LIT 

Contact: Christina Villarreal

Executive Director

(626) 495-1548 

c.villareal@latinosintransit.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LIT Celebrates 10 Years of Impact at the 2025 Leadership Summit in Albuquerque

Since October 2015, LIT has led the way in developing leadership, mentorship and training opportunities for the next generation of public transit leaders. 

Albuquerque, NM — October 6, 2025 — LIT marked a milestone 10-year anniversary during its 2025 Leadership Summit, held October 2–4 at The Clyde Hotel in Albuquerque, N.M. Hosted in partnership with the Rio Metro Regional Transit District, as well as local and state organizations, the three-day event brought together hundreds of transit leaders, professionals, and advocates from across the nation to celebrate a decade of progress in workforce development, mentorship, and leadership advancement in the transit industry.

A Decade of Growth and Empowerment

LIT Executive Director Christina Villarreal, LIT Board of Directors, along with local stakeholders like the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, ABQ Ride, the New Mexico Transit Association, and Albuquerque International Sunport airport, welcomed LIT members and attendees to an inspiring summit centered around connection, development, and advancement. Over the past 10 years, LIT has grown into a national force for specialized workforce development, supporting transit industry professionals and elevating leadership advancement across the public and private sectors.

A New Chapter Unveiled: LIT’s Reimagined Identity

At the 2025 Leadership Summit, LIT unveiled more than just an updated logo—it revealed a new chapter in the organization’s story. What emerged is both a reflection of transformation and the product of a deeply collaborative journey that honored the past while embracing the future.

From the outset, the goal was clear: to create a modern identity that captures the energy of LIT’s first decade and reflects its growing role as a national voice and forward-looking leader in the transit space. Designers and collaborators immersed themselves in the organization’s history, listening to voices from across the LIT membership and translating impact into visual design. Through workshops, feedback sessions, and iterative development, the team shaped a logo and visual identity that embodies movement, connection, and progress.

The result is an identity layered with meaning—pathways and networks reflecting momentum and connectivity; vibrant colors symbolizing community warmth and mission resilience. Together, they represent renewal, energy, and an enduring spark.

“This design was born from listening to our members and translating their energy into something lasting,” Villarreal said. “Every line, every element tells a story of who we are: resilient, connected, authentic, and constantly moving forward. This logo isn’t just something you see; it’s something you carry with you. It reflects our story, our energy, and the promise of the future we are building together.”

LIT’s refreshed visual identity is a marker of evolution honoring the legacy of LIT while boldly declaring the organization’s readiness to lead the next chapter of transit leadership with imagination, confidence, and impact. 

View the new logo here.

Dynamic Programming and Experiential Learning

The summit featured technical tours, workforce trainings, and interactive leadership sessions addressing critical topics across the transit landscape, including:

• Transit Regulations, Compliance, and Human Factors led by Lina Aragon of Palm Tran
  
  

• Avanzando Workforce Task Force training with Tony Bridwell, Ph.D.
  
  

• Small Business Strategies & Transit Partnerships moderated by Anthony Valdiosera, CEO of VST Engineering
  
  

• Title VI Considerations in Microtransit with Aida Berduo Berry of WSP
  
  

• Represented Workforce Leadership with Dietter Aragon of OmniTrans

The full Summit Program may be found here.

Additional specialized sessions included:

• Café Con LIT: Communicating Transit’s Value Through Its Economic Impact

Moderated by Megan Perrero, LITBoard Secretary and Editor in Chief of Mass Transit magazine, explored how agencies can leverage transit’s role in economic development and job creation, with research showing a 5-to-1 economic return from long-term transit investment.

Panelists included: Aaron Sussman, Principal Planner, Toole Design;Monica Tellez-Fowler, President & CEO, COTA; LIT Board Member; and Eugenio Bonet, Vice President of Architecture Operations, HNTB; LIT Board Treasurer.

Panelists discussed strategies for communicating transit’s value in job creation, tax revenue, and private sector support to garner broad community and funding backing.

• Focus on Mental Health and Wellness

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) hosted a special session titled, “TRB Presents a Discussion on TCRP Report 245: Mental Health, Wellness, and Resilience for Transit System Workers,” emphasizing self-care and workforce resilience. To complement the theme, attendees enjoyed 10-minute refresh massages, sponsored by The Solis Group, providing a mid-conference wellness break.

National Livestream Access

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Sound Transit, New Flyer, WeDriveU, and HNTB, Friday’s events were livestreamed nationally for free, expanding access to professionals across the country ensuring inclusion, regardless of travel or financial ability.

Experiential learning extended beyond the classroom with technical tours of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express and the Albuquerque International Sunport, showcasing regional innovation and multimodal connectivity.

Leadership Luncheon: Honoring Excellence and Announcing the Future

The Annual Membership Meeting & Leadership Luncheon, sponsored by HNTB, was a highlight of the summit, showcasing organizational milestones, unveiling LIT’s refreshed brand identity, and recognizing leaders across the industry.

Attendees enjoyed a “Taste of New Mexico” luncheon while hearing about LIT’s strategic vision for the next decade. Leadership also presented the LIT Strategic Plan, outlining initiatives to strengthen workforce development, mentorship, and advocacy.

The full Strategic Plan is available here.

Founder’s Award

Alva Carrasco, Immediate Past President, received the Founder’s Award for her extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing LIT’s mission.

Small Business Member of the Year

The Solis Group was honored as LIT’s Small Business Member of the Year in recognition of the company’s excellence in service, industry impact and support of LIT’s mission. Finalists included Bradley Consulting & Training and Avail Technologies. 

Transit Agency of the Year

LIT’s Transit Agency of the Year for Western Operations went to Foothill Transit and the Eastern Operations winner was MeVa Transit. Finalists included Long Beach Transit, South Central Regional Transit, VIA Metropolitan Transit, GRTC, Sound Transit, Palm Tran, and TriMet.

Board & Member Awards

• Elizabeth Carter – President’s Award
  
  

• Andres Castellanos – Mentor of the Year
  
  

• Jerry Bustamante – Ambassador of the Year
  
  

• Oscar Gomez – Member of the Year
  
  

Keynote and Leadership Summit 2026

Salvador Llamas, CEO of AC Transit, inspired attendees with “From Immigrant to C-Suite Executive: Inspiring Future Leaders Through Lessons Learned.”

The luncheon concluded with an exciting announcement from Monica Tellez-Fowler, President & CEO of COTA, revealing that the 2026 Leadership Summit will be hosted in Columbus, Ohio, culminating in a 10-year anniversary gala.

Leadership Academy Graduation & Trailblazer Awards

The Leadership Academy Graduation and Awards Celebration, sponsored by WeDriveU, honored graduates from LIT’s Leadership Academy cohorts—New Careers in Transit, The Making of an Executive, Transit Board Leadership, and Leading in Middle Management.

The evening also recognized Trailblazer Award recipients—partners and organizations instrumental in shaping LIT’s first decade:

• Transdev
  
  

• HNTB
  
  

• MV Transportation
  
  

• Keolis
  
  

• WeDriveU
  
  

• New Mexico Transit Association
  
  

• Community Transportation Association of America
  
  

• Avail Technologies
  
  

• Cristina Hallner
  
  

View the full Graduation & Awards Program here.

Sponsors and Partners

LIT extends heartfelt gratitude to all summit sponsors and partners The full list of sponsors is available here.

Inspiring Sessions and Cultural Connections

Beyond awards and keynotes, the summit featured breakout sessions on personal branding, work-life balance, and emerging technology, along with a Cultural Sharing Ceremony by the Next Generation Pueblo of Acoma youth.

Networking events such as the Contigo Mentor Pair Up, Ice Cream Social, and receptions at Hotel Andaluz and Canvas Artistry fostered community and connection.

Looking Ahead

As LIT enters its second decade, it reaffirms its mission to empower industry professionals and amplify workforce development in transit. With its refreshed identity, strengthened mentorship programs, and bold strategic plan, LIT continues building bridges, sparking advancement, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

For membership and program information, visit www.latinosintransit.org.

ABOUT LIT

Founded in 2015, LIT is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering professionals in the transit industry to achieve leadership roles by advancing opportunities for workforce development, mentorship, networking and education.

latinosintransit.org | linkedin.com/latinosintransit 

LIT Celebrates 10 Years of Leadership and Mentorship-1.pdf