Jim Anderson (Keynote Speaker)
Senior Executive at Beacon SoftwareJim has over 35 years of experience spanning civil engineering and technology. He spent a decade at CH2M Hill (now Jacobs) before transitioning to senior executive roles at leading software companies, including Oracle and Earthlink. He holds both a BS and MS in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech.
A recognized thought leader in A.I. and transportation, Jim frequently appears on Bloomberg and CNBC to discuss emerging technologies. He is a sought-after speaker on “A.I. in Transportation” and has presented at major industry events, including AASHTO’s Committee on Traffic Engineering and Committee on Transportation System Operations Annual Meetings.
Engineering runs in Jim’s family—he has been married for 35 years to a registered civil engineer who is a Professor of the Practice in Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech. He has three children, including a daughter studying engineering at Georgia Tech and a special needs son with Down syndrome.
Amar Ali, P.E., PMP (Moderator)
Deputy Director of ITS Management at New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT)Mr. Amar Ali is a Deputy Director of ITS Management and System at the New York City Department of Transportation since 2023. In his role, Mr. Ali oversees the strategic planning, implementation, and maintenance of cutting-edge ITS solutions aimed at enhancing transportation efficiency, safety, and sustainability across the city's vast network. In his previous experience, Mr. Ali was involved in deploying and supporting Advanced Transportation Management Systems, in number of locations in the northeast region and he was involved in many other ITS programs such as the Transit Signal Priority, and the Connected Vehicles.
Mr. Ali has 20 years of professional experience in the US and overseas. Beside his experience in the US, Mr. Ali was involved in several Transportation and ITS projects in China, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Ali holds a Master’s degree in the major of systems & industrial engineering. He a is Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York and a Certified Project Manager Professional.
Leo Almanzar, P.E., P.P., P.TOE, IMSA 2
Traffic/ITS Deputy Department Manager at Michael Baker International, Inc.Leomar Almanzar serves as Senior Associate and Traffic Engineering and ITS Deputy Department Manager at Michael Baker International’s Newark, New Jersey office. He holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Leo brings over 21 years of experience in managing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and communication projects, encompassing all aspects of ITS practice including planning, design, construction management, operation, and maintenance. His expertise in ITS planning includes systems engineering analysis, ITS architecture, Concept of Operations (ConOps), system requirements, and system verification and validation. He collaborated with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on the development of Model Systems Engineering Documents for Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) Systems. Mr. Leo's project management experience extends beyond the northeast region to include ITS projects for Michigan DOT, Minnesota DOT, PennDOT, and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.
Nader Ayoub, P.E.
Vice President of Solutions Engineering Group at Iteris, Inc.Mr. Ayoub has over 42 years of experience in traffic operations specializing in vehicle detection and control systems design, ITS communications design, ITS/signal system implementation and ITS project management. He has a background in working in vehicle detection research for the Texas Transportation Institute, the public sector working for the Texas Department of Transportation, and in the private sector working in applications engineering. He currently is working for Iteris as the Vice President of the Solutions Engineering Group and leads a team that specializes in system design, operations, and signal systems optimization. He has extensive experience in project management and deployment of traffic signal control systems. He has established procedures and recommended practices for the operation of traffic signals in the areas of detector design and operation, coordination and special phasing which have been adopted by TxDOT. In addition, Mr. Ayoub has developed training courses for traffic signal operations and design.
Talha Azfar
Ph.D. Student at Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTalha Azfar is a Ph.D. student in Transportation Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and has been since August 2023. He began his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2022. His research focus lies in the intersection of computer vision, digital twins, edge computing, and intelligent transportation infrastructure. Talha holds a Masters degree in Systems Engineering from PIEAS, Islamabad (2016), and a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from NUST, Islamabad (2014).
Shannon Bailey
Senior Director of Sales/Public Transit at MiovisionShannon Bailey is the Senior Director of Sales, Public Transit at Miovision Technologies. Shannon brings 15+ years of expert knowledge in Transit technologies for multiple modes of transportation including Secondary safety systems, ITS- CAD/AVL, Transit Scheduling systems, Priority control, CV2X and Smart City solutions. Shannon is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) holding a Board Position for APTA Business Members Board of Governors, Vice Chair position for the APTA AI Subcommittee and Vice Chair position for the BRT Policy and Funding Subcommittee. She also is on the Board of the NY Public Transit Association. An Alumni of APTA’s Leadership Program, Class of 2023. She holds a BA in Communications from Monmouth University, a Professional Certification in Business Process Management from Villanova University and is a certified paralegal. She holds the sole inventor patent in the US and Europe for anti-Collision Technology for Rail MOW/RWPS systems using 2.4 and 900 MHz radio technologies. She is one of Railway Age’s Fast Trackers “Rising Stars under 40”.
Joseph M. Bovenzi, AICP
Deputy Director - Administration & Operations of Genesee Transportation CouncilJoe Bovenzi is the Deputy Director for Administration and Operations at the Genesee Transportation Council (GTC). His transportation planning experience includes Transportation System Management and Operations (TSMO) initiatives, Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) administration, transportation infrastructure vulnerability and hazard mitigation analyses, and community transportation planning projects. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo, a Master’s in Geography from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, and a Master’s in Public Administration from SUNY Brockport. Joe is a graduate of the Eastern Transportation Coalition Operations Academy and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Matthew W. Daus, Esq.
Partner at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLPMatthew W. Daus currently serves as Transportation Technology Chair at the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Transportation Research Center of The City College of New York, where he conducts research, and continues to be extensively published as an expert on ground transportation regulation and technology. As a CUNY Distinguished Lecturer from 2010-2018, he taught courses on transportation history, policy, sustainability, for-hire regulation and technology. Mr. Daus also continues to serve, since 2009, as President of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR), a non-profit educational peer group of government transportation regulators from around the world promoting best regulatory and innovative practices. Mr. Daus is the longest serving Commissioner/Chair/CEO of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), where he served from 2001-2010. Prior to his tenure as Commissioner, Mr. Daus served in many other executive and counsel positions in NYC government for almost 20 years, including: General Counsel to the TLC and the NYC Community Development Agency; Special Counsel to the TLC and NYC Trade Waste Commission; NYC Human Rights Prosecutor; and Commissioner of the NYC Civil Service Commission. Mr. Daus is a partner at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, where he founded and chairs the Transportation Practice Group since 2010.
John Fagan
CRO at ValerannJohn has more than 18 years of experience in the transportation industry, developing municipal solutions and serving as a subject matter expert to local governments on financial and operational matters. Highly regarded for his knowledge of emerging markets and a thorough understanding of governmental purchasing protocols, his client-centered approach is widely recognized in state and regional communities. John’s career includes several former commitments with industry leaders across the public safety, tolling and mobility sectors which has contributed to his proven track record of developing solutions to meet or exceed client expectations. John’s excellent strategic planning, relationship building, and business development skills have allowed him to stay at the forefront of innovation, while helping to define the future of the transportation and mobility landscape. John’s unique understanding of complex, turnkey, safety and operational efficiency problems provide customers with an effective conduit to identify, procure, and execute on their goals.
Jingqin (Jannie) Gao, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Research at New York University, Tandon School of EngineeringDr. Jingqin (Jannie) Gao is the Assistant Director of Research at the federally funded C2SMARTER University Transportation Center led by New York University (NYU) Tandon School of Engineering. A graduate of NYU, Dr. Gao is a dedicated professional with more than 15 years of experience in transportation engineering and planning. Dr. Gao has served as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI for various projects funded by the federal government, National Academies, and state and local agencies. Her research has focused on emerging technologies and urban analytics for smart transportation. She is best known for her research on evaluating the safety performance of the U.S.DOT Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment in New York City, AI-based transportation solutions for smart cities, and parking analysis. Before joining NYU, Dr. Gao worked at the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), supporting the agency’s internal planning, technical review processes, and coordinating with external agencies on regional projects. She has been recognized by Who’s Who in America: Professional Women (2023) and received awards from ITE and WTS-GNY for her leadership in the field.
Francis Hanney
Senior Assistant District Executive for Operations at PennDOT Engineering District 6-0Francis Hanney is the Sr. Assistant District Executive for Operations in PennDOT’s Engineering District 6-0 which encompasses the 5 county SE Pennsylvania region including Philadelphia. Fran has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Temple University and has 30 plus years of professional engineering experience. Fran has served in many roles over the years including Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Roundabout Coordinator, Mural Arts Committee Chair, Americans with Disabilities Coordinator and is currently the executive manager of PennDOT’s Signals and Safety, Operations, and Transportation Services Divisions. In these roles Fran has won multiple awards and has served on a number of statewide task forces which have been instrumental in multiple policy publications including the Transportation Impact Study Guidelines, Statewide ADA policy guidance and others. Fran has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a speaker at industry events too numerous to mention. Fran is married with 2 children who are now young men just starting their professional careers and lives in Montgomery County Pennsylvania.
Ellwood F. Hanrahan, II
Transportation Program Coordinator at New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)Ellwood Hanrahan is a Transportation Program Coordinator with the New York Department of Transportation. He currently leads the programming and strategic planning for operations of NYSDOT’s Statewide Mobility Services program, including coordination with Active Transportation Demand Management (ATDM) and Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) initiatives, management of outcomes-based performance metrics, improving transportation information delivery, and enhancing customer experiences on public transportation, including integration with shared and micro-mobility services, public outreach, and stakeholder engagement activities. He has more than 24 years of experience working on project development, transportation demand management and transportation planning for operations, and has worked in both the public and private sectors developing and managing small- and large-scale projects. While employed at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided program oversite and technical advisory for programs involving multiple Federal, State, and Industry partners.
Felipe Hernandez
Project Engineer at NJDOTFelipe Hernandez is an experienced Project Engineer with over 22 years of experience, in the fields of Traffic Operations, ITS Maintenance, and Mobility Systems and Traffic Engineering. He currently leads the operations at NJDOT’s Arterial Management Center. Felipe has experience as a project manager and traffic engineering subject matter expert for NJDOT’s Adaptive Traffic System design and construction projects, which are Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) federally funded and are a part of New Jersey’s Intelligent Traffic Signal System program. Felipe has also played an important role as a Coordinator for NJDOT’s Statewide Incident Management program, training over 250 emergency responders in temporary traffic control setup, quick clearance, and the utilization of NJDOT’s ITS equipment for the monitoring and mitigation of incidents. While in this role, he was able to form various Incident Management Task Forces, which mends the utilization of ITS technology for traffic mitigation, construction project staging, and best engineering practices to maintain efficient regional emergency response. Currently involved in NJDOT’s latest Arterial Management initiatives which include the deployment of Lead Pedestrian Intervals as part of traffic signal optimization and adaptive systems, Felipe’s Traffic Engineering group has worked closely with the NJDOT commissioner’s office to address safety concerns, utilizing technology such as Passive Pedestrian Detection with phase extensions (to ensure pedestrians have adequate time to cross busy intersections), and vehicular red light extension features to minimize accidents at intersections due to red light violations.
Hassan Homami, Ph.D., P.E.
Senior Supervising Engineer at WSPHassan Rezaei Homami is a Senior Supervising Engineer at WSP. He has 29 years in ITS Planning, design, PS&E, construction support and operation and maintenance support. Dr. Homami received his Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering from the City University of New York in 2013. Dr. Homami has a diversity of experience in management and designing a transportation, communications, and electrical engineering projects. He has studied various aspects of traffic engineering, traffic control, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) including CCTV, DMS, FMS. SHM, FMS, Probe detector, BT detector, RWIS, ATMS, OHVD; communication system/ network, Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), Edge processing, embedded device application and microelectronic applications.
Kaicong Huang
Ph.D. Student at Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteKaicong Huang is a Ph.D. student in Transportation Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) since August 2024. He holds a M.S. in Robotics from National University of Singapore (2024), and a B.E. in Electronic Engineering from Sun Yat-sen University (2023). His research interests include computer vision, autonomous vehicles, and intelligent transportation. systems.
Athena Hutchins, P.E., F.ASCE
Executive Director of Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC)Athena Hutchins is the Executive Director of the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC) providing overall leadership and management responsibilities for the multi-agency international coalition of transportation entities in Western New York and Southern Ontario. As director of the Coalition, Athena is responsible for multi-agency Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) operations and technology deployment, information dissemination, standards development, incident management, and regional collaboration across international boundaries. Athena’s professional career includes over 28 years of working in transportation on both the international and regional levels. Athena Hutchins is a Licensed New York State Professional Engineer with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University at Buffalo.
Ram Jagannathan, P.E., PTOE, RSP1
AtkinsRéalisRam Jagannathan is a project director with 24 years of experience and is a nationally recognized expert and thought leader in traffic operations and safety. He has experience as a program manager for successive multiyear, multimillion-dollar contracts for the FHWA and other transportation agencies. His technical expertise includes traffic operational analysis, transportation management center operations, traffic simulation modelling, signal timing optimization studies, ITS/TSMO/ATDM studies, corridor studies, interchange projects, traffic safety studies, LRSPs, pedestrian studies, transit evaluations, alternative intersection and interchange treatments, advanced transportation research, and transportation software. He effectively managed multifunctional teams of 50 to 100, consisting of engineers, developers, and researchers to deliver complex and integrated solutions.
Preston Judkins
Senior Director of Engineering Services, North America at ParsonsPreston Judkins is a Traffic Engineer and Project Manager for ITS Projects across North America, as well as signal timing, design, and operations. Some of Mr. Judkin’s projects include Truck Parking, Statewide Integration (Michigan, Illinois), Tollway ITS Lead (Indiana, Illinois; Rhode Island), County (Lake County), City (Chicago), and managed lane specific (Michigan, Virginia, Illinois, New York). He is a graduate from the research-intensive University of Wisconsin in Civil Engineering and holds an MBA from the University of Illinois.
Albolfazl Karimpour, Ph.D, EIT
Assistant Professor at SUNY Polytechnic InstituteDr. Abolfazl Karimpour is an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute. He is also the founder and director of the Transportation Research and AI Lab. Previously, he held positions as Manager and Assistant Research Professor at the University of Arizona's Center for Applied Transportation Science. Dr. Karimpour’s research interests include Traffic Operation and Safety, Traffic Signal Optimization, Data Analytics, Public Transportation, and Smart Cities Transportation. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed research articles and presented his findings at more than 30 national and international conferences. As a PI and CO-PI, he has led numerous national, regional, and local transportation projects. He is an active member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). Dr. Karimpour serves on the TRB standing committee on Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Computing Applications (AED50) and c-chair the research taskforce. He is also a young member of the Street and Highway Operations committee and an Associate member of the Transportation Safety committee of ASCE. He is also a panelist on NCHRP 17-100: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to Enhance Safety Analysis. Dr. Karimpour has received several prestigious awards, including the 2023 Dean's Excellence Award in Research Excellence, the ITE Western District Outstanding Graduate Student Award, the Jenny L. Grote Student Leadership Award, and the Southern Arizona ITE Hank Warner Scholarship.
Ruimin Ke, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteDr. Ruimin Ke embarked on his journey at RPI as an Assistant Professor in August 2023. He was a faculty member at the University of Texas at El Paso from 2021 to 2023. Dr. Ke possesses profound expertise in intelligent transportation systems (ITS), with a specialization in developing machine learning algorithms and edge/cloud/quantum computing systems tailored for ITS applications. Dr. Ke's academic background includes a Ph.D. and M.S. in Transportation Engineering from the University of Washington, an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a B.E. in Automation from Tsinghua University. His scholarly contributions to the field comprise over seventy peer-reviewed papers, a published book, and a few patents. He has led projects funded by NSF, IBM, USDOT, among others. Dr. Ke is an editor of four journals: Nature-Scientific Reports, Transportation Research Record, Data Science for Transportation, and Journal of Air Transport Management. He received multiple research awards in recognition of his collaborative research efforts, such as the 2023 TRB Best Paper Award, the 2022 Outstanding Paper Award from IEEE DTPI Conference, the 2020-2021 COTA Best Dissertation Award, and the Editor's Choice Paper Award from Journal of Transportation Engineering. He is the chair of the TRB Edge Computing Subcommittee. He holds memberships in the TRB standing committee on Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Applications (AED50), the TRB standing committee on Statewide/National Transportation Data and Information Systems (AED10), the ASCE T&DI Infrastructure Systems Committee, the ASCE T&DI Artificial Intelligence in Transportation committee, and IEEE.
Christopher Lee, P.E.
Professional Engineer at New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)Christopher Lee, P.E., NYSDOT Professional Engineer 1, Hudson Valley Transportation Management Center. Mr. Lee has19 years of experience with NYSDOT, including highway/bridge project development and scoping, traffic and capacity analysis, project funding and programming, highway work permits, highway maintenance, equipment management, incident management, and ITS project development and management. Current projects of interest include over-height vehicle detection systems on the Hutchinson River Parkway and ITS device deployment as part of the Lower Hudson Transit Link project in Rockland and Westchester County. Mr. Lee has B.S and M.S. degrees from Columbia University.
Trent Lethco
Transportation Program Director and Principal of KLD Engineering, D.P.C.Trent Lethco is Transportation Program Director and Principal with the expert-led New York-based firm KLD Engineering. His background in transportation planning spans 28 years focusing on transportation planning, public policy, urban mobility, large scale events, cultural and educational facility planning, and waterfront revitalization. He has worked on both coasts of the United States starting in California and now in New York City. He has a blended history of public and private sector employment. In the realm of major events, at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Trent led the development of the mobility plan for the Bay Area bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games™. Since coming to New York, he led the consultant team authoring the successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2026. Since 2024 he is supporting the Local Organizing Committee of New York and New Jersey for FIFA World Cup 2026™. During his time with a previous employer, he was also involved in London 2012 and Rio 2016. Finally, Trent is directly supporting several transportation providers in the Northeast as they too prepare for the FIFA World Cup™ in 2026. When not working on transportation planning projects, he regularly teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York City and supports the Regional Plan Association on their New York Committee.
Steven Levine (Moderator)
Executive Director of TRANSCOMSteve Levine became the Executive Director of TRANSCOM in September of 2017. Founded in 1986, TRANSCOM has become a national model of how separate agencies can work together cooperatively toserve the travelling public. TRANSCOM (Transportation Operations Coordinating Committee) is a coalition of the 16 major highway, transit and public safety agencies in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut region. It is uniquely organized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, headquartered in Jersey City, NJ.
Prior to joining TRANSCOM, he had a diverse mix of public and private sector transportation experience. His prior experience in the private sector included serving as the E-ZPass® NY Program Manager at Conduent and senior consulting positions with Jacobs Engineering, Group, Kimley-Horn and Associates, and TransCore ITS. He also spent 13 years with the Texas Department of Transportation in the Houston District Office. He holds an M.P.A. from Baruch College, a Master’s in Civil Engineering from Penn State and Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from The Cooper Union. He is also a member of the ITS NY and ITS NJ Boards.
Adam S. Levine, P.E., AICP (Moderator)
Executive Director of NYMTCAdam is the Executive Director of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC). In this role, Adam leads the second-largest metropolitan planning organization in the country, ensuring the flow of nearly $37 billion in funding for over 1000 transportation projects and studies in New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. Prior to this, Adam served at the New York State Department of Transportation, most recently as the Regional Traffic Engineer for New York City. Adam has diverse experience in traffic operations, highway design, major projects, and public and governmental affairs. Recent prior NYSDOT positions include Regional Traffic Engineer and Transportation Management Center manager for the Hudson Valley, and Public Information Officer for New York City. Prior to his time as PIO, Adam served on the Route 9A Project team that rebuilt West Street adjacent to the World Trade Center following September 11, 2001. Adam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Princeton University and a Master’s degree in transportation planning and engineering from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
Shuyang Li
Ph.D. Student at Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteShuyang Li will start his Ph.D. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the Fall of 2025. He has a Master of Engineering in Traffic System Engineering at the University of Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Traffic Engineering from Southeast University (2023). In the summer of 2024, Shuyang worked as a research intern in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the RPI. Shuyang was a contributor to the platform development of the Mcity Autonomous Vehicle Challenge.
Zerun Liu
Ph.D. Candidate; Research Assistant at New York University/C2SMARTER CenterZerun is a Ph.D. candidate in Urban Systems at New York University under the supervision of Professor Kaan Ozbay. She is now a Research Assistant at the C2SMARTER University Transportation Center. Her research focuses on transport safety and driving behavior, leveraging advanced AI technologies to address real-world challenges in urban areas. As a presenter, she will share insights on electric trucks from the perspective of urban infrastructure safety.
Maggen Louisius-Blair
Transportation Planner at NFTAMaggen Louisius-Blair is a transportation planner at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) where she supports regional transit projects that reflect the needs of the community she serves. With a foundation in traffic systems and active transportation, Maggen focuses on data-driven planning that enhances the way people move through their environments. Prior to joining the NFTA, she worked on the Traffic Systems team at Niagara Region in Ontario, Canada providing ITS-focused solutions and operational analytics to promote safe, efficient mobility for all road users. Given Maggen’s educational background in Civil Engineering specialized in Transportation and her diverse experience, she brings a combined technical and community-focused approach to her work
Mike McIntee
Senior Vice President of Sales at Q-FreeMike McIntee is a seasoned leader in the ITS industry, currently serving as Senior Vice President of Sales at Q-Free. With over a decade of experience in traffic management, he has played a pivotal role in advancing innovative transportation solutions across the country. Prior to Q-Free, he led strategic growth initiatives as Vice President of Econolite’s West region and has a deep technical background in manufacturing sensors and execution software. A U.S. Army veteran and former Director of ITS California, Mike brings a unique blend of engineering, leadership, and market expertise to the industry.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of California, Davis. His insights into the evolving transportation landscape, combined with his commitment to industry progress, make him a sought-after voice in the ITS community.
Arthur T. O'Connor, Ph.D., P.E. (Moderator)
ITS-NY President Emeritus/USDOT - FHWAArthur T. O’Connor has been with the USDOT/FHWA for over 37 years. Art co-established the New York City Metropolitan Office in late 1996/early 1997 and has spent over 28 years working very closely with all downstate metropolitan partner agencies in the advancement of a wide range of federally-funded ITS and operations programs and initiatives. He spent the previous 9 years in the USDOT/FHWA Boston (Cambridge) office as a Civil (highway) Engineer in a variety of traffic engineering, safety, and ITS related positions. He also spent the previous 5 years as a Structural Engineer in private sector consultant & construction engineering firms with specialization in the nuclear power industry.
Art has served as an Adjunct Faculty Professor at Stony Brook University (Long Island, NY) and at his alma mater, Merrimack College (North Andover, Mass).
Art holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Transportation Planning & Engineering from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, a Master’s in Business Administration from Suffolk University (Boston, MA), and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Merrimack College. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in multiple states. He is honored to serve on the ITS-NY Board of Directors and as President Emeritus of ITS-NY. He is also a member of both ASCE and ITE.
Judith Peter, P.E. (Student Poster Facilitator)
Manager, JTMC at New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)Judith has worked for New York State Department of Transportation for over 25 years in the Construction, Traffic Safety and Mobility and Planning Unit. She also served as an Assistant to the Regional Director for 8 years.
Her current position is as a Joint Transportation Management Center (JTMC) Manager. In this capacity, Judith supervises the daily activities of the JTMC; informs Region 11 staff about incidents of major significance; reviews and coordinates construction calls to the JTMC, including late running construction; participates in Monthly Partner’s Meetings, Monthly Equipment Meetings; reviews and assigns JTMC staff schedules; and works on weather related incidents. Judith also serves as a leader on the Region 11 Emergency Management Team.
Judith is a Panel Chair – TRB - National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine; NCHRP Project 03-148. Judith is also a member of the AASHTO - CTSO Communications Technology Working Group and a member of the TRB ACP15 - Standing Committee on Intelligent Transportation Systems.
Judith holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the Pratt Institute and a Master’s Degree in Transportation Engineering from The City College of New York. Judith is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of New York. Judith Peter is also an Adjunct Professor at the City College of New York.
Lynne Randolph, PMP
Institute Engineer at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)Lynne Randolph is an Institute Engineer at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) with a B.S. in Computer Engineering, a PMP certification, and over 25 years of experience in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), complex software, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI). She has led major efforts to architect and develop statewide Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), improve system resiliency, and integrate real-time data and AI-driven decision support tools for public agencies. Lynne leads SwRI’s LAMP initiative, which focuses on the responsible integration of large language models (LLMs) across sectors like transportation, biomechanics, robotics, and national defense. She contributes to national efforts on AI, resiliency, and digital infrastructure through her work with the Transportation Research Board and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. A passionate mentor, she combines practical expertise with curiosity, clarity, and a touch of humor—and is driven by a lifelong love of learning. When not working, she enjoys reading, watercolor painting, board games, and occasionally exploring virtual worlds in World of Warcraft.
Jay Ruit
Group Lead for the Advanced Mobility Group at JacobsJay Ruit is the Group Lead for the Advanced Mobility Group in Jacobs Philadelphia. Jay is a graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering as well as a Masters in Transportation Engineering. Ruit has a wide range of knowledge in the operations, maintenance, planning, design, and implementation of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and traffic engineering solutions. Jay has managed several freeway traffic management systems from concept through deployment including the critical months of operations. Jay has also effectively supported PennDOT’s RTMC operations during many regional planned special events (notably the 2015 Pope Francis visit and 2016 Democratic National Convention) as well as PennDOT’s effective response to many public emergencies (notably the I-95 Cottman Interchange Tanker Explosion / Bridge Collapse in 2023).
Dario Saravia, P.E. (Annual Meeting Chair)
President at PBS Engineering & Associates, P.C.Mr. Saravia has over 21 years of experience in electrical engineering and is a professional engineer in the states of New York, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Mr. Saravia was a Principal Engineer for ICx Technologies, a global security company; Supervising Engineer and Northeast Area Manager for PB Farradyne for a period of ten years. Mr. Saravia has provided project management or design services to fulfill the project work, budgets, and schedules for over thirty systems related projects nationwide. Mr. Saravia has managed design-build projects including the NYCWINS wireless network, and as the Quality Manager on the $300 million Automated Train Control (ATC) Project for the PATH. Mr. Saravia also worked on a number of critical infrastructure and system projects, in a three-year assignment with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (facilities wide), a six-year assignment with the NYCDOT and Project Manager for a security systems upgrade for the Niagara Power Plant for the New York Power Authority. As a Senior Supervising Engineer, Mr. Saravia has led numerous design, installation, integration, testing projects which included surveillance systems and Advanced Communication Networks (fiber optic, copper, coaxial, & wireless). Mr. Saravia holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the City College of New York City, 1990.
Brian Schillaci
Account Executive Industrial IoT at Cisco SystemsBrian Schillaci is an Industrial IoT Account Executive at Cisco Systems, bringing over two decades of experience in information technology. His career spans a wide range of Public Sector domains, including state and local government, transportation agencies, utilities, and education. Brian specializes in Industrial IoT, networking, and security technologies, and holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) with advanced training in project management, service delivery, security, and Cisco technologies and solutions.
Marie Seguin
Vice President at VersilisMarie is a professional civil engineer and Vice President at Versilis, a leading engineering and manufacturing company specializing in automated traffic control solutions. With over 20 years of experience in highway safety and traffic management, she is responsible for the company's business development, client relationships, and project delivery, ensuring quality and safety in every aspect of Versilis' projects across the United States and around the world.
Abhishek Singhal, Ph.D., P.E.
Senior Project Manager at MTA Bridges and TunnelsAbhishek Singhal, is a Senior Project Manger at MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Intelligent Transportation Systems Group. He has 10 years of ITS & Traffic Engineering Design experience.
At MTA B&T, he oversees design, construction, testing, integration & comissioning of all ITS capital projects across MTA B&T’s ten facilities including seven bridges and two tunnels. Prior consulting design experience includes multiple ITS projects for MTA B&T & Virginia DOT, Work Zone Traffic Control, Street Lighting, Traffic Signal Design and conducting traffic safety studies.
He is a Licensed Professional Engineer and has a BE in Electronics Engineering from Pune University (India), dual ME degrees in Electrical and Transportation Engineering and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the City University of New York.
Mohamad Talas, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE (Moderator)
Director of New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT)Dr. Mohamad Talas brings long-standing career experience in traffic engineering and operation and continues with over 30 years’ experience at the New York City Department of Transportation. He currently serves as the Director of NYCDOT Systems Engineering and ITS Project Management, where he supervises the Intelligent Transportation System projects and initiatives in New York City. These projects include management of the New York City Traffic Computerization System at the Traffic Management Center, which is modernizing and operating over 13,700 signals: the currently deployed Active Traffic Management System systems in Manhattan “Midtown In Motion” and Adaptive Control System implementation citywide, in addition to ITS Deployment on Highways and local street networks. In the last five years, Dr. Talas has been leading the NYC Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment project management.
Dr. Talas has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at NYU –Tandon School Of Engineering Transportation Graduate Program. He earned his PH.D. in Transportation Planning and Engineering from NYU-Poly University and Master degrees in Transportation, Planning and Engineering as well as in Electrical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mohamad is a licensed Professional Engineer and is a member of the Intelligent Transportation Systems of America organizations, ITE, and a member of Intelligent Transportation Systems Advance Transportation Controller National Standards.
Hema Tanikella, Ph.D., P.E. (Moderator)
Project Manager at TransCore ITS, LLCDr. Hema Tanikella is currently a Project Manager and a Consultant Technical Lead for the Transit Signal Priority Program in support of NYCDOT. Dr. Hema Tanikella has over 11 years of experience in research, planning, design, deployment, and operations in Intelligent Transportation Systems and Traffic Technology deployments. As a consultant, Hema has served various agencies in the Northeast working on regionally significant projects involving a diverse set of ITS systems including Integrated Corridor Management Systems, Wrong Way Driving Systems, and Transit Signal Priority. Working as part of these projects, Hema has provided technical expertise and program management services to various agencies including the New York State Department of Transportation, New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the New York City Department of Transportation. Hema holds Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in the field of Transportation Systems Management and has worked on research projects in Connected Vehicles and Traffic Operations.
Marissa Tarallo, P.E., PTOE
Vice President at AKRF, Inc.Marissa Tarallo is a Vice President at AKRF and is a certified Professional Engineer and Professional Traffic Operations Engineer. She specializes in traffic signal systems and microsimulation. Ms. Tarallo has been actively involved in the planning, design and deployment of traffic signals and traffic signal technologies throughout the region including Adaptive Traffic Control Systems, Transit Signal and Emergency Vehicle Priority. She received her Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University.
Sue Thomas, P.E., PMP (ITS-NY President)
ITS-NY President/Chief Operating Officer at KLD Engineering, D.P.C.Sue Thomas has extensive experience in signal retiming, simulation modelling, traffic analysis, signal operations and emergency planning. She has been managing traffic engineering projects in the NYC area for over 10 years. She has been active in ITS-NY since 2009 and is currently serving as the President.
Sue received her graduate degree in Energy Studies from the University of Sussex and her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath in the U.K. She is a licensed professional engineer in multiple States and a certified Project Management Professional. She has been with KLD since 2001 and has been Chief Operating Officer since 2023.
Leo Tsang
Principal Transportation Planner at Port Authority of New York and New JerseyLeo Tsang is a Principal Transportation Planner at PANYNJ, where he has led the agency’s efforts to integrate autonomous vehicle technology into public transportation since 2020. His work focuses on piloting AVs in complex, real-world environments such as airports and mixed-traffic corridors, with the goal of improving service reliability, enhancing safety, and expanding first- and last-mile connectivity. With over 25 years of experience, Leo previously worked at Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP), specializing in transportation planning and multi-resolution transportation modeling. He is also a strong advocate for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and has contributed to planning studies in vibrant cities such as New York, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Singapore. Leo holds a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Hong Kong.
Ye Wang
Ph.D. Student at SUNY BuffaloYe Wang joined the Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering at the University at Buffalo in summer 2023 as a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Assistant Professor Austin V. Angulo. Ye Wang obtained his Master of Engineering degrees from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto and the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Virginia. His research topics include transportation planning, transportation safety analysis, mixed reality and 3D modeling, machine learning algorithms on sensor data, and computer vision applications.
Wang also has professional experience as a transportation engineer, data analyst, and front-end developer within university medical research labs and is a certified EIT in Virginia.
Yeatland Wong
Director of Smart Mobility at Transnomis SolutionsYeatland Wong is the Director of Smart Mobility at Transnomis Solutions and has over 20 years specializing in ITS & Transportation engineering, including 15 years in Traffic Management Operations at the City of Calgary (Alberta, Canada). His favorite projects include the Loveland Colorado ATMS Software System, the City/County of Honolulu Transportation Database, and the City of Toronto ATMS Software System.
Additionally, Mr. Wong has served on the Board of Directors/Executive Committee of ITS Canada since 2018.
Yeatland Wong
Director of Smart Mobility at Transnomis Solutions, Inc.Yeatland Wong is the Director of Smart Mobility at Transnomis Solutions. He has 20+ years specializing in ITS & Transportation engineering, including 15 years in Traffic Management Operations at the City of Calgary (Alberta, Canada). Mr. Wong’s favorite projects include the Loveland Colorado ATMS Software System, the City/County of Honolulu Transportation Database, and the City of Toronto ATMS Software System. Additonally, Yeatland has served on the Board of Directors/Executive Committee of ITS Canada since 2018.
Gongda Yu
Ph.D. Candidate at SUNY BuffaloGongda Yu is a Ph.D. candidate in Transportation Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo. His research focuses on understanding the causes, perceptions, and impacts of driving anxiety on young drivers' skills and behaviors, as well as investigating how advanced warning messages from autonomous vehicles influence the behavior and perceptions of road users within Virtual Reality. Gongda holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of New South Wales, Australia, where he studied traffic flow characteristics and network traffic instability in automated driving environments.
His research interests also include road weather and winter maintenance using ITS information systems, traffic safety, travel behavior, travel demand forecasting, and transportation systems.
Shuo Zhang
Ph.D. Student at New York University/C2SMARTER CenterShuo Zhang began his Ph.D. studies in 2023 at the Department of Civil and Urban Engineering, New York University, specializing in Transportation Systems. He obtained his Master of Science degree in Transportation Engineering from UCLA in 2023. Shuo's research focuses on enhancing transportation safety through the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and human-in-the-loop systems, alongside sensor and structural health monitoring for infrastructure. By combining these areas, he aims to develop innovative solutions that improve roadway safety and ensure robust transportation infrastructure.