Editor's Notebook: 2022 40 Under 40 Honorees Bring New Momentum to the Industry
Welcome to our 14th annual 40 Under 40 issue. Since 2008, Mass Transit has compiled a list of emerging leaders within the transit industry to showcase the drive, ambition, entrepreneurship and can-do attitudes of individuals who will be tasked with carrying the industry forward.
This year brought a record number of nominations, and the result is a group of professionals who represent the breadth of specialties required to keep transit a competitive and innovative industry. The Class of 2022 includes mechanics, operators, engineers, data specialists, planning and policy experts, safety professionals and transit-oriented development experts.
Close to 70 percent represent public entities from a mix of large, medium, small and tribal networks; 45 percent of honorees are women and the average number of years working in transit is around nine. Approximately half have earned professional, graduate or doctoral degrees or professional certifications.
Several honorees are pushing the envelope on best practices by piloting new and more reliable ways to integrate services, spearheading new service options and figuring out how to better engage with both their communities and colleagues.
Beyond their professional development, honorees are involved in dozens of mobility-centric and urban planning associations with various aims and non-profits – some not attached to transit specifically – but all with missions that encourage the advancement of various groups of people. Mentorship is also a focus of this group with many involved in at-work or industry programs.
Outside of work, you’ll find this group to be comprised of musicians, cooks and bakers, two former D1 football players, parents, an Eagle Scout and several world travelers.
All are positive change agents within their individual organizations and the transit industry. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading about this year’s class as much as our team enjoyed getting to share their stories. Please visit the 40 Under 40 page on our website, masstransitmag.com/40-under-40; where you’ll find additional facts about their work, deeper first-person viewpoints and more information about their accomplishments.
A full list of 2022 40 Under 40 honorees is available at www.masstransitmag.com/40-under40.
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.
