COMET Execs earn top certification in transit management
January 4, 2023
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announces that two of its directors have successfully completed the Westgate Center for Leadership and Management Development Transit Paratransit Management Certificate Program. Jackie Bowers, Director of Operations and Pamela Bynoe-Reed, Director of Marketing & Community Affairs were awarded the Transit Paratransit Management Certificate by the University of the Pacific, Eberhardt School of Business. With the certification of Ms. Bowers and Ms. Bynoe-Reed, all The COMET’s executive staff have received the prestigious leadership training.
Jackie Bowers
“The program provided our leadership team with very useful tools to help us leverage our knowledge in transit regulations and mandates,” said LeRoy DesChamps, Chief Operating Officer. “At The COMET, we are dedicated to equipping staff with training and resources to help us embrace the challenges, successes, and opportunities on the path forward for the betterment of public transportation and the people we serve.”
For almost 30 years, the Westgate Center has been offering quality leadership training to the transit industry. In 2020, they developed an online version of their top-rated Transit Management and Paratransit Certificate Series.
The program consisted of an intensive eight-week curriculum which included an Overview of Transit Legislation, Regulation, and Policy, Legal Issues, Effective Communication, and Financial Management. Each one-day class was broken into four hours of online learning done at the participant’s convenience prior to the three hours of class engagement with the instructor to discuss, debate and internalize the learning process.
Pamela Bynoe-Reed
Participants must attend seven of the eight classes to receive their certification.
About The COMET
The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and provides countywide public transit services on 47 fixed routes, OnDemand/ReFlex services, vanpool service for commuters, subsidy programs with Uber and Lyft and DART for transportation to grocery stores and at night, ADA complementary paratransit service throughout Richland and portions of Lexington Counties and eight Blue Bike bikeshare stations in Downtown Columbia. The COMET transports approximately 2.4 million passenger trips a year on a fleet of more than 90 buses, vans and trolleys. Transit services are provided under contract with RATP Dev USA, Enterprise Holdings, Lyft, Uber and Bewegen. For additional The COMET information, please call (803) 255-7100, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service, email: [email protected] or visit www.catchthecomet.org.
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