Capital Metro Business Development Manager/DBE Officer Aida Douglas and Vice President of Bus and Paratransit Services Dottie Watkins have been selected for the 2011 “Top 40 Under 40” list by Mass Transit Magazine.
In its third year, the Mass Transit “Top 40 Under 40” awards highlight the work of the nation’s brightest transportation industry professionals whose accomplishments and contributions belie their age.
Douglas and Watkins are profiled in the September/October issue of the national magazine published on Sept. 19.
Says Capital Metro President & CEO Linda S. Watson, “Capital Metro has a very talented workforce, as the fact that two of the 40 recipients of this award are from Capital Metro demonstrates. It’s gratifying to see that Aida’s and Dottie’s dedication to our customers and accomplishments within our industry are being recognized on a national stage.”
ABOUT AIDA BERDUO DOUGLAS
Aida began at Capital Metro in 1999, after multiple years in the government and non-profit sector. She currently serves as business development manager and DBE officer. Aida manages million dollar revenue projects for Capital Metro through transit advertising and the development of public-private partnerships. Aida also fosters partnerships with the small business community through the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Capital Metro’s DBE program is considered a national model within the transit industry. In addition, Aida monitors the agency’s Title VI Program for compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Aida was instrumental in securing an innovative partnership with Austin Community College that allows ACC students, faculty and staff to ride Capital Metro for free. Ridership through the Green Pass program has increased significantly since the program began.
Aida is president of the Austin Chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and has served as a member of the national board since 2008. COMTO awarded her the Gerald A. Anderson Sibling Award for her work for minorities in transportation.
Aida is a 2007 graduate of Leadership APTA (American Public Transportation Association) and holds a Masters in Public Administration from Texas State University.
Read Aida’s profile on page 8 of the September/October issue of Mass Transit Magazine.
ABOUT DOTTIE L. WATKINS
Dottie recently was appointed vice president of bus and paratransit services for Capital Metro, leading the new Contracted Services Department that will oversee all bus and paratransit contractors and ensure a smooth transition to a new labor structure as mandated by SB650. Dottie has been promoted 10 times since she began her career in 1994 at age 19, driving a UT shuttle bus part-time while she attended the University of Texas at Austin.
Prior to her appointment as vice president, Dottie was interim general manager of StarTran, Inc., a Capital Metro service provider, where she was responsible for 900 employees providing fixed route bus operations and paratransit service.
Last year, Dottie was the chief engineer behind a new contracting model for the University of Texas at Austin shuttle service. Capital Metro operates one of the largest university shuttle systems in the country. The new contracting model positions Capital Metro to make efficiency improvements to services without sacrificing revenue, and Dottie’s work over two years facilitated its successful execution by the UT Board of Regents and the Capital Metro board.
Dottie is a 2006 graduate of Leadership APTA and holds a Masters of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University.
Read Dottie’s profile on page 20 of the September/October issue of Mass Transit Magazine.
In its third year, the Mass Transit “Top 40 Under 40” awards highlight the work of the nation’s brightest transportation industry professionals whose accomplishments and contributions belie their age.
Douglas and Watkins are profiled in the September/October issue of the national magazine published on Sept. 19.
Says Capital Metro President & CEO Linda S. Watson, “Capital Metro has a very talented workforce, as the fact that two of the 40 recipients of this award are from Capital Metro demonstrates. It’s gratifying to see that Aida’s and Dottie’s dedication to our customers and accomplishments within our industry are being recognized on a national stage.”
ABOUT AIDA BERDUO DOUGLAS
Aida began at Capital Metro in 1999, after multiple years in the government and non-profit sector. She currently serves as business development manager and DBE officer. Aida manages million dollar revenue projects for Capital Metro through transit advertising and the development of public-private partnerships. Aida also fosters partnerships with the small business community through the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Capital Metro’s DBE program is considered a national model within the transit industry. In addition, Aida monitors the agency’s Title VI Program for compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Aida was instrumental in securing an innovative partnership with Austin Community College that allows ACC students, faculty and staff to ride Capital Metro for free. Ridership through the Green Pass program has increased significantly since the program began.
Aida is president of the Austin Chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and has served as a member of the national board since 2008. COMTO awarded her the Gerald A. Anderson Sibling Award for her work for minorities in transportation.
Aida is a 2007 graduate of Leadership APTA (American Public Transportation Association) and holds a Masters in Public Administration from Texas State University.
Read Aida’s profile on page 8 of the September/October issue of Mass Transit Magazine.
ABOUT DOTTIE L. WATKINS
Dottie recently was appointed vice president of bus and paratransit services for Capital Metro, leading the new Contracted Services Department that will oversee all bus and paratransit contractors and ensure a smooth transition to a new labor structure as mandated by SB650. Dottie has been promoted 10 times since she began her career in 1994 at age 19, driving a UT shuttle bus part-time while she attended the University of Texas at Austin.
Prior to her appointment as vice president, Dottie was interim general manager of StarTran, Inc., a Capital Metro service provider, where she was responsible for 900 employees providing fixed route bus operations and paratransit service.
Last year, Dottie was the chief engineer behind a new contracting model for the University of Texas at Austin shuttle service. Capital Metro operates one of the largest university shuttle systems in the country. The new contracting model positions Capital Metro to make efficiency improvements to services without sacrificing revenue, and Dottie’s work over two years facilitated its successful execution by the UT Board of Regents and the Capital Metro board.
Dottie is a 2006 graduate of Leadership APTA and holds a Masters of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University.
Read Dottie’s profile on page 20 of the September/October issue of Mass Transit Magazine.