Leadership

Meet the Leadership Team

Scott Entin serves as Director of Marketing and Sales. Scott is responsible for marketing, client acquisition and retention, and he also oversees system design and evolution, large scale and new client implementation, and operations management for all of the BlackCat Transit Data Management System®.

Scott has been with Panther International, since 2005. He has broad experience in the corporate and government sectors including extensive state and federal transit knowledge. He works regularly with our clients, a variety of state transit associations, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to better our corporate knowledge and to lead continuous product improvement.

Prior to coming to Panther International, Scott was the Vice President for Sun Coast Staffing, Inc., a small privately held staffing company where he was involved in business development, client retention, project development and operations oversight. He has also been a Division Director for a large governmental agency, the Texas Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund, where he successfully designed and implemented broad scale software and systems for both these industries.

Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin and has served in leadership roles on a number of community boards and civic pursuits.

Scott Entin

Becky Mainardi

Becky Mainardi serves as the Director of Operations for Panther International. Becky is responsible for the design, implementation and service of the BlackCat Rail Data Management System® and BlackCat Aviation Data Management System®. She coordinates projects from design and delivery through training and maintenance.

Her comprehensive understanding of public transportation is an invaluable benefit to Panther’s clients. As a former grant administrator, she is well aware of the needs of our clients. Through collaborative efforts, Becky, facilitates the development of software system enhancements and new product designs.

Previously, Becky worked at the Florida Department of Transportation for ten years where she most recently served as the Aviation and Rail Section Leader for District 4. She managed all aspects of aviation and rail projects, including annual capital improvement plans for 14 public aviation facilities totaling more than $25 million annually. Additionally, she was responsible for the supervision of the state-owned South Florida Rail Corridor, including oversight of operations, safety, construction, maintenance and railroad coordination issues.

Annette Lapkowski serves as a Multimodal Client Manager for Panther International. In her role as Multimodal Client Manager, Annette is responsible for the design, implementation, and service of the BlackCat Rail Data Management System®, BlackCat Aviation Data Management System®, and BlackCat Flex System®. She manages the daily activities for aviation, rail, and intermodal projects. In addition, she coordinates modal projects, oversees client services, and manages software training.

Annette has over 20 years of strategic development, finance, and contract experience working for the Florida Department of Transportation, most recently serving as Finance and Contract Administrator for Strategic Development and the Chief Technology Officer.

Annette received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from University of Connecticut and a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. She is a Certified Project Manager and holds a certificate in Trade & Logistics.

Annette Lapkowski

Cheryl Thole

Cheryl Thole serves as a Multimodal Client Manager for Panther International. As a member of the Panther client management team, Cheryl works on newly designed components, system versioning, and full system rollout and implementations. She works directly with technical leads to understand when new components are needed for system elements require updates or improvements. Cheryl is responsible for the design, implementation, and service of the BlackCat Suite® of products.

Cheryl came to Panther International, with more than 16 years of experience in public transportation project management, data analysis, and research funded through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). She has applied her prior experience to establish strong client relationships through consistent, open communication, while employing a methodical approach of planning and delivery.

She received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science with a minor in Mass Communications and a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida.

Cheryl is an active member of her community, serving on the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization's Citizen Advisory Committee, is a Board Member of High Hopes in High Heels and sits on the Advisory Council for Kids for Life.

Rachel Pallister serves as a Multimodal Client Manager for Panther International. In her role as Multimodal Client Manager, Rachel manages the day-to-day interaction with our clients. She responds daily to client or user inquiries about the use of the system, ideas, and requests about possible adaptations, and questions about future updates or system enhancements.

She proactively works with each client, by establishing a regular client service call to share ideas, issues, federal legislation/regulations, training development plans, support needs, and any necessary items for customization or enhancement. Rachel works with our Project Operations team to monitor system and user performance to identify the need for any adjustments or maintenance that may be required. When identified, she works closely with the Modal Product Managers to correct any issues and make adjustments to keep each system running efficiently.

Mrs. Pallister has more than 8 years of strategic planning, project management, program management, electronic record management, customer support and training experience. She joins our team after serving the last 7 years as a 5311 Rural & Intercity Bus Program Manager for the Idaho Transportation Department.

Rachel Pallister

Juanita Risch

Juanita Risch serves as a Multimodal Client Manager for Panther International. As a Client Manager, Juanita is responsible for developing working relationships with our clients and maintaining open communication to provide updates, necessary training, gain feedback and address any ideas or concerns. She works closely with each client, by establishing regular progress meetings with her clients to collect input, discuss issues, identify new federal legislation/regulations, develop and perform training, and address the need for any changes or enhancements. Additionally, she routinely works with our Project Operations team to monitor our systems and manage design changes, implementation activities, maintenance monitoring for each assigned instance of our BlackCat Transit Data Management System®.

Juanita has seven years of public transportation and city government procurement experience specializing in grant management. Most recently she was the Grant Compliance Analyst for the College of Western Idaho assisting staff with granting activities such as project writing and development, providing grant analysis, post award services, and oversight to ensure compliance for current and pending grants and agreements. Previously, Juanita for the State of Idaho Transportation Department in the Public Transportation Division where she managed a variety of grant programs and all facets of the granting activities in support of these programs.

Juanita received a Bachelor Degree in Political Science from University of Colorado and a Certificate of Advanced Studies of Organizational Development at Denver University.

Katie serves as a Multimodal Client Manager for Panther International. As a member of the Panther client management team, Katie is responsible for a broad spectrum of client and project management responsibilities. She performs quality control testing and monitoring of newly designed components, system versioned elements, as well as full system rollout activities. Katie works directly with technical leads to understand when new components are needed or system elements require updates or improvements. And she coordinates client and user training to ensure user proficiency and quality product delivery.

Prior to Panther International, she was a top-producing, client-focused Sales Associate for Timm Associates Sotheby's International and was a member of the Northern Adirondack Board of Realtors and the National Board of Realtors.

Katie received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at Oswego State University.

Katie is an active member in her community. She serves on the Town of Webb School Parent Teacher Community, while coaching the American Youth Soccer Organization of Old Forge. Katie previously coached the Cubs on the Polar Bear Ski Team.