2024 National Transportation in Indian Country Conference

Learn more aboutNalylee Padilla

Nalylee Padilla

Assistant Director, Physical Infrastructure

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Learn more aboutAdam Larsen

Adam Larsen

Safety Engineer & Safety Program Manager

Office of Tribal Transportation Federal Highway Administration

Adam Larsen provides transportation safety technical assistance to Tribal Governments and manages the Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund at the Federal Highway Administration Office of Tribal Transportation (OTT). Adam joined the OTT as a civil engineer in 2011 and has previous engineering experience at other FHWA offices, Washington State DOT, a small city public works department, and Hewlett-Packard.

Learn more aboutArlando Teller

Arlando Teller

Assistant Secretary for Tribal Government Affairs

US Department of Transportation

Previously Arlando Teller served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs at the Department. Arlando entered the aviation industry as the first Native American graduate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He interned with the City of Mesa, Falcon Field Airport and advanced in his career as an airport planner for the City of Phoenix’s Aviation Department, later as the Aviation Management Intern for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Teller then moved to Walnut Creek, California where he worked on multimodal transportation projects as a transportation planner and tribal liaison for the California Department of Transportation. Returning home to the Navajo Nation in 2009, Teller served as Senior Transportation Planner for the Navajo Nation’s Division of Transportation, promoted to Program Manager for the Department of Airports Management and eventually promoted to Deputy Division Director. He was elected State Representative for District 7 in the Arizona House of Representatives in November 2018. He sat on the Transportation Committee and the Land & Agriculture Committee. He also served as the Vice Chair for Indigenous Peoples Caucus and a member of the Aviation/Aerospace Caucus and represented as Co-Chair for the Arizona Aerospace Association.

Learn more aboutTodd Macalady

Todd Macalady

Director

Southwestern Tribal Technical Assistance Program

Learn more aboutDavid Garcia

David Garcia

Management and Program Analyst

Federal Highway Administration Office of Tribal Transportation

In October 2022, David Garcia began serving as the Management and Program Analyst for Federal Lands - Office of Tribal Transportation, under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) umbrella. David previously served FHWA in the Colorado Division and Texas Division offices. David’s data experience includes collection, cleansing, storage, security, analyzing, and reporting. With over 22 years’ experience in the public sector, David continues to translate information into understandable knowledge improving business intelligence for his agency and their partners.

Learn more aboutKimberly Vachal

Kimberly Vachal

Senior Research Faculty

North Dakota State University

Dr. Kimberly Vachal is the lead investigator for the Rural Transportation Safety and Security Center at North Dakota State University’s Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. She conducts research and outreach to promote safe and secure transportation in rural regions, with emphasis on public policy and program evaluation. Dr. Vachal has worked with state and federal crash record databases and associated administrative records in her traffic safety research. She began her career with a Master’s degree in agricultural economics from NDSU; eventually earning her doctorate in public policy from George Mason University. She and her husband live near Valley City, ND with their three dogs and 70 shorthorn cattle. Their son in West Fargo and daughter at NDSU still join them for an occasional cattle show.

Learn more aboutChristopher Benson

Christopher Benson

Solid Minerals Branch

BIA-OTS-DEMD

Learn more aboutAnastacia Espada

Anastacia Espada

Regional Program Manager

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

"Anastacia Espada, currently a Regional Program Manager for NHTSA in Region 4 and oversees the state of South Carolina. Anastacia has a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and a Master’s degree in Public Health. Prior to NHTSA, Anastacia served as a Safe Communities Coordinator though a Safe Community Grant and as a Planner at the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. She has also worked several years in various capacities as a nurse. During her time at NHTSA, she has worked on various regional programs areas, including equity, impaired driving, young adults and working with potential partners in our military and tribal communities, specifically the Catawba Indian Nation in South Carolina. "

Learn more aboutBrandi Julian

Brandi Julian

Director Organizational Development

Crafco, Inc.

Brandi Julian is the Director of Organizational Development for Crafco, Inc. and leads the technical training for pavement preservation materials and equipment. Mrs. Julian holds a B.A. in Communication Public Relations & Advertising, and a CPTD, Certified Professional in Talent Development. She has focused more than 20 years of her career specializing in learning and development. Most recently, Mrs. Julian has partnered with industry organizations such as NCPP (the National Center for Pavement Preservation) and ISSA (International Slurry Surfacing Association) to develop training for Crack Sealing certification and other pavement preservation techniques to help share and provide best practices to the industry.

Learn more aboutChristy Jackson

Christy Jackson

State Tribal Affairs Program Manager

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Learn more aboutNick Dellisolla

Nick Dellisolla

Equipment Product Manager

Crafco, Inc.

Learn more aboutThomas Dirlam

Thomas Dirlam

Treasurer

Below 100

I retired after 31 years with the Michigan State Police as the Assistant Deputy Director of the Administrative Services Bureau (ASB). My first assignment was the Owosso Post followed by 22 years in the Forensic Science Division. After two years at Headquarters in the ASB as the Assistant Deputy Director, I was reassigned to First District Headquarters as the Assistant District Commander. In 2015 I transferred to the Field Services Bureau and then back to the ASB. I graduated from the 225th Session of the FBI National Academy and the 117th Class of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute School of Police Staff and Command. I was adjunct faculty at Schoolcraft College and Henry Ford Community College. I have been a Below 100 instructor since 2013, a National Core Instructor since 2014 and in August 2016 I was appointed to the Below 100 Board.

Learn more aboutElizabeth Pfenning

Elizabeth Pfenning

International Relations Specialist & Counter Trafficking Advisor

U.S. Department of Transportation

Ms. Elizabeth Pfenning currently serves as International Relations Specialist for the Counter Trafficking Team at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary (OST), Office of International Transportation and Trade, where she supports tribal engagement, the Department’s Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (ACHT), the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking (TLAHT) initiative, and multilateral work to establish counter trafficking practices and standards.

Learn more aboutKen Picard

Ken Picard

Asst. Planning Director

Red Plains Professional, Inc.

Mr. Picard has been working with Tribes in the TTP Program for the past 7 years, promoting GIS solutions for all aspects of Tribal planning and program management. Previously employed with Apple and the US Bureau of Land Management prior to joining Red Plains, Ken combines strong field experience with technical ability in the office to create practical GIS-Driven Asset Management Systems that enhance data-driven Tribal Planning. Focused on expanding the use of GIS based Planning, Ken has collected thousands of miles of NTTFI Inventory, performed utility infrastructure mapping, and built reliable asset datasets in the field ranging across many professional disciplines. Representing the Red Plain’s Planning and GIS Department, Ken's passion is making a difference one tribal program at a time, guiding our clients into the future of GIS-Driven Planning not only for the tribal transportation management, but also in the Land, Facility, Environmental, and Natural Resources management realms.

Learn more aboutTabatha Austin Harris

Tabatha Austin Harris

Regional Program Manager

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tabatha Austin-Harris is an Indigenous member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma where she born and raised in the community post-removal of the Chahta People. She is a member of the first Indigenous sorority, Alpha Pi Omega, Inc. where she remains active in the professional chapter of Theta PI. Tabatha began her injury prevention career working for the Kaw Nation as an Injury Prevention Program Coordinator for the IHS Tribal Injury Prevention Program Corporative Agreement. Which lead Tabatha to work in the areas of traffic/highway safety, injury prevention, and transportation for the Tribal Technical Assistance Program and the Tribal Injury Prevention Resource Center. With over 12 years of experience in field, Tabatha now serves as a Regional Program Manager for the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) Region 6 agency and works directly with the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Indian Highway Safety Program.

Learn more aboutKatherine Elkins

Katherine Elkins

EMS/911 Specialist

Office of EMS & National 911 Program, NHTSA

Kate Elkins is an emergency medical services and 911 specialist with a background spanning two decades in EMS, 911, public health and injury prevention. At NHTSA, she works on both EMS and 911 initiatives related to rural and tribal systems development, pandemic response, education, mental health, workforce wellness and cross governmental collaboration. She has a Master of Public Health degree with a focus on injury prevention and is currently a DrPH student and Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow at Johns Hopkins. Kate is an active paramedic and paramedic instructor. She has served as a chief officer and worked for the Maryland Highway Safety Office.

Learn more aboutMarcia Fernandez

Marcia Fernandez

Senior Analyst

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Marcia Fernandez is a senior analyst within the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Physical Infrastructure team. In this role, she leads teams that help the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and the public address challenges within the U.S. infrastructure, including by examining transportation systems and postal services. She has led reviews of federal transportation research activities, postal issues, regulation of domestic oceangoing carriers, and vehicle recalls, and contributed to many other reports. As former Chair and longtime member of the Physical Infrastructure Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee, Ms. Fernandez is a leader for efforts that help promote DEIA at GAO and serves as an ambassador to new staff at GAO. Ms. Fernandez is also a recipient of a number of GAO awards, including a 2022 GAO Meritorious Service Award and a 2023 Physical Infrastructure team Supervisor of the Year Award, and numerous other Special Recognition Awards.

Learn more aboutMeredith Greene

Meredith Greene

Principal & CEO

Socius Amica

Through the FTA's tribal transportation program and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, several grant funding streams exist for tribal transportation providers. However, the grant application process can be overwhelming--determining which projects could potentially receive funding, how to manage the grant funds, and whether various funding sources can be braided together can be daunting. Join Meredith Greene, who assisted National RTAP with the most recent update of the Tribal Transit Funding section for the Transit Manager's Toolkit, and Kendra McGeady, who helped to establish the Northeast Tribal Transit Coalition in Oklahoma in a discussion of funding for tribal transit projects, applying for grant funding, and how to manage multiple funding sources.

Learn more aboutFrank Ciccarella

Frank Ciccarella

Owner

Synergize Consulting LLC

Synergize Consulting LLC is a firm that will focus on the most important resource, your driver. How that driver is trained, and the safety programs that support the operation is the core of what we do. At Synergize Consulting, we believe that a strong safety culture begins with a strong foundational training program.

Learn more aboutMary Kate Huffman

Mary Kate Huffman

Judge and ABA National Judicial Fellow

American Bar Association

"KATE HUFFMAN served for twenty-one years as a General Division Judge on the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court and since 2023 has served on the Second District Court of Appeals. Judge Huffman received her B.A. in political science from Wright State University, her J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law, and an M.A. in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada. She completed two terms on the Commission for the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Ohio Supreme Court, and served as Chair of that Commission from 2021-2022. Judge Huffman teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Dayton School of Law and on the faculty of the National Judicial College. She currently serves as the American Bar Association Judicial Fellow, providing peer-to-peer education and training for impaired driving stakeholders and frequently teaches continuing legal education programs around the country. "

Learn more aboutDavid Peters

David Peters

Western Regional Manager

The Ray

Mr. Peters has worked extensively with State Departments of Transportation to research and identify best practices as they relate to resilience and sustainability. He has also worked with state agencies and executive staff on energy and environmental policy. He has previously managed and administered federal grants and contracts. Mr. Peters supports the FY22 USDOT Thriving Communities Networked Community Cohort as the primary day-to-day point of contact for communities located in the Western US.

Learn more aboutSusan Wilson

Susan Wilson

Program Manager of Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program

USDOT

"As the Community Solutions Technical Assistance Lead, Monica Guerra coordinates the Thriving Communities Program and the Reconnecting Communities Institute within the USDOT's Build America Bureau. She holds a PhD in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. Monica brings an extensive background leading technical assistance, research and planning efforts for diverse public, private, and non-profit partners. Prior to joining USDOT, Monica most recently worked in California, advising local governments on opportunities to advance comprehensive community and economic development investments and policies. Susan Wilson is the manager of the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, also housed within the Build America Bureau. Susan has over 20 years of experience in the field of transportation, both in the private and public sector. Directly prior to joining USDOT, Susan served as a Local Assistance Program Manager with Virginia Department of Transportation. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Geography and has completed graduate-level transportation planning courses from the State University of New York at Albany."

Learn more aboutRobert Sherwin

Robert Sherwin

CEO

Lithified Technologies US

BOB SHERWIN founded Lithified Technologies in Santa Fe, NM in 2011. Bob’s accomplishments through 2024 include solving the problems why roads fail resulting in cracks, ruts and hazardous potholes. Bob discovered that low-strength foundations cause failure. After thousands of geotechnical tests, Bob found that treating base materials with customized natural chemicals, water and compaction known as “accelerated lithification”, create huge increases of strength, thus transforming foundations into safer eco-friendly high-performance pavement. This “value engineering” breakthrough produces more bang with less bucks that will forever improve the way roads are designed, built and maintained. Bob received his Bachelor of Science Degree from University of Oregon in 1979. By 1998, he opened two real estate companies that were later sold to Prudential. In 2003 he started real estate developments in Santa Fe. Bob’s passions include pilot flying, golf and skiing. He and his wife Denice have two beautiful daughters and three grandchildren.

Learn more aboutPaul Bjornson

Paul Bjornson

Civil Engineer

KLJ Engineering

"Clarence Greene has led the Spirit Lake Tribal Roads Department since 1985. He has led many projects from preliminary concept to on-the-ground completion, including shared-use pathways, rumble strips, chevrons, destination lighting, shoulder widening, inslope flattening, signing upgrades, paving, pavement marking, and large grade raises for flood control. Paul Bjornson has more than 22 years of experience on city, county, state, Tribal, federal, and non-federal-aid projects. Projects have included local emergency grade raises to street and highway maintenance, reconstruction, and new construction, with construction budgets ranging from a few thousand dollars to multi-million-dollar federal aid projects. Blake Wilcox is a grant writer and funding expert with KLJ. He has spent the last two years helping identify funding opportunities and successfully securing federal award dollars for a host of Tribes across the Midwest. He has significant experience helping right-fit grant opportunities to the needs of communities of all sizes."

Learn more aboutRhonda Fair

Rhonda Fair

Director - Tribal Coordination

Oklahoma Department of Transportation

Rhonda Fair, Ph.D., serves as the Director of Tribal Coordination for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. In that capacity, she manages tribal consultation on ODOT’s federal undertakings and facilitates partnerships between tribal transportation programs and ODOT. She is passionate about community engagement and government affairs.

Learn more aboutJoe Sanchez

Joe Sanchez

Native American Services DIrector

NV5

Joe Sanchez, PE has over 30 years of professional experience in program management and administration, grant writing, contract management, project management, construction management, and overseeing and guiding the development and design of transportation projects, railroad at-grade crossings and permitting, and implementation of context-sensitive solutions (CSS). Joe’s experience includes projects using federal and state funds, design and construction bid estimate preparation, work scope development, work plans and schedule controls, project budget management and task assignments related to civil/site work, roadways and bridges, irrigation structures, pavement thickness design, and construction management and administration. Joe has helped his clients win over 31 million in grants.

Learn more aboutBrent Crowther

Brent Crowther

Sr. Associate

Kimley-Horn and Associates

Federal Highways Administration conducted a research study of ways to improve pedestrian safety in rural Tribal communities and areas, and explore transportation planning practices and strategies to decrease pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries in rural Tribal areas. The study included development and review of a comprehensive data set of pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries in Tribal communities supplemented with contextual information, identification of risk factors, and recommendations for transportation, injury prevention, and education practitioners to apply to locations in rural Tribal communities, to improve pedestrian safety.

Learn more aboutKevin Tafoya

Kevin Tafoya

Assistant Transit Manager

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Kevin Tafoya leads the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for over 15 years, serving Cherokee NC with five bus routes. Kevin was born in Espanola, New Mexico, and honors all the languages of his ancestors. EBCI-Transit is instrumental in supporting substance abuse recovery programs by providing transit assistance for community members in recovery to learn trades and travel to work. Kevin also serves on the National RTAP Board. In Kevin’s free time, he enjoys being in nature – you’ll often find him paddle boarding on the scenic North Carolina lakes – and riding his bike – he participated in the Remember the Removal bike ride that retraces the northern removal route of Cherokee Indians from Georgia to Oklahoma. Marcy Jaffe born in New York now lives in Port Townsend, Washington and shares her passion for technical assistance to offer on-line trip planning.

Learn more aboutVince Toya

Vince Toya

Transportation Operations Manager

Pueblo of Jemez

Vince E. Toya is the Transportation Operations Manager at the Pueblo of Jemez Planning, Development, and Transportation Department. With a robust background spanning over 25 years in construction oversight and heavy equipment operation, Mr. Toya holds a pivotal position in the oversight of various facets of transportation infrastructure projects from their initial planning stages through to design and construction.

Learn more aboutDr. Nelva Lee

Dr. Nelva Lee

Founder, CEO

Mitio

Dr. Nelva Lee is the Founder and CEO of MiTio Inc. a Medical and Court Interpreting and Translating Training Institute. MiTio Inc. trains and employs Interpreters and Translators directly to healthcare/legal organizations in need of its services. Dr. Lee was a Subject Matter Expert in the creation of the CMI exam for the NBCMI and was respectively its first Chair. Dr. Lee has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and over 10 years in academia as an adjunct professor. She is a Governor Kemp-appointed board member of the Department of Community Health. She is Chairman of the board of the Henry County Pregnancy Resource Center (Bridge Wellness South) and a former Republican candidate for State Senate in District 17. Dr. Lee has authored several books including: “The Good Christian Wife” and “Be the Super Hero of Your Story.

Learn more aboutSara Dutschke

Sara Dutschke

Tribal Chairperson/Partner

Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell and Ione Band of Miwok Indians

Sara A. Dutschke is a partner at Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell, and also serves as the elected Chairperson of her tribe, the Ione Band of Miwok Indians. She has advised and supported tribal clients on complex matters involving tribal sovereignty and governance, government-to-government relations and business and economic development which includes gaming, energy, conventional and bond financing, and tax analysis. She has drafted and reviewed tribal governing documents and intergovernmental agreements; assisted with the federal land acquisition process (aka fee-to-trust) for gaming and non-gaming projects; advised on other Indian lands issues including land claims, leasing and rights-of-way and Section 81 approval requirements; advised tribal clients regarding labor and employment matters; and routinely assists tribal clients with exploring grant funding opportunities, grant administration, and compliance. Sara has also represented tribal interests in litigation involving tribal sovereign immunity, intratribal disputes, contract-related claims, and tribal jurisdictional issues.

Learn more aboutPeter Kirsch

Peter Kirsch

Partner

Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell

Peter J. Kirsch is a partner with the law firm of Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell, dividing his time between the firm’s offices in Denver, Colorado and Washington, DC. For nearly 35 years, Mr. Kirsch has concentrated his practice on airport development. He has represented scores of airports on land use, regulatory and environmental issues that arise in connection with airport operations and development and regularly advises airports on federal legislation and regulations, and financial issues. He has represented clients in precedent-setting litigation regarding the powers of airport proprietors and has assisted airports large and small in preparation of environmental documentation over environmental impacts from airport projects. He actively advises many airport proprietors on governance issues. He is a frequent speaker at conferences on airport law and has contributed to many National Academies of Sciences publications. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and the University of Chicago Law School.

Learn more aboutRobert Hyman

Robert Hyman

ROUTES Program Manager

USDOT

Rob Hyman leads the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative, in the Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation Policy at the US DOT. He has been working in the transportation field for two decades, with positions at the Federal Highway Administration, at Cambridge Systematics (a transportation planning consultancy), and a short stint as a ski bum.

Learn more aboutAlex Clegg

Alex Clegg

Rural transportation Specialist

USDOT

Alex Clegg is a rural transportation specialist at USDOT. He works as part of the ROUTES Initiative, which serves as the front door for DOT’s rural TA, resources, and engagement. He has also worked in the Build America Bureau at DOT, and prior to joining the department he worked in transportation funding policy with AASHTO.

Learn more aboutLovely Bonhomme

Lovely Bonhomme

Attorney at Law

Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP

Lovely’s practice focuses on representing both private and public-sector clients in in connection with the procurement, construction, financing, and operations and maintenance of a variety of infrastructure and development projects. Her deep understanding of various project delivery methods, including public-private partnerships (P3 / PPP) and design-build equips her with the ability to provide seamless counsel throughout the entirety of a project and implement creative solutions to complex procurement and contracting issues. Prior to joining the Firm, Lovely worked with an international NGO to undertake human rights work for indigenous and Afro-Colombian women’s groups related to complex issues such as post-conflict transition and land rights/economic development. She also worked at an international law firm where she represented corporate clients in various financing transactions.

Learn more aboutAyelet Hirschkorn

Ayelet Hirschkorn

Partner

Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP

Ayelet focuses her practice on developing and advancing infrastructure projects, including advising on issues related to construction, operations, maintenance, funding and financing; drafting and negotiating contracts; and navigating the complex regulatory environment. Ayelet is a strong and effective advocate with extensive experience in the transportation industry. She successfully manages, drafts, and negotiates agreements for some of the nation’s largest transportation projects and advises her clients on federal and state policies, statues, and regulations in the railroad, environmental, utility and procurement industries. Ayelet also represents commuter rail agencies before the Surface Transportation Board, federal and state courts on a variety of issues including railbanking, abandonment of rail lines, environmental reviews, federal preemption and expansion of freight and intercity rail services. Ayelet spent a majority of her career in public service, ensuring that commuter agencies maximize their transportation services in an efficient and accessible manner.

Learn more aboutChristian Alexander

Christian Alexander

Associate

Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP; member of Hopland Band of Pomo Indians

Christian focuses on helping state and local governments, tribes, organizations and private enterprises navigate federal laws regulating railroads, rail-trails, public transportation, and airports. He regularly represents state and local governments before various state and federal boards and agencies, including the Surface Transportation Board, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as in federal appellate court. His experience in transportation infrastructure and operations also extends to environmental permitting and compliance, land acquisition and use, contracting, tenancy and concessionaire issues, labor, civil rights, federal preemption, and funding issues. He has worked on both transit-oriented development and rails-to-trails projects. In addition to his law degree, Christian holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning and a graduate certificate in renewable and sustainable energy studies. Christian is a proud member of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of Northern California.

Learn more aboutElan Flippin-Jones

Elan Flippin-Jones

FTA Tribal Transit Program Manager

FTA

Learn more aboutMarianne Stock

Marianne Stock

Division Chief

FTA

Learn more aboutChu Wei

Chu Wei

Supervisor Highway Engineer

Pacific Region, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Chu Wei is the Bureau of Indian Affairs Supervisory Highway Engineer in the Pacific Region. He is a registered professional civil engineer in California. He holds B.S. degree in civil engineering and M.S. degree in infrastructure system engineering from the University of Minnesota. Chu previously employed with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Federal Highway Administration. Chu’s areas of expertise include traffic engineering, geotechnical engineering, traffic safety, cost estimating, dam safety, project management, construction management, and pavement & materials. When he is not at work, he enjoys biking, running, playing volleyball, and spending family time with his young twins.

Learn more aboutLucita Valiere

Lucita Valiere

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Tribal & Territory Program Co-Lead

EPA - Office of Transportation & Air Quality (OTAQ)

"Lucita Valiere is with EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality out of EPA HQ. She works and is based in EPA Region 10 - Air & Radiation Division, as a senior grants project officer in the Transportation, Communities, & Partnerships Section for the Diesel Emissions Reduction (DERA) grants program. She has been a team member since 2004, of the West Coast Collaborative, a voluntary public-private partnership committed to reducing diesel emissions and advancing clean technologies throughout the western United States, serving EPA Regions 9 and 10. She is also the national DERA Tribal & Territory Program Co-Lead since 2015, in the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, for EPA headquarters in Washington D.C. "

Learn more aboutTori Brinkly

Tori Brinkly

Senior Safety Engineer

FHWA Resource Center

Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration Senior (Highway) Safety EngineerSenior (Highway) Safety Engineer Resource CenterResource Center Providing personalized technical assistance, customized training and ongoing support in roadside safety, rural safety, and other traffic safety topics and issues.Providing personalized technical assistance, customized training and ongoing support in roadside safety, rural safety, and other traffic safety topics and issues.Highway Safety EngineerHighway Safety Engineer Western Federal Lands, Vancouver, WAWestern Federal Lands, Vancouver, WA Provide technical support to design and construction staff in the areas of barrier design/location, signing, pavement marking, safety studies, and other traffic/safety issues.Provide technical support to design and construction staff in the areas of barrier design/location, signing, pavement marking, safety studies, and other traffic/safety issues. ITS, Safety & Area EngineerITS, Safety & Area Engineer Salem, Oregon, United StatesSalem, Oregon, United States Provide guidance and oversight on ITS applications in highways (ramp metering, cameras, truck weigh-in-motion) Interpret FHWA safety policies and provide program guidance Attend Oregon DOT work zone and construction project reviews Work with other USDOT mode on safety initiativesProvide guidance and oversight on ITS applications in highways (ramp metering, cameras, truck weigh-in-motion) Interpret FHWA safety policies and provide program guidance Attend Oregon DOT work zone and construction project reviews Work with other USDOT mode on safety initiatives TraineeTrainee Two year training assignment that included different responsibilities at offices across the nation. Sacramento, CA: ITS/Traffic Engineer St Paul, MN: traffic ops assignment at MnDOT TMC Federal Lands: construction assignment at Grand Canyon and Lake Mead Albany, NY: ITS/Traffic Engineer in a regional office

Learn more aboutSheri Bozic

Sheri Bozic

Director, Planning, Development and Transportation Department

Pueblo of Jemez

Learn more aboutAmy Hill

Amy Hill

Acting Manager

Muscogee Nation Transit Authority

Amy Hill is an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma. She is of Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, and Yuchi descent. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a minor in Management and has been with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Transportation Program since 2014 and currently serves as the Manager of Transit Services. Amy is dedicated to honoring the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Transit Authority’s mission to provide transit services in order to access jobs, recreational activities, shopping, tribal services and veterans’ services within the eleven counties of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation boundaries.

Learn more aboutTom Bragan

Tom Bragan

Program Analyst

NHTSA

Tom Bragan is a member of NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Records Division. Tom oversees NHTSA’s GO Team technical assistance, which provides Tribes and States with help in addressing their crash data problems and needs, from improving data accessibility to strategic planning. Tom has been with the US DOT since 2009, having worked on the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) teams, among other assignments. Tom served in the US Army way back in the 20th century. When not working, Tom enjoys hiking, biking, and being outdoors in general.

Learn more aboutBill Collester

Bill Collester

National Client Development Manager - Pavement Consulting

Terracon Consultants, Inc.

For over 20 years, Bill has supported the AEC industry by helping to specify, create and present solutions that are impactful to those who he engages with. From the Landscape to the Hardscape, and from the Inside to the Outside, Bill brings his construction experience to pinpoint where the solution is needed. Working with Terracon Consultants since 2020 Bill has provided Building and Pavement consulting to a new level ensuring that the end use and need is always kept in mind.

Learn more aboutMatthew Riddell

Matthew Riddell

Director of Native American Services

Qk4

Learn more aboutDale "Albert" Bond

Dale "Albert" Bond

Division Chief

DEMD

Learn more aboutBryan Darling

Bryan Darling

Crafco, Inc.

Sales Regional Manager

Learn more aboutDarren Thacker

Darren Thacker

Highway Safety Specialist

FHWA Office of Safety

Learn more aboutAndrea Kirk

Andrea Kirk

Program Specialist

Federal Highway Administration

Learn more aboutCollin Price

Collin Price

Program Specialist

Federal Highway Administration

Learn more aboutKendra McGeady

Kendra McGeady

Director of Transit

Pelivan Transit / NE Tribal Transit Coalition

Through the FTA's tribal transportation program and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, several grant funding streams exist for tribal transportation providers. However, the grant application process can be overwhelming--determining which projects could potentially receive funding, how to manage the grant funds, and whether various funding sources can be braided together can be daunting. Join Meredith Greene, who assisted National RTAP with the most recent update of the Tribal Transit Funding section for the Transit Manager's Toolkit, and Kendra McGeady, who helped to establish the Northeast Tribal Transit Coalition in Oklahoma in a discussion of funding for tribal transit projects, applying for grant funding, and how to manage multiple funding sources.

Learn more aboutClarence Greene

Clarence Greene

Spirit Lake Tribal Roads Director

Spirit Lake Tribe

Clarence Greene has led the Spirit Lake Tribal Roads Department since 1985. He has led many projects from preliminary concept to on-the-ground completion, including shared-use pathways, rumble strips, chevrons, destination lighting, shoulder widening, inslope flattening, signing upgrades, paving, pavement marking, and large grade raises for flood control.

Learn more aboutFrancis Wayne Bull Calf

Francis Wayne Bull Calf

Transportation Director

Browning Public Schools

Learn more aboutMarcy Jaffe

Marcy Jaffe

GTFS Builder Technical Support

National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP)

Learn more aboutSherry Ely Mendes

Sherry Ely Mendes

Tribal Programs Officer

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Learn more aboutNicole Grigg

Nicole Grigg

Attorney at Law

Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake

Learn more aboutChristina Guerra

Christina Guerra

Christina Guerra (DERA Tribal & Territory Program Co-Lead)

EPA - Office of Transportation & Air Quality (OTAQ)

Learn more aboutElea "El" Carey

Elea "El" Carey

Founder

Transit Happy

I am a marketing consultant working only with public transit agencies, especially those serving rural and small-urban areas. My company strategizes and implements complete marketing programs, from writing deeply researched marketing plans, to creating materials, and implementing marketing. In the last year, I have led the update of the National Rural Transit Assistance Program's online marketing textbook, The Marketing Toolkit. This vital resource for small transit agencies provides the full context for marketing public transit; libraries of free photography, graphics, and templates; and a step-by-step guide to promoting transit service.

Learn more aboutCarrie Brown

Carrie Brown

Low Cost Pavement Management with PASER

Nevada LTAP

Prior to her current role as the Nevada Local Training Assistance Program Director, Carrie served as the Health and Human Services Director at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. Carrie brings a diverse background with 15 years’ experience in human services, public health and transportation as a technical assistance provider and trainer, with a focus on cultural sensitivity in program development. Carrie holds a BA in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governor’s University. She is a proud member of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, the largest Indigenous Greek letter organization in the nation. Carrie is Northern Paiute and Klamath, and an enrolled member of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.

Learn more aboutWalt Catlett

Walt Catlett

Safety Circuit Rider

National Center for Rural Road Safety

Walt Catlett possesses over 25 years of experience in urban drainage and stormwater management, combined with over 30 years of safety experience from the concrete pipe industry, military, and consulting engineering. He is an effective trainer and educator responsible for the training of military personnel and public works professionals. He serves on Virginia’s Local Transportation Assistance Program (LTAP) Advisory Board. He also serves on the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s Research Advisory Council. He has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA. Mr. Catlett served in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army Reserves for a combined 30 years.

Learn more aboutCameron Ishaq

Cameron Ishaq

Operations Manager

National Center for Rural Road Safety

Learn more aboutCyless Peterson

Cyless Peterson

Tribal Affairs Project Manager

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Learn more aboutKim Johnson

Kim Johnson

OK LTAP Manager

Southern TTAP

Learn more aboutWei Sun

Wei Sun

CEO

AlWaysion

Learn more aboutPortia Shields

Portia Shields

Assistant Manager

Yakama Nation DNR Engineering

Learn more aboutEd Hermes

Ed Hermes

Attorney at Law

Snell & Wilmer

Ed Hermes is a commercial litigator who is committed to serving as a trusted advisor to his clients and community. His practice is focused on complex commercial, tax, property, construction disputes, and disputes involving Federal Indian Law. Ed appears on behalf of his clients in state, federal, tribal courts, and administrative tribunals throughout the Southwest. Ed litigates breach of contract and tort claims, commercial and residential construction disputes, and tax disputes and appeals. He also represents clients through garnishment matters, subpoena responses, lending matters, LLC disputes, tort claims, and other general litigation issues. Ed represents clients across numerous industries such as representing companies in state-and-local tax matters, representing contractors, subcontractors, and owners in construction disputes, representing property owners in complex property disputes, and representing manufacturers and employers in disputes and compliance matters operating on Native American Reservations. Having previously lived and worked in Indian Country, Ed also advises companies and economic development entities in conducting business and creating job opportunities in Indian Country. Ed represents tribes, tribal entities and businesses who engage in commercial transactions in Indian Country, including leasing, compacting, economic development, and governmental matters. Ed is an active member of the community and involved in numerous local and education-based organizations including, currently serving as the President of the Osborn School District Governing Board, where he works to improve public education in Phoenix. Ed also serves as co-chair of the City of Phoenix Vision Zero Street Transportation Committee, where he works to make the streets safer for children and families. Within Snell & Wilmer, Ed is the co-chair of the firm’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Learn more aboutFrank Ciccarella

Frank Ciccarella

Owner

Synergize Consulting LLC

Synergize Consulting LLC is a firm that will focus on the most important resource, your driver. How that driver is trained, and the safety programs that support the operation is the core of what we do. At Synergize Consulting, we believe that a strong safety culture begins with a strong foundational training program.

Learn more aboutNeil Rodriquez

Neil Rodriquez

Tribal Transit Program Manager

National RTAP

Neil Rodriguez joined the National Rural Transit Assistance Program as a Project Manager in September 2014. Neil led the initial development and management of the National RTAP eLearning management system. In 2020, he transitioned to the role of Tribal Transit Program Manager. He currently serves on the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Rural, Intercity Bus, and Specialized Transportation Committee (AP055) and the Standing Committee on Native American Transportation Issues (AME30) Previously, Neil was the Director at a regional community development organization overseeing program delivery to remote communities in Western Alaska. He also worked as a Regional Economist at the Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District. Neil has over 23 years of experience in community development, outreach, community planning, project management, program development, data collection and analysis. Neil is also a successful entrepreneur having founded a consulting firm that specializes in economic development, project management, fundraising and regulatory affairs. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and American Studies from Brandeis University.

Learn more aboutTabitha Austin Harris

Tabitha Austin Harris

Regional Program Manager, Region 6

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Learn more aboutChris Kwilinski

Chris Kwilinski

Safety Specialist

FHWA Office of Tribal Transportation

Learn more aboutTom Schanz

Tom Schanz

Manager

Sany

Learn more aboutTara Chief

Tara Chief

Co-Founder

Light of the Sun

Learn more aboutRobin Phillips

Robin Phillips

Executive Director

National RTAP

Robin Phillips joined National RTAP in December 2014 with almost 18 years of experience working with FTA programs at the state and national level, including at Oregon and Washington State Departments of Transportation, as Regional Transit Coordinator and Administrator of Coordinated Transportation, respectively, and as Senior Policy Director at the American Bus Association. Throughout her career, she has been involved in the planning and development of local, regional, and state multimodal transportation networks that respond to community needs. Her education and experience as a lawyer have proved valuable for interpreting Federal regulations and policies. Robin has specific interests in intercity transportation, rural and tribal transit research, and visible and usable data, such as GTFS data used for online trip planners, to improve passenger information, planning, and transportation coordination. Working at National RTAP is a natural culmination of Robin's experience and her dedication to improving transportation options in rural and tribal communities.

Learn more aboutScott Zadakis

Scott Zadakis

Tribal Transit Manager and/or ELearning Program Mgr

MS Band of Choctaw

Learn more aboutEnjoli Dixon

Enjoli Dixon

Professional Associate

National Center for Aging and Disability Transportation Center/Easterseals

Learn more aboutKimberly Belone

Kimberly Belone

Program Analyst

BIA Office of Justice Services Indian Highway Safety Program

Learn more aboutJohn Habermann

John Habermann

Research Engineer

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Mr. Habermann is a research engineer for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. In addition to his highway construction research, Mr. Habermann is involved in human trafficking research. He contributed to the development of a crime prevention toolkit for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), he is currently leading an NCHRP project to develop a toolkit for State Departments of Transportation, he has written articles and has been interviewed on the topic of the intersection of human trafficking and transportation. Mr. Habermann has done work in Haiti to lower the exposure of school children to trafficking. Mr. Habermann is a registered professional civil engineer in Indiana and Texas. Today, Mr. Habermann is going to discuss the reasons and the importance of inviting and integrating transportation professionals into the work of disrupting human trafficking and into the healing journey of survivors.

Learn more aboutCarrie Brown

Carrie Brown

Program Director

Nevada LTAP

Prior to her current role as the Nevada Local Training Assistance Program Director, Carrie served as the Health and Human Services Director at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. Carrie brings a diverse background with 15 years’ experience in human services, public health and transportation as a technical assistance provider and trainer, with a focus on cultural sensitivity in program development. Carrie holds a BA in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governor’s University. She is a proud member of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, the largest Indigenous Greek letter organization in the nation. Carrie is Northern Paiute and Klamath, and an enrolled member of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.

Learn more aboutMatthew Bird

Matthew Bird

Finance Manager

FHWA Office of Tribal Transportation

Learn more aboutDana Lucas

Dana Lucas

TTP Assessment Team Lead

The DMP Group LLC

Learn more aboutKristian Poncho

Kristian Poncho

Secretary/Treasurer

Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana

Learn more aboutMazen Muradvich

Mazen Muradvich

Transportation Civil Engineer Sr.

Maricopa County D.O.T

Mazen is a Transportation Civil Engineer with 30 years of combined experience in the public and private sectors. Since 1991, he has been serving transportation agencies in the U.S. in the capacity of Material & Research, Estimating, Roadway &Traffic design and Safety Engineering. Prior to that, he worked for 10 years in Europe and the Middle East as Drainage and Water System Design Engineer and in Construction Management. Currently at Maricopa County DOT, Mazen is managing the Transportation Systems Management Roadway Safety Program and leads the roadside design effort for the implementation of new safety hardware standards. He is a registered engineer in the state of Arizona and holds a BSE degree in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana.

Learn more aboutMorgan Keck

Morgan Keck

Project Engineer

Qk4, Inc

Learn more aboutLeroy Gishi

Leroy Gishi

Chief of Division Transportation

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Learn more aboutLiz Romero

Liz Romero

Operations / Technology / Program Development Team Leader

Oklahoma Division Federal Highway Administration

Learn more aboutChelsea Champlin

Chelsea Champlin

NTD Analyst

FTA

Learn more aboutRebecca Tahchawwickah

Rebecca Tahchawwickah

Transit Assest Managment and Project Manager

Comanche Nation Transit

Learn more aboutJill Drury

Jill Drury

Passenger Transportation Specialist

PERC

Jill joined PERC as a passenger transportation consultant in 2022. Prior to working with PERC, Jill was the Executive Director at Charlevoix County Transit (CCT), a rural demand-response system in Northern Michigan. During her time at CCT, she transitioned the system’s fleet from traditional fuel to propane autogas. Charlevoix County Transit was awarded the 2018 Propane Autogas Fleet Award by PERC at BusCon, was nationally recognized for their COVID pandemic response and was named the 2021 Community Transportation Association of America’s Rural Fleet of theYear. Jill has presented at national conferences such as the CTAA Expo, CTAA SUN Conference, NTIIC, as well many regional, state and local transportation conferences and webinars. Panelist include industry leaders from across the country whose agencies have transitioned their fleets to a cleaner, lower-emission option; Propane Autogas.

Learn more aboutSheldon Kipp

Sheldon Kipp

Chief Branch of Engineering and Operations

BIADOT

Learn more aboutAndy Vanaman

Andy Vanaman

President

Premier Steel

Andy Vanaman received a Bachelor’s in Science with a background in math and architectural drafting and design while attending Phillips University on a baseball scholarship in 1988. With this background and his lessons learned in teamwork, he had the opportunity to take over the assets of a failed fabricator in 2004, and Premier Steel was born. Since that time, Premier has amassed a portfolio of more than 400 projects in the gaming, hospitality, education, and healthcare sectors nationwide from Tribal, Government, and Private projects across the United States. Premier has also differentiated itself as the leader in composite fabrication in multi-story facilities across the country. Premier Steel Services has fabricated more than 2 million square feet of composite structures. In the spring of 2019, Premier Steel developed the Fast Cast Bridge® and obtained a patent for this new technology in 2022 and has since produced and installed more than 20 bridges.

Learn more aboutJeremy Mattson

Jeremy Mattson

Associate Professor

North Dakota State University

Dr. Mattson is an associate professor of transportation and logistics at North Dakota State University (NDSU), and an associate research fellow with the Small Urban and Rural Center on Mobility (SURCOM), a program of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) at NDSU. He has 16 years of experience conducting research at UGPTI on issues important to the rural and tribal transit industry.

Learn more aboutTara Casanova-Powell

Tara Casanova-Powell

CEO

ATSIP

Tara Casanova Powell is the Principal of Casanova Powell Consulting, an independent traffic safety research consulting firm and the current CEO for the Association of Transportation Safety Information Professionals (ATSIP). Tara is also the Program Coordinator for the Annual Lifesavers National Conference on Roadway Safety Priorities and a Research Consultant for several other organizations including Acusensus, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the American Bar Association (ABA), and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). Tara also serves as a faculty staff member for Impaired Driving Solutions, formerly the National Center for DWI Courts (NCDC), under “All Rise”. With over 25 years of experience in the field of road safety, Tara’s career has spanned several niches within this community. Tara has been engaged with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine for several years where she currently serves as the Chair for the Impairment in Transportation Committee and was the Chair of the 2021 TRB Drug-Impaired Driving Conference Planning Committee. Tara also founded and Chairs the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) Impaired Driving Behavioral Intervention Working Group (IDBIIIG). Tara has recently been elected to the ICADTS Board as an At-Large Member and has also been appointed to the Roadway Safety Advisory Board of Cambridge Mobile Telematics. Tara’s professional experience and network span several aspects of traffic safety, with expertise in impaired driving, distracted driving, speed, occupant protection, and traffic records that transcends barriers that often exist within the silos of the transportation profession. Tara is very passionate about her role in transportation safety and has worked to connect traffic safety professionals including research scientist; federal, state, and local practitioners; law enforcement; and traffic records data professionals to work together to work towards ZERO deaths and to provide equitable transportation for all road users.

Learn more aboutBob Scopatz

Bob Scopatz

Secretary

Association of Transportation Safety Information Professionals

Learn more aboutRonald Eck

Ronald Eck

Engineer

WV LTAP

Session facilitator is Ronald W. Eck, P.E., Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at West Virginia University and Director, West Virginia Local Technical Assistance Program. Ron has been involved in traffic engineering, pedestrian safety and crash reconstruction for over 45 years. He has chaired the Transportation Forensics and Risk Management Council of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and authored a Handbook of Accident Reconstruction. He served for 9 years as a member of the Pedestrian Committee of the Transportation Research Board. He teaches a variety of pedestrian safety and crash reconstruction workshops for state and local roadway agencies and LTAP centers throughout the United States. He has reconstructed several hundred crashes, including many pedestrian-vehicle crashes.

Learn more aboutSteven Matthews

Steven Matthews

Principal Planner

The Akana Group

Steve Matthews, AICP, PMP is a principal, and land use planner with Akana that has more than 40 years of diverse experience. Specializing in land use, and environmental compliance programs, Steve can steer complex multi-jurisdictional projects that require obtaining consensus from wide interests while meeting regulatory requirements. Steve has been a project manager and principal author for scores of land use planning, environmental assessments, NEPA, SEPA, CEQA and EFSC documents for a wide range of local, state, federal and private clients nationally.

Learn more aboutHerb Fricke

Herb Fricke

CEO

Akana

Herb is a civil/environmental engineer with over 25 years of experience in the consulting engineering field, with an emphasis on planning and design of water, wastewater, transportation, and site development projects. He has particular experience in managing IDIQ-type contracts for federal, state, and local agencies, and has considerable experience in planning and design for development projects for numerous tribes throughout the western states. Education BS Civil Engineering, University of Idaho MS Civil/Environmental Engineering, Cornell University Professional Registration Civil Engineer: OR, WA, ID, MT, AZ, NM, ND, WI Environmental Engineer: OR

Learn more aboutChristopher Becenti

Christopher Becenti

Executive Director

US Department of Commerce

Learn more aboutRobert Frazier

Robert Frazier

Highway Engineer

BIA Division of Transportation

Learn more aboutChris McCray

Chris McCray

Vice Chairman

TTTPC

Learn more aboutDiego Luque

Diego Luque

Campaign Specialist

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Diego currently serves as a Campaign Specialist at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign, the Department’s national public awareness campaign to combat human trafficking. In this role, he support the Prevention portfolio of the Blue Campaign, assisting on decreasing victimization within vulnerable communities and deterring criminal activity. He has previous work experience in the Department of State's - Bureau of Consular Affairs and carries extensive non-profit and private sector experience. Most recently serving as an Education Associate for the Economic Club of Washington, DC, where he helped develop their Social Media capabilities and increase engagement with multiple private sector stakeholders to create meaningful partnerships that would support their education initiatives. He is a highly motivated International Affairs and Public Policy graduate with strong written, verbal, and research skills, both in English and Spanish. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Florida International University and a master’s degree in Public Policy with a concentration in Social Policy from George Mason University. Additionally, Diego holds an Active Secret Security Clearance.

Learn more aboutJeremy Bell

Jeremy Bell

MBCI Choctaw Transit

Mississippi Band Of Choctaw Indians Transit

Learn more aboutKetnah Parchment

Ketnah Parchment

Tribal Transit Program Assessment Lead

Milligan & Co.

Learn more aboutVictoria Anderson

Victoria Anderson

Senior Solution Engineer

ESRI

Learn more aboutRear Admiral, Ann C. Phillips

Rear Admiral, Ann C. Phillips

Administrator

Maritime Administration

Learn more aboutNatasha Pavlovich

Natasha Pavlovich

Supervisory Transportation Industry Analyst

Maritime Administration

Learn more aboutMarlise Fratinardo

Marlise Fratinardo

Transportation Specialist

Maritime Administration

Learn more aboutXochitl Castañeda

Xochitl Castañeda

Pacific Northwest and Alaska Gateway Director

Maritime Administration

Learn more aboutKris Gilson

Kris Gilson

Director, Office of Environmental Compliance

Maritime Administration

Learn more aboutGail Lyssy

Gail Lyssy

Regional Administration

Federal Transit Administration

Gail Lyssy has over 38 years of experience in the transportation industry. She joined FTA Region 6 in 1996 as the Regional Engineer and in 2020 was selected to serve as Regional Administrator. She has received numerous awards for her contributions, including the USDOT Secretary’s Award for Excellence, as well as numerous USDOT Secretary’s Partnering for Excellence and Team Awards for her efforts in support of emergency response and other multimodal efforts. Prior to joining FTA, Ms. Lyssy was the Director of Transportation for a transportation engineering consulting firm in Dallas. A native Texan, Ms. Lyssy received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas.

Learn more aboutSue Lawless

Sue Lawless

Executive Director and Chief Safety Officer

FTA

Sue Lawless is the Executive Director and Chief Safety Officer for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). She assumed this role in August 2023. Previously, Ms. Lawless was the Director for FMCSA’s Office of Motor Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle Safety Standards Division where she was responsible for establishing sound safety policy for motor carrier, driver, vehicle, and medical programs. Ms. Lawless first joined FMCSA in 2001, and later transitioned to the private sector where she was a partner in a law firm and represented motor carriers, motor carrier drivers, and various transportation businesses. She rejoined FMCSA in 2010 and brings more than 20 years of experience in the private and federal motor carrier safety industry. She has also engaged with nearly every FMCSA program as a trial attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel, Division Chief, and Director within the Office of Policy.

Learn more aboutTristan Brown

Tristan Brown

Deputy Administrator

PHMSA

Tristan Brown serves as the Deputy Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Since 2021, Brown has led a team of nearly 600 full time employees (as well as nearly 200 contractors), managing a $500+ million annual budget—focused on overseeing the safety of 3.4 million miles of hazardous material pipelines and 1.2 million shipments of hazardous material goods transported daily across the United States. In this capacity, Brown also serves on the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration (CCUS) Federal and Non-Federal Lands Permitting Task Forces; the Department of Transportation’s Nontraditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council as well as the Executive Safety Council; and the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Transportation Research Board’s Executive Committee. Previously, Brown served as counsel to U.S. Senator Gary Peters and as an advisor to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar on matters related to transportation, space policy, energy, the environment, and native American issues. Brown previously practiced law in the private sector, focusing on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters relating to the transportation and public utilities sectors. He also previously served as Deputy Associate Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Brown earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Berkeley School of Law, a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge where he was a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University where he was a Morris K. Udall Scholar and a member of USA Today’s All-Academic Team. Brown was born in rural Michigan and raised just outside Detroit. As a child he lived in New Hampshire where his father was an automotive manager and previously served as a deputy sheriff. His mother was a social worker and service employees union representative.

Learn more aboutAdam Tindall-Schlicht

Adam Tindall-Schlicht

Administrator

Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Adam Tindall-Schlicht serves as the eleventh Administrator of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS), an operating administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Appointed by President Joe Biden on November 6, 2022, Administrator Tindall-Schlicht oversees the federal corporation responsible for the operation and maintenance of the U.S. portion of the St. Lawrence Seaway between Montréal and Lake Erie. Prior to his appointment as Administrator, Adam Tindall-Schlicht was the Director of Port Milwaukee from August 2018 until October 2022, serving as a member of the mayor’s cabinet. As Port Director, Mr. Tindall-Schlicht oversaw and directed the port’s multimodal, commercial, and passenger operations, which generates over $100 million in local economic activity annually. In addition to his responsibilities as Port Director, Mr. Tindall-Schlicht was appointed by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers as both a Commissioner of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission in 2020 and a member of the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes Protection Fund in 2022. He also previously served as President of the Wisconsin Commercial Ports Association. Administrator Tindall-Schlicht returns to GLS where he previously worked in both Washington, D.C. and Cleveland, Ohio, on marine transportation, international marketing, and Great Lakes Seaway System shipping from 2010 to 2018. A native of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Administrator Tindall-Schlicht holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in Public Administration from American University in Washington, D.C. He has worked and volunteered abroad extensively, including in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom. Administrator Tindall-Schlicht is an ordained minister, and he officiates numerous marriage ceremonies each year. Administrator Tindall-Schlicht’s husband, Aaron, is a critical care and surgical nurse.

Learn more aboutJennifer Stewart

Jennifer Stewart

Sponsor Outreach Specialist

FRA Office of Rail Planning and Engineering

Learn more aboutRon Hall

Ron Hall

Director

Northern Tribal Technical Assistance Program (NTTAP)

Learn more aboutTravis Yates

Travis Yates

Major

National Core Instructor

Learn more aboutHillary Mead

Hillary Mead

Supervisor

Cherokee Nation

Learn more aboutMichia Casebier

Michia Casebier

President

M.G. Tech-Writing, LLC

Learn more aboutMichael Lynn

Michael Lynn

Executive Director

Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, Cherokee Nation

Learn more aboutGina Merseal

Gina Merseal

Senior Account Manager

Infotech

Learn more aboutJJ VanWinkle

JJ VanWinkle

Senior Account Specialist

Infotech

Learn more aboutAndy Quetone

Andy Quetone

Director of Transportation

Cherokee Nation

Learn more aboutMichele Smith

Michele Smith

Pyrmaid Lake Paiute Tribe

Learn more aboutDarrel Williams

Darrel Williams

Ninilchik Village Tribe

Learn more aboutJudith Walker

Judith Walker

FAA

Learn more aboutAmit Brose

Amit Brose

FRA

Learn more aboutDavid Noyce

David Noyce

Director

Eastern TTAP

Learn more aboutYinhai Wang

Yinhai Wang

Director

NW TTAP

Learn more aboutBilly Conner

Billy Conner

Analyst

Alaska TTAP

Learn more aboutStan Chisum

Stan Chisum

Regional Account Manager

Sunset vans

Learn more aboutDave Muckey

Dave Muckey

VP of Sales & Operations

Green Frog Systems

Learn more aboutShelbi Small

Shelbi Small

Environmental Protection Specialist

U.S. DOT Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Shelbi Small is an environmental protection specialist in the Energy Analysis and Sustainability Division and has been with the U.S. DOT Volpe Center since November 2022. She has five years of previous experience with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in assisting with natural resource and renewable energy projects on tribal lands as well as grants management and project oversight. Small is working with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to aid states regarding the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. Funds have been allocated to states as of 2022 to begin build out of their electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to meet the EV infrastructure goals set forth by the Biden Administration through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. She is also assisting in the formation of a Tribal Engagement Strategy for NEVI and future funding opportunities; this strategy will lay out the goals and objectives for the Joint Office to provide technical assistance to tribal nations regarding EV infrastructure projects. Small is also working with the Policy Analysis and Strategic Planning Division in assisting FHWA with future funding opportunities and programs.

Learn more aboutMike Zeigler