CTW Statewide Peer Mentor Coordinators Caucus: Highlights of Meeting #3, 2026

On June 16, 11 coordinators from across California came together via Zoom for the third CTW Statewide Peer Mentor Coordinators Caucus Meeting of the year. The discussion was facilitated by PTAP (Pomona Technician Apprenticeship Program) coordinators Vincent Millan, Ray Olivas, and Carey Ellis (Vice President, Local 1756) who did a great job at leading the discussion.

Overall, this statewide meeting created a safe space for coordinators to connect, share concerns, and support each other. It allowed participants to unload the weight of ongoing challenges in their partnerships and programs, gain encouragement from their peers, and return to work feeling refreshed and re-energized.
Representatives attended from the following programs and locals:

• Pomona Technician Apprenticeship Program (PTAP) Foothill Transit-Pomona & Local 1756
• Rolling With Knowledge (RWK): San Bernadino Valley Omnitrans & ATU  Local 1704
• Mentors In Motion (MIM): Monterey/Salinas MST & ATU Local 1225
• Joint Workforce Investment (JWI): Santa Clara VTA & ATU Local 265
• San Joaquin Driving Force (SJDF): San Joquin SJRTD & ATU Local 256
• SamTrans Mentor and Resource Team (SMART) : San Mateo SamTrans & ATU Local 1575

Highlights of the meeting:

1. The group welcomed two new coordinators from MST/Local 1225: Charles Kirk, serving as co-coordinator, and Shannon Hart, serving as coordinator. Charles shared an inspiring story about mentoring employees before MST established an official mentorship program. When speaking with new hires, he would often use the analogy of a pond and a river:

They can choose to be a river or a pond. A pond is stagnant and comfortable where it is; a river keeps moving forward and goes through obstacles. He said he tells drivers to challenge themselves every day, improve after bad days, and decide whether they want to move forward or stay comfortable.

1. The first major discussion centered on strategies for increasing mentee engagement and retention. Coordinators explored how mentorship can help individuals recognize the long-term value of their careers and reconnect with their professional goals. The conversation generated considerable interest, and participants agreed that the topic would benefit from further discussion during an in-person meeting where ideas could be explored more deeply.
2. Coordinators also shared perspectives from both operations and maintenance regarding the transition to zero-emission buses. Discussions covered training requirements, operational impacts, vehicle performance, and infrastructure needs. Coordinators identified both opportunities and challenges associated with implementing zero-emission fleets.

To strengthen collaboration and allow for more in-depth conversations, the coordinators agreed that a two-day, in-person meeting would be beneficial. Carey Ellis (PTAP/Local 1756) and Katelynn Feltner (JWI/Local 265) volunteered to lead the planning committee, with support from CTW’s Susan Yates and Robert Hannibal.

The tentative date for this event is mid-September 2026, with the location still to be determined.

Stay up to date with the Peer Mentor Coordinator Caucus at their working group page: https://www.catransitworks.org/peer-mentor-coordinator-caucus.html​