- One word to describe yourself: Tenacious
- Alma Mater: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
- Favorite book: "Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In" by Roger Fisher and William Ury
- Favorite TV show: "Seinfeld"
- Favorite movie: "My Cousin Vinny"
- Favorite hobby(s): Boot Camp, running, cycling and gardening.
- Fun fact about yourself: "I received an award in grade 3 for being the class-clown."
- Favorite station or stop that you have ever visited or frequent (and why): "I really like fun and interesting stations and stops that are used to create interest. One favorite is Baltimore’s Typographical Sculpture Bus Stop which is a mix of public art and bus stop."
- Favorite route you have ever ridden or frequent (and why): "Tram No. 28 in Lisbon, Portugal. The original streetcars still operated by Carris are amazing. Not only are the sights of the city along the route breathtaking, I have a deep appreciation for the engineering behind it that keeps it moving even today up some very steep inclines.
Sasha Pejcic worked on the development of a Regional Transportation Development Plan for Southern Maine, called "Moving Southern Maine Forward." Throughout the project, he showed drive, commitment and dedication to public transportation. He is a creative and innovative person who challenges the status-quo, and was able to bring the region expertise from the many other places he has worked; that helped all of his coworkers think out of the box.
In the Southern Maine context, Pejcic proposed innovative solutions, such as advancing shared mobility technologies to better meet Stantec's paratransit needs, and to reshape how it delivers rural transit services throughout the region. Pejcic routinely questions whether there are more effective and efficient ways of serving transit’s customers, while also keeping transit relevant in the context of competing disruptors seeking to take away market share.
Pejcic is an ambitious, results-oriented leader who is not afraid of stepping up to a challenge, and challenging others to take a fresh look at possible innovations and solutions.
Pejcic built a new business line for Stantec — Transit Advisory — which grew from himself to a team of 12 in less than a year. Pejcic was promoted to managing senior associate, Transportation for the Greater Toronto Area on January 1, 2018. In addition to still leading the North American Transit Advisory practice, he now also has operational and financial management responsibility for 55 staff with various transportation backgrounds. Pejcic recently applied and was accepted into The Eno Center for Transportation's leadership program for 2018.
Pejcic believes it is important to give back to the transit industry. He serves on the board of directors for the Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA) and on numerous committees of both the American Public Transit Association and Canadian Urban Transit Association.
"There was not a specific experience but rather a collection of progressively successful career and academic accomplishments [that led me to where I am today]. Of course I wouldn’t have gone very far without great mentors who believed in me and taught me about the industry; to these people I remain grateful and indebted."
"The challenge of my job [is that] it keeps me on my toes; no two days are ever the same. Today, I might be designing a solution for one agency and tomorrow my mind is across the world working on a strategy for another community. It feels great to see your recommendations implemented knowing the client has confidence in your work, but also then seeing the services improved for those who rely on it."
"As a transit and mobility strategist, I am often presented with vague concepts and ideas of what my clients are seeking as end products. This is when my innovation and creativity are tested to turn “back of the napkin ideas” into tangible products with demonstrable results. This ability to “design with community in mind” is an important component of the job."
"The accomplishment that I am most proud is work I have been and continue to be involved with. Every day, my work directly effects millions of people around the world. And what touches me the most is that many of them are individuals with disabilities and mobility challenges that wouldn’t be able to leave their houses if it weren’t for public transit. Knowing that I am working hard behind the scenes to make the ride a better one, though most customers would never know, is a silent accomplishment I cherish."
"Never settle with the status-quo. Sure, it is comfortable to live in the present, but transit agencies (or us as individuals) will never get better that way. From my experiences, I have found that the best outcomes happen when we challenge what we are doing, how and why."
"I enjoy the comradery! The public transit industry is like one big extended family. It doesn’t matter if you are on the public or private sector side of the ledger. All that matters is how we come together to make the industry a better for our customers and communities."
