1. 2013 AzTA/ADOT ANNUAL TRANSIT CONFERENCE COMING TOGETHER – TRANSIT CONNECTS US EXCELLENCE AWARDS

2. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards 9 Categories 31 Overall Nominations Wide Range of Diversity Record Year for Nominations!

3. Outstanding Transit Organization Recognizes the organization (any size or type in Arizona) that has demonstrated outstanding innovation, creativity, customer service and operational improvements in providing public transportation services. Nominees: – Ryan Kooi, Vista Transit – Neal Young, City of Phoenix Transit System – Valley Metro – City of Scottsdale/Dunn Transit

4. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner Is: City of Scottsdale/Dunn Transportation

5. Outstanding Transit Individual Recognizes an individual that has provided outstanding leadership and/or contributions to public transportation programs to the transit industry, to a jurisdiction or municipality, or to the private sector to improve the quality of transit services Nominees: – Denise Wolford, Town of Miami..Cobre Valley Transit – John Andoh, YCAT – Ryan Kooi, Vista Transit – Lieutenant Adrian Ruiz, COP PD – Farshid Akhavan, City of Phoenix Public Transit Planner III – Dan Harrigan, ADOT – Anita Hinojos, Town of Hayden – Nicole Patrick, ADOT

6. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner Is: Lieutenant Adrian Ruiz, City Of Phoenix Police Department

7. Outstanding Special Needs Transportation Program Recognizes the outstanding provider of services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities, through improvements or innovations in operational efficiency and customer service Nominees: – Terry Delia, New Horizon, LHC – U of A Disability Cart Service – City of Phoenix Alternative Transportation Options, Transportation for Seniors and People with Disabilities – Easter Seals Blake Foundation (Cheryl Wilson)

8. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner Is: University of Arizona Disability Cart Service

9. Outstanding Rural/Small Urban Transit System Recognizes the outstanding provider of public transportation in rural or small urbanized areas through improvements or innovations in operations efficiency and customer service. Nominees: – Tom Hakeneworth, Four Seasons Transit/White Mountain Connection – NAIPTA, Jeff Meilbeck/Erika Mazza – Mary Witkofski, City of Maricopa Express Transit (Comet)

10. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner Is: NAIPTA Jeff Meilbeck and Erika Mazza

11. Outstanding Transit Innovation Recognizes an individual(s), organization, or group that has demonstrated innovative program creation, development, management and/or delivery for public transportation service, existing /new public transportation program or system, or transit resources. Nominees: – Total Transit, Virtual DAR – Vista Transit, Zonar Inspection System – Saguaro Transportation Services, Yuma--Sara Rides – City of Phoenix: Liquefied Natural Gas to Compressed Natural Gas Fuel – Maher Hazine, Deputy Public Works Director, City of Peoria, Dial a Ride – SkyTrain, City of Phoenix

12. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner Is: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: Sky Train

13. Outstanding Training Program Recognizes an individual(s), organization, or group that has demonstrated innovative program creation, development, management and/or delivery for a transit training program.

14. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner Is: Ron Romley Chino Valley Transit

15. Outstanding Vendor Recognizes a private sector supplier which has demonstrated superior support to the transit industry through its business enterprise providing goods, services, or other support

16. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner Is:, Paula Dong Arizona Bus Sales

17. Dave Barber Straight Transit Talk Recognizes an individual demonstrating excellence in transit advocacy with the general public, elected leaders, and/or within the community by consistently speaking succinctly to transit issues with clear, concise, factual, and to- the-point statements about public transportation Nominees: – Thelda Williams, Phoenix Councilwoman – Tom Hackenworth, Show Low

18. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner is: Councilwoman Thelda Williams

19. Friend of Transit Recognizes an individual, group, organization, or business that has demonstrated outstanding support of transit causes, promotes transit programs, and/or develops transit resources that builds the profession and its practitioners. Nominees: – Harry Mitchell, Former councilman, mayor, senator, and congressman – Ron Barnes, Total Transit

20. AzTA / ADOT Excellence Awards The Winner Is: Congressman Harry Mitchell