RTA Joins Chicago Transit Partners to Host 19th Annual Transportation Vendor Symposium

The RTA, in collaboration with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, Pace, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Tollway, has announced it will host the 19th Annual Transportation Symposium and Business Exchange. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 15th at the Chicago Cultural Center, Sidney R. Yates Gallery, 78 East Washington Street, Chicago from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for businesses interested in working with local transportation agencies.  There is no cost to attend the event.

“Transit agencies in this region spend billions of dollars annually on goods and services needed to help keep our transportation system moving,” says RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. “We are fortunate to work with a variety of businesses every year and see this symposium and business exchange as an opportunity to grow our network of vendors.”

The event is specifically aimed at transit-related businesses including construction companies, professional service firms, manufacturers, architects/engineers and suppliers. Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), Minority Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Small Business Enterprises (SBEs)  are strongly encouraged to attend to obtain valuable information regarding the best way to seek transit agency contracts.  

“I know firsthand how helpful this event is,” said George Kinnison, president and founder of  Trinity Technology Services and scheduled event speaker. “I first attended the event 17 years ago and learned a great deal about the processes in place for MBE and DBE certified companies to become vendors in the transit and transportation sectors. Since then, I founded Trinity and, as a DBE, we now provide low voltage bus systems, such as GPS and communications systems, to CTA buses.  Information I gained at this event help make this work possible.”

 Advance registration for this free event is strongly encouraged. For more information, visit the RTA website at rtachicago.org or visit the symposium and business exchange website at http://illinoistransportationsymposium.com.