FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact

Christina Villarreal

Executive Director

c.villarreal@latinosintransit.org

LIT Concludes Inaugural Navigate Mentorship Program, Celebrating Emerging Leaders in Public Transportation

Latinos In Transit (LIT) proudly announces the successful completion of its inaugural Navigate Mentorship Program, a six-month leadership development initiative designed to empower and equip emerging professionals across the public transportation industry.

The LIT Navigate Mentorship Program was launched as a structured, low-cost opportunity for active LIT members, focused on intentional growth, workforce development, mentorship, networking, and education. Through 12 comprehensive virtual sessions, participants engaged in SMART goal setting, individual development planning, industry trend analysis, leadership and soft skills development, networking expansion, job shadowing, community engagement strategies, and long-term career planning.

This inaugural cohort included professionals representing major transit agencies, engineering firms, consulting organizations, and emerging industry leaders:

Roxana Beyranvand, Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)
Tomas Bolivar, Chicago Transit Authority
Alma Cervantes, Metra
Stephanie Daniels, Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority
Tamara D. Hunté, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
Gonzalo Armijos, The Solís Group
Elena Lasheras, VST Engineering
Carina Solis, TriMet
Nicolas Uribe, Student

Throughout the program, participants strengthened not only their technical knowledge but also their leadership clarity and professional confidence. 

“Participating in the inaugural Navigate Mentorship cohort through LIT was exactly the mentorship support I had been seeking, providing a structured and inspiring space to grow with intention,” said Roxana Beyranvand, Director, Rider Experience Team, MTA. “The journey strengthened my leadership purpose and focus, while also fostering meaningful relationships with incredible peers across other agencies that I truly value.”

Similarly, the impact of the program extended beyond professional development. 

“The LIT Navigate Mentorship Program was truly educational, productive, and career changing, as it was marked by meaningful mentorship, honest conversations, and shared knowledge,” said Tamara D. Hunté, General Superintendent East/West, MARTA. “Being one of the first graduates of such a remarkable and rewarding program will have a lasting impact on me and my career trajectory that I will forever take pride in and always cherish.”

A defining component of the Navigate Mentorship Program was the Capstone Project, designed to challenge participants to think strategically about their professional brand and future positioning within the industry. To complete the program, each participant was required to develop a formal conference proposal aligned with their area of expertise, professional network, and long-term career goals.

This capstone experience required participants to:

• Identify a relevant industry topic reflective of their expertise.

• Develop a compelling session proposal suitable for a professional conference.

• Clarify their target audience and learning objectives.

• Demonstrate subject matter credibility.

• Update and refine their CVs.

• Present themselves in a professional and competitive manner to stand out among industry peers.

The conference proposal process was not simply an academic exercise—it required participants to envision where they want to lead, how they want to contribute, and how they can leverage their network and resources to position themselves as thought leaders in public transportation. By refining their resumes and professional narratives alongside their session proposals, graduates strengthened both their confidence and their visibility within the industry.

“The Navigate Mentorship Program was created to be intentional, rigorous, and transformative,” said Christina Villarreal, Executive Director, LIT. “We wanted participants to walk away not only with mentorship conversations, but with tangible deliverables that elevate their professional presence. The capstone project challenged them to think like industry leaders—how to present ideas, how to position themselves competitively, and how to step into spaces where their voices belong. This cohort has demonstrated exactly the kind of leadership our industry needs.”

Rather than a traditional certificate, graduates received a Customized Professional Blueprint—a forward-looking, individualized roadmap designed to keep them on track with the goals and objectives established throughout the program. This blueprint outlines refined career goals, leadership development priorities, networking strategies, and measurable next steps to ensure continued growth well beyond the six-month cohort.

The success of the inaugural Navigate Mentorship cohort reflects LIT’s broader mission to strengthen the pipeline of leadership in public transportation and to create meaningful, measurable workforce development opportunities nationwide.

For more information about the Navigate Mentorship Program or to become a member of LIT, visit www.latinosintransit.org.

About Latinos In Transit

Latinos In Transit (LIT) is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing opportunities for professionals in the public transportation industry through workforce development, leadership training, mentorship, and education. LIT continues to expand its reach as it supports individuals and agencies working to build a diverse and skilled transit workforce.

Learn more at www.latinosintransit.org.