Meet our 2026

Fellows

TNLI - Fostering Tomorrows Leaders Today

Wayne Welle
Ben Franklin Transit 
Manager of Fleet Maintenance

Wayne Welle is the Manager of Fleet Maintenance at Ben Franklin Transit in the Tri-Cities, Washington. He brings over six years of experience in transit fleet maintenance and operations, with extensive expertise in vehicle systems, maintenance scheduling, and shop coordination.

Wayne is recognized for his reliability, accountability, and ability to mentor staff in a team-oriented environment. With a strong focus on efficiency and collaboration, he actively seeks opportunities to enhance operations and ensure safe, dependable service for the community. Committed to continuous professional growth, Wayne supports Ben Franklin Transit’s mission to deliver high-quality public transportation.

Rob Carter
C-TRAN
Operations Manager

Rob Carter. Operations Manager. Professional goal is to continue on an upward trajectory through the company, while helping others to achieve there goals. Biggest achievement is that I have built operational credibility at scale and sustained it.

Hayley Grall
Clallam Transit System
Administrative Services Coordinator 

Hayley Grall is an Administrative Services Coordinator at Clallam Transit System (CTS) and is known for her positivity and problem solving. She supports the agency and employees through several key roles in administrative services and human resources. Hayley enjoys connecting CTS to the community and is responsible for CTS’s website, social media, and advertising, significantly strengthening the agency’s online presence. Hayley is committed to continued leadership development and ultimately aspires to become a human resources manager.

Ryan Woods 
Clallam Transit System
Fleet Maintenance Technician

My name is Ryan Woods, and I am a Fleet Maintenance Technician with Clallam Transit, bringing over 10 years of fleet maintenance experience to my role. I’m proud to be recognized as an ASE World Class Technician and an ASE Master Transit Bus Technician, demonstrating advanced expertise across multiple technical areas in the public transportation industry.

I’m highly skilled in diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining complex transit vehicles, with a strong focus on safety, reliability, and minimizing downtime. My work helps ensure buses operate at peak performance and remain dependable for the community we serve. I take pride in doing quality work and supporting safe, efficient public transportation.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, which has strengthened my leadership, operations, and strategic decision-making skills as I continue to grow professionally. My goal is to advance my technical expertise further, expand my leadership responsibilities, and contribute to a high-performing fleet maintenance team that delivers exceptional service to riders and the community.

Dylan Holmes
Community Transit
People, Empowerment and Connections Strategist

Dylan Holmes is a People, Empowerment and Connections Strategist at Community Transit, focused on strengthening organizational culture and fostering belonging. Dylan builds inclusive systems that empower employees and enhance connection across the agency, and led the launch of Community Transit’s first Employee Resource Group (ERG) program. Dylan aspires to advance people-centered leadership that supports a resilient and inclusive transit workforce.

James Corbett
Community Transit 
Assistant Manager of Transportation

My name is Jim Corbett, and I’m currently an Assistant Manager of Transportation at Community Transit in Everett. I’ve spent most of my career leading teams in operations, first in retail and logistics, and now in public transit, so I’m really focused on building strong people and strong performance.

My goal is to keep growing as a transit leader, especially around service delivery, safety, and supporting frontline employees, and to be the kind of leader who helps the agency stay ready for what’s coming next.

One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is being named the American Red Cross “Hero of the Year” for a workplace rescue back in 2000, it’s something that still reminds me to stay calm, take action, and lead when it matters most.

Natalie Lawrence
Community Transit 
Marketing Program Strategist-Youth

My name is Natalie Lawrence (she/her), and I currently work at Community Transit as the Youth Program Marketing Strategist. Since starting at Community Transit two years ago, I have built and grown our school program “Bussin’ Basics.” Each year we educate thousands of Snohomish County tweens and teens on how to safely use public transportation. I have a passion for building public programs and want to continue creating unique and relevant programs that inspire support for transit. I am especially passionate about increasing youth involvement in all aspects of transit and inspiring the next generation of public transit users. My biggest professional achievement has been standing up our youth program which has received very positive feedback from teachers and students. Outside of work, my biggest achievement has been qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon!

Zachary Baysinger
Grant Transit Authority
Dispatch Support

My name is Zac. I currently serve as Dispatch Support for Grant Transit Authority, helping ensure smooth daily operations and reliable service for our community. My professional goal is to become a supervisor and continue advancing my career within GTA. One of my proudest accomplishments is earning a dispatch support position within just one year of starting as an operator—a milestone that reflects my dedication, strong work ethic, and commitment to the transit industry.

Bobbi Tidwell
Grant Transit Authority 
Training Coordinator

Barbara Tidwell, or Bobbi, began her transit career at Island Transit in 2017 as a driver, quickly moving into a dispatch position less than a year later. She decided to move to Moses Lake in late 2019 and soon found a driving position with Grant Transit Authority. Since she started at GTA, she has moved into dispatch, where she has been a leader in the company's day-to-day operations. She was pivotal in resolving software issues used by both dispatchers and drivers. She also provided technical documentation and training for drivers and dispatchers, all while performing her daily dispatch duties. In August 2024, Bobbi moved into her current role as training coordinator, where she continues to bring her technology experience into the role and improve training programs for all staff.

Bobbi’s professional goal is to continue improving the training department at Grant Transit Authority by implementing technology that automates training and enhances training for all employees. She plans to automate and expand self-guided training, such as refresher courses that employees can access at any time. This will allow for greater flexibility in scheduling refresher training for drivers with varied schedules. These projects will enhance the training department by giving GTA drivers more opportunities to engage in training and, hopefully, make them better, safer drivers. This will also free up more time for Bobbi to pursue other agency projects that improve how the agency serves the community.

Bobbi’s biggest achievement at GTA thus far is taking on operational technology issues after the company implemented new dispatch and tablet software. Staff were having difficulties with the software and with communicating the issues to the company from which it was purchased. At a colleague's advice, Bobbi composed a letter to management explaining the pain both drivers and dispatch were experiencing with the software. This set the wheels in motion for Bobbi and management to resolve the issues by working with the software company by tracking issues to resolution. Now the software works more efficiently, and issues are resolved in a timely manner
Outside of work, Bobbi enjoys many outdoor activities, including gardening, camping, fishing, and kayaking. At home, she enjoys knitting, woodworking, and playing several musical instruments. She is also accomplished in the kitchen and is the author of the cookbook "The Culinary Camper”.

Ethan Fogg
Grays Harbor Transit
Grants and Procurement Coordinator

My name is Ethan Fogg, and I serve as the Grants & Procurement Coordinator at Grays Harbor Transit. In my role, I focus on securing funding and supporting efficient, compliant purchasing for our agency. I aspire to continue developing as a transit leader and contribute to long-term improvements within Grays Harbor Transit. The accomplishment I am most proud of is completing my Peace Corps service, which shaped my commitment to public service and community impact.

Kathleen Dawson 
Grays Harbor Transit
Clerk of the Board

I am an experienced administrative and operational professional with more than 15 years of service in public agency administration, governance support, and organizational process management. As Clerk of the Board and Executive Assistant at Grays Harbor Transit, I oversee board operations, executive coordination, and vital administrative functions with precision and integrity. My background encompasses financial administration, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance, providing a solid foundation in accuracy, effective communication, and organizational stewardship. I am known for my reliability, attention to detail, and commitment to supporting efficient and transparent public service operations.

Crystal Moore
King County Metro 
Transit Vehicle Procurement Administrator

My name is Crystal Moore, I am a Transit Vehicle Procurement Administrator with King County Metro. My professional goal is to expand my professional network with other transit agencies and manufacturers to gain as much knowledge as possible and to collaborate with all for improvements in transit procurement and transit operations as a whole. My biggest achievement has been building the Non-Revenue fleet management program at KCM from the ground up and eventually passing that along to my replacement when I left the position.

John Massoud
King County Metro 
Transportation Safety Administrator

John Massoud is currently a Transportation Safety Administrator with King County Metro and the lead Ergonomist for agency. I have always believed that professional one can and should continue to learn throughout their professional careers to not only adapt but also be a positive contributor and excel in what they do. I have had the opportunity, and consider it one of my bigger achievements, of starting and running my own clinical practice as a therapist, learning all aspects of the business.

Pete Records
Kitsap Transit 
Operations Supervisor

Pete Records is a dedicated transit operations leader with over 11 years of experience in public transportation, spanning frontline service, training, and management. He began his career as a bus operator with RTD Denver, where he quickly advanced into an instructor role. There, he led the redesign of the refresher training program, enabling quarterly sessions that can be attended during split shifts rather than a single full-day session once a year. This change improved the operator experience, minimized service disruptions, and enabled refresher training year-round.

Pete continued his upward trajectory at the University of Colorado, where he served as a bus operator, trainer, and eventually Transit Manager. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in implementing a new route previously operated by RTD Denver, expanding service coverage and improving efficiency. He also led the launch of new routes in response to increased demand driven by expanded student housing, significantly reducing passenger overcrowding. His efforts to procure additional equipment and strengthen collaboration with other departments led to improved fleet reliability and operational performance.

Currently, Pete serves as an Operations Supervisor at Kitsap Transit. In this role, he responds to field incidents, including accidents, mechanical issues, and passenger concerns, ensuring timely resolution and service continuity. He oversees the operator work bid process and the Guest Rider program and is actively involved in coaching and mentoring bus operators. Most recently, he has contributed to improving the operator work bid process by eliminating radio-based bidding and streamlining communication.

Pete is passionate about professional development and continuous learning. He recently completed the Transit Management Certificate Program at the University of the Pacific, gaining valuable insights into transit leadership and collaborating with peers across various agencies.

He is known for his hands-on leadership style, commitment to safety, and ability to drive operational improvements through collaboration, innovation, and a people-first approach. He describes his most significant achievement as “a combination of relationships built, lessons learned through failures, and recognizing the wins, no matter how minor they may seem. Everything matters.”

Andres Farias
Link Transit
IT Manager

My name is Andres Farias, and I’m the IT Manager at Link Transit, where I lead our technology strategy, infrastructure upgrades, and cross-department collaboration to support the agency’s operations. My professional goal is to continue growing as a technology leader in the transit industry and help drive modernization and efficiency across our organization. One of my biggest achievements has been developing and implementing agency-wide IT policies that significantly improved our security, compliance, and overall system reliability.

Haley Dorian
Mason Transit Authority 
Human Resources Manager

Haley Dorian is the Human Resources Manager at Mason Transit Authority (MTA). Haley joined MTA nearly 11 years ago as the Office Assistant and through persistent dedication to continue learning as well as wonderful mentors she discovered her passion for Human Resources, growing with MTA into a role she truly loves. In her decade plus with MTA she has served in both Finance and Human Resource roles. She has been nominated in multiple years for MTA’s Employee of the Year award and been nominated and selected twice for the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Wall of Fame Honoree award [2017, 2024].

Spencer Starke
Missoula Urban Transportation District/Mountain Line
Transit Planner

My name is Spencer Starke, I am a Transit Planner in Missoula, Montana at Mountain Line. I aspire to help Mountain Line increase its overall ridership and be a model of effective and reliable transit within the US. So far, my biggest achievement has been managing, developing, and coordinating the Transit Strategic plan in 2025

Issac Skalsky
Missoula Urban Transportation District/Mountain Line
Dispatch Supervisor

My name is Isaac Skalsky and I am a Dispatch Supervisor at Mountain Line in Missoula Montana.

I set out to be a teacher but wound up working for transit instead. I aspire to continue on this path because feel that it is a fantastic way to serve the community and make a difference. My goal is to keep pushing here at Mountain Line and see where it will take me.

Graduating from the University of Montana with a degree in History/Political Science. With a licensure to teach Social Studies in Montana.

Nicole Miller 
Okanogan County Transit Authority
Road Supervisor

Nicole Miller is the Road Supervisor at Okanogan County Transit Authority. I am an experienced Driver Operator with a background in driving in a transit facility for 8 years. Within the last 9 months I have moved from Driver Operator to Road Supervisor. My professional goal is to learn the skills and objectives that it takes to be a better supervisor are better communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, and the ability to motivate my team.

My biggest achievement was when I acquired my CDL and started driving for Okanogan County Transit Authority. Working hard to move up within the company and to continue helping our employees to become better. Also, another achievement that I completed was learning GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification). Which was hard but I got it down.

Dezra Nauls
Pierce Transit
Customer Experience Manager

Dezra Nauls is a rising leader in transit, dedicated to enhancing customer experience, promoting equity, and designing innovative services. With a proven history of amplifying the customer voice and supporting frontline employees, Dezra adopts a people-centered approach to enhance rider experiences and achieve operational excellence.

Currently, he holds the position of Customer Experience Manager at Pierce Transit in Lakewood, Washington. Dezra aspires to become the Chief Operations Officer of a major transit agency in the future.

Among his significant accomplishments, Dezra has successfully managed one of the largest fleets of vanpool vehicles in the nation while at the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Houston, Texas.

Curt Kohlwes
Pierce Transit 
Government Relations Administrator

Curt Kohlwes joined Pierce Transit as the agency’s Government Relations Administrator in early 2025. Kohlwes serves as the agency's primary liaison to local, state, and federal elected officials and leads the development and advocacy of budget and policy priorities. Prior to this, Kohlwes served as the Government Relations Director for UW Tacoma, where he secured key capital investments to support the future development of the downtown Tacoma campus.

Kohlwes brings over a decade of experience in the Washington Legislature, where he oversaw an extensive portfolio of Legislative accomplishments for the office of Senator Marko Liias. Kohlwes served on the executive staff to Senate Leadership during Sen. Liias’ tenure as Senate Floor Leader and as Transportation Liaison when Liias was selected as Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Kohlwes brings a deep understanding of the transit community's needs, having worked on policies such as “Youth Ride Free” and other multimodal investments in the $17 billion Move Ahead WA transportation package.

David Harrell
Spokane Transit Authority
Contract Compliance Specialist I

Currently serving as a Contract Compliance Specialist I for Spokane Transit Authority (STA), David J. Harrell brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his career in public service. Having demonstrated leadership and resiliency in both professional and educational settings, David is eager to apply his knowledge and skills to serving people, solving problems, and championing innovation in the transit space.

Richard Grablin
Spokane Transit Authority
Communications Specialist

Richard Grablin is a Communications Specialist at Spokane Transit Authority, dedicated to strengthening public understanding and support for transit through clear, strategic, and creative communication. His most significant achievement has been contributing key communications and design work to major agency initiatives, including STA’s next 10-year strategic plan, Connect 2035, and the Division Street Bus Rapid Transit project. His work spans strategic communications planning, visual identity and branding development, community and stakeholder perception management, and helping to position these long-term efforts in preparation for an upcoming sales tax renewal vote.

Richard aspires to become a leader in transit communications, advancing best practices and using innovative, engaging multimedia storytelling to highlight the value of public transportation. He is passionate about using thoughtful, effective communication to build trust, educate the public, broaden community engagement, and support the success of transit in the Spokane region.

Janelle Siller
Valley Transit 
Human Resources Manager

I'm a Human Resources Manager and administrative professional who loves supporting people-focused organizations. My professional aspiration is to strengthen relationships in the workplace and ensure employees feel heard, supported, and valued. One achievement I'm especially proud of has been is intentionally investing in my growth by completing my BSBA in Human Resources Management in just over a year while working full time and balancing family life, and since this past summer pursuing my MBA and becoming intermediately bilingual in Spanish.

Sandeep Barha
Whatcom Transportation Authority
Services and Body Shop Supervisor

Sandeep Barha is a Service & Body Shop Supervisor at Whatcom Transportation Authority. As a Supervisor with extensive experience in the transit and maintenance industry, my goal is to continue driving operational efficiency, reduce costs, and foster team development. I am passionate about creating in-house solutions, streamlining processes, and ensuring high standards of safety and performance.

One of my biggest achievements has been the successful implementation of an in-house body shop, which has not only saved the company significant costs but also increased operational efficiency by reducing reliance on external vendors. Additionally, my leadership in training programs has empowered staff to enhance their technical skills, contributing to the overall success of the department.

Ben Gamble
Whatcom Transportation Authority
IT Applications Administrator

As a IT Applications Administrator at Whatcom Transportation Authority, I strive to utilize my technical background in computer science towards solving problems in the public sector. I believe strongly in the power of continual questioning and dynamic changes that it can bring. I bring a background of analytical thinking to spaces of collaborative initiatives and social learning. The achievement I am most proud of is the successful development and completion of a Paratransit Efficiency Training Class, which improved our overall productivity. Most importantly to me, it gave rise to printing out personalized "Holiday Cards" for every Operator, CSR & Dispatcher. This has been adopted as a yearly tradition now for every operator, at our organization to receive their "Spotify Wrapped" version of their transit service numbers for the year.

Wren Barulich
WSDOT
Transportation Planning Specialist

Wren is Transportation Planner at WSDOT, where she focuses on Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) initiatives across Washington state. Her work centers on cultivating community around transportation choices and providing technical support to meet the demands of Washington’s emission reduction goals. She is committed to economic and environmental justice and sees transportation as the connector of the most important issues of our time. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, dogs, and going to the movies.

Evan Olsen 
WSDOT
Grants Supervisor

Evan Olsen is a Grants Analyst Lead for the Public Transportation Division at WSDOT. My professional goal is to develop my skills to become an effective leader that enhances public transportation access for Washington state.

My biggest achievement has been supervising a team of grant analysts and collaborating with other professionals to award $750 million in grants to public transportation providers in Washington.

Mailing Address: PO Box 13068, Olympia, WA 98508

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