 25th, 2022: Flyer and Recorded Session
April 29th, 2022: Flyer and Recorded Session
Want to learn more about how the NNTW is working to introduce high school and college students to careers in transportation? Check-out our initiative webpage or reach-out to Dr. Stephanie Ivey, Director of the Southeast Transportation Workforce Center (ssalyers@memphis.edu).
New NNTW Fall 2021 Webinar Series
Join us this Fall for our Wednesdays “Lunch & Learn” series to explore four unique ways in which professional organizations are working together to improve the lives of transportation workers. Download and share our flyer with your network!
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021, 1-2pm Eastern
Growing the Highway Workforce:
A Look at the INDOT BY Roads Program
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation recently launched a cost-free training program that prepares individuals for careers in the highway and roads construction industry. The 11-week BY Roads program utilizes a nationally recognized construction curriculum and provides students with an opportunity to learn directly from industry professionals and to be placed into high-paying jobs in highway construction. Students completing BY Roads earn certifications in NCCER Core and OSHA-10 while receiving hands-on training in highway construction safety, heavy equipment identification, excavation math, crane safety, and emergency procedures.
INDOT is offering BY Roads free to eligible students and is working to eliminate traditional barriers to attendance like childcare and transportation as a way of attracting a more diverse group of students. BY Roads completed its first class this summer and plans to expand the program for the fall.
Panelists:
David Dalton, Dir Workforce Development, Indiana Department of Transportation
Chris Price, President, Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation
Watch the recorded session at: http://netwc.net/growing-the-highway-workforce/
Wednesday November 17th, 2021, 1-2pm Eastern
Mobility & Equity in Indian Country:
The Future of Tribal Technical Assistance
Since 1991, the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) has worked to build professional capacity within federally recognized Tribes to support the management of their transportation assets. In December 2019, funding for the nation’s seven TTAP centers was suspended pending a re-evaluation of the program’s ability to deliver workforce training and technical assistance in a regionally significant and impactful way. Join members of the TRB Standing Committee on Native American Transportation Issues and the National Indian Justice Center to explore why engaging and developing the Tribal workforce is critical to maintaining the nation’s rural transportation infrastructure and how the future of Tribal technical assistance is key to achieving that goal.
Panelists:
Dr. Tyler Reeb, Host, Mobility Matters Podcast
Raquelle Myers, Executive Director, National Indian Justice Center
Ron Hall, TRB Standing Committee Native American Transportation Issues
Cameron Ishaq, FHWA Special Liaison, LTAP/TTAP Initiatives
Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, 1-2pm Eastern
Teamwork & Coordination of Rapid Infrastructure Repair:
A Case Study of the Hernando-Desoto Bridge
On May 11, 2021, the Hernando-Desoto Bridge in Memphis was closed after a routine inspection found a structural crack. Being one of only two Mississippi River crossings that serve one of the nation’s major east- west transportation corridors, closing this bridge for repair meant redirecting I-40 traffic (60,000 vehicles per day) over to the I-55 bridge which was already operating near capacity. The result: extreme congestion and multi-hour traffic delays for travelers and a major hit to the nation’s supply chain. With trucking at times representing almost 50% of bridge traffic and barge traffic relying on waterway access beneath the bridge, the closure resulted in a disruption of freight movement that could be felt across the country.
This webinar highlights the teamwork, coordination, and contributions of the various professional agencies that worked together to repair and reopen the Hernando-Desoto Bridge in record time.
Featured Speakers:
Brad Freeze, PE, Director, Traffic Operations Division, TDOT
Michael Welch, PE, Regional Director of Operations, TDOT
Steve Frisbee, PE, Assistant Chief Engineer, Operations, ARDOT
(additional panelists to be announced)
Watch the recorded session at: https://tinyurl.com/fcx8t6y4
Wednesday, December 15th, 2021, 1-2pm Eastern
Improving the Road Safety Workforce:
The Road Safety Champion Program
Safety is everyone’s job, but it can be difficult to find structured training curricula that meet the diverse needs of transportation agency staff with varied responsibilities for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of safe local roadways. Whether you are a training provider or a transportation organization manager or practitioner, this webinar is for you. Webinar speakers will share information about the Road Safety Champion Program (RSCP), a training curriculum and nationally recognized certificate program that can be implemented by employers and training providers to incentivize safety competency attainment.
Webinar participants will learn about training content, how to access pre-packaged training materials that can be offered in-person or remotely, and about the Virginia Local Technical Assistance Program’s pilot of the first local RSCP roll out in Virginia.
Panelists:
Susan Gallagher, Director, West Region Transportation Workforce Center
Jaime Sullivan, Director, National Center for Rural Road Safety
Beth O’Donnell, Director, UVA Transportation Training Academy
Watch the recorded session at: https://tinyurl.com/2p956c6r
California Clean Air Day Microgrants
A project of the Coalition for Clean Air, the California Clean Air Day initiative is built on the idea that shared experiences unite people to action to improve community health. By joining together for a unified day of action this October 6th, Californians can begin to create new habits to clear the air for all members of our diverse communities.
To raise awareness of local and regional air quality issues, grant funding of up to $1,000 is now available to groups and organizations to help make California Clean Air Day a state-wide success. These microgrants are intended to fund local activities, events, or projects that contribute to cleaning the air, encourage participants to take actions that will clean the air, and successfully engage at least 100 participants.
Examples of local projects could include educational events, art contests, tree plantings, no idling campaigns, bike rides, transit appreciate days and more. Awarded funds can be used for supplies, giveaways mailed or picked up, postage, marketing expenses, etc.
To be eligible for funding, the local project must occur on or within the week of California Clean Air Day on October 6, 2021. Interested parties are encouraged to check-out the program’s full eligibility requirements and complete a grant application by the August 6th submission deadline.
PSR UTC Spring 2021 Career Series
Join the PSR UTC, USC Price, METRANS, and the NNTW as we host this 3-part webinar series that focuses on giving students a needed edge when it comes to their career development and succeeding in today’s highly competitive job market.
Using the Information Interview: A Powerful Tool in Job Search and in Life
WEBINAR DATE: March 30, 2021, 12pm Pacific
Are you fully aware of the power of informational interviews in your career development? In this webinar, you will learn how to use this powerful information gathering and networking tool to build meaningful professional relationships and to uncover and secure the dream job or internship you have been seeking. Join us for a productive workshop led by USC alumnus, Bob Gold, for valuable tips for your next informational interview.
REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/2tzfw37h
The Discomfort of Criticism: Transforming Pain to Gain
WEBINAR DATE: April 6, 2021, 12pm Pacific
The reality is that everybody gets criticized from time to time — and no amount of over-achieving will change that. This workshop will explore the social, professional, and personal aspects of receiving and providing criticism, and offer specific strategies for receiving, reframing, and integrating feedback in workplace settings and in life.
REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/43hv4sx9
Team Excellence and Overcoming Obstacles: A Leader’s Perspective
WEBINAR DATE: April 15, 2021, 12pm Pacific
Join us for an opportunity to learn about team leadership from METRANS Student Chief of Staff Lt. Colonel Sean Fazande. Drawing on decades of military experience as well as his doctoral education, Lt. Colonel Fazande will share best practices for building and sustaining effective teams, how to avoid and address common team dysfunctions, and numerous leadership challenges.
REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/ncwjxe7s