Team RideFinders Celebrates Two Chesapeake Chapter Awards at Inaugural TDM Mini-Conference
RideFinders News
Learning, collaboration, and recognition highlighted a memorable day in Washington, D.C., as Team RideFinders joined transportation demand management (TDM) professionals for the first-ever ACT Chesapeake Chapter Fall into the Sea of TDM mini-conference.
Hosted by the Chesapeake Chapter of the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), the two-day event brought together TDM leaders, innovators, and transportation professionals from across the region to exchange ideas, explore emerging mobility challenges, and share strategies for helping more people discover transportation options beyond driving alone.
Team RideFinders participated in the second day of the conference, taking advantage of opportunities to learn from industry peers, contribute to meaningful discussions, and bring fresh ideas back to the Richmond Region.
Learning from Peers and Industry Experts
The day’s interactive Deep Dive Rooms encouraged participants to move beyond presentations and discuss practical approaches to everyday TDM challenges.
RideFinders’ Executive Director joined the Ask the Experts discussion, while Account Executives Brigitte Tanner Carter and John O’Keeffe participated in Peer Exchange: What’s Working for You, sharing experiences and learning about successful strategies from other programs.
The team also attended a panel discussion, Transforming Campus Mobility Through Education and Design, featuring representatives from the University of Pennsylvania, University of Maryland, College Park, and Johns Hopkins University. The session explored how education, thoughtful design, and campus partnerships can create safer, more sustainable transportation environments for students, faculty, and staff.
Additional discussions focused on creating safe and reliable nighttime transportation for students, partnering with marketing teams to increase engagement, and addressing TDM challenges through expert collaboration. These conversations reinforced the importance of strong partnerships, creative outreach, and programs that respond to the transportation needs of the communities we serve.
Two Awards, One Team, and a Commitment to Better Mobility
The conference concluded with an exciting moment for Team RideFinders during the annual ACT Chesapeake Chapter Awards Ceremony. The team received two honors recognizing its commitment to advancing TDM throughout the Richmond and Tri-Cities Regions.
Best Overall Marketing Campaign – Count It. Change It.
RideFinders’ Count It. Change It. campaign was recognized for its creative approach to encouraging commuters to rethink their daily transportation choices.
The campaign turned a simple action, recording a green commute, into an opportunity to see the collective impact of carpooling, vanpooling, transit, biking, walking, and teleworking. Through engaging digital outreach, commuter incentives, and the ConnectingVA platform, the campaign encouraged participation while demonstrating how individual choices can reduce vehicle miles traveled, save money, and benefit the environment.
The recognition highlights our continued efforts to make sustainable commuting more accessible, relevant, and rewarding.
TDM Agency of the Year
This award recognizes our broader commitment to expanding transportation choices, strengthening employer and community partnerships, and delivering programs that make a measurable difference.
From supporting vanpool formation and helping commuters find ridesharing options to engaging employers, promoting sustainable travel, and expanding outreach in the Tri-Cities, we continue to connect people with transportation solutions that fit their lives.
The recognition also reflects the team’s dedication to innovation, collaboration, and advancing the goals of the region’s transportation demand management efforts.
Bringing New Ideas Home
Beyond the awards, the mini-conference offered valuable opportunities to connect with colleagues who share a commitment to improving mobility.
“These awards are a wonderful recognition of our team’s work, but they’re also a reflection of the commuters, employers, and community partners who help make our programs successful,” said RideFinders’ Executive Director, Cherika Ruffin. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited to bring new ideas and perspectives back to the Richmond Region.”
Team RideFinders extends its appreciation to the ACT Chesapeake Chapter for organizing an engaging inaugural conference and recognizing the work taking place across the region.
Two awards and plenty of fresh ideas to bring home. We’re looking forward to what’s next!