Speakers and Presenters

Pedro Quintana-Lacaci Avilés is an engineering manager with over 15 years of experience in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and tolling solutions, including more than six years in U.S. express lane projects. As part of Indra’s transportation systems team, he leads the design, integration, and delivery of large-scale ITS and tolling infrastructures. 

Pedro is currently in charge of the SR 400 Express Lanes in Georgia and the I-485 Express Lanes in North Carolina, and previously led major initiatives such as the I-66 Outside the Beltway in Virginia and the I-77 Express Lanes in North Carolina. His international background includes managing system design and installation for the Ismailia Tunnels under the Suez Canal in Egypt and the Panama Canal Third Set of Locks. 

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial-Mechanical Engineering from Universidad Pontificia Comillas (ICAI) in Spain, where he completed his final degree project at the Colorado School of Mines in the United States. 

Elnour Adam BIO 

BSC. Architecture. 

Project management Professional (PMP) 

Certified Construction Manager (CCM) 

Certified Design Build Institute of America (DBIA)  

Current Job: Engineering Manager – Alternative Delivery Branch Chief – Prince William County Department of Transportation. 

• Successfully managed the DB projects of: Prince William County Parkway Interchange at Realigned Balls Ford Road. 

• Prince William County Parkway Interchange at Brentsville Road. 

• Neabsco Commuter Parking Garage. 

• University Blvd. Extension between Devlin and Wellington. 

• Route 234/Sudley Manor Road Interchange. 

Previous jobs: 

Construction manager Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure. 

Quality Assurance/Quality Control – Superintendent Gilbane Building Company: 

• US Capitol Visitor Center CM at Risk 

• Fort Belvoir Army Hospital Progressive Design -Build project. 

Eric Almquist is Director of RK&K’s NEPA Environmental Planning practice and specializes in transportation project development.  He has helped lead some of the most complex transportation planning projects in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the Chesapeake Bay Crossing Study for the Maryland Transportation Authority; the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel Replacement Project for Amtrak; and the Hampton Roads Crossing Study for VDOT. Eric holds bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Sciences and Political Science from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Science in Forest Ecology from Texas A&M University.

Ahmed is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) with over 15 years of experience in traffic engineering and transportation design. Ahmed is a senior transportation engineer and key member of the VHB Metro DC team. He specializes in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) planning and design, multimodal traffic operations, simulation modeling, signal timing optimization, intersection control, and traffic safety. Ahmed has successfully led numerous federal, state, and county projects involving ITS deployments, and multimodal corridor and intersection improvement studies. Ahmed earned his BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Cairo University in Egypt and his PhD from Virginia Tech. Ahmed is an active member with ITE, ASHE and ACEC. 

Anurag, PE, is a Drainage Engineer with Kiewit Engineering Group Inc., providing hydraulic and hydrologic design support for major highway and transportation infrastructure projects. His experience includes roadway drainage analysis, culvert and storm drain system design, open channel hydraulics, pavement drainage, detention and retention facilities, bridge hydraulics, and construction-phase temporary drainage systems, developed in accordance with state DOT and industry standards. He has contributed to large corridor projects such as the Southeast Connector (Fort Worth, TX) and the Carolina-Crossroads pursuit in South Carolina, as well as land development projects on multiple residential and commercial sites in Arizona, requiring the integration of existing and proposed drainage systems with phased construction. Anurag is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas. He holds an MS in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Ray Biggs, II, is the Senior Project Director for the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA), where he leads delivery of the Purple Line public private partnership in Maryland. He brings more than 15 years of experience across federal, state, and private sector transportation organizations, including senior leadership roles at the Federal Transit Administration. In the private sector, Ray managed risk for the JFK Redevelopment Program and supported major transit and aviation capital programs nationwide. His career has focused on strengthening governance, risk management, and delivery discipline on complex infrastructure initiatives. Ray holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, an MBA from the George Washington University, and he is a 2024 recipient of Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40 Award. 

Doug Blank is an Associate VP and the Transportation Department Manager for Michael Baker International in Cleveland. He holds degrees from both the Case School of Engineering and Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He works primarily on urban highway and trail projects with a focus on stormwater solutions, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements, context sensitive design, and design-build project delivery.

Nadia Boller is a transportation professional with 18 years of experience in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), traffic engineering, safety, and GIS-based transportation asset management. Her expertise includes ITS planning and design, TSMO strategic planning, regional ITS architecture, traffic operations, roadway safety, traffic analysis, and ArcGIS-based database and application development. She has supported numerous federal, state, and local transportation projects involving ITS deployments, statewide asset inventory and dashboard development, traffic operations improvements, and safety studies. Nadia earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics and Construction Management from Volgograd State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, her MS in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University, and her MBA from William & Mary. She is a member of ITS America and serves on the ITS Virginia board. 

Jeremy Chrzan, PE, PTOE, LEED AP has 27 years of experience and serves as Toole Design’s Multimodal Design Practice Lead based in Silver Spring, MD. He brings a varied engineering background that encompasses bicycle, pedestrian, highway, and roundabout design; green street projects; project management and permitting; maintenance and protection of traffic; and construction oversight. Jeremy uses his technical knowledge of design standards, construction best practices, and quality control reviews to identify key project issues and identify viable engineering solutions. Jeremy was the lead engineer for the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, the Ohio Multimodal Design Guide, and a contributing author for a variety of context-sensitive, complete streets design guides. He also serves on the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Bicycle Technical Committee. 

David Clary is a Technical Leader in Dallas, Texas, for Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN), a position he has held since 2008. David has more than 52 years of consulting experience on rail, transit, highway and airport transportation projects, including key rail projects for the Panama Canal Railway in Panama, the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, the BART Berryessa Extension and the Sacramento Regional Transit Blue Line Extension in California, and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Central Business District Rail Replacement Project in Texas. David’s experience also includes key highway projects such as Section VII of the Dallas North Tollway in Dallas, Texas and US Highway 90A widening in Sugar Land and Stafford, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1973. David is currently serving as a member of AREMA Committee 11 Commuter and Intercity Rail.   

Matthew Cook, PE is the Director of Water Resources in the Raleigh RK&K office and heads the hydraulic design efforts for the I-40 Pigeon River reconstruction project. With 27 years of experience and in addition to leading a water resources team of approximately 20 people, he has experience in leading large scale NCDOT, SCDOT, and TDOT transportation projects including interstate widening and new location work, layout and modeling for major hydraulic conveyances, linear drainage, erosion prevention and control, environmental compliance and permitting, and scheduling. He has modeled dozens of bridges and culverts across NC while coordinating with all environmental agencies and stakeholders. He has worked on multiple design delivery methods including P3, CMGC, design-bid-build, and over 50 design-build projects. 

Odera Cole, PE is a Transportation Project Engineer with broad experience spanning both conceptual and final design. At Toole Design, she has worked extensively on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects, intersection and roadway improvement projects where she develops thoughtful, context specific design concepts. Beyond design, Odera brings experience conducting traffic analyses and safety assessments. She is passionate about integrating data driven insights with innovative design to create transportation solutions that prioritize safety, accessibility, and the needs of all roadway users. Her work reflects a deep commitment to balancing technical precision, community context, and client goals across a diverse range of transportation projects. 

Ed Crooks is an infrastructure development and finance professional, specializing in strategic infrastructure advisory, alternative delivery strategies and public-private partnerships. His 30+ years of experience include a wide range of alternative project delivery and infrastructure financing and investment. He has worked across many sectors, including highways, water, rail, ports, transit and social infrastructure.   

He is a Senior Vice President in HNTB’s Advisory practice where he manages a team providing executive owners representative support to senior client leaders seeking to deliver the biggest and most complex infrastructure projects and programs.   

Ed received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his AB from Indiana University, Bloomington. He is a registered Professional Engineer (civil - inactive) in Texas. Ed and his family have lived in Northern Virginia for more than 25 years.

Steven DeWitt, PE, is a nationally recognized leader in transportation infrastructure with more than 40 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors. He has played a pivotal role in advancing alternative delivery methods, including design-build and public-private partnerships, shaping major programs and policies across the United States. Steve’s career includes senior leadership roles with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, where he led transformative initiatives such as the state’s design-build program and first modern toll facilities. Currently serving as CEO of ACS Infrastructure, he continues to lead complex, high-profile projects nationwide. Known for his integrity, innovation, and industry leadership, Steve remains an influential voice in infrastructure delivery and policy. 

Mark Doctor is a Senior Engineer with Gresham Smith based in their Atlanta office. Mark joined Gresham Smith in June 2025 after a 37-year career with the Federal Highway Administration. Mark’s background includes a wide variety of roadway design and traffic safety solutions. While at FHWA, Mark specialized in advancing national practices on performance-based design, innovative intersections, and applications of a Safe System Approach. He is a passionate traffic safety advocate with experience relating principles of the Safe System Approach into practical applications for road and intersection designs. Since joining Gresham Smith, Mark serves as a technical advisor enhancing client services across multiple office locations. He received his Master of Transportation Engineering degree from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson University. 

Garrett Eller is a registered Professional Engineer in multiple states with 9 years of industry experience. He currently serves as an Engineering Business Manager at Solmax. Garrett holds a B.S. degree in Engineering from Virginia Tech. He started his professional career as a private engineering consultant where he served for 8 years. He has worked on projects ranging from ADA curb ramp design all the way to interstate, design-build projects worth in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Garrett's extensive knowledge of the civil engineering industry helps him lead market development for roadway, site, and erosion control geosynthetic solutions. 

Nichole serves as the Planning and Programming Administrator for the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works where she leads a diverse staff in project programming for road, bridge, sanitary and facilities projects. She joined the Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Office in 2010. In 2011, with the reorganization of county government and the creation of the Department of Public Works, Nichole expanded her role into sanitary, facilities and airport projects. Nichole has been sought out by the administration to lead complex projects of critical importance.

Prior to the County, Nichole spent eight years at HNTB in various capacities related to planning and traffic engineering where she oversaw many studies throughout northeast Ohio.

Nichole is a past president of the WTS Northeast Ohio chapter and is active in the Transportation YOU program bringing STEM programming to local youth. Her passion for increasing awareness and excitement around the engineering field is furthered where she volunteers with the Cleveland Municipal School District’s TRUE 2U mentoring program for 8^th grade students.

Nichole is a registered professional engineer who earned her master’s degree in Transportation Engineering and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from the University of Dayton. A lifelong Clevelander, she and her husband reside on the westside in North Ridgeville with their two sons.

Dr. Alireza Ermagun is the Director of the Mobility Observatory and Data Analytics Lab, the Co-Director of the Center for Resilient, Adaptable, and Safe Communities, and an Associate Professor at George Mason University. His research agenda has consistently advanced the study of human mobility, travel behavior, and urban infrastructure through rigorous geospatial and data-driven approaches attentive to demographic change, environmental stressors, and long-term urban transformation. His work develops analytic understanding of how transport systems function, adapt, and reorganize across spatial and temporal scales, with clear relevance to planning, policy, and system design. He has demonstrated sustained leadership through service with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Transportation Research Board (TRB). His contributions have been recognized with honors that include the Early Career Excellence Award, the Tiebout Prize in Regional Science, and the John S. Adams Award. 

Adriana is a PhD candidate in Transportation Engineering at George Mason University.

Jeff Folden serves as the Director of Program and Alternative Delivery for the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA).  In this role, he leads the overall development of the SHA’s alternative delivery program including identifying the most suitable delivery methods for projects, leading the overall development and procurement of alternative delivery projects, and overseeing the development of policies and process for alternative delivery.  Jeff has over 24 years of experience and has led the development of projects using fixed-price design-build, progressive design-build, construction manager/general contractor, and public-private partnership delivery methods.  He is a graduate of West Virginia University, a Maryland registered Professional Engineer, and a DBIA designated design-build professional.   

Greg Goins, PE is the Director for RK&K’s Southeast Geotechnical Group and is the contract manager for the design of the I-40 Pigeon River reconstruction project. With 25 years of experience, he leads a team of over 20 geologists and engineers in a variety of small- and large-scale bid-build and design-build transportation projects in NC, TN, SC, and FL. His career has included management, subsurface exploration, and engineering design for projects that characterize subsurface conditions and provide geotechnical engineering recommendations for roadways, retaining walls, buildings, bridges, railways, pavement, and stormwater

Matt Greenholt is a bridge engineer from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Penn State in 2014 and has over 12 years of professional experience in bridge design and inspection with GFT. Matt is a licensed P.E. in Pennsylvania and Maryland, a Certified Bridge Safety Inspector (C.B.S.I), and a registered FAA drone pilot.  He is a Transportation representative on our corporate GFT AI Working Group.

Jim has been with the Maryland Transportation Authority  where he has been the Chief Eningeer for the Maryland Transportation Authority since 2021, prior to that he had been the Acting Chief Engineer and the Director of Engineering before that. He is a graduate of Penn State University.

Jaclyn Hartman serves as the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Investments for the Maryland Department of Transportation. Her portfolio includes finance, procurement, small and minority businesses, government affairs, policy and regulations, and innovative finance and delivery. Prior to becoming Assistant Secretary, Jaclyn served as the CFO of both the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transportation Authority, as well as starting her career at the Department of Legislative Services. While at DLS, served as committee staff for the Joint Legislative and Executive Commission on Oversight of Public-Private Partnerships, which created Maryland’s statutory framework for P3s.  

Paige Heintzman, PE, is the P3 Director of Delivery for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Paige has spent 14 years working in the field of transportation engineering in both the public and private sector. As TDOT’s P3 Director of Delivery, Paige is focused on delivering the Department’s Choice Lanes Program via P3 model, from concept through construction and operation. Currently, Paige is responsible for overseeing the execution of technical pre-let, commercial, and post-let activities for TDOT’s first P3 project – the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project. A native of West Tennessee, Paige earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Tennessee Technological University and her Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Paige and her family reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jamie Henson leads Montgomery County’s effort to plan, design, construct, and initiate service on their 100-mile Flash BRT network. Jamie works with varied stakeholders using innovative analysis to consider trade-offs and advance difficult projects in a manner that enhances the public realm. His career has focused on implementing major transit improvements, building agency project delivery programs, leading transit priority efforts, and advancing urban transportation research. Jamie has led major transit projects with complex environmental processes that have pursued FTA Capital Improvement Grant (CIG) funds. In addition, Jamie has developed highly effective programs and practices at multiple organizations. His efforts have significantly expanded the capacity of the organizations he has served to deliver influential projects.

Robert Jamieson has served with the Village of Chagrin Falls since 2012, starting first as Superintendent of Streets and then into the Chief Administrative Officer position on January 1, 2018.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies degree and a Master of Public Administration degree from Cleveland State University and has over 33 years of experience in the public works field.  The North Main Street bridge project is one of the largest and most critical projects in his career.  He also serves as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician.

Fatemeh Janatabadi is a Ph.D. candidate in Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences at George Mason University. Her work investigates the association between human mobility, spatial accessibility, and transport systems through spatial analytics and quantitative approaches. Her research examines how environmental stressors and infrastructural conditions interact to influence mobility, alter network functionality, and shape broader urban dynamics. Central to her research is the development of analytical frameworks that capture how transport systems adjust under climate-related disruption and evolve over time, while revealing the uneven distribution of accessibility and its socioeconomic implications. Her contributions advance access-oriented thinking by embedding mobility processes within spatial analysis and by reinterpreting spatial mismatch through a more explicitly accessibility-driven lens. 

Katherine Kortum is a Senior Program Officer at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, where she leads national transportation research and advises federal policy through consensus-based studies. Her work focuses on infrastructure, emerging technologies, and data-driven decision-making, translating research into actionable policy guidance. She has directed major research portfolios, overseen extensive peer review and publications, and led conferences engaging global experts. Kortum serves on ASCE’s Committee on America’s Infrastructure, contributing to national infrastructure policy and assessment efforts. She holds a Ph.D. in transportation engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Mr. Kupferschmidt is Sr. Project Manager in the Highway Group with McCormick Taylor’s Baltimore office and has 16 years of preliminary and final highway design and experience. Derek has experience designing and managing new construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation projects with expertise in context sensitive solutions, practical design theories, Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, and innovative design for urban reconstruction. In his current role, he manages engineers developing deliverables for preliminary and final design for roadway, pedestrian, and bicycle projects.

Mr. Kupferschmidt is a graduate of Widener University and is a professional engineer in the State of Maryland.

Chris is an executive-level professional with 31 years of Federal transportation sector leadership experience in positions of increasing scope and responsibility. Experience in establishing strong relationships, building coalitions, motivating and empowering personnel, and solving challenging issues with political savvy. Chris spent most of his career with FHWA and has recently moved to working in Government Relations with MTBMA (Maryland Transportation Builders & Materials Association).

Larry Laynburd is a transportation engineer at Kimley-Horn with over a decade of experience integrating drone technology, data analytics, and intelligent transportation systems into infrastructure planning and asset management. He leads drone operations across the Atlantic region, supporting programs that deliver actionable insights for pavement, parking, and transportation systems. His work focuses on helping public agencies implement scalable, data-driven approaches to improve decision-making and project delivery. 

Jim Long, PE, is a Professional Engineer with more than four decades of experience on a wide range of land development, infrastructure, and transportation projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. He has a wealth of experience of in all phases of project delivery from due diligence investigations, concept development, construction documents, permitting/entitlements, construction administration, and turnover/commissioning. He is also a veteran who completed five years of military service in the USAF Civil Engineering Corps with the rank of captain.

Dan Lovas, PE, is VHB’s Director of Multimodal Engineering in Metro DC, specializing in multimodal transportation planning and design for Complete Streets, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, transportation safety treatments, and parking evaluations. He manages projects involving multimodal transportation facilities, transportation safety, parking analysis, and conceptual transportation design. Dan also has experience in traffic operations analysis, including Highway Capacity Manual Multimodal Level-of-Service methodologies and microsimulation tools. 

Sean has been with Transurban since 2014, currently serving as the Director of Project Development. Prior to working for Transurban, Sean worked for General Motors. Sean holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from RMIT University. 

Mr. Marchetti is the Director of Transportation Engineering with McCormick Taylor’s Baltimore office and has 27 years of preliminary & final highway design and construction management experience, including over five years with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, Highway Design Division. Prior to joining SHA, Rob worked with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 4 as a construction inspector on several interstate reconstruction projects. Rob has experience designing and managing new construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation projects with expertise in context sensitive solutions, practical design theories, Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, and innovative design for urban reconstruction. In his current role, he manages the construction management/inspection team and engineers developing deliverables for preliminary and final design for roadway, pedestrian, and bicycle projects.

Mr. Marchetti is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, is a professional engineer in six states, and currently serves as Vice President with the American Council of Engineering Companies of Maryland.

Mr. Matthews is a registered professional engineer and has twenty-three (24) years of experience in the highway industry. Mr. Matthews began his career at the Georgia Department of Transportation in 2002 and has served in various roles with GDOT including Program/Project Manager, Design Engineer, District Preconstruction Engineer, Senior Design Build Engineer, and State Express Lanes Administrator.

Tim is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Tim currently serves as the Assistant P3 Division Director and P3/Design Build Administrator for GDOT. He is responsible for oversight and coordination of the Departments P3/DB program.

In addition, Tim has served in Higher Education as an Adjunct Professor/Guest Lecturer and in the private sector for Transportation. Prior to earning his Civil Engineering degree, Tim served in the United States Navy aboard the USS California (CGN 36) near Seattle, Washington.

Andy is a Senior Project Manager with over a dozen years of experience engineering water resources projects in the mid-Atlantic. His experience has ranged from drainage and stormwater design in support of transportation projects, to hydraulic modeling in support of complex flood mitigation studies and managing mitigation projects. The keynote project in his career has been supporting various tasks associated with Howard County’s Safe and Sound Flood Mitigation Plan for Ellicott City.  Andy is a PE and CFM, and currently serves as vice chair for the Maryland Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers (MAFSM). 

Chris serves as the Resident Project Representative for Howard County on the Ellicott City North Tunnel project. He is an Associate at Delve Underground with 7 years of geotechnical engineering experience. Chris holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Lafayette College and an MS in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Maryland. In his spare time (or what’s left of it), he’s an amateur brewer, baker, & DIYer. 

Matthew Norris serves as an Engineer III on the Houston roadway design team for Lockwood, Andrews, & Newnam, Inc. (LAN). Matthew specializes in highway and pedestrian design for TxDOT and municipal facilities with experience spanning schematic development through PS&E stages of the project lifecycle.  He has contributed to schematics for IH 35 in Austin and SH-288 in Houston with a focus in 3D roadway and utility modeling, TCP design, material & cost estimating, and stormwater mitigation. His designs have accommodated complex drainage constraints, major utility conflicts, stakeholder interests, & constructability while preserving safety & functionality of the proposed facility. Matthew earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 2024. He is an active member of the ASHE Houston Section where he serves as chair of the Young Members Committee. 

Professor and Dr. Adewole Simon Oladele, Ph.D. is a full professor of Transportation Engineering and a professional member of both ASHE and ASCE with established career in Civil Engineering/ Highway Engineering. He has accumulated fifty (50) research publications and over forty (40) engineering courses successfully taught. As a US permanent resident committed and contributing to the Engineering Profession, over twenty-three (23) years of professional practices in Engineering and Construction, he has contributed to engineering design, project management, supervision of Civil Engineering Projects across the globe and mentored a huge number of engineers, including grants/ sponsorships for engineering programs and activities globally. He recently became international Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers (F. NSE) and Fellow of Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (F. NIHTE). He has contributed to ASHE Young Professionals as Advisor to the Morgan ASHE Chapter and ASCE Maryland Section while a Faculty at Morgan State University, mentoring young professionals/ prospective engineers. He is an internationally licensed professional engineer with professional leadership role as the International Coordinator for Global Transportation Professional Networking Group LLC, USA. He served in several editorial board such as Editor in Chief - Botswana Technology Transfer Newsletter, Vols. 1, 2, 3 & 4, Nos. 1 & 2, Technology Transfer Unit, University of Botswana, 2011 – 2014 editions. International Journal of Transportation Technology Transfer in Africa (IJT2A). International Reviewer – TRB Low Volume Roads Conference paper peer reviewer (LVR2015). He recently served as referred TRB NCHRP Panel member/ US National appointment/ volunteer/ Expert Highway Professional - National Research Council and the Transportation Research Board Executive appointment to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 20-05/Topic 55-21- Funding for Maintenance of Complete Streets, published by TRB 2026.  

John O’Neill, PMP, is a seasoned program and contract management leader with more than 28 years of experience delivering large‑scale transportation and IT initiatives. He currently leads the Construction Management Service Line at KCI Technologies, guiding complex projects through planning, development, and execution. As former Chief Operating Officer and Acting Executive Director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, he managed a $3.2 billion capital program, a $380 million annual operating budget, and 1,700 employees. He delivered major tolling systems including the ICC and I‑95 Express Toll Lanes, led Maryland’s conversion to all‑electronic tolling, and shaped critical P3 and tolling RFPs. Renowned for forging regional partnerships across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia, he also brings deep expertise in strategic planning, business development, and advancing connected and autonomous vehicle initiatives. 

Venu Pokuri is a bridge engineer based in Marlton, New Jersey, with over 11 years of experience in structural and bridge engineering. He holds a master’s degree in structural engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas. His expertise includes complex steel bridge analysis and the development of design automation tools for practical engineering applications. In addition to his technical work, he serves as an Ambassador of Automation and AI, Structures BIM Manager, and a Design Resource Committee representative for the Northeast Transportation sector at GFT, and is an executive member of ASHE Southern New Jersey, where he serves as Director of Budget.

Presenter Bio: Bill Randow is the Acting Director of Construction for the Maryland Transportation Authority. He has over 45 years of experience in heavy civil construction – Bridges over navigational channels, tunnel, interstate, and interchanges. Bill just completed the Nice Middleton Bridge design-build Project, France Scott Key (FSK) Bridge debris removal, and is currently involved in the Eastbound William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge Deck Replacement Phase-1(CMAR), and the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge Replacement Project.

Mark is the Chief of the Stormwater Management Division in the Howard County Department of Public Works. He has worked as a professional engineer in Maryland for 40 years for both a private consulting engineering firm and for County government. Mark earned a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Lafayette College and an MS degree in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson University. His main area of expertise is in water resources, specifically leading projects in stream restoration, flood mitigation, stormwater management, and water quality treatment.

Michael Sakata is President and CEO of the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association (MTBMA), where he represents contractors, material suppliers, and industry stakeholders before the Maryland General Assembly, state agencies, and transportation decision-makers. He is the founder of Bridges to Prosperity, a coalition advancing public-private partnership policy in Maryland, and has been a leading voice on alternative project delivery, transportation funding, and infrastructure investment across the region. Mike brings nearly a decade of experience at the intersection of Maryland transportation policy and the construction industry, with deep expertise in P3 structures, design-build delivery, and the legislative dynamics shaping how major projects get built and financed. He is a frequent speaker and moderator on transportation infrastructure topics and is actively involved in the 2026 ASHE National Conference planning efforts.    

Rachel H. Sangree is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University where teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in civil engineering and manages the part-time master's degree program in civil engineering. Sangree earned her BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University, and her PhD in Civil Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where she studied the behavior of historic heavy wooden truss bridges as part of the Historic American Engineering Record's (HAER) National Covered Bridges Recording Project. Prior to beginning her PhD program, Sangree worked at Whitman, Requardt, and Associates, LLP in Baltimore, MD as a design (bridge) engineer, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland. She has served on the ASCE Maryland Section Board of Directors since 2017, including a term as President in 2024-25, during which time she contributed to the 2025 Maryland Infrastructure Report Card.

Kit Scott is the Project Director in the office of Alternative Delivery for the South Carolina Department of Transportation, where she oversees the Lowcountry Corridor program as well as other major transportation projects and alternative delivery initiatives across the state. In this role, she manages one of the largesttransportation programs in South Carolina, which, pending future legislation, would likely become one of the first Public-Private Partnership (P3) projects in the state. She also leads the agency’s internal working group focused on developing a P3 framework for SCDOT.

Kit joined the Department of Transportation in 2009 and has served in a variety of increasingly responsible roles for the organization including Project Manager, Resident Construction Engineer, Senior Resident Construction Engineer, and Roadway Construction Engineer.

She has worked on many notable projects with the agency including Port Access Road in Charleston County, the US 21 over Harbor River Bridge Replacement in Beaufort County, the US 278 Cross Island Parkway Toll Conversion in Beaufort County, and the Volvo Interchange in Berkeley County.Kit is a graduate of the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s LEAD program and the Resident Engineer Academy. She has a passion for developing the next generation of Civil Engineers. She supports the agency’s Summer Intern program and regularly presents at local schools about careers in STEM. In 2017, she was named the Resident Construction Engineer of the Year.Kit is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of South Carolina. She graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Civil Engineering. She is also a member of the South Carolina Chapter of WTS International, an organization dedicated to advancing both the transportation industry and the professional women who lead it.

Susan Shaw, PE, DBIA, CCM, Vice President at ATCS serves as a subject matter expert in major program development and delivery since October 2023. Prior to joining ATCS she led the Virginia Department of Transportation Megaprojects Office in Northern Virginia from 2013 to 2023, where she was responsible for over $5 Billion worth of projects that included Express Lanes on I-66 Outside the Beltway, I-495, and I-95. At VDOT, she also managed the development, procurement, and delivery of design-build projects that include I-66 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, complex interchange projects, Route 28 Corridor Improvements, and various roadway widening projects. Susan resides in Northern Virginia where she has lived and worked during her professional career.

Michelle Shropshire serves as the Deputy District Engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Northern Virginia District. In this key executive leadership role, Michelle oversees core functions and groups for the Northern Virginia District including Planning and Fund Management, Project Development, Local Assistance Program, Project Construction and Megaprojects. As one of nine VDOT districts within the Commonwealth of Virginia, the VDOT Northern Virginia District is responsible for planning, developing, building and maintaining the roadway network in an area covering four counties and 2.5 million people. This large roadway network includes more than 14,300 total lane miles, 2,240 bridges and large culverts, 1,575 traffic signals, 24 commuter lots and 870 employees.   

Prior to her role as Deputy District Engineer, Michelle served for three years as Director of Megaprojects for the VDOT Northern Virginia District, overseeing the responsible team and delivery of complex and major transportation improvement projects within the Northern Virginia region using innovative and alternative delivery models such as public-private partnerships and design build. 

As VDOT’s Megaprojects lead, Michelle engaged in all project phases including development, environmental and engineering studies, contract development, procurement, and design and construction. She worked daily with stakeholders at all levels including elected officials, and agency and industry partners, to deliver results for the Commonwealth and the public. Michelle directly oversaw a portfolio of large-scale projects that included completion of the $3.7 billion Transform 66 Outside the Beltway, and the $660 million I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project, as well as development and advancement of the I-495 Southside Express Lanes Project and I-95 Express Lanes Bi-Directional Project. 

In 2005, Michelle joined the VDOT Fredericksburg District as the District Location and Design Engineer and in 2010 was promoted to District Project Development Engineer. As Project Development Engineer, she was responsible for programmatic oversight and delivery of interstate, primary, and secondary projects in a 14-county area. Michelle led the development of the nearly $1 billion suite of Improve 95 projects along the I-95 corridor in VDOT’s Fredericksburg District including the 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension and the I-95 Rappahannock River Crossings. Additionally, Michelle was entrusted with executive leadership responsibilities on three separate occasions, serving as Acting District Engineer twice in the Fredericksburg District and once in the Culpeper District. 

Michelle’s 22-year-to-date tenure at VDOT started while still in college, when she began her career as an inspector trainee at the VDOT Luray Residency. After receiving her B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech, Michelle worked in the engineering consultant industry for nearly 10 years, leading design efforts on a number of interstate projects in Virginia and Florida.  

Michelle is a graduate of the Commonwealth Management Institute and the AASHTO Management Institute and is certified by the Design-Build Institute of America.  

Patrick brings more than 20 years of experience in emerging technologies, combined with leadership in advancing the state of practice for Transportation Systems Management and Operations nationwide. Building on a strong traffic and ITS foundation, Patrick’s work in Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) provides a unique perspective on best practices for integrating emerging technologies into highway networks and design. Patrick’s focus is on helping people and communities through inclusive, empathy-based solutions that maximize transportation infrastructure and improve quality of life.  

Alyssa Sooklal, P.E., ENV SP, M.ASCE is a Senior Project Engineer in the Environmental practice area of Barton & Loguidice in Annapolis, MD. Her past and current work experience includes stormwater management, drainage design, flood mitigation, 1D/2D H&H modelling, feasibility studies, green infrastructure design, and other duties of engineering design, inspection, and construction. Alyssa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering with a secondary major in Spanish and a minor in Earth & Planetary Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Professional Engineer (PE) license in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware, and Pennsylvania, and is an Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP). Alyssa has served in various ASCE roles on the state and national levels since 2021. She is a past president of the ASCE Maryland Younger Member Group, and is currently serving as the Vice President of the ASCE Maryland Section, and Chair-Elect of the ASCE National Committee on Younger Members. Alyssa has represented Maryland as an advocate at the ASCE Legislative Fly-In in Washington, D.C. for three years, and is an author of the 2025 ASCE Maryland Infrastructure Report Card.

Presenter Bio: Jason Stolicny is the Deputy Director of Major Project Development for the Maryland Transportation Authority with a background in highway design.  With 15 years of industry experience specializing in Alternative Project Delivery, Jason is supporting the design development and delivery of the Key Bridge Rebuild program.  Jason has a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a registered PE in Maryland.

Chris Stutz is Director of Transportation at The Great Lakes Construction Company with over 28 years of experience. He graduated from The Ohio Northern University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He started his career as a Project Engineer building highways and bridges. Since then, he has held the position of Project Superintendent, Operations Manager, and is currently Director of Transportation covering highway and bridge projects throughout the state. Over the past 28 years Chris has been involved in the construction of highway and bridge projects ranging in size from $500,000 to over $100 million.

In March 2024, Carly Swanson was named Director of Innovative Delivery at the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In this role, she works closely with department leadership and community stakeholders across the state to explore P3s and other alternative finance and delivery methods to accelerate vital infrastructure projects.

With more than a decade of experience in transportation, Swanson has played a key role in helping advance major infrastructure projects across North Carolina. Her first role at NCDOT was to work closely with local stakeholders and communities in the Charlotte region to help bring the state’s first public-private partnership and managed lanes project to completion and open to traffic. Swanson also led NCDOT’s Communications Office for three years, overseeing statewide public outreach, media relations, and marketing. During that time, she was named AASHTO’s Public Relations Professional of the Year.   

Prior to NCDOT, she supported state DOTs nationwide on SAS Institute’s National Transportation Team, focusing on digital advisory services for transportation funding and tolling technology. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from North Carolina State University.

Mimi Sweitzer, PE, is a Project Delivery Leader in RK&K's Raleigh, NC office and has 14 years of experience as a geotechnical engineer. As the geotechnical project manager for the I-40 Pigeon River reconstruction project, she has directed the subsurface explorations and is coordinating the geotechnical design efforts. Her project experience includes Triangle Expressway (NC 540) Southeast Extension, I-40 Widening in Raleigh, US 321 Widening in Hickory, and various roadway, bridge, and retaining wall projects throughout NC, SC, and TN.

Mike Tantillo is a Senior Transportation Manager at VHB with extensive experience working with traffic control device, roadway safety, traffic engineering, and transportation planning projects. An authority on the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), he has been part of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) for 20 years, including technical committee membership and editor of the committee’s Journal of Traffic Control Device Research. Mike has experience working with the Federal Highway Administration and the Virginia Department of Transportation on traffic control device studies and projects, which include development of traffic control device policies, preparation of guidebooks, and serving as primary author of the Virginia MUTCD. Mike’s education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Duke University, and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Tanmay Tripathi, PE, is a Regional Civil/Roadway Department Lead with Kiewit Engineering Group Inc. He has earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Valparaiso University, IN, and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. He has ~10 years of experience in transportation infrastructure design and the construction industry and currently serves as an Engineering Services During Construction (ESDC) Deputy Manager on the Southeast Connector Project (Fort Worth, TX). His work includes Civil/Roadway design lead roles including but not limited to highway/roadway geometric and modeling designs, multi-disciplinary coordination, QC and quantity review on major highway projects such as the Southeast Connector (TX) and I-17 in Phoenix, AZ, contributions to the Brightline West high-speed rail pursuit, and extensive experience delivering INDOT roadway projects including lane widening, roundabouts, interchanges, and pavement rehabilitation. A licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and Colorado and an Envision Sustainability Professional, Tanmay is recognized for technical leadership, constructability-focused design, and mentoring young engineers. 

Richie Westheimer, P.E., is a Program Manager with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), bringing over a decade of experience delivering transportation and infrastructure projects throughout Northeast Florida. With a background spanning both private consulting and public-sector leadership, Richie has worked extensively with agencies such as FDOT, the City of Jacksonville, University of Florida, and regional utilities to advance roadway, drainage, and multimodal improvements. His expertise centers on practical, constructible design solutions, navigating complex permitting processes, and aligning diverse stakeholders to keep projects moving forward.

Richie currently serves as Past President of the Northeast Florida Section and Co-Treasurer for the Southeast Region. He has held multiple leadership roles within the organization and remains actively involved in supporting professional development and industry engagement. Through ASHE, he has helped organize technical programs, foster regional partnerships, and mentor the next generation of engineers.

A graduate of The Citadel and a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Florida, Richie has built his career in Jacksonville since 2015 and remains deeply connected to the region’s growth and development. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, staying active, and taking advantage of the outdoor lifestyle Northeast Florida has to offer.

Ricky Wiatt is VHB’s I‑64 State & Local Government Market Leader and a registered Landscape Architect based in Virginia. He specializes in pedestrian and shared-use path design, complete streets, and park and trail networks, leading projects from feasibility and master planning through construction. On the Eastern Shore Rail-to-Trail project, Ricky was instrumental in shaping the Cape Charles segment as a multimodal corridor—guiding trail alignment, multimodal design, corridor preservation, and stakeholder and agency coordination. He also has extensive experience helping clients secure and manage federal and state transportation funding to deliver buildable, fundable trail projects. 

Melissa Williams is the Director of Planning and Program Development for the Maryland Transportation Authority with nearly thirty years of experience in the development of complex and innovative transportation projects. 

Melissa has led numerous noteworthy transportation planning projects throughout Maryland,  including the I-95 Master Plan, the I-95 Express Toll Lanes NEPA Studies, the Nice/Middleton Bridge Replacement, and the Bay Bridge NEPA Study. 

Melissa holds bachelor's degrees in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and a master's of engineering degree in Environmental Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University.  

Mr. Wissman is the Infrastructure Area Leader with RS&H’s Timonium office and has 18 years of transportation engineering experience working with clients such as SHA, MDTA, MTA, and various local governments. He has extensive experience with design of roadways, sidewalks, shared use paths, program and project management, and overseeing complex projects from preliminary engineering to final construction. Over the course of his career, Greg has worked on projects including the Purple Line, I-495 Managed Lanes Project, Key Bridge Rebuild, and the I-77 South Express Lanes (NCDOT).

Mr. Wissman is a graduate of Bucknell University, is a professional engineer in eight states. He currently serves as the Associate Member Director for the County Engineers Association of Maryland.

Jacob Wroten is the Ohio Bridge Section Manager at HDR and has over 19 years of bridge design experience. He graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering.  His experience ranges from bridge rehabilitation to complex interchanges with long span curved steel bridges and he served as the lead bridge designer on the North Main Street bridge project.