RTD announces 2026 Eno/MAX participants
Eight RTD employees have been selected to participate in the Eno Center for Transportation’s MAX Program in 2026, joining a cohort of colleagues from Sound Transit in Seattle and the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Over the course of the program, each individual will spend time at all three participating agencies to learn from industry peers and work through a business case proposal. RTD employees will refine and present these to the agency’s Leadership Team later this year.
“Eno/MAX is an excellent opportunity for employees at RTD to challenge themselves professionally,” said Learning and Training Specialist Mandi Singleton, who is facilitating the 2026 cohort of agency participants in the program. “The experiences of developing a business case to present to the Leadership Team, reflecting upon who they are as leaders, and networking with peers at other agencies are invaluable.”
RTD participants were selected by a seven-person panel consisting of the facilitator, an EEO representative, and Eno/MAX alumni using a rubric. The recommended candidates were reviewed by the division chiefs and General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. The 2026 Eno/MAX Program participants are:
- Srimathi Badri, Lead ERP Developer
- Mhamed Bouqssim, Rail Quality Oversight Manager
- Brandon Figliolino, Community Engagement Manager
- Laurie Huff, Internal and Executive Communications Manager
- Corey Inman, Assistant Manager, Bus Operator Training
- Michael Karol-Chik, Materials Handling and Purchasing Manager
- James Neff, Paratransit Quality Assurance Supervisor
- Kalee Wallace, Assistant Manager, Platte Division
Leaders from RTD helped shape the first multi-agency exchange in 2012, when the agency joined the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority (DART), the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to collaborate with peers in addressing similar challenges. The program enabled frontline managers to visit agency counterparts and share best practices.
The original four agencies began collaborating with Eno in 2017 to expand leadership development, networking, and alumni programming. Others have since joined the program, including Valley Metro in Phoenix, Sound Transit, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA, known as Metro), CATS, and the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC).
Since its inception, the MAX Program has brought together more than 250 professionals and facilitated idea-sharing that has saved participating agencies millions of dollars, according to Eno. The 2026 participants from RTD constitute the 11th cohort of the program. The prior 10 groups encompass 67 colleagues from all corners of the agency, 37 of whom remain employed by RTD.
Eno/MAX supports the agency’s Strategic Priority of Employee Ownership, in which RTD seeks to attract and retain a highly skilled and engaged workforce. Another program update will be shared after the 2026 cohort travels in May and June to Seattle and Charlotte, respectively. The next agency cohort is scheduled to run in 2028, with the application process beginning in late 2027.