Leadership in Motion: Insights from Norman Tuitavuki, COO of Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) 

Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Public Transportation System from APTA. At ThinkTransit earlier this year, we sat down with Norman Tuitavuki, Chief Operating Officer at MST, to talk about what leadership looks like in modern transit. With decades of experience managing operational complexity, aligning diverse teams, and pushing projects forward, Norman offers grounded, practical advice for today’s transit leaders.

Here’s how he leads teams and delivers results in an increasingly high-stakes environment:

Bring Everyone Into the Room Early

No transit project can succeed in isolation. That’s why Norman focuses on alignment from day one—getting internal teams, external vendors, and stakeholders across functions to sync on what the project actually entails. He found that “progress happens faster when everyone has visibility into the mission, the milestones, and their role in reaching the finish line.”

Rather than letting assumptions accumulate, Norman’s approach begins with collaboration. He regularly convenes stakeholders to review project scopes, goals, and timelines together. This shared context builds buy-in early and reduces the risk of costly miscommunication later.

“For me, what works best is getting everybody into the same room,” he shared. “We review the scope of work, project goals, timelines, key milestones—and get everyone talking about what we’re actually trying to accomplish.”

TLDR: The goal of alignment is to find a shared purpose and presence. If everyone understands the “why,” the “how” becomes much easier.

Build Accountability Into Your Workflow

Clear roles and responsibilities are essential, but they’re only half the equation. The team at MST finds accountability through structured systems and routines. They track each project using a shared sheet stored on a central drive, so no one is guessing where things stand or who owns what.

However, the real power lies in cadence. Weekly meetings keep teams aligned with the timeline, scope, and work ahead. Regular check-ins prevent drift and create space for course correction when needed.

Norm emphasized the importance of “having people in the same room talking about the project, looking at where we’re at, where we need to be, and then where we’re going. So just having constant communication and project updates has worked for me.”

TLDR: Processes that encourage visibility and rhythm are often what sustain accountability over time.

Create a Culture Where It’s Safe to Raise Your Hand

No matter how strong the plan, roadblocks will inevitably arise. What matters most is how quickly teams surface them. Norman encourages open, timely communication – especially when setbacks occur. Whether it’s him flagging a delay to the CEO or a staff member needing support, he always wants to make sure that his people feel comfortable communicating when they need help.

That mindset fosters a culture of trust, where team members feel empowered to escalate issues promptly, rather than quietly hoping they will resolve themselves. And when leadership responds with support, not blame, it strengthens the team’s ability to navigate challenges together.

“You know if there’s a setback, you really want to communicate that up as quickly as possible,” said Norm. “I try to enable my folks to fill and empower to raise their hand and let me know when you need something right. It doesn’t get better over time.”

TLDR: Problems don’t get better with time. Build a culture where honesty meets action.

Track Progress, and Celebrate It

For Norman, success is an ongoing process of reflection and communication. MST tracks progress closely throughout the project lifecycle, communicating key milestones as the team achieves them. That clarity helps teams stay focused and reinforces momentum.

Just as importantly, progress updates go both upward and across. Keeping senior leadership informed ensures alignment and reinforces confidence. Keeping teams informed helps everyone see how their contributions are driving results.

TLDR: Progress is more than a metric – it’s a story that teams deserve to hear as it unfolds.

Advice to New Leaders: Be Open, Be Clear, Be Concise

When asked what advice he’d offer to up-and-coming transit leaders, Norman emphasized three simple traits: openness, clarity, and brevity. Outstanding leadership, in his view, hinges on consistent communication across every level, whether he’s communicating with an internal team member, an external vendor, or an executive staff member.

That includes being proactive about sharing status updates, raising flags when necessary, and clearly articulating what you need from leadership. As Norman pointed out, “senior executives often have limited time. Being brief, direct, and focused helps ensure the message lands.”

TLDR: Communicate often, but don’t overcomplicate. Clear communication is a sign of respect for everyone’s time and attention.

Leadership That Moves Transit Forward

Norman Tuitavuki’s leadership approach is grounded in transparency, structure, and shared goals, offering a model for transit leaders navigating complexity. Whether managing multi-vendor projects, aligning teams around CAD/AVL upgrades like Vontas OnRoute, or keeping stakeholders informed, his mindset reflects what outstanding operational leadership looks like in transit today.

The Vontas team is proud to partner with leaders like Norman and organizations like MST, which work every day to deliver smarter, safer, and more connected transit experiences. When leadership is aligned, transit systems operate more efficiently, and riders notice the difference.

Want to hear more from transit leaders like Norman? Check out our latest insights and stories on our website.