Press Release

For Immediate Release

Date:
November 1, 2016
Contact: Susan Massel, Director, Communications and Public Affairs
312-913-3256 massels@RTAchicago.org
Regional Transportation Authority Joins Transit and Transportation Partners to Host
19th Annual Transportation Vendor Symposium and Business Exchange
Provides information to those seeking transit agency contracts
CHICAGO The RTA, in collaboration with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra,
Pace, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Tollway, is proud to
host the 19th Annual Transportation Symposium and Business Exchange. The event
will be held on Tuesday, November 15th at the Chicago Cultural Center, Sidney R.
Yates Gallery, 78 East Washington Street, Chicago from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for
businesses interested in working with local transportation agencies. There is no cost
to attend the event.
Transit agencies in this region spend billions of dollars annually on goods and
services needed to help keep our transportation system moving, says RTA Executive
Director Leanne Redden. We are fortunate to work with a variety of businesses
every year and see this symposium and business exchange as an opportunity to grow
our network of vendors.
The event is specifically aimed at transit-related businesses including construction
companies, professional service firms, manufacturers, architects/engineers and
suppliers. Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), Minority Owned Business
Enterprises (MBEs), Women Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), Veteran Owned
Small Business (VOSB) and Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) are strongly encouraged
to attend to obtain valuable information regarding the best way to seek transit
agency contracts.
I know firsthand how helpful this event is, says George Kinnison, president and
founder of Trinity Technology Services and scheduled event speaker. I first attended
the event 17 years ago and learned a great deal about the processes in place for MBE
and DBE certified companies to become vendors in the transit and transportation
sectors. Since then, I founded Trinity and, as a DBE, we now provide low voltage bus
systems, such as GPS and communications systems, to CTA buses. Information I
gained at this event help make this work possible.

Advance registration for the event is strongly encouraged. For more information, visit
the RTA website at rtachicago.org or visit the symposium and business exchange
website at http://illinoistransportationsymposium.com. Event agenda is attached.
###
About the RTA
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is the only transit agency charged with regional financial oversight,
funding, and transit planning for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace bus and paratransit. The
RTA region serves two million riders each weekday in six counties with 7,200 transit route miles throughout
Northeastern Illinois. The Agency also provides customer services including on-line and telephone travel planning
assistance and travel training for seniors and people with disabilities. For more information, visit
www.RTAChicago.org.

19th Annual Transportation Vendor Symposium and Business Exchange Agenda

Tuesday, November 15
Chicago Cultural Center, Sidney R. Yates Gallery
78 East Washington Street, Chicago
9 a.m. to 2 p.m

8:15 - 9

Registration

9:15

Welcoming Remarks
Leanne Redden, Executive Director, RTA
Keynote Address
Michael Sutton, President and CEO
Infrastructure Engineering, Inc.

10:15 - 11

Workshop: New Transit Initiatives

Representatives from each hosting transit agency

11:15 - Noon:

Workshop: The Evolution of a Successful DBE

Jerry Campagna, President
MST Latino, Inc. d/b/a The MOST Inc.
Colette Holt, Attorney
Colette Holt & Associates
George Kinnison, President
Trinity Technology Services
Kaney O'Neill, President
ONeill Contractors, Inc.

Noon - 2:00pm:

Networking