The Most Distinguished Individuals in Florida Public Transportation
This is the highest honor that our association can bestow. In our 40+ year history, the Board and members of the Florida Public Transportation Association have only chosen a select few individuals to be honored with induction to our Hall of Fame.
The people listed below have made a significant and lasting impact in advancing public transportation in Florida and we are very proud that each has chosen to work alongside the FPTA.
2022 – Robert E. Westbrook
The Hall of Fame Inductee for 2022 is Robert (Bobby) E. Westbrook. Bobby’s dedication to the transit industry began in Jackson, MS in 1979. Bobby worked his way up the ladder, ending up as Maintenance Director before leaving for Raleigh, NC to serve as Maintenance...
2021 – Michael J Blaylock
The Hall of Fame Inductee for 2021 is Michael J. Blaylock. He is an internationally recognized thought leader and senior executive with over 40 years of experience in the transportation industry. Blaylock began his extensive career in 1982, with the Jacksonville...
2020 – Rob Gregg
The Hall of Fame Inductee for 2020 is Rob Gregg. Rob retired from the Center for Urban Transportation Research after working in senior level positions at HART, LYNX, and Sacramento Regional Transit. Rob also served on the Central Florida Regional Planning Council as...
2019 – Ed Coven
It can be argued that no one has had as much impact on the development and improvement of public transit throughout the state of Florida as Ed Coven. Ed was instrumental in cultivating an ongoing and ingrained position of state support for local and regional transit...
2018 – Steve Myers
Steve Myers of LeeTran has received the 2018 Florida Public Transportation Association Hall of Fame Award. He is closing out 43 years in the public transit business, the last 18 of which have spent at LeeTran, in Fort Myers, Florida. Steve Myers is a native of...
2017 – Joel Volinski
Joel Volinski worked as the Director of Broward County Transit from 1983 to 1993, and then as the Director of the National Center for Transit Research at USF from 1994 to his retirement in 2017. During his 35 years in the transit industry, Joel made a number of...
2016 – Jay Goodwill
Jay Goodwill has dedicated his professional life to improving public transit in Florida. Following three years as the Executive Director of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, Jay was appointed as the Executive Director of the Sarasota County...
2015 – Lorraine Szyms
For 33 years, Lorraine Szyms served at high levels of various transit systems in both coasts of south Florida. She was the state’s first female Transit Director, serving in that capacity for Lee County Transit from 1982 to 1985 and helped pave the way for the many...
2014 – Jo Ann Hutchinson
Jo Ann Hutchinson has had over 40 years of extensive experience at the national and state levels in community and public transportation services. She has served at the national and regional levels as one of 10 United We Ride Ambassadors where she provided assistance...