One word to describe yourself: Slytherpuff
Alma Mater: University of South Carolina and University of Kansas
Fast fact: I collect transit-themed socks
What’s your best experience on transit and what made it memorable?
I live in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia where travel time and reliability are often a measure of how many bodies of water you need to cross to get somewhere. My best transit experience was riding the Jamestown-Scotland ferry on a day that both Hampton Roads bridge-tunnels were blocked and the James River Bridge consequently had extreme delays. Although the wait for the ferry was longer than normal, once I was out of my car on the boat looking at the cormorants diving for fish and feeling the breeze on the water, all the stress of trying to get home melted away. The experience was so memorable because of how quickly it enabled me to go from anxious driver to serene passenger. It really helped clarify for me how good transit can do more than just get folks from A to B; it has the power to change how you perceive the world around you.
Sam Sink is a passionate and innovative leader, driven by intellectual curiosity and a commitment to making a lasting impact on transit customers. With more than 15 years of experience in transit planning and development, she has spearheaded multiple community-driven public transportation projects at agencies, including Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) and the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC).
At HRT, she rose to the role of director of transit development, leading bus rapid transit and light-rail transit studies. Known for her technically accurate and insightful work, she was a trusted advisor for complex project problems, helping the senior leadership team at HRT make sound decisions. She also implemented innovative solutions, such as streamlining data collection processes with digital tools, saving time and money.
Sink is an alumnus of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Emerging Leaders Program in 2017. She actively contributes to APTA committees, including the Bus Rapid Transit Committee and the Zero Emission Fleet Committee. At GRTC, she played a pivotal role in the Zero Emission Transition Plan and secured $11.5 million in federal funding to replace aging diesel buses with compressed natural gas buses.
In addition to her professional achievements, Sink volunteers at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, where she helped develop volunteer management software to streamline operations.
Sink has also strived to share her knowledge with co-workers. Her peers note her willingness to ask questions and push for better solutions for clients. Sink’s ability to manage diverse groups of stakeholders and overcome project hurdles has made her a valuable partner to clients and a strong mentor for her peers.
Is there a specific experience that led you to where you are today?
The APTA Emerging Leaders Program was crucial in exposing me to all the different paths my career could take in the transit agency.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Having a reason to visit transit systems and cities I may not have otherwise gotten to experience.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
