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Happy May!  In this newsletter, please find a note from Ann and Elena, a course offering on the Management of Transit Construction Projects, a welcome from All Points Transit, and a farewell from Via!  

See you in Pueblo soon!  
There is Still Time to Join Us in Pueblo!
Spring 2016
CASTA Spring Training Conference
Pueblo Convention Center/Courtyard by Marriott
May 10th - 13th, 2016

NTI Management of Transit Construction Projects
NTI Management of Transit Construction Projects course is a three-day course focused on training FTA grantees in project management requirements and techniques for managing capital projects. This course will utilize the Project and Construction Management Guidelines 2003 (and subsequently updated) to train grantees with major capital projects who are required to implement Project Management Plans, and inform grantees with smaller capital projects of the process of project management. The course will review the basics of good project management techniques and approaches for organizations involved in all phases of FTA-funded projects, with specific emphasis on the preparation and execution of a Project Management Plan.

This course will be offered June 22-24 2016, at the Civic Center Plaza in Denver.

Please contact CASTA if you are interested!
Congratulations to Sarah Curtis!
All Points Transit is pleased to announce that Sarah Curtis has recently accepted the position of Executive Director. Curtis comes to the position with 9 years of experience working in non-profit organizations and 5 years of transit experience. She has worked as Mobility Manager for All Points Transit since 2011, connecting seniors and people with disabilities with regional options for transportation.  Curtis has a BA from Fort Lewis College and is certified as a Community Transit Manager by the CTAA (Community Transportation Association of America).  
"I am very happy that the Search Committee has selected Sarah as my successor," said Sharon Fipps, outgoing Executive Director.  Fipps announced her retirement in January. She is moving to the Front Range to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
More information at www.allpointstransit.org
A Farewell to Lenna
Lenna Kottke  much loved Executive Director announced recently that she will retire this fall.
A six-member Search Committee convened by the nonprofit's Board of Directors has been working since January, developing an actionable search and selection process to name Via's new CEO. With an experienced leadership team committed to supporting the Search Committee, Via is well-positioned to transition smoothly to this next step in its history.
The Search Committee plans to launch its nationwide search for candidates in early May. 
"After 25 years at the helm of this wonderful organization, I have decided this is the year for me to retire," Lenna Kottke said in her letter to employees. "I've far exceeded the average tenure for an executive director, and I'm ready to spend more time exploring other aspects of life than work ... although I could not have asked for more meaningful work to do for the last quarter century."
Lenna's visionary leadership has enabled the organization to grow from a small nonprofit called Special Transit, with one program and a $750,000 budget, to Via Mobility Services, with a $17 million annual budget operating on an innovative social enterprise business model.

Under Lenna's capable direction, Via has become Boulder County's leader in mobility options, serving as a one-call resource for individuals and their families dealing with mobility challenges. Via has expanded to provide on-demand transportation (paratransit), travel training, mobility options information and referral services, as well as community transit offerings including the HOP, Call-n-Ride and Access-a-Ride transportation services.

Also during her successful tenure, Lenna guided the organization as it planned for and raised more than $11.5M to build its award-winning, sustainable facility on 63rd Street in Boulder. Completed in 2011, the 36,000 square foot facility is designed to serve the community - and Via's mission - for years to come. 
Until Next Time!
The CASTA Crew