: Connecting new professionals in transportation worldwide.
About
Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT) is an international 501(c)(6) nonprofit coalition of organizations, which helps professional development, fellowship, and networking for new professionals in the transportation field.
Membership to YPT is open to all young transportation professionals around the world. We DO NOT have an age-restricted definition of “young” in YPT. Anyone is welcome to participate in our activities
Founded in 2008, the vision of Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT) is to become the preeminent professional development organization for emerging leaders in the transportation field. YPT provides professional development guidance, fellowship, and networking opportunities for young professionals in transportation. Our members are rising leaders in the transportation field and are employed in consulting firms, local government, and national transportation agencies across the continent.
YPT is rapidly expanding its membership and influence. Since January 2014, YPT has added new chapters – including multiple international chapters – and has grown to 25 chapters across North America. Our International board supports local chapters as they develop innovative programming and grow membership, as well as sustaining strong ties with national transportation agencies and organizations. YPT hosts events at international conferences such as Transportation Research Board (TRB), and partners on learning opportunities and fun events through digital engagement.
Supporting YPT shows a commitment to supporting the future of transportation. We encourage you to join Young Professionals in Transportation International and learn more about our dynamic industry. We are the future of the global transportation community.
YPT has chapters and regional districts in cities and regions across the world. Choose from the chapters below to learn about YPT in your area. If you are interested in starting a chapter in your city and or country contact us at Chapters@yptransportation.org .
For more information on starting a new YPT Chapter click here.
YPT is an international organization with a growing number of local chapters.
To support YPT’s value to members, its growth, and impact on the transportation community, a strategic initiative to create Regional Districts, with Regional Board of Directors is being explored.
We are currently accepting applications for our new YPT Regional District Board of Directors in both North America and Europe. Please complete the interest form via the link below if you are interested in supporting this strategic initiative and further leadership opportunities in the transportation community!
The International Board of Directors is based in Washington, DC and elected each November to provide guidance and leadership for the international organization as a whole.
For more information on each Board of Director role description, please click here.
YPT 2022-2023
CHAIR
CHRISTOPHER LAU // AECOM CONTACT // CHAIR@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT HOUSTON
Christopher Lau, P.E., M.B.A. is currently a Transit Civil Engineer with AECOM in Houston, Texas. He has experience in local roadways, interchanges, highways, and bus rapid transit design, working on numerous transportation PS&E and Schematic projects for multiple clients around Texas, including TxDOT, the City of Houston, and Houston METRO. Outside of work, Christopher has been involved with YPT since 2016, and has undertaken various leadership positions in YPT Houston, YPT International, and the ASCE Houston Branch. Christopher grew up in Houston, Texas and earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2016. He also earned his MBA in 2022 from the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. Since joining YPT, Christopher has been proactive in his goal to promote the connecting and networking of young transportation professionals globally. RESPONSIBILITIES
Serve as the Chief Executive Officer of YPT International
Day-to-day implementation of the policy and guidelines of the Board of Directors
Preside over Board meetings and create/appoint members to Committees
Develop and oversee strategic initiatives and partnerships
DEPUTY CHAIR
AISULU SALIYEVA // AECOM CONTACT // DEPUTY@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT HOUSTON
Aisulu Saliyeva, P.E. is a Structural Engineer at AECOM Houston, Texas office. She specializes in design and analysis of bridges and other highway structures. She got her bachelor’s degree from University of Houston in Civil Engineering and her master’s degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a focus in Structures. Aisulu has numerous memberships and has been actively involved in local and international professional organizations.
Aisulu is originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan and speaks four languages. In her free time, she enjoys books, cinematography, architecture, and art in all its forms. She’s determined to work towards achieving YPT 2023 goals and facilitating opportunities for development of professionals in transportation. RESPONSIBILITIES
Assist the Chair in administering the international board and with any miscellaneous
needs
Set up monthly board meetings
Administer the subsequent year’s election process
Stand in for the Chair when necessary
DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIP
BOYANG ZHANG // AECOM CONTACT // SPONSORSHIP@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT HOUSTON
Boyang Zhang is an innovative, self-motivated, passionate, and experienced urban planner with 10+ years of experience spanning across wide areas in transportation planning field, with a passionate focus on emerging transportation technologies.
Boyang has been involved with YPT since 2012, from Los Angeles Chapter to Houston Chapter. On YPT Houston board, he served as the Program Director (2019 & 2020) and the Chair (2021 & 2022), where he led YPT Houston Chapter, oversaw all chapter matters, and supported all other board members.
He earned his master’s degree in Transportation and Infrastructure Planning from University of Southern California and bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information System and minor degree in Computer Science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Boyang has served in both public and private sectors, involving both transportation planning and engineering fields.
He calls himself a surfer, and enjoys his time in the great outdoors as well as with his instruments (piano and bass), while making videos here and there. RESPONSIBILITIES
Solicit and maintain international sponsors
Administer and keep up-to-date sponsorship levels
Provide accurate sponsorship information to the Director of Finance for budget
planning
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
ISABELLA STEINER // WSP CONTACT // FINANCE@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT NEW YORK CITY
Isabella Steiner, EIT, is a Site/Highway Engineer within the Transportation and Infrastructure team at WSP in Newark, NJ. Isabella is involved in the design of various civil roadway, rail, and site projects. Her tasks include geometric highway design, roadside design, preparation of contract plans and documents, & construction cost estimates for highway projects for local and state agencies. She has developed data analysis and organization software tools for the team and project members to evaluate alternative construction analysis. Isabella is a Local Lead of the WSP Developing Professionals Network (DPN).
Before joining her team, she interned at Faithful+Gould Project Management for Formula 1 in Singapore and WSP in Boston, MA. Isabella is interested in the intersection of planning, design, construction, and operation of the built environment. She is passionate about transit and moving society and transportation infrastructure towards a renewable and sustainable future.
Isabella is originally from Venezuela but moved to the States to obtain a B.S. in Civil Engineering with a minor in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston. During her time in college, Isabella was closely involved with her school’s ASCE student chapter and helped organize volunteering activities. Outside of work, Isabella enjoys scuba diving, skiing, playing volleyball, and hiking. She loves hosting dinners, traveling, and exploring new neighborhoods in her free time. RESPONSIBILITIES
Collect individual dues payments and redistribute to chapters
Record and maintain accurate financial records
Pay organization bills in a timely fashion
Manage organization payment systems
Seek opportunities to best utilize existing financial resources and expand revenue streams
Develop annual budget and provide monthly updates to the international board
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP
ALINA GAVRILOV // CITY OF COLUMBUS CONTACT // MEMBERSHIP@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT INTERNATIONAL
Alina Gavrilov (she/her) is a bridge engineer and project manager for the City of Columbus, OH Department of Public Service and the Professional Advancement Instructor for Station1, a nonprofit higher education institution focused on socially-directed science and technology. She received her bachelor’s degree in humanitarian engineering and mathematics from Baylor University, when she moved to Columbus, OH for her current job with the City. She has since been exploring the vibrant local foodie scene and diving into opportunities to explore her professional interests in resilient infrastructure, equitable engineering design, public policy, and transportation planning. Alina is a 2023 NLC Institute Fellow in the Columbus chapter of New Leaders Council, a nonprofit building an ecosystem of cross-sectional progressive leaders, and she is involved in multiple professional engineering societies. Alina enjoys mentoring high school students through the college admissions process, and you can find her attending a local poetry night, avidly listening to podcasts, running, thrifting, and having a long talk with a friend. She is excited to contribute to building a vibrant network of YPT members who can help each other advance in their fields and pave the way for incoming transportation professionals who are underrepresented in the industry. RESPONSIBILITIES
Monitor YPT membership numbers
Grant administrative access to the Contact Relationship Management System (CivicCRM)
Setup new chapters in database
Remove duplicate membership from the membership database
Assist chapters in using CiviCRM
DIRECTOR OF CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT
MATT SAXTON // GILTNER LOGISTICS CONTACT // CHAPTERS@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT DALLAS-FORT WORTH
Matt Saxton is the Operations Manager with Giltner Logistics and oversees and manages the strategic growth, development, and success of the Giltner Logistics Dallas & Atlanta Branch.
Giltner Logistics is one of the top asset-based 3PLs in the country. By working closely with our two sister trucking companies, we can design and deliver superior solutions for our shipping customers.
Our customers are some of the world’s largest and most demanding shippers. The only way to recruit new customers and retain their business is by providing competitive pricing without sacrificing service.
Matt started his career in logistics with The Pasha Group, a San Rafael, California-based maritime trade company with major operations supporting Hawaii across multiple business units, including international operations and military household goods. Matt managed the mainland US and Hawaiian Islands container group drayage and linehaul transportation operations, as well as strategic process and system enhancements across all modes of transportation. This included oversight and management of the Transportation Groups financials, P&L, and KPI creation and monitoring.
Matt is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Big Data Strategy, which includes a focus on Market Forecasting, Decision Theory, Business Intelligence, and Machine Learning while providing a curriculum to support an advanced skillset to extract meaningful information from large datasets and design strategies that drive business. He also graduated from the California State University Maritime Academy, which prepares students for general management positions in international business and careers in the more specialized fields of logistics, transportation management, and port operations.
Matt enjoys hiking, dirt-biking, offroading, and enjoying time on the lake when off work. He takes care of a small backyard chicken flock and relaxes with his Sheepadoodle in his spare time while looking for project cars to fix. RESPONSIBILITIES
Foster growth and operations in Regional Boards
Support local chapter leadership
Work with prospective new local chapters
Making processes easier for local chapters
Serve as a liaison between chapter leadership and International Directors
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
THOMAS DAVIDENKO // AMTRAK CONTACT // PROGRAMS@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT WASHINGTON DC
Thomas is a Government Affairs Specialist at Amtrak, where he strives to communicate Amtrak’s projects, priorities, and history to federal lawmakers, external groups, and the public. In addition to coming up with unique ways to talk about Amtrak’s major fleet, infrastructure, and workforce investments, he also manages Amtrak’s involvement in YPT International.
Prior to his current role, Thomas was a Policy Analyst for Cardinal Infrastructure, where he helped clients advance major transit projects as well as initiatives related to workforce development, no-emission equipment, and transit-oriented development. Additionally, he has interned at Amtrak, in the House of Representatives, and Philadelphia’s City Council.
Thomas holds a BS in Business, Language, & Culture Studies with a Russian specialization and studied at the International University in Moscow for a semester. He is based in Philadelphia but can be found working up and down the Northeast Corridor. His experience as an everyday transit-user in high school and college, motivated him to pursue a career in transportation with the goal of improving access to low-emission mass transportation for all communities. When he’s not on a train, he enjoys exploring new cities, trivia, and playing guitar. RESPONSIBILITIES
Plan/oversee events in conjunction with major conferences
Support chapter programming, especially when major conferences are held near chapters
Coordinate events with the Director of Finance and the Director of Membership
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
ERIC TAURO // WSP CONTACT // INFO@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT NEW YORK CITY
Eric Tauro is a Facility Design Specialist in the National Fleet & Facilities Division of Transit & Rail at WSP. He is involved in project design, development, and coordination within the transportation building typology. His work experience consists of knowledge & design services ranging from industrial & shop maintenance design, programming, master planning, equipment specifications, emerging technology, American with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, station design guidelines, capacity improvements, building code/client standards, construction documentation, design development, and visualization/3D renderings. Eric is on the National Committee of WSP Developing Professionals Network (DPN).
Originally from CA, Eric has a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from California State Polytechnic University and studied at Santa Chiara Study Center in Italy. He moved to New York to earn a Master of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and spent a semester at the Center for Architecture, Science & Ecology (CASE) at the NYC office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). He has great passion for urban planning & design, architecture, sustainability, natural environments, and built ecologies. He also enjoys music, theater, photography, art, design, fashion, food and technology. During his free time, he likes traveling, hiking, cooking, singing, dancing, experiencing different restaurants & cultures, and exploring cities by foot or bicycle. RESPONSIBILITIES
Development and distribution of YPT International communications and newsletters
Website design, management and coordination for all international chapters
Social media updates and management
Graphic Design and Video Editing
Development of Annual Report
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
COURTNEY CHANCE // HALFF ASSOCIATES CONTACT // ADMIN@YPTRANSPORTATION.ORG YPT HOUSTON
Courtney Chance is currently working at Halff Associates as a Civil Engineer for their Public Works/Transportation team in Richardson, Texas. Since her start as an engineer, she has worked on various PS&E projects under traffic, roadway, and illumination serving TxDOT as the main client.
She is a May 2019 graduate of Southern Methodist University where she obtained her bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and minor in Environmental Engineering. Courtney has been involved with YPT since 2019, serving as the Director of Administration for the Houston Chapter for three years before joining the International Board. RESPONSIBILITIES
Record minutes for all monthly board meetings
Keep accurate records of the organization
Manage the organization’s Teams channels and Zoom account for virtual meetings
Oversee international awards and other major activities
Keep accurate records of the organization
Collect and monitor metrics for all activities, events, and programming
YPT’s Board of Advisors are preeminent public and private sector leaders in transportation with a wide range of exemplary experience in the field. We are grateful for their participation and willingness to assist the development of a new generation of transportation professionals.
YPT’s diversity of programming, events, publications and other opportunities is made possible through support from our annual Sponsors – firms and organizations within the transportation industry making a financial commitment to the development of the next generation of transportation professionals through their support. To learn more about becoming a Sponsor, please contact Sponsorship@yptransportation.org.
Becoming a YPT Sponsor
YPT’s vision is to become the preeminent professional development organization for emerging leaders in the transportation sector. Our members are the future of the global transportation community. Your generous support of our organization will ensure that you and your business will play a critical role in shaping a better transportation world for generations to come. YPT offers a number of exciting opportunities for you and your employees!
To view our Sponsorship Package, please click here.
If you would like to discuss benefits of Sponsorship, and how your company would like to get involved with YPT, please contact the Director of Sponsorship at Sponsorship@yptransportation.org.
2021 – 2022 Sponsors
As a federally-recognized 501(c)(6) non-profit entity, contributions or gifts to YPT are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses.
Calendar
For information on how to post events within our social media channels or calendar please contact (Programs@yptransportation.org).
To show events for only select cities or chapters, use the arrow in the upper right corner of the calendar to adjust the visible events.
