2018 INCOST Conference

Connect & Inspire

Take this job

and love it!

Conference Guide

Welcome

Keynote Speakers

5311 Annual Meeting (Wednesday)

Professional Development (Thursday)

Professional Development (Friday)

Special Thanks and Recognition . . .

Welcome to the 2018 INCOST Conference!

INCOST is about making meaningful connections. To Help Individuals with specialized needs

make the connections they need. This Conference is way to learn together from one another. We

educate ourselves and then empower our colleagues so that they, and in turn, our communities-

may benefit from this experience.

This Conference has been designed to connect, educate and inspire. Just as inspiration is found

in every facet of what we do you will also find it at every special event you attend, and in every

personal connection you make.

We encourage you to take full advantage of every opportunity this conference has to offer. May

your experiences over next few days send you home with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and

dedication that will continue to inspire your work and love what you do!

Sincerely,

Nola Davis, INCOST President

Jacque Kauffman, Vice President

Top 10 Tips for Making the Most of your Conference Experience

Meet a New Colleague at every session

Introduce People you meet to people you already Know

Interact With the Exhibitors

Collect and exchange Data

Note Key Points from each Session to share back home

Seek Solutions and swap strategies

Spend time sharing a meal with someone new each day

Engage with the speakers by giving them your full attention and asking questions

Leverage face time by disconnecting from electronics in social settings

Create an action plan for how you’ll apply what you’ve learned at the end of each

day.

Key Note Speaker

Robbie Sarles, President, RLS & Associates, Inc.

Ms. Robbie L. Sarles is President of RLS & Associates, Inc., a transit consulting firm headquartered in

Dayton, Ohio, with 25 staff and offices in Colorado, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and

Virginia. For over 37 years, Ms. Sarles has provided transit planning and operating assistance to

state departments of transportation, local governments, and rural, small urban and human services

transportation systems, both across the country and internationally. She is a nationally recognized

researcher, trainer, and presenter on a variety of topics, from Civil Rights, ADA, and workplace

harassment to coordination and mobility management, performance indicators, and transit design.

Ms. Sarles is also a nationally recognized expert in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Drug

and Alcohol Testing Regulations. In this regard, she oversees statewide drug and alcohol testing

regulatory compliance program and policy assessments for 19 states and has personally conducted

countless drug and alcohol program assessments throughout the nation. Ms. Sarles maintains a

close working relationship with FTA officials and other industry experts that can provide additional

insight and clarification on regulatory compliance issues.

Ms. Sarles completed an M.S., Transportation Engineering and M.S., City and Regional Planning from

The Ohio State University and a B.S., Geography and Psychology, from Western Kentucky

University.

Key Note Speaker

Ms. Schafer joined RLS & Associates, Inc. after a successful career with an area agency on aging

in southeast Indiana whose mission was to provide service to help individuals maintain

independence. Ms. Schafer had a lead role in the development of a seven-county public transit

system, subsequently becoming that system’s General Manager. Ms. Schafer’s role in the

development of the public transit system included; needs assessment, system design, grant

writing, local fund development, branding, and marketing. Added to her strong management

skills and experience in transit system operations and maintenance, Ms. Schafer brings

considerable expertise in state and Federal compliance, grant writing, resource development,

data analysis, and policies and procedures. As RLS’ resident Rural Transit Circuit Rider, she

has worked with transit systems in several states—Ohio, Indiana, New Hampshire, North

Carolina, and West Virginia—to strengthen administrative and operating practices, evaluate,

enhance and improve services, and identify, document, and solve administrative and operating

issues.

Ms. Schafer has assisted with the development of coordinated transportation plans for several

counties in Ohio; was a Lead Researcher for the New Hampshire Statewide Coordination Plan

and Indiana Regional Coordinated Plan updates; and a coordinated transit plan for the

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Transit Plan; and the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Council of

Governments coordination plan. She is currently assisting with the Nevada Statewide

Coordination Plan. Finally, Ms. Schafer is an experienced trainer and is a lead contributor to the

CTAA eLearning Module for assisting mobility managers in being more effective in facilitating

meetings among community partners and negotiating differences that arise, with a goal of

improving transportation options for community members.

Key Note Speaker

Victoria Warner, Associate

Ms. Warner has over eighteen years of transit experience and is responsible for the administration and

daily operations of the Columbus, Indiana RLS office. Ms. Warner is a Certified Community Transit

Manager with CTAA, and is a certified Passenger Assistance Techniques Instructor. In 2009 she attended

the National Transit Institutes Advanced Mobility Securement Train-the-Trainer course. Ms. Warner’s

strengths and experience are in driver safety and training; safety and security, and maintenance.

Ms. Warner is the manager of the Wisconsin Rural Transit Assistance Program (Wisconsin RTAP). In this

capacity, Ms. Warner develops and conducts training programs and oversees the Wisconsin RTAP

Scholarship Program, Quarterly Newsletter, and Program Website. She has also developed a regional

training approach for the program which was implemented in 2012

Ms. Warner is also the Manager of the Indiana Rural Transit Assistance Program (Indiana RTAP), which

was recognized in 2009 by the Federal Transit Administration as the Outstanding State RTAP Program.

Indiana RTAP, administered by INDOT and staffed by RLS & Associates, Inc. under Ms. Warner’s

direction, provides a comprehensive program of assistance through training and scholarships, technical

assistance, and compliance oversight; she provides drug and alcohol compliance oversight to Indiana’s 45

small urban and rural transit systems, including policy reviews. Ms. Warner’s efforts through her

management of the Indiana RTAP Program have been instrumental to the Indiana Department of

Transportation and the small urban, rural, and specialized transportation systems throughout Indiana for

ensuring that driver training, technical assistance, and compliance oversight is provided in an efficient

and effective manner. The RTAP Program's regional training concept has allowed program staff to

concentrate their resources while increasing training participation among Indiana's transit

systems. RTAP’s focus on training is directed at enhancing transit system safety among Indiana’s

paratransit systems

As an expert in transportation safety and security, Ms. Warner coordinated all substance abuse

management oversight activities for Indiana’s 5311 properties and assures compliance with program

regulations and provides technical assistance as needed.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Rick Jacobs, Commercial Area Sales Manager

Rick has over 18 years of experience in the Transit Mobility business. Rick is employed with

BraunAbility in the capacity of Commercial Sales Manager. His responsibilities include serving

the Midwest Transit/School bus markets in transportation mobility. Over this time, he has

been involved with transit agencies, school districts and managing a dealer network with over

100 BraunAbility dealers. His specific duties include managing IN, OH, IL, MI, MO, KY, WV &

IA. Rick travels extensively and actively manages his duties to oversee his company

responsibilities. BraunAbility offers various products to state agencies, school districts, transit

companies, senior care centers, as well as, many others. Braun products include lowered floor

mini vans, wheelchair lifts and ramps.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Brad Knight, Director of Service, Midwest Transit Equipment.

I started as a mechanic in the 80’s. My first mechanic job was in the coal mine for about 8

years. About 8 years later I made the transition to over the road tractors and Bus. I have been in

the Bus business for the last 18 years all most all this time with Midwest Transit Equipment. I

am Married With 4 children and we have 3 grandchildren.

WEDNESDAY

October 10th, 2018: INDOT 5311 YEARLY MEETING

8:00 am – 8:30 am – Registration

8:30 am – 12:30 pm – INDOT Meeting

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Lunch

Lunch Sponsored by: Angel Trax

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – INDOT Meeting continued

3:00 pm – Break

3:15 pm – 4:30 pm – 5311 Meeting

4:30 pm – INCOST Registration Begins

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Managers reception

INCOST NIGHT IN PRESENTS:

Mangers Reception River Side

Time to Mingle

Free food and soft drinks available

Some Enchanted “Tee” Evening

6:00 p.m.

Sponsored by: Clean Zone

You must be registered in advance

Come and meet the Artist and become the artist. Create your own Masterpiece

7:30pm – Shuttle to and from Hollywood Casino available every 15 minutes until Midnight

Free Voucher for the Casino.

THURSDAY

October 11, 2018: INCOST CONFERENCE

7:30 am- 8:45 am – Registration/Breakfast

8:45am-9:00am – Welcome, Nola Davis, INCOST President

9:00 am – 10:00 am – Robbie Sarles, RLS and Associates

How to navigate the sexual harassment and the “Me Too” movement

Break

10:00am – 4:00pm – Vendor Showcase Opens, Medicaid Broker, Technology Software

Assistance Available

10:15am – 11:15 am – Brad Knight, Midwest

Maintenance – Who, What and When

11:15 am – 12:00 pm –Vicki Warner

Policy – Free Templates

12:00pm – 1:30pm – Networking Lunch – Vendor Showcase Continues

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm – Rick Jacobs, Braun

Operations and Challenges

Break

2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – Julie Schafer, RLS and Associates

Human Resources – Hiring, Retaining and Recruiting

3:15pm – 4:00pm – Robbie Sarles, RLS

Prescription Drugs – Safety Risks – a manager’s role and responsibilities

Vendor Room Open from 10:00am – 4:00 pm

October 11rd, 2018:

ANNUAL MEETING AND AWARDS CEREMONY

6:00 Welcome – Sponsor Presentation

6:30 Meal

7:00 Awards Ceremony

Dinner Sponsored by:

Midwest Transit, Elkhart Coach – Braun

&

Ecolane

Presentation of Awards:

2018 Rodeo Winners - Victoria Warner

2018 Conference Sponsors - Nola Davis

2018 Elections of officers for 2019 - Jacque Kauffman

Silent Bid Auction - Cheri Perkins, Claudia Taylor

October 12th, 2018: INCOST CONFERENCE FINALE

8:00am-8:30am – Breakfast

8:30am- 10:30 am – Robbie Sarles, RLS

5311 Compliance – Playing by the new rules

Break

10:45 am – 11:30am – Julie Schafer - RLS

Exploring Local Match

Door Prize

Conference Concludes

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!

Have a Safe Trip Home.

Champion Level

“THE INDUSTRY-LEADING SCHEDULING AND DISPATCHING SOFTWARE “

“Because life is a moving experience” “Built to Please”

We’re here to do more than just meet your needs we're here to exceed them”

Partner Level

“Indiana Rural Transit Assistance Program”

“Leading designer, manufacturer and provider of in-vehicle mobile surveillance”

Advocate Level

“Specializing in Transit and Alternative Outdoor advertising.”

“ A global market leader in the field of vehicle technology for the wheelchair passenger”

“Find the right bus for you. “

Exhibitors

“Manage, and Experience “We are transit nerds that live what we love everyday”

“The future of transportation management” “Indiana Citizens’ Alliance for Transit”

“MAKING SAFETY ACCESSIBLE” “ A century of Automotive safety”

.

“Advances public and rider safety while maximizing an agency’s investment.”