YPT International 2014-2015 Board of Directors Candidates

The nominations are in for the 2014-2015 Board of Directors elections and we have a great field of candidates. We have a few weeks before the elections for all YPT members to review all the nominees. The slate of candidates and their statements are below. Now is also the time to make sure your membership is up to date, or to become a member, if you want to vote this year.

ELECTIONS PROCESS

September 24, 2014: All eligible voters will receive the full slate of candidate statements via email (there will also be a National board ballot sent that day).
October 13, 2014: All eligible voters will receive an email with voting instructions. Online voting for National and Chapter elections opens at 10:00 AM EST.
October 24, 2014: Online voting for National and Chapter elections closes at 6PM local time.

If you have questions about the elections process, please do not hesitate to contact us at elections@yptransportation.org.

2014-2015 YPT BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES

Chair – 1 candidate

The Chair is responsible for day-to-day implementation of the policy and guidelines of the Board of Directors. The Chair presides over Board meetings, creates and appoints members to Committees, and acts as chief official executive officer of the organization.

Katherine Kortum, Transportation Research Board (incumbent)

I have been the Chair of YPT for the past two years, during which the organization has both expanded and stabilized. When I took office in November of 2012, YPT had seven chapters. We currently have twenty, with additional chapters in the works.

In the last year, YPT became an international organization with the creation of Vancouver and Toronto chapters. We also implemented a quarterly grant program in partnership with AirSage (the AirSage PASS) that provides funding to young professionals for any type of professional development activity – conference attendance, courses, etc. This grant program has seen great growth; the number of applicants has more than tripled since the first application period.

We have also coordinated with other professional organizations, and I would continue and strengthen this coordination. In the last year, YPT has held joint events at national conferences for APA in Atlanta, WTS in Portland, ITE in Seattle, and APTA in Houston, as well as the annual young professionals reception at the TRB annual meeting in Washington, DC. Coordinating with these and other industry organizations improves our visibility and stature, and I intend to continue and expand these partnerships.

I have also trademarked the YPT logo and reorganized our financial system to better reflect the maturing nonprofit organization that we are. We have begun a partnership with Streetsblog to cross-post relevant information to both their site and ours, and additional communication partnerships are coming.

In 2013, under my leadership, YPT acquired a group 501c6 exemption form the IRS that covered all of our domestic chapters. We implemented a new membership, event, and payment database called CiviCRM and have been working with all of our chapters to smooth out the kinks in the system. We rewrote the national and international chapter affiliation agreements and chapter bylaws to standardize them and allow for international participation.

Should I be reelected, 2015 would be my last as chair. While the organization has seen success over its short lifetime, it does not yet have a succession plan in place. I plan to change that during the next year, setting YPT on a path of continued stability. I also will work with all of our chapters, existing and prospective, to strengthen those that exist and ensure that all future chapters have a solid foundation. YPT has established itself as an organization of choice for young professionals and I would like to help us continue in 2015.

Deputy Chair – 1 candidate

The Deputy helps to coordinate activities involving multiple Officers and assists the Chair in his or her responsibilities. In the absence of the Chair, the Deputy Chair acts in the official capacity of the Chair and performs all duties of that office.

Zachary Bugg, Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Chapter Development & for Programs)

Zachary Bugg is seeking a position on the YPT International Board of Directors for the following reasons:

To assist in the professional development and networking opportunities of his peers,
To grow new YPT chapters, and
To enhance sponsorship opportunities for YPT.

Zachary was involved in the creation of the new YPT-Baltimore chapter and is taking a leadership role in the development of that chapter. He has participated in several YPT events at the Portland and Washington, DC, chapters, and he hopes that those experiences will help him create new opportunities for Baltimore and future YPT chapters. Specifically, his goal is to help coordinate events based on chapter membership and maximizing outreach by placing activities in neighborhoods with strong membership or interest.

Outside of YPT, Zachary’s prior experience includes leadership within the Institute of Transportation Engineers at the student chapter level at two universities, as well as the coordination of two conferences within that organization. He plans to apply his leadership skills from ITE, his passion for transportation, and his interest in networking with and developing skills of other transportation professionals toward his position on the YPT International Board of Directors.

Secretary/Vice Chair for Administration – 1 Candidate

The Secretary/Vice Chair for Administration keeps full and accurate records of all business and proceedings at Board meetings. This includes preparing meeting minutes, keeping accurate organization records, and managing the election process, as well as coordinating with the Vice Chairs for Communications and Membership on managing IT resources such as CiviCRM, Dropbox, and Google Apps.

David Gerstle, Caliper Corporation

I am excited about the prospect of serving as the Vice Chair for Administration for YPT International. YPT is an important organization to me, and I have been an active member of the Boston chapter.

I think that our industry is looking forward to many interesting problems and challenges over the course of our careers, and I see YPT as a vital organization for helping us both prepare for and influence the courses of action taken. YPT is a catalyst for helping the diverse range of young professionals grow into transportation leaders, and I want to serve that mission.

The role of Secretary, similarly, is to facilitate and enable the operation of YPT. My role as a software developer, project manager, and customer relationship manager makes me uniquely qualified to serve in this capacity. The best software anticipates the needs of its users and lays those operations at the users fingertips; the best project and customer relationship manager anticipates the desires of their client before the client knows they have them. I want to bring these organizational and communication skills to the goals of YPT.

Professionally, I specialize in project management, software development, customer relationship management, and statistics. I received a M.S.T. from MIT and a B.S. in Physics from Yale University.

I hope to receive your support as the Vice Chair for Administration for YPT International.

Vice Chair for Finance – 1 candidate

The Treasurer/Vice Chair for Finance is responsible for the collection/disbursement of dues and the safekeeping of funds, including reporting of receipts, expenditures, and balances at the request of the Board. The Treasurer is responsible for the completion/submittal of all the necessary filings with the DC government and the IRS.

Aaron Zimmerman

I am proud to announce my candidacy for the position of Vice Chair for Finance on the YPT International Board of Directors. I have a deep personal connection with YPT and its mission as one of the early organizers going back to 2008. Serving on the Board as Vice Chair for Finance this next year will give me a new opportunity to continue the work I love – expanding opportunities for young transportation professionals. In the years since YPT’s founding I have served in various roles on the Board. Most notably I served as Secretary/Vice Chair for Administration for the joint National-DC Board from 2009 to 2012. It was in this position that I played a key role in almost all areas of the organization – from chapter expansion to sponsorship development to unveiling the new membership system to planning of local events. It was also during this timeframe that I built a strong working relationship through YPT and ITE with our current International Chair on various programs aimed at young professionals. If elected to the position of Vice Chair for Finance I pledge to work closely with the YPT Chair, the International Board, and each chapter Board to accomplish the following goals:

Strengthen relationships with transportation organizations. It is important to leverage the resources, experience, and professional networks of organizations like ITE to advance YPT’s mission to provide mentoring and career advancement opportunities to YPT Members. YPT Members also have a lot to offer organizations like ITE, for example, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives on multimodal planning and new technologies in the transportation industry.

Broaden outreach to other areas of transportation. If you work in Washington DC then you might be a transportation policy advocate for bicyclists or finding a fix for the Highway Trust Fund, while in San Francisco perhaps you spend your day analyzing data for a tech-oriented transportation firm, and in New York City you may develop train schedules for the Transit Authority. Each chapter of YPT offers a unique cross section of the transportation industry that is a huge benefit the entire organization and our membership. However, there are a number of areas of transportation that have not yet been well represented – maritime, security, supply chain, air cargo.

Seek out opportunities to mentor and recognize young members for their accomplishments. As Vice Chair for Finance I would like to pursue mentoring programs in which YPT Members (perhaps in partnership with another organization like ITE) can speak at high schools to students about careers and opportunities in the field of transportation. Another variation of this program could include interested high school and college students shadowing YPT Members at their public agencies or consulting firms to gain an understanding of the ‘day-to-day’ life in the professional world. Finally, YPT has in the past discussed creating both a Young Members Award and a scholarship foundation in order to recognize contributions to innovation in the field of transportation by young professionals. In the next year I would like to see these programs get off the ground.

In summary, I believe I have a strong background within the organization, a vision for the future of the organization that complements that of the YPT Chair, and the demonstrated passion to tirelessly advocate on behalf of young transportation professionals. It is these attributes that I feel will allow me to continue effectively serving the needs of young professionals around the United States and beyond. Please consider voting for me as your next Vice Chair for Finance on the International Board!

Vice Chair for Communications – 1 candidate

The Vice Chair for Communications is responsible for activities and communications that promote YPT to the general public. The Vice Chair coordinates activities that facilitate and encourage communication and fellowship among the members of YPT, including YPT’s email blasts, website, blog, and social media, as well as liaising between the editor of the quarterly Mobility Matters magazine and the YPT Board. Some experience with email blast platforms like MailChimp or CiviCRM is helpful. Basic familiarity with HTML and WordPress is recommended.

Elicia Elliott, BC Transit
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Programs)

I am a professional Transportation Planner and Public Engagement practitioner with strong project planning, management, implementation, and evaluation skills. The bulk of my experience is on the strategy and planning end of the transportation infrastructure and policy spectrum, with some time spent in design and implementation. I have experience managing planning and engagement processes and activities on a variety of projects varying in scale and delivery method, including using traditional and non-traditional engagement methods. I think this experience could be valuable to the VC for Programs portfolio.

The opportunity to get involved with YPT at the administrative level is attractive to me because I see value in YPT’s mandate and want to contribute to the organization’s successes. As a young Transportation Planner earlier in my career, I often sought tailored learning and networking experiences and turned up light on relevant Canadian opportunities. I see potential in connecting related professionals in transportation to learning opportunities and to each other, with an end to practising as a discipline more holistically. Today, I am happy to be at a point in my career where I feel I can offer valuable time and expertise to the organization. Additionally, I am skilled at translating technically complex information into meaningful, legible matter, which has proved to be invaluable in engagement, issues management, and internal and external liaison. I believe this could be of particular value to the VC for Communications portfolio.

This is an exciting time for the transportation industry and for YPT’s development, and I am keen to be a part of it! Please consider me for either of the aforementioned VC positions.

Best regards,

Elicia Elliott

Vice Chair for Programs – 3 candidates

The Vice Chair for Programs is responsible for programs of national and international significance, such as events in conjunction with major conferences. Programs include networking as well as professional development events. The Vice Chair for Programs coordinates on the organization of these events with the Vice Chair for Membership.

Zachary Bugg, Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Chapter Development & Deputy Chair)

Zachary Bugg is seeking a position on the YPT International Board of Directors for the following reasons:

To assist in the professional development and networking opportunities of his peers,
To grow new YPT chapters, and
To enhance sponsorship opportunities for YPT.

James Robertson, City of College Station
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Chapter Development and for Membership)

I believe our generation and future generations will have to engage with experts from diverse backgrounds. And, I believe an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for multidisciplinary interaction is critical to us being successful transportation professionals. This is why I am running for Vice Chair for Chapter Development, Vice Chair for Programs, and Vice Chair for Membership.

From the outside, I have been impressed with YPT’s growth since Joung Lee first introduced the concept to us when I attended the Eno Leadership Development Conference in 2010. Now, I want to use leadership lessons I have learned as an elected officer and volunteer within the Institute of Transportation Engineers and Transportation Research Board to help expand YPT membership and influence. While I have always wanted to get involved in YPT, this is the first time I have been in a position to do so. I look forward to the opportunity.

In addition to being a Graduate Traffic Engineer at the City of College Station, I am a Ph.D. Candidate at Texas A&M University, 2010 Eno Fellow, and 2013 Eisenhower Fellow. I have a Master Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Art in Psychology from The University of Notre Dame.

Elicia Elliott, BC Transit
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Communications)

This is an exciting time for the transportation industry and for YPT’s development, and I am keen to be a part of it! Please consider me for either of the aforementioned VC positions.

Best regards,

Elicia Elliott

Vice Chair for Membership – 1 candidate

The Vice Chair for Membership utilizes the resources of YPT to manage the membership records of all YPT members. This includes ultimate responsibility for maintaining the CiviCRM membership platform, reconciling dues payouts to chapters on a quarterly basis, reconciling dues payments collected through Square or offline, and providing support to chapters in the use of the CiviCRM platform. The Vice Chair for Membership also works to provide maximum value for all members, increase the membership of YPT, increase the visibility of YPT, explore business development opportunities for YPT, and provide other services to meet the needs of the members of YPT. Some experience with online membership systems, HTML, and websites is helpful.

James Robertson, City of College Station
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Chapter Development and for Programs)

Vice Chair for Chapter Development – 4 candidates

The Vice Chair for Chapter Development coordinates with leaders of the YPT chapters regarding YPT International’s policies, activities, and other issues that could affect the chapters. The Vice Chair assists in the development of new chapters, such as through outreach to Members in areas without chapters and helping new chapters with the formal steps for inclusion in YPT.

Zachary Bugg, Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Programs & Deputy Chair)

Zachary Bugg is seeking a position on the YPT International Board of Directors for the following reasons:

To assist in the professional development and networking opportunities of his peers,
To grow new YPT chapters, and
To enhance sponsorship opportunities for YPT.

James Robertson, City of College Station
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Programs and for Membership)

Whitney Sullivan, Tennessee Department of Transportation
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Sponsorship)

As the Local Programs Development Office Manager, I deal with various agencies all over the state of Tennessee. I am in the perfect position to reach out to organizations across industry-lines to encourage sponsorship opportunities with Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT). Furthermore, I am currently serving on the Southeastern Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (SASHTO) 2015 Conference sponsorship committee, so I have experience in seeking out sponsors and support for organizations. For SASHTO, we have been tasked with raising $1.5 million, which is more than any other SASHTO Conference in the past. I think the items above make me uniquely qualified to be the Vice Chair for Sponsorships with YPT.

Although I have been living in Nashville for almost two years, I still consider myself new to the area. I have recently been seeking out opportunities to be more involved in my ‘new’ home city. I joined American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) recently, which is a great organization to join, but I feel as though YPT is of more interest to me due to my lack of technical engineering knowledge. I actually applied for the interim Vice Chair for Membership with YPT when that chair came open a few months ago but was not selected.

I am eager to get more involved with YPT and look forward to continued membership and development within the organization.

Richard Sun, McKinsey and Company

Why am I running for Vice Chair for Chapter Development?

YPT has been an incredible place to meet and make friends with interesting people in transportation. Transportation is such a broad and cross cutting field; each time I leave a YPT event I feel like I have learned so much, and also have much more to learn.

I want to share that feeling with as many people as possible. I am lucky to live in a city with a very active YPT presence. Through my travel for work I often find myself in cities without a local YPT chapter, I want to use this as an opportunity to work with local transportation industry professionals to help develop YPT chapters in those areas.

Please feel free to call or text (202)-281-4908, or email (Richard_Sun@McKinsey.com) with any questions or suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you.

–Richard

YPT Involvement

Richard is an active member of the Washington, DC Chapter of YPT and has also attended YPT-NYC events. In partnership with the board of YPT-DC, Richard helped organize and host an event on Capitol Hill with 75+ attendees in June 2014 featuring Tyler Duvall, former Under Secretary (Acting) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Professional Background and Experience

Richard is a consultant in McKinsey & Company’s Washington, DC Office. He primarily serves clients on infrastructure and corporate finance topics. Prior to McKinsey, Richard served as a White House Intern in the spring of 2011.

Richard has either directly served or developed transportation clients in Columbus, OH; Baton Rouge, LA; Tallahassee, FL; Washington, DC; Boston, MA and New York, NY. He has served those clients on topics ranging from paratransit to highway widening.

Richard holds a B.A. in Economics cum laude from Columbia University. Richard wrote his senior thesis on urban transit planning governance and economic development. In addition, he served on the University Senate’s Committee on Campus Planning and Physical Development, and helped set and enhance intercampus transit policy.

Vice Chair for Sponsorship – 2 candidates

The Vice Chair for Sponsorships works in coordination with the Chair and Deputy Chair to identify, establish, and grow relationships with sponsors. The Vice Chair tracks and maintains accurate and up-to-date sponsorship agreements and ensures that sponsorship benefits are being fulfilled.

Emma Chapman, Fitch Ratings (incumbent)

Having been involved with YPT since its inception in Washington DC, I fully understand the importance and value we bring to our peers and our industry and am passionate about understanding how infrastructure works. I co-founded the New York City Chapter and served three years as Programs Chair, and since moving to Chicago, I have been a special advisor to the local board as well as YPT National’s Sponsorship Chair.

I firmly believe that the more we share knowledge and understand how our systems fit together, the better our infrastructure will be. Wanting to learn how different systems worked, I started organizing infrastructure tours and site visits with contractors and operators which has turned into a Summer Tour Series and is being replicated throughout other YPT chapters. I also started leadership seminars which provide members a chance to listen and interact with leaders in our industry in a small group setting alongside transportation trivia for a more informal event. As Sponsorship Chair, I’ve reached out wider to other organizations in our industry including infrastructure investment banks and logistics corporations and have successfully attained $2500 for YPT. Next year, I would like to continue to serve as Sponsorship Chair to raise more money for YPT and allow YPT to continue to grow and develop the future leaders of transportation.

I am Associate Director in Fitch Ratings’ Global Infrastructure and Project Finance Group here in Chicago. Prior to joining Fitch, I led transportation engineering, environmental policy, and city planning projects for Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro), the Eno Transportation Foundation, and the City of New Haven, Connecticut. Orchestrating municipal coordination across complex teams on multi-regional toll road, airport, highway, traffic, public transit, security, zoning, and housing projects including public private partnerships in New York, Illinois, California, Virginia, Connecticut, and Washington, DC has given me a wide view on our industry.

I earned a BA in Political Science and a BA in Art History concentrating in Urban Studies and Architectural History at Yale University.

**Emma is running with Jack Cebe (Alta Planning + Design) as Deputy Chair for Sponsorship

Jack Cebe’s statement:

Emma and I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as sponsorship co-chairs for YPT International over the past year, and would be honored to continue in this role for the coming year. Together, we have made a great team: collaborating on sponsorship asks, tracking funding, and organizing other projects such as the AirSage PASS program. Under our tenure as sponsorship co-chairs we are on track for meeting this year’s sponsorship funding goals and have been able to cultivate several new fruitful relationships with outside organizations at the forefront of the transportation industry.

The experience we’ve gained in this role and the partnership Emma and I have established will serve us well in building new relationships with sponsors and securing even more funding for YPT International in 2015. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your sponsorship chairs this past year and we look forward to the opportunity to serve as your sponsorship co-chairs again in 2015.

Whitney Sullivan, Tennessee Department of Transportation
(Also a candidate for Vice Chair for Chapter Development)

I am eager to get more involved with YPT and look forward to continued membership and development within the organization.

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Discover more from YPT International