Valley Metro Interim CEO Scott Smith:Feature Speaker at Transformational Transit Summit

General Session 2: Transformative Transit: Lessons Learned from Healthy Cities Monday, June 27, 2016 Virginia Beach, Virginia – The Westin Town Center Join peer leaders, policy makers, and practitioners from across the United States who have successfully addressed challenges and have built livable communities through transit. Learn from business leaders who are capitalizing on transit and how they are extending the benefits of public transportation to meet the needs of the growing population. Cities and regions around the country have committed to using rail investments to move their communities forward and to serve as economic engines.   These investments have often been contentious and complicated, but the end results have been hugely positive and can provide good “lessons learned” for other communities contemplating similar investments.  In particular, Phoenix and Minneapolis-St. Paul recently have built successful coalitions that helped them move forward with major transformational rail investments focused on meeting the needs of their changing demographics, responding to sustainability and economic development desires, and providing mobility to all segments of their communities.  Leaders from those communities will share their stories and focus on their common challenges and successes. Speakers:Tim Baldwin Moderator, Rocky Mountain West Transit and Urban Planning, Denver.Scott Smith Interim GM Valley Metro and former Mayor of Mesa, Arizona.Peter McLaughlin Hennepin County Commissioner, Chair Counties Transit Improvement Board, Minneapolis. Scott Smith, Valley Metro Interim CEO Scott Smith is the interim CEO of Valley Metro responsible for the operation, design and construction of an expanding regional transit network in metro Phoenix, Arizona. The Valley Metro system is a partnership of 16 cities, towns and Maricopa County, offering bus, light rail, paratransit and vanpool services to more than 73 million riders annually.   Smith’s leadership is a continuation of his public service as former Mayor of Mesa and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the only Arizona mayor to have served in this position. As Mayor, he strategically guided the 38th largest city in the U.S. to economic rebound between 2008 and 2014. He also has a wealth of experience in the private sector as a certified public accountant, lawyer and CEO of a regional homebuilding and development company. Last year, Smith served as a Resident Fellow in the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Smith’s passion for public transportation stems from his belief that transportation infrastructure is critically important to the regional, state and national economy and to improving the quality of life for those who need and choose transit as their mobility option. His strong customer service approach keeps the organization focused on serving the interests of several customer groups, including riders, voters, the business community and city leadership.