The Comet’s Crystal Willis Receives Certification in Transit Management
July 19, 2023
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announces that Crystal Willis, Financial Accountant for the organization, has successfully completed the Westgate Center for Leadership and Management Development Transit Paratransit Management Certificate Program. Willis was awarded the Transit Paratransit Management Certificate by the University of the Pacific, Eberhardt School of Business.
“We have received so much value from this program as it has allowed us to equip our staff with very useful tools to strengthen our knowledge in transit regulations and mandates,” said LeRoy DesChamps, Interim Executive Director. “We are proud of Crystal for achieving this milestone in her professional development and earning this prestigious leadership training which will help her and our team at The COMET welcome the opportunities for success 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. Participants must attend seven of the eight classes to receive their certification.
Willis has been on The COMET team for almost six years.
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. 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 and Uber. 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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