2016 Top TDM Professionals Under 40
Congratulations to GVF s third annual top TDM professionals under 40 recipients. GVF is thrilled to present these awards to ambitious leaders in our industry who are working to find creative solutions to improve our quality of life through engineering, planning, marketing campaigns and the development of commuting alternative programs that are shifting behavioral change. Transportation Demand Management affects everyone and the diverse backgrounds of these professionals is a true testament of the ever evolving role TDM plays in all of our communities. In order to have a vibrant and successful 21st century region we need these type of professionals propelling us forward. Rob Henry, Executive Director, GVF
Recognizing TDM Professionals Across All Sectors 71 TOP TDM PROFESSIONALS UNDER 40 RECOGNIZED TO DATE
Joseph Banks, Senior Project Implementation Coordinator Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC ) Walt Beben, Project Engineer RK&K 4 AWARD RECIPIENTS Joseph is an asset to improving multimodal transportation in the Philadelphia area. As a Senior Project Implementation Coordinator with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) for the past 5 years, he is responsible for obtaining funding, overseeing the design process and delivering a project to construction for non-traditional projects. These non-traditional projects receive funding from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). These projects strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation s intermodal transportation system. Joseph s projects include trail, sidewalk, transit and on-road bicycle improvements. He has also been involved with Safe Routes to School projects that promote walking and provide a safer environment for local communities. Walt has been a rising traffic and ITS engineer for the last decade. Walt continues to play a key role in the I-276 / I-95 interchange project, with a lasting influence on the ITS systems being deployed to better manage traffic through the interchange both now during work zones and once the project is complete. Walt has also supported numerous other local transportation projects, including most recently as the traffic engineer for the SR 100 safety improvement project in Chester County - which includes a series of safety improvements, including signal upgrades and left lane installation at the intersection of Route 100 and Route 23. Walt is also an avid cyclist and shares his passion with the firm s in house bike and pedestrian group.
5 AWARD RECIPIENTS Scott Cepietz, Civil Engineer Michael Baker International Scott s role with Michael Baker International is to lead the engineering team through challenging projects in the TDM and sustainability field. One of his main responsibilities is to help mentor and lead younger staff while the team works through various parts of highway improvement projects. He also works closely with the clients and project managers to keep the schedule on time and under budget. Silas Chamberlin, Executive Director Schuylkill River Heritage Area Most of Silas professional career has focused on connecting individuals to the surrounding landscape through walking and biking, primarily by developing and promoting trails at the regional and statewide level. As executive director of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, Silas is responsible for overseeing the development and promotion of the 130-mile Schuylkill River Trail, which has an estimated two million annual users and was recently named the Best Urban Trail in the nation by USA Today. His organization also manages Bike Schuylkill, a free bike share program that ensures residents and visitors have easy access to bicycles for recreation and transportation. Silas has a book On the Trail: A History of American Hiking that will be published by Yale University Press in October. 2016.
Karen Cilurso, Manager, Community Revitalization Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) 6 AWARD RECIPIENTS As an employee of DVRPC for more than 14 years, Karen has promoted, facilitated and lead programs that strive to improve the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region. In her current role as the Manager of Community Revitalization, Karen has managed two local programs: the Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) and Classic Towns of Greater Philadelphia (CTGP). Karen has managed planning projects that strive to reduce vehicular use by designing smarter, more sustainable communities. Karen also works a marketing program, with 21 participating communities, primarily online, on marketing strategies for potential home buyers that illustrate the many assets in the area s older neighborhoods. Strategies are centered on transit accessibility to jobs, walkability of the downtown business district and schools, and the overall quality of life in established communities. William Deguffroy, Transportation Planner Chester County Planning Commission William is leading the Chester County Planning Commission s efforts to make the built environment more accommodating for all transportation modes. He recently led the Baltimore Pike for Everyone plan, a complete street plan for Baltimore Pike in southern Chester County. He is currently leading the Commission s outreach efforts to market the Multimodal Handbook, the County s most recent planning resource addressing how to improve the built environment.
7 AWARD RECIPIENTS Brian DePan, Manager Intelligent Transportation Systems Design & Construction Jacobs Engineering Group Since beginning his career as a Traffic/ITS Engineer with Jacobs Engineering in 2006, Brian has been working with public sector clients to better manage transportation demand management throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. For PennDOT, Brian assisted in developing the pilot program, technologies, and messaging guidelines for the display of travel times on DMS along the U.S. 202 corridor in Chester County. He has continued to assist in the program s expansion throughout the entire freeway network in District 6-0 and onto arterial roadways. PennDOT s travel time system was one of the first widespread deployments in the U.S. and has assisted motorists by providing them the ability to dynamically make trip decisions en-route. Currently, Brian is assisting both PennDOT and the City of Philadelphia in taking a more active role in managing vehicle and transit traffic throughout the region. Ryan Gallagher, Associate Manager of the Office of Project Implementation Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Ryan s responsibilities include Program and Project Management for PennDOT Engineering District 6-0 and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) as the Associate Manager of the Office of Project Implementation at DVRPC. Ryan has previously managed several programs for PennDOT District 6-0 including the Transportation Enhancements, Home Town Streets, Safe Routes to School, and Pennsylvania Community and Transportation Initiatives Programs. Ryan has worked directly on a significant number of projects that effects Transportation Demand Management including the federally funded segment of Philadelphia s Bike Share Project along with his current role of project manager for PennDOT on the Roosevelt Boulevard Multimodal Project funded under the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Program.
Megan Gardo, Parking Analyst Walker Parking Consultants 8 AWARD RECIPIENTS As a parking analyst in Walker Parking Consultant s Philadelphia office, Megan s responsibilities include researching, analyzing, and recommending solutions to parking problems through the performance of parking supply/demand, alternatives and site analyses, as well as market and financial feasibility, shared parking, and parking management studies. Megan has had the opportunity to contribute to a variety of studies for a broad range of clients, including both large and small municipalities, developers, universities and hospitals. While her focus is in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, Megan has worked on projects both across the U.S. and internationally. David Genova, District Wellness Coordinator Pottstown School District As the Wellness Coordinator for Pottstown School District, David makes sure progress is being made and accounted for by facilitating the collaboration between physical activity and nutrition. He assesses, plans, and implements physical activity programs being offered before, during, and after school. Rupert Elementary School launched a daily morning Walking School Bus program. A Walking School Bus is a group of children who walk to school together under the supervision of trained adult volunteers. The Walking School Bus is a fun and healthy way for kids (and volunteers) to get regular exercise and prepare themselves for a day of learning. In addition, David initiated Traffic Safety assemblies, annual participation in International Walk to School Day, and pedestrian safety education in the four Pottstown elementary schools.
Benjamin Guthrie, P.E., Project Manager Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. 9 AWARD RECIPIENTS For almost nine years, Benjamin has been working to improve safety and connectivity on roads and trails throughout the Delaware Valley. Ben has worked with communities across the region to develop transportation solutions that meet the needs of all roadway end users. His project experience includes bicycle connectivity studies, multimodal corridor plans, roadway safety audits, trail plans, pedestrian safety studies, and complete streets projects. Ben played a role in developing the Pottstown Borough (Montgomery County) Bicycle Network Design, as well as the West Chester Pike Transportation and Land Use Plan (Upper Darby Township, Delaware County), and Abington Township s (Montgomery County) Bicycle Master Plan. Laura Heilman, Vanpool, Bike/Ped Outreach Manager AECOM--Commuter Services of PA Laura is a seasoned TDM professional with more than ten years of service on the Commuter Services of PA project for the Susquehanna Regional Transportation Partnership. As a member of the AECOM team contracted to provide management and administrative services for the SRTP, Laura serves in the role of Vanpool, Bicycle & Pedestrian Outreach Manager. She has diversified her TDM knowledge across all alternative modes and points commuters to modes such as carpooling, vanpooling, transit, walking, biking and telecommuting. She maintains vast experience in working with employer and community partners to develop on-site programs to educate employees about non-drive alone alternatives and the huge financial savings to be obtained through these options.
Kourtney High, Grants Administrator Borough of Pottstown Curtis Hobson, Project Engineer Arkema 10 AWARD RECIPIENTS As Grants Administrator for the Borough of Pottstown, Kourtney plays a critical role in advancing a number of programs and initiatives related to alternative transportation. Kourtney has enhanced several programs including the Pottstown Area Rapid Transit, (PART) ADA Policy, Title VI Program, and Safety & Security plans during her tenure with the Borough. Kourtney has coordinated the review of design plans with key local stakeholders, organized public outreach, and garnered meaningful support for the Walk & Bike Pottstown project over the past few years. This support is essential to the successful implementation of the project as it includes the extension of bike lanes, reconfiguration of traffic facilities, sidewalk improvements, and is to be located in both commercial and residential areas of the Borough. Curtis handles a wide a variety of construction projects for Arkema at King of Prussia. He always investigates the most cost effective and sustainable alternatives for the variety of projects that we have. Curtis distributed a control system and help implement the control package to carry Arkema into 2017 and beyond. These controls are critical to our scale up operations.
11 AWARD RECIPIENTS Louis Hufnagle, Project Manager Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. Louis has over 13 years of planning experience having worked for both Chester and Delaware County Planning Departments, and recently started working for Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. He has diverse experience providing municipal assistance on projects related to highways, roads, bridges, streetscapes, greenways, bicycle and pedestrian projects as well as transit related issues. David Kanthor, Transportation Planner City of Philadelphia David has worked for the past 10 years focusing on improving multimodal opportunities for residents, visitors and employees in Philadelphia. Currently, his work at the City Planning Commission has allowed him to provide leadership on transportation planning efforts, specifically in our district planning process, congestion management and with relation to the City s pedestrian and bicycle facility infrastructure. Some projects David has been a part of have been: Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan Progress Report in 2015, The 2015 Trail Master Plan update, The 2015 Center City Parking Inventory. David has also worked on public space improvements especially focused on improving the park user experience.
12 AWARD RECIPIENTS Nicole R. Kline, P.E., PTOE, Senior Project Manager McMahon Associates, Inc. Nicole is involved in several of McMahon s high profile TDM, active transportation, and sustainable transportation projects. Nicole s commitment to multimodal transportation extends beyond her projects. Nicole promotes multimodal transportation through her volunteer and leadership activities as part of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. A few of Nicole s projects include Route 30 Multimodal Transportation Study, Chester County; Swarthmore Roundabout Intersection Project, Swarthmore Borough; and S.R. 0415 Memorial Highway, Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Improvement, Luzerne County. Jamie J. Kouch, P.E., Senior Project Manager McMahon Associates, Inc. Jamie plays a key role in many of McMahon s TDM and active transportation projects involving multimodal facility improvements, such as sidewalk/trail design, ADA design, streetscape design, innovative intersection design, and traffic calming. Jamie is a member of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and regularly participates in the annual National MS Society s City to the Shore Ride, as well as local Chester Valley Trail clean up and bike to work events. Three recent of Jamie s transportation projects are Paoli Road Improvement Feasibility Study, Tredyffrin Township; Swarthmore Roundabout Intersection Project, Swarthmore Borough; and Schenley Drive Multimodal Improvements, Pittsburgh.
13 AWARD RECIPIENTS Megan Krusi, Information Systems Manager Suburban Transit Network, Inc. (TransNet) As Information Systems Manager, Megan oversees the efficient operation of TransNet s automated scheduling and dispatching software, managing more than 300 vehicles and 3,300 demand response trips daily. Megan s strong project management guides TransNet through many technology improvement projects. Most recently this includes a complex cloud based phone system and data network as part of TransNet s comprehensive Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan that was implemented in early 2016. Megan now fully manages all of TransNet s technology systems, including more than 250 tablets that collect real-time data from the drivers on the road each day. Megan also oversees the coordination and delivery of all commuter and educational shuttle services for TransNet. Erin Matlack, Sales Executive for Vanpooling division Enterprise Rideshare Erin is a trailblazer in the van pooling arena. She is educating companies in the Tri-State on how vanpooling can be a sustainable business option for them. It not only can help their employee s moral, it helps the environment by saving over 19,000 in CO2 per vanpool. Over 70% of employees are disengaged by their commute and vanpooling will not only help retain good talent, but recruit it. Erin works to improve the air quality in the area as she moves forward developing vanpooling in the Greater Philadelphia Area. She will help congestion in the area and make happy commuters, while decreasing SOV.
14 AWARD RECIPIENTS Stacy Newcomer, Deputy Project Manager AECOM-Commuter Services of PA Stacy serves as the Deputy Project Manager for the Commuter Services of PA program. She possesses a Project Manager Certification from URS Corporation/AECOM. She is tasked with educating the public about non-drive alone transportation options. Stacy maintains a pulse of project success through metrics identifying vehicle miles removed from regional roadways and emission reduction statistics. In addition to working with a local program staff of eleven TDM individuals in Pennsylvania, Stacy also interacts and shares ideas with TDM programs across nine other states. Bridget Postlewaite, PE, Project Manager KMJ Consulting, Inc. Bridget has nine years of experience in transportation engineering for both public and private sector clients. Her work involves using Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to reduce congestion, re-route traffic and improve safety. She has retimed traffic signal systems to improve mobility along major corridors in the Greater Philadelphia area. Bridget s work is multi-jurisdictional, having included, PennDOT (several districts), DelDOT (all counties) and New Jersey.
Michael Ruane, Freight Transportation Planner Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) 15 AWARD RECIPIENTS In just five years of employment at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Mike Ruane has distinguished himself through outstanding performance, excellent customer service, and true innovation. Mike has provided critical and superb support to a variety of important DVRPC projects over time. In every case, Mike has made invaluable contributions and also worked collaboratively with both DVRPC partners and his DVRPC colleagues. Some vivid examples of Mike s noteworthy accomplishments are: Commodity Profile Series, National Highway System Connectors and SHRP2 C20 Local Freight Data project. Steven Sharp, Senior Project Engineer RK&K Steven is a dynamic traffic engineer in RK&K s King of Prussia office. Steve has been involved in a number of regionally significant projects, including the I-95 / I-276 interchange, the Pennsylvania Turnpike MP 333-351 Transportation Improvement Study, and the I-76 ITS Enhancements project for PennDOT District 6-0. Steven also is a regional representative for the firm s Bike RK&K initiative, and is a leader in organizing RK&K s efforts for Bike to Work day and other sustainable initiatives.
Ryan Whittington, Civil Engineer HNTB 16 AWARD RECIPIENTS As a consultant project manager for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Ryan is responsible for the delivery of design projects that reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges, improve congestion and enhance safety along roads. Ryan also has a specialty of preparing and receiving approval for NEPA compliance on State and Federal projects including Section 4(f), Section 6(f), Section 106 and public involvement. Ryan also has expertise in waterway permitting, coordinating with the Department of Environmental Protection and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Ryan is currently the PennDOT Project Manager for the Headquarters Road Bridge Replacement and the Yardley Aqueduct over the Delaware Canal Rehabilitation project that has extensive State and Federal agency coordination due to their cultural resources. Congratulations to all our award recipients!
About GVF Founded in 1990, GVF is a not-for-profit organization created to advocate and promote a viable transportation network for the region s economic vitality. To maximize awareness and develop sustainable support, we partner with public and private entities. GVF s mission is to achieve a desirable quality of life and a healthy, competitive economic environment by developing multi-faceted transportation strategies. www.wearetdm.com 1012 West Eighth Avenue, Suite A King of Prussia, PA 19406 www.gvftma.com