The Human Side of Transit: CapMetro CEO Dottie Watkins on Workforce and Community

How do romantic moments, regional growth, and emerging tech like AI all intersect at your local bus stop?

In this episode of Austin Hires Local, host Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, sits down with CapMetro President and CEO Dottie Watkins to explore the human side of public transit—from wedding proposals and workforce pipelines to perspectives on autonomous driving and the power of community connection.

Dottie Watkins serves as CapMetro’s President & CEO in Austin, TX. She began her transit career in 1994 driving part-time while attending the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to her appointment as Deputy CEO, now CEO, Dottie served as Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for all aspects of the agency’s daily operations, Capital Construction and Information Technology. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Texas and a Master of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University. A native Austinite, Dottie regularly enjoys trips to the pool with her daughter and plays French Horn in a local community band.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Bus driver romance and wedding photo possibilities at CapMetro

• (03:02) From lifeguard to CEO: Dottie's first job and journey to transit leadership

• (10:34) Why CapMetro invested in workforce development and community talent pipeline

• (17:46) The future of autonomous vehicles and why humans will still be needed

• (20:49) Innovative childcare solutions for workers with irregular transit schedules

• (29:38) How Austin's changing demographics affect transit planning and service delivery

• (38:28) What Austin's transit landscape will look like in 10 years

• Like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!

About the show:
Austin Hires Local, powered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area and hosted by WFS CEO Tamara Atkinson, dives deep with the trailblazers who are shaping the future of jobs in our city, our state, and even nationally. We pull back the curtain on the challenges we all face – the anxieties, the roadblocks, and what's holding us back from filling those critical open positions. But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. We also celebrate the victories: the ingenious solutions, the unexpected collaborations, and the best practices that are making us all sharper. You’ll hear guests from all sides of the table – elected officials with a finger on the pulse of the economy, industry leaders from booming sectors like tech, healthcare, and skilled trades, and educators shaping young minds in our schools and post-secondary education programs. So, tune in and get ready to be informed, inspired, and maybe even surprised by the future of work in Austin.

Resources:

CapMetro
Workforce Solutions Capital Area
Tamara Atkinson LinkedIn

Thank you to our sponsor: Texas Mutual

About Workforce Solutions Capital Area: Workforce Solutions is the state-designated authority for the data-driven planning, oversight, and evaluation of workforce d...