Spika Speaker Series

About Spika Speaker Series

Brought to you by Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc., in Lewistown, Montana, this podcast is a companion to Spika Knowledge Center (https://spikamfg.com/knowledge), bringing you professional insights from the shop floor, about work and worker safety at varying heights and over-reaches in complex manufacturing and assembly environments across different industries. Spika stands for safety and productivity. Learn more about our work at https://spikamfg.com.

Publisher

SpikaMfg

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Aug 2020

Latest episode

23 Jun 2025

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Jun 2025

   Driving CapMetro to Zero Emissions - A Conversation with Dottie Watkins, President & CEO, CapMetro.

   Dottie Watkins, President & CEO of CapMetro, discusses her journey from bus driver to CEO and her vision for a zero-emission future for Austin's transit system in an interview with Bekhi Spika and Chad Catron.

2. 

   23 Jun 2025

   Schooling for ZEB Skilling – Deciphering the 2024 GAO Report on Transit Workforce Development.

   Andrew Von Ah of the GAO discusses the 2024 GAO report on transit workforce development, focusing on preparing the workforce for the transition to zero-emission buses and sharing observations from other nations in this interview.

3. 

   23 Jun 2025

   Will ZEB become a verb - Crystal ball gazing with Mike Hynes of CALSTART

   Mike Hynes of CALSTART discusses the future of zero-emission vehicles in mass transit and his work assisting agencies with planning during an interview, offering insights into the transition.

4. 

   22 May 2024

   For ZEB, Top of Bus Is Top Of Mind - A conversation with David Carr of CapMetro

   In this fascinating and highly informative deep dive on the topic of transit agencies adopting Zero Emission Bus fleets, Mr. David Carr, Director, Zero Emission Vehicle Program, CapMetro, in Austin, Texas, shares his perspective on the state of the industry and what it takes to navigate this generational change in bus technology and the level of preparation that it takes. Mr. David Carr has over 20 years of experience in transit, utility, and university transportation management. Highlights of his career including deploying electric buses and infrastructure at RTC in Reno Nevada from 2014 to 2022, as well as working as an Assistant Director of Transportation at the University of Washington and Duke University. Currently Mr. Carr is the Director, Zero Emission Vehicle Program at CapMetro in Austin Texas where he leads the efforts on deploying a 100% zero emissions fleet by 2040. He graduated from Cal State LA with a degree in business administration. Mr. Carr currently serves on the ZEBRA Executive Council, and APTA Zero Emissions Fleet Committee, and has served in APTA as the Chair of the Electric Bus Subcommittee. This program, under the Spika Speaker Series, is a presentation of The Spika Knowledge Center, created to generate greater awareness about safe and productive access at heights and cantilevers, especially in the world of manufacturing and maintenance. Learn more at https://spikamfg.com/knowledge or email us at info [at] spikamfg [dot] com.

5. 

   15 Feb 2024

   How to train for the Bus – The Zero Emission Bus (ZEB), with James Hall of ZEB Tech

   James Hall, Principal & Founder of ZEB Tech, in conversation with Bekhi Spika, Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer, Spika Design & Manufacturing, Montana. James is an industry-leading expert in zero-emission buses and infrastructure with over fifteen years of experience in various forms of transit and automotive applications. He is the Principal and Founder of ZEB Tech, a specialized workforce development consultancy focused on guiding transit agencies and transportation partners through their transition to a zero-emission fleet. His career has positioned him at the forefront of significant advancements in vehicle technologies of all types including hybrid-electric systems, medium-duty railcars, and battery-electric technologies and infrastructure. During his tenure with ITLC, he led an industry-wide effort to author the Recommended Practices for Zero-Emission Bus Maintenance Training through the APTA Standards Program, development of the first publicly available BEB familiarization courseware, and expansion of available ZEB best practices and resources. At Proterra, James led the transit industry into a new era of operating and maintaining ZEBs by building a coalition of industry experts to support continued advancements in transit technology. He assembled a team of nine training and development experts to guide transit labor and management in their transition to battery-electric fleets. His team created brand-new instructional curriculum and courseware to deliver extensive technical programs for their national and international customers. James is a devoted advocate for workforce development in transit and actively participates in several committees within APTA and the California Transit Association, as well as serving as the vice-chair of the West Coast Center of Excellence.

6. 

   10 Feb 2024

   Zeroing in on New Standards for the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Fleet - with Bryan Sooter P.E., Director - Standards, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

   The Spika Speaker Series in Spika Design & Manufacturing's Knowledge Center presents a conversation with Bryan Sooter, P.E., Director - Standards, American Public Transportation Association (APTA), in conversation with Bekhi Spika, VP and CRO, Spika Design & Manufacturing, Montana. This wide ranging conversation on ZEB standards covers the gamut, from how standards are created in public transportation, the challenges faced by transit agencies in getting prepared for an entirely new way of operating with entirely new technology in existing, new or modified infrastructure, the kinds of areas that new standards on ZEB can be expected to encompass, to the guidance on resources available from APTA for transit agencies shifting to ZEB fleets. Along the way, viewers will also learn the importance of treating ZEB acqusitions as complete only after a plan is in place for post-purchase opeations and maintenance, including safe and OSHA-compliant access to sensitive and expensive state of the art buses during training and maintenance of ZEB personnel, with fall protection standards commensurate with the investment made in the high-tech ZEB. Learn more about APTA Standards at https://apta.com/standards (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFVWdzNacVZpaE1RMHZhMlYzcF92NzdzYjJvd3xBQ3Jtc0ttekNiMmZQbkNEYVNRb0VkUHJ3MFMtZGdLdW1SRmp2MnpZR3RlVkMxclJKSE5CODRPN0pUNmxlWlNUS1g4Q0x3R1FKZEZGeW5GNnpTbFlNVjFfdkhpSkNqT2F2UlJILXVTcjJ2QS1ITkNYbHoteHhjQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fapta.com%2Fstandards&v=fG_DA5AdEKI). This session is brought to you by Spika's Knowledge Center. Watch more videos at https://spikamfg.com/knowledge (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkZNMnJtREYyVS1MV2FjeHU2aXRSYTFNZ04zUXxBQ3Jtc0ttSlptQTluS3Bac0loYTJWRzRxLVFYX1JCUTUybS02VHJZSFd4RGpwY3RsWUU2a0I2RFNlYk5wVlNaMWNad0ZPUFJvMTRBWVJVNGRkdk9JNWF5bmJSZXZ2WktONU1HYVVkUUNaTVdPdjI5RU9zZzJkNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fspikamfg.com%2Fknowledge&v=fG_DA5AdEKI).

7. 

   24 Aug 2021

   The Versatility of Work Platforms and Their Use in the Defense Industry - presented by @SpikaMfg.

   In the third webinar in our series titled 'In Our Defense', learn from the experience of the team at Spika Design & Manufacturing about the versatility of work platforms and their uses in the defense industry for safe access for personnel at varying heights and cantilevers during the maintenance or manufacture of tactical equipment such as tanks and tankers. Throughout Spika’s 20 years of experience designing and manufacturing military maintenance stands, end users have shared their preference for work platforms to ladders due to the significant time savings and efficiency gains. This discussion includes deep insights on design considerations for work platforms to not only keep personnel safe, but also to protect sensitive equipment from damage while it is being accessed in facilities short on space and time. See more designs and configurations at https://www.spikamfg.com/ or contact the Spika team at info@spikamfg.com to learn more. The audio for this podcast was extracted from the video recording of the same session that is available for viewing at https://spikamfg.com/knowledge.

8. 

   19 Aug 2021

   Lessons from ACTransit & Stanford's ZETBTA Study on Zero Emission Bus - @SpikaMfg Knowledge Center Event

   The Knowledge Center at Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc., in conjunction with OSHA’s 2021 Safe + Sound Week presents a recording of a special event on the Zero-Emission Transit Bus Technology Analysis (ZETBTA) study recently published by The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit), with Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy (Here is a link to the study for your ready reference: https://www.actransit.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/EDT-060420_Report-ZETBTA.pdf). The featured speakers in this virtual fireside chat were: H. E. Christian (Chris) Peeples, At-Large Director, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, and Jimmy Chen, Ph.D., Managing Director, SECA – Stanford Energy Corporate Affiliates, Precourt Institute for Energy. The virtual session was moderated by Spika Design & Manufacturing’s President & CEO, Katie Spika, and Vice President & Director of Sales, Bekhi Spika. The goal of this Knowledge Center event was to help the audience better understand the impacts of the study and among other things, understand how manufacturers and buyers of zero-emission mass transit buses ought to consider safety and training for the maintenance of the buses, especially with regard to safe access at heights and cantilevers. This event is a part of OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week 2021. Time-stamped knowledge components of this presentation: 00:02:19 About AC Transit and the genesis of the ZETBTA study published in June 2021 00:04:42 Stanford University's role in the ZETBTA study 00:06:55 Fuel cell technology and how the global energy transformation impacts transportation 00:11:00 Why hydrogen fuel cell technology is not yet well known, and matters of energy storage 00:18:20 Hydrogen as a zero emission fuel - the "new diesel". 00:22:00 Price and costs of zero emission fuel and bus, pace of innovation and transition plans. 00:28:05 On AC Transit's decision to take the initiative for the ZETBTA study 00:32:37 What are you learning from the ZETBTA study? 00:33:40 Specifications of the buses in the study and understanding some of the data. 00:44:38 Other aspects that need to be understood as the ZETBTA study continues 00:46:10 AC Transit's Zero Emission University 00:48:56 Safety considerations in Zero Emission Bus technologies. 00:54:00 Why is there a straw broom behind the driver of a fuel cell bus? 00:55:00 Are maintenance costs in a Zero Emission Bus lower? 00:58:20 Infrastructure changes in the emerging field of Zero Emission transit. 01:00:01 The global spread of ZEB technologies. For more programs like this one, please visit Spika Design & Manufacturing's Knowledge Center at https://spikamfg.com/knowledge.

9. 

   24 Mar 2021

   Heights Of Safety: Lessons from Maintenance of StarMetro Electric Buses in the City of Tallahassee.

   This is a conversation on best practices in safety at heights and cantilevers around sensitive equipment during fleet maintenance, featuring MRO and Safety leaders from the City of Tallahassee's StarMetro Transit System. This event recording is brought to you by Spika Knowledge Center, in collaboration with the City of Tallahassee, Florida. Learn from two renowned MRO and Safety champions about how their team works around sensitive equipment in the City of Tallahassee's StarMetro Transit System. The featured guests, subject matter experts on safety in fleet maintenance for public transportation, are Mr. Daniel Dombrowski, Safety Specialist, City of Tallahassee, and Mr. Michael Vaughan, Lead Supervisor - Equipment Services, StarMetro Transit Maintenance, City of Tallahassee. The session was moderated by Spika Design & Manufacturing President & CEO, Katie Spika, and panelists included other leaders from Spika, viz., Bekhi Spika, VP and Director of Sales & Marketing, and Tom Spika, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc.

10. 

    16 Mar 2021

    Best Practices in Purchasing Work Platforms for Rotorcraft Manufacture and Maintenance - by SpikaMfg

    In this new webinar series titled 'In Our Defense', learn from the experience of the team at Spika Design & Manufacturing about best practices in the defense industry for the procurement of work platforms used in safe access for personnel at varying heights and cantilevers, during the maintenance or manufacture of rotorcraft. Learn more at https://www.spikamfg.com/rotary-wing/ (https://www.spikamfg.com/rotary-wing/) or contact the Spika team at info@spikamfg.com

11. 

    9 Nov 2020

    Don't Miss the Electric Bus: Fall Protection Lessons from Public Transportation Industry - A SpikaMfg Knowledge Center production

    In this audio version of the virtual event by the Knowledge Center at Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc., held on November 4, 2020, the featured speaker is a subject matter expert from the public transportation industry, Mr. William Serenbetz, Fleet Assistant Manager, Pierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation (or Pierce Transit), where he is responsible for the safe and efficient maintenance of over 1,000 pieces of fleet equipment and management of the 40+ personnel tasked to do it. Pierce Transit is a nationally recognized leader in the public transportation industry providing the second largest county in the State of Washington, with world class transportation services clocking nearly 10 million rides last year in a 300-square-miles area, getting people to jobs, shopping, school, etc. Prior to Pierce Transit, Mr. Serenbetz had a glorious career with the United States Air Force, serving as Crew Chief for C-141 and C-17 Aircraft with knowledge of all aircraft systems and their interoperability, managing up to 35 person crews of multi-skilled personnel involving hydraulics, avionics, electronics, and jet engine specialists in maintaining assets in excess of $249 million. He eventually moved into Learning and Development and was the Sole Subject Matter Expert for all Air Force training and personnel management, directing 14 program managers and over 550 personnel to comply with Air Force and civil operational training requirements. After his retirement from the Air Force, Mr. Serenbetz was employed as an Instructional Systems Designer for Booz Allen Hamilton until he found his current position with Pierce Transit. In this event, Mr. Serenbetz is in conversation with Spika’s leaders about lessons learned in designing and deploying work platforms for the manufacture and maintenance of sensitive equipment such as electric buses, so workers can operate with total peace of mind even at varying heights and cantilevers. Spika's Knowledge Center is designed to help the world of manufacturing become safer and more productive while navigating complex access challenges through a generous sharing of knowledge from various industry experts at OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and MRO (Maintenance, Repairs & Overhaul) organizations, for the benefit of high school students considering a career in manufacturing, and to provide continuing education to those working professionals in the field of engineering, design and manufacturing, who seek to perfect their craft. Learn more at https://spikamfg.com/knowledge (https://spikamfg.com/knowledge). About Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc.: Forged in the ethos that put Americans on the moon, Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc. is a design-led manufacturing company classified as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), based in Lewistown, Montana. Built on the timeless American values of quality, manufacturing ingenuity and innovation, Spika was established in 2001 to develop unique ways to tackle a variety of complex ergonomic challenges in manufacturing, assembly, and MRO, across industries. Spika Design and Manufacturing specializes in the design and manufacture of aluminum work platforms that help clients stay OSHA compliant and safe while working at varying heights and cantilevers. Certified under AS9100D with ISO 9001:2015 for the Aerospace Industry, Spika also designs for efficiency, improved throughput and for elegance that matches the professionalism of the global brands they serve in industries such as aerospace, defense, space, transportation, utilities, and technology infrastructure. Learn more at https://SpikaMfg.com (https://SpikaMfg.com). Follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/spikamfg (https://twitter.com/spikamfg)

12. 

    22 Sept 2020

    Designing Fall Protection Around Human Nature - by Spika for OSHA's 2020 National Safety Stand-Down

    This is the audio recording of an event by the Knowledge Center at Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc., held on September 18, 2020, in conjunction with OSHA's 2020 National Safety Stand-Down for Fall Protection. Mr. Chris Tacke, MS IH, Safety & Health Specialist, Department of Labor & Industry, is in conversation with Spika's leaders as they extrapolate fall protection lessons for the construction industry from nearly two decades of designing innovative work platforms and maintenance stands in a variety of other industries where workers must remain safe when operating at varying heights and cantilevers. Learn more at https://spikamfg.com/knowledge.

13. 

    21 Aug 2020

    3 Lessons from OEM and MRO Users of Safety Stands - by SpikaMfg.com in an OSHA Safe+Sound Virtual Event on 08142020

    Enjoy this recording of a virtual event held online as part of the OSHA Safe and Sound Week on August 14, 2020, during which Spika's leaders discussed a few of the many insights gained over a 20-year period of delivering world class fall protection systems that eliminate the need for lanyards. With real-world examples, they have addressed how workers at OEM and MRO facilities around the world are keeping their workers safe and productive, particularly when they work at varying heights and overreach. Learn more at https://spikamfg.com/knowledge (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fspikamfg.com%2Fknowledge&v=2hKCF5J6g_8&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXRFMGpaaG4tX3htUGhTUElVQ0pmOEt0bmdtUXxBQ3Jtc0ttaG9pSjZQRGxjRl9Fdi00OUJPMzNxdHFsT2FwVGc2Nk0wQXJWOGltZzQtQWJoOGFJcWNtS3E2WWdKQWZoQk5MSklwN2F5NFRNWHNFenB3UFVZeGx0YU9xT1c1MVZmOTRURVVHWXNVcjQ4SEtmdzdzUQ%3D%3D). The original video recording of this event can be viewed on Spika's YouTube channel https://YouTube.com/SpikaMfg (https://YouTube.com/SpikaMfg) under the playlist 'Spika Speaker Series'.

Who has been a guest on Spika Speaker Series

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dottie Watkins
• Andrew Von Ah
• Mike Hynes

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

9,634

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

10

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

27

Contact Spika Speaker Series

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.