Geisha D. Ester, Executive Director of Rutgers University’s National Transit Institute (NTI), has been named Vice Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Workforce Development Committee. The announcement took place during the committee’s October 4 meeting at APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026 in Chicago.
The Workforce Development Committee and its subcommittees provide a forum that promotes leadership, innovation, collaboration, and information sharing among public transportation professionals at all levels. Committee members identify specialized programs and services in the areas of talent acquisition and development, labor and employee relations, and education and career awareness to build the support that is needed to make the transit industry successful. The committee also sponsors various eLearning programs, resources, and web-based activities for APTA members and in partnership with industry organizations outside of APTA.
At NTI, Geisha contributes to the strategic direction and national delivery of federally funded workforce training programs for the transit industry. She has nearly 30 years of experience in public transportation and more than 18 years in workforce development, specializing in leadership development, organizational learning, and scalable training solutions for agencies of all sizes.Before joining NTI, Geisha held senior leadership roles at the Chicago Transit Authority, including Vice President of Training and Workforce Development, where she supported large-scale staff training initiatives and agency-wide learning programs. She has also contributed to national workforce efforts through her service with the Transportation Research Board and the American Public Transportation Association, with a focus on expanding education, career awareness, and peer learning across the industry.