Executive Director's Report November 2025
2025 may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of opportunities to get the most out of your ACT experience before the year ends.
A few weeks ago, the TDM Forum brought more than 230 of our colleagues to Portland for a sold-out event. It was energizing in all the best ways, and I’m hopeful attendees headed home feeling as fired up as I did. We received rave reviews about the program, the speakers, the games, and—yes—Panda the therapy llama, who may now be ACT’s most beloved unofficial member. With so many transportation events happening across the country (and sometimes in the very same city), it’s especially gratifying to hear how important and worthwhile ACT’s gatherings are for our community.
During our time in Portland, ACT’s Board of Directors met to discuss and shape our 2026 work plan and budget, as well as our next three-year strategic plan. Your elected leadership remains deeply committed to guiding the organization with a focus on enhancing the value you receive from ACT and ensuring we continue to have a strong, impactful voice for the field of TDM and TDM professionals.
The Board will reconvene in December to formally adopt the work plan and budget for next year, which I look forward to sharing in a future newsletter. This meeting will also mark the final service of five remarkable leaders. On behalf of our entire community, I want to extend heartfelt appreciation to John Andoh, Jane Bowman Brady, Danielle Glaser, Frank Mongioi, and Lisa Kay Schweyer for their exceptional service and dedication. Their contributions have made a lasting impact on ACT.
If you have not yet submitted your entry for the 2025 Global TDM Impact Report, I encourage all members to do so before the December 5 deadline. This report is a meaningful chance to elevate the entire industry by sharing your program's achievements. Your submission helps paint a fuller picture of our collective impact while giving peers valuable benchmarks they can use to improve their own work. The 2024 report reached a wide audience, and we're aiming to spread this year's even further, so your story truly makes a difference.
Meanwhile, commemorations for ACT’s 40th anniversary are well underway, all leading to our 40th Annual International Conference in Philadelphia, July 26–29. Over the past four decades, we have built a community of hard-working and dedicated professionals that we are proud to celebrate. To help bring our history to life, the planning group is seeking videos, documents, photos, and other items that capture a meaningful moment from our journey. If you have any in your office, at your home, or on your computer, I encourage you to share them here.
There’s still time to close out your year with momentum by taking steps toward earning your TDM-CP. Members have access to exclusive study guide materials to help them prepare with confidence.