2022 Transit Board Members & Board Administrators Seminar Speakers

Ehren has served as executive director of the Central Indiana Transportation Authority in Indianapolis and has enjoyed success in the private sector as the Management Principal of TransPro. Prior to joining TransPro Ehren was the Director of Transportation Planning for HNTB Corporation in Atlanta. He has national experience driving public transportation leadership, strategic planning, performance management, organizational development, executive coaching and recruitment, capital programming, innovation, transportation demand management, communications, public involvement, and operations.

Ehren holds bachelor’s degrees in Urban Planning & Development, Political Science; Environmental Design from Ball State University. Ehren is a graduate of the 2015 Leadership APTA program.

Before serving in her current position at UTA, Ms. Bourdeaux served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Ralph Becker in Salt Lake City. Previously, she served as the Deputy Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development for Salt Lake City Corporation. She began her career in communications working for sporting and news affiliates. Her passion for sports led her to join the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, where she was the entertainment and leisure coordinator for the Athlete’s Village.

Ms. Bourdeaux has served on the Utah Performing Arts Advisory Board, Utah Nonprofit Association, and NeighborWorks Salt Lake Board of Directors, as well as the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Business and Education Committee. She currently serves on the Utah Museums Advisory Board and Utah College of Social and Behavioral Science Advancement Board. She holds a BA in Communications and an MPA from the University of Utah.

A Chicago native, Director Buzek grew up in a transit dependent family, relying on public transportation for much of his early life. As a Council Member for the City and County of Broomfield, Colorado from 1999 – 2007, Director Buzek was active in transit issues and participated in the decision for Broomfield to publicly support FasTracks – RTD’s large rail expansion effort.

Director Buzek also served on the Colorado Gaming Commission as a Member and its Chair and for 6 years on the Adams County, Colorado Planning Commission as Member, Vice-Chair and Chair.

Director Buzek, an attorney with over 30 years’ experience in Chicago and Colorado, currently operates his own firm in Broomfield focusing on estate planning and mediation. Director Buzek enjoys travelling with his wife, Karen; bee keeping, reading, and attempting to garden.

In his current role at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as Chief Government Affairs Officer he is responsible for public policy and external affairs for the institution at the federal, state and local levels. He is honored to work with researchers, clinicians and support staff all focused on finding cures and caring for children suffering from catastrophic childhood diseases.

Rob is a leader in the Mid-South through work with many civic and non-profit organizations including being appointed as a Commissioner of the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), and serving on the boards of the YMCA, Rotary International, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Memphis River Parks Partnership, Evergreen Historic District Association, Coalition for a Better Memphis and others.

Rob’s special community interests include health care for the underserved, regional economic development, and sustainable transportation infrastructure.

She has been with UTA since 2016. Currently, Auty manages UTA’s paper records and electronic records. She also oversees the high volume of public record requests, management of UTA’s Enterprise Records Management system, and assessment of UTA vast legacy records. Her direction and management style relies on creative, and out of the box solutions for large or difficult scenarios.

Prior to working in the public sector, she worked in Records Management in the legal private sector, specializing in large corporate record projects, and providing records management training to Attorneys and staff.

Auty is a graduate of the Paralegal Studies Program from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, holds an active Utah State Records Officer Certification, and has been an ARMA International Member since 2004.

She has 3 daughters and 3 adorable Grandsons. She lives in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, with her husband, and the cutest dog in the world, Olive.

Dawkins is a graduate of the Benjamin Banneker Honors College and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Prairie View A&M University and received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law. She is a member of the State Bars of Texas, Florida, and Georgia, and is also admitted to practice in federal court. She has handled federal civil matters in the United States District Courts for the Middle District of Florida and the Northern District of Georgia and has appeared before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Dawkins is a Certified Retirement Pension Fiduciary. She is the Chair of the Non-Represented DB Plan and a Trustee of the MARTA/ATU Local 732 Employees Retirement Plan. Dawkins serves as the Chair of APTA’s Workforce Development Committee and is a Leadership APTA Class of 2015 graduate.

Robert’s career began as a part-time interim Client Services Representative at Goodyear Research Interviewing Center. Simultaneously, he was beginning his career at Summa Health. Over his 30 years at Summa Health, he navigated through several positions, including Senior Secretary in the Human Resources Department, Compensation Specialist, Community Outreach Coordinator, Community and Government Relations Manager for the Community Services department, and finally, System Director for Community Relations and Diversity.

Through these positions, Robert launched or contributed to countless internal and external programs. One internal project of note was initiating, developing, and implementing Employee Resource Groups to further Summa Health’s mission of growing leaders and providing quality professional development for the organization. In his oversight of Summa’s Diversity Advisory Council, he engaged with senior management and provided much-needed employee engagement programs that were focused on overall improved employee advancement and greater retention. Externally, Robert worked to collect and dissect data around community needs, especially related to health and healthcare disparities. That work fed into a larger project at Summa—the design and implementation of a System Diversity Strategic Plan.

From Summa Health, Robert moved to the Greater Akron Chamber where he served as the Vice President of Opportunity Inclusion. During his time there, he led the work of Elevate Greater Akron’s Opportunity Akron strategy, focusing on economic inclusion and opportunity in a collaborative effort with the Chamber leadership, City of Akron, County of Summit, GAR Foundation and the local business community to develop and implement inclusion strategies and best practices. One such strategy Robert organized and led was the inaugural Inclusion Summit of Greater Akron, an event created to advance economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion to accelerate the growth and success of greater Akron’s companies.

Currently, Robert is principle at DeJournett Consulting LLC. The mission of DeJournett Consulting is to assist businesses and organizations in furthering their missions by helping each to connect to appropriate resources, to convene stakeholders and groups in order to attain their respective goals, and to provide coaching in areas of business development with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Most recently, Robert is serving as the family spokesperson around the events and tragic death of Jayland Walker.

Jennifer joined Metro in 2009 as the Virginia Government Relations Officer and then served as the Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing Planning for three years. Prior to her Metro service, she managed community relations for two light rail projects for nearly a decade at the Charlotte Area Transit System in North Carolina.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Mass Communications and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of South Carolina.

Geisha is an advocate for underserved youth and returning citizens and is passionate about educating both populations about careers in the transit industry. She creates transit-focused youth development programs and oversees the Authority’s high school and college internship programs, while leading CTA’s Second Chance Program, a nationally recognized program that has become a model in the industry for preparing returning citizens and others with barriers to employment to re-enter the workforce.

Geisha has the honor of serving as the Vice Chair of the American Public Transportation Association’s Education and Career Awareness Subcommittee and as a member of the City of Chicago Mayor’s Interagency Reentry Council.

In May 2018, Mr. Fields was appointed to Acting Deputy General Manager, Human Resources, and promoted to Deputy General Manager, Human Resources in April 2020. Mr. Fields has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Administration. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) as well as Senior Certified Professional (SCP) through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Mr. Fields serves as a board member of the Friends of Max S. Hayes High School, and institutional liaison on the Tri-C Council for Community Access and Development. Mr. Fields has more than 28 years of experience in human resources, holding progressively responsible human resource leadership positions with organizations in the areas of public transportation, healthcare, biotechnology, executive recruitment, and vocational education.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Human Resources Division includes Talent Management, Training and Employee Development, Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS), Labor and Employee Relations, Benefits, and Occupational Health functions.

Fox is a recognized strategic transit leader with substantial experience in transit operations oversight, capital project management, stakeholder relations, and government affairs. He has an extensive knowledge of transit planning and government grant programs. He has built strong relationships with freight and passenger railroads, transit agencies, government entities, and executive leadership across the United States.

Before coming to UTA, Fox was Deputy General Counsel for SEPTA in Philadelphia where he led procurement, grant, real estate, financing, environmental, and corporate ethics programs. He has also served as a Senior Director at Amtrak from 2017 to 2019. Prior to Amtrak, Fox spent seven years with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) both as Regional Counsel for FTA Region 3 and as Acting Assistant Chief Counsel, coordinating the legal work of ten regional offices.

Fox earned a Bachelor of Science and a Juris Doctor degree at Rutgers University.

Accomplished state and local community leader with over 25 years of experience in building strategic partnerships with the ability to envision and execute projects by utilizing a team approach for our clients.
Leader in the areas of marketing, public relations, government affairs and minority business outreach.

President/CEO, 01/2021 to Current
ABRAC, LLC – Dallas, TX

• Develop and implement new strategies and policies in collaboration with executive partners to establish and achieve long-term business objectives, providing company with strong and sustainable organizational leadership.
• Aligned organizational objectives with company mission, increasing revenue, profit and business growth by collaboratively developing integrated strategies for minority business enterprises.
• Over 25 years of progressive, responsible experience in the private, small business and non-profit sectors.
• Relationship builder that fosters cooperation across groups and strives to work toward mutual goals within the minority business community.

Assistant Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion, 07/2008 to 11/2020

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) – Dallas, TX

Directed, coordinated and administered DART’s minority business outreach programs related to minority contracting, vendor and business opportunities within the Agency. Administered programs to attract and increase minority and women-owned business contracts. Developed and maintained external strategic partnerships and served as liaison with minority chambers and community leaders to increase economic opportunities.

Gombert also serves as the Administrator of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority. The Authority provides fixed route and paratransit service in the South Bay area of Los Angeles.
Gombert began his transit career as a hostler at Campus Bus Service, Indiana University.

He provides advice and counsel on acquisition matters to senior officials, inclusive of Governors, general managers of the nation’s transit authorities, officials from industries who provide services and equipment to FTA recipients, and FTA program managers at Headquarters and in the 10 Regional offices.

James has more than 4 decades of varied acquisition/contracting experience: (DOD/State and local governments/Academia/Private Sector); that he uses to foster outstanding client/customer relationship management.

He earned his BS degree from NCA&T State University and his MBA from Central Michigan University.

Jim is also Federal Acquisition Contracting-Certified at Level III by the Federal Acquisition Institute, (FAI). Additionally, he is a Certified Federal Contracts Professional (CFCM) by the National Contract Management Association (NCMA).

Julie draws out people’s best safety intentions and puts them to work at all levels of an organization from the Executive suite to the morning safety meeting. Her facilitation is known for leveraging shared values to support culture change and establish broad-based, lasting commitment to safety without compromise.

Holzendorf holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of North Florida. Holzendorf is active in the community serving as a “Big Brother” for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Cultural Council Board Member, Wolfson Children’s Hospital Development Council Board Member, Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVI, and YMCA of Florida’s First Coast Regional Board, to name a few.

Holzendorf was appointed to the JTA Board by Mayor Alvin Brown in August 2013 and reappointed by Mayor Lenny Curry in September 2017.

Length of Service:  1999 – April 15, 2022

Education:
Business Management, University of Texas in Arlington
Associate of Arts, Business Administration, Tarrant County Junior College

Ari joined Florida Blue in 1993. Prior to joining Florida Blue, Ari practiced with the law firm of Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones and Gay in Jacksonville, Florida. Ari also served as an Officer in the United States Navy in the office of the Judge Advocate General from 1983 to 1990 and was the recipient of a Navy Achievement Medal (1987).

Throughout her career, Ari has been active in community and professional organizations. She is a member of both the Florida Bar and the Jacksonville Bar Association and serves on the boards of the Greater Jacksonville Area USO and the Naval Continuing Care Retirement Foundation, Inc. (Fleet Landing). Ari also currently serves as the Chair of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville.

In 2015, Ari became a gubernatorial appointee to the board of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and currently serves as the Chair of that board. That year, Ari was also named as one of Northeast Florida’s Most Influential Women. In 2019, she was elected to the American Public Transportation Association’s Board of Directors. Ari also earned a seat on the Board of Directors for the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization in 2020. In 2022, Ari was selected as an awardee of the Women Who Move the Nation award by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials.

Ari graduated from Jacksonville University (1983) and the Florida State College of Law (1990), with Highest Honors. While at the Florida State College of Law, Ari was an Associate Editor on the Law Review as well as a member of the Order of the Coif. Ari is also an honors graduate from the Naval Legal Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island (1984). Ari previously spoke on the topics of “Doing Blue Plan Alliances: Tales from the Front Lines” at the 2006 40th Annual BCBSA Lawyers Conference and “Doing Plan Alliances: Lessons Learned” at the 2007 41st BCBSA Lawyers Conference. She has also presented on the topics of Women Veterans and the Multicultural US Armed Forces.

Francis and his extensive team manage a budget of more than $367 million annually and incorporate the best practices of the private sector with those of the public sector, utilizing statistics, analytics, and monthly as well as annual benchmarks to ensure the agency’s fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers.

A 2017 leadership APTA alumn, most recently, Francis served as vice president of western region operations for Keolis Transit America, where he managed operations for four transit agencies. He oversaw a multi-million dollar annual budget and managed a culturally diverse staff of approximately 1,000 employees.

DART Committee Participation:

• Member, Economic Opportunity and Diversity Committee
• Member, Budget and Finance Committee
• Chair, Mobility Service, LGC Board of Directors
• Chair, Regional Rail Right-of-Way Company Board of Directors
• Member, Regional Transportation Council
• Member, Transit Coalition of North Texas

Employment:

• The Wong Krause Law Firm, Dallas, Texas, October 1991 to present
• Former Associate Municipal Judge, City of Dallas, Texas, August 2006-August 2008
• Former Associate Hearing Officer, Dallas Municipal Court No. 9, August 2005-August 2006

Retiring in 2014 as a sworn-deputy, she served 18 years in law enforcement, with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department, Portland OR and 8 years as a training instructor at the Oregon Public Safety Academy’s Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, Salem, OR. Dr. Lewis has 38+ years as a credentialed tax accountant and is principal owner of LaVerne Lewis LLC, a full-service tax/accounting firm including IRS audits and representation. She is currently an adjunct faculty in the Business Department at Portland Community College.

Dr. Lewis holds BS degree in Accounting from SUNY, a MS in Education and Human Resources from Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, a Doctorate in Education from Northcentral University, Prescott, AZ.
Dr. Lewis is passionate in creating positive social change in the lives of women and girls, she is founder/CEO of Women-SEW Global Foundation, a non-profit that works across the globe raising awareness to a ‘theory of change’ with intended outcomes of economic and leadership empowerment, focusing on immigrant and refugee women and girls.

As the former Chief of Communications, Government and International Affairs for the City of Cleveland, McCall served as a trusted advisor and cabinet member in the administration of the city’s longest serving mayor, Frank G. Jackson. She is now a renowned expert in business, government, board dynamics, leadership and strategy.

McCall is a Past Chair and Current Board Member Emeritus for the American Public Transportation Association, where she helped the organization examine and change its internal and external policies and created a scholarship for deserving transit oriented students.

McCall is concluding an impressive nearly two decade appointment to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA term ending, March, 2023).

Education

• College of St. Elizabeth
  • Bachelor of Science, Business Management
  • Master of Science, Organizational Change Management with multiple focus’ in HR Management and IT Management of Information
• Raritan Valley Community College
  • Associates of Science, Management and Marketing

Ms. McManus Enjoys her family and friends, loves to travel, cook, and entertain, work in her garden, visit art galleries, botanic gardens, loves architecture, live music and being at home with her 6 ½lb yorkie, Mr. Brody.

He began his career fueling and cleaning buses for SEPTA in Philadelphia working his way into senior leadership positions in bus and facilities operations with both SEPTA and New Jersey Transit. With 30+ years of experience, he understands the industry at its core and is a tireless advocate for the socio-economic benefits associated with a long term national public transportation program. He is an ASE Master Certified Technician and has instructed executive leadership programs for Dale Carnegie, NTI Rutgers and the Eno Foundation.

He has authored several articles for Savoy and Kaleidoscope magazines and received recognition from Black Enterprise Magazine, National Diversity Council, Forbes magazine, and Fortune 100 magazine. He is the author of Diversity Starts with You: A strategy development guide for DEI and host of Moore DEI Discussions, a podcast series that addresses DEI topics with C-Suite executives.

Marlon earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Virginia State University, a Master’s in Diversity Management from Cleveland State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership from Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Nelson has a unique ability to artfully maneuver through a multitude of environments and leverage a variety of resources to meet economic development expectations. Recognized as a progressive leader of exceptional skill and foresight, he brings strong vision and leadership in the disciplines of sustainability, community growth, infrastructure and planning, creative public/pri¬vate partnerships, and economic development. Nelson was an early adopter of alternative fuels, implementing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transit buses into the Metro fixed route fleet in 2002. Since that time the Metro CNG fleet has expanded to make up the majority of the fleet, and in 2018 Metro introduced zero emission buses to the fleet, which will encompass 30% of the fleet in 2021. His experience in creating sustainable communities using transportation investment as a catalyst for future development include transit multimodal facilities in the downtowns of Moline, East Moline, and Rock Island. Additional projects include the construction of a state-of-the-art 150,000 square foot “Operations and Maintenance Center” built to LEED Gold standards for the purpose of supporting a sustainable bus fleet and an energized workforce, as well as the planning, development, and construction of a $30 million public -private historic redevelopment in downtown Moline. This multi-use property, otherwise known as the “Q” Multi Modal Station, consists of a 105 room “Element” brand hotel, with retail and restaurant space that will serve as the passenger rail hub for the Moline to Chicago passenger rail corridor.

Nelson has served on a variety of community boards and committees throughout his professional career. Currently he is the Chairman of the Quad Cities Manufacturing Lab, a Board Trustee for Two Rivers YMCA, 2nd Vice President of the Illinois Public Transportation Association, Chair of the National Transit Institute at Rutgers, serves on the Moline Planning Commission, the Moline Police and Fire Commission, and is a Board Member for the Quad City Chamber of Commerce Regional Opportunities Council.

Nelson holds a B.S. in Political Science from Western Illinois University, a M.B.A. from St. Ambrose University, and is a graduate of the Kennedy School of Business “Creating Collaborative Solutions” program.

Luis works closely with the President & CEO, the Deputy CEO, and numerous Directors in the execution of the Board’s agenda. He serves as the primary contact for the Commission.

Luis served as TBA Membership Chair, and TBA Secretary.

Prior to working in the transit community, he served 20 years in the United States Navy. Luis lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with his wife.

He has been instrumental in testing innovative transit technologies, improving mobility service equities, and cultivating new public-private partnerships. During his tenure as the IMS Director, Jaron has successfully led the department to implement and operate four on-demand microtransit zones, pilot an autonomous vehicle project, develop partnerships with Lyft and Uber, and expand UTA’s role in transit signal priority solutions across the Wasatch Front. With a 15-year professional commitment to transit and lifelong Utah resident, Jaron understands the regionally significant need of improving access to opportunities, providing accessible public transportation options, and advancing innovative transit services.

Skoutelas is a champion for the power of public transportation to create personal and economic opportunities for all and to connect and build thriving communities. He testifies often before Congress and is a frequent speaker on public transportation issues as APTA leads the industry’s transformation in the new mobility era.

Prior to joining APTA in 2018, Skoutelas served as senior vice president for WSP USA, one of the world’s largest architectural and engineering firms and national director of WSP USA’s Transit & Rail Technical Excellence Center. He also was chief executive officer at the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX), Orlando, Florida.

Skoutelas serves on numerous boards and committees, including the Transportation Research Board, Mineta Transportation Institute, ENO Center for Transportation, Transportation Learning Center and the Alliance to Save Energy’s 50×50 Commission on U.S. Transportation Sector Efficiency. He is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Executive Advisory Board on Smart Mobility and Carnegie Mellon University’s Mobility 21 Advisory Council.

He is also a long-time member of WTS International and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO).

Skoutelas received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a licensed professional engineer.

Skoutelas and his wife, Denise, are residents of Washington DC, and he commutes to work on Washington’s Metro system and the DC Circulator.

She serves as the Chair of the Transit Board Administrators Committee and is a member of the Transit Board Member Executive Council. She was recently selected to join the UITP Organizing Authorities Committee, a worldwide network to bring together all public transport.

Before joining the BJCTA Board of Directors, Chair Smith served on the Parks & Recreation and the Economic Development Board for the City of Birmingham. His service on these boards helped him see the gaps and understand the needs of how to develop complete communities. As a minority business owner and a retired fireman, who 30 years with Birmingham Fire & Rescue, Chair Smith is committed to being a faithful servant to the City of Birmingham.

Developing and leveraging community partnerships allows Chair Smith to advocate at the state and local levels. His goal is to ensure that BJCTA provides efficient transit to enhance the quality of life for every citizen within the Metro Birmingham-Jefferson County area, to have safe, timely connectivity to critical necessities such as appointments, work, and food access.

By the end of his term on the board, Chair Smith would have worked with partners to advocate for public transit funding within Alabama and Chaired the Board during the Birmingham Xpress (BRT) delivery. Since 1952, the constitution has prevented the use of funds garnered through taxes or fees for public transportation. If BJCTA could achieve these goals of state funding and a successful BRT project, this would be an excellent accomplishment for transit throughout the state. It would also catapult development along the transit corridor within the city’s revitalization boom.

Troi received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University.  He received an MBA degree from the University of Houston-Victoria.  Troi is a native Houston – graduating from Milby Sr. High School in the Houston ISD.

Under the leadership of Kelley and Troi, TCM is currently managing projects across various industries: Education, Transportation, Life Science, and Healthcare.  Some of their noteworthy clients include Houston ISD, Texas A&M University System, Houston Airport System, Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, and several others.

In addition to his METRO Board appointment by Mayor Sylvester Turner, Troi also serves on the Houston Mayor’s Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) Advisory Board as well as on the Board of Directors for the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC).

Through philanthropy, diligence, and maintaining a spiritual compass, Troi has been recognized by several organizations in recent years:

• Emerging 10 Award (HMSDC) 2012
• Upstart Award (Greater Houston Black Chamber) 2013
• International Rising Star (International Trade Development Council) 2014
• Med-Week 2014 MBE Company of the Year
• Top 40 Under 40 Award (Houston Business Journal) 2015
• Minority Contractor of the Year (Houston Area Urban League) 2015.

Troi and Kelley live in Spring, Texas.  They have (2) children: Joshua & Laila Taylor.  He is an active presence in his neighborhood.  He serves on the steering committee for the Houston Chapter of the National Forum of Black Public Officials (NFBPA).  Additionally, he is an active volunteer at The John Cooper School as well as the Star of Hope Homeless Shelter.  Finally, Troi can often be found facilitating leadership discussions for at-risk inner city youth at various Greater Houston school districts.

Doug served as Mayor of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado and was Chairman of the State Board of Registered Psychotherapists at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. He has chaired numerous healthcare industry and other nonprofit boards. A University of Michigan Law School graduate, Doug is President of Tisdale & Associates LLC and was formerly a partner in several global law firms. He has practiced law and consulted in Africa, Asia, Australia, China, Europe, New Zealand and throughout North America.

When he is not behind the dais, he can be found presiding over the not-for-profit youth organization Raymore-Peculiar Sunrise Optimist Club as their chapter president and the Lieutenant Governor of the Western Missouri Optimist District.

A 22-year retired officer of the United States Marine Corps, where he now works as a federal employee, Townsend is a devoted husband and father of two.

He has more than 30 years’ experience providing management solutions in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Travillion has conducted extensive operational reviews of state agencies and city departments, and worked on teams that produced recommendations adopted by the Texas Legislature and which saved the state of Texas more than $8 billion.

A graduate of Jackson State University’s W.E.B. Dubois Honors Program, Travillion also was an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow at Carnegie-Mellon University’s Heinz College School of Public Policy and Management, as well as a fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He has a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Travillion is involved in a number of civic activities, including serving as a deacon at the Abundant Life Community Baptist Church. He is a graduate of Leadership Austin, chairman of the Communications Committee for the Texas State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and a member of the board of directors of the Austin Project. He and his wife, Perri, have 3 children: Jeffrey Jr., Paige and Andrew.

He is a practicing attorney with offices in Westerville, Ohio. He was peer rated by Ohio Super Lawyers as one of the Top Ten lawyers in Ohio for 2016-2022. He is also listed in Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Treneff is actively involved in the central Ohio community and has been a member of the Westerville, Ohio, City Council since 2004 and has served as Chair of Council and Mayor of Westerville. He has served as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) since 2013 and is in his third term as Chair. He has previously served as President of the Board of Trustees of Directions for Youth and Families, Chairman of the Capital Campaign Planning Committee of Directions for Youth and Families, Member and Chair of the Westerville Planning Commission, and Member of the Westerville Board of Zoning Appeals.

Katie helped form the Sacramento Urban Agriculture Coalition and the Sacramento Community Land Trust. Her community organizing experience led her to be the first Sacramento appointee to California’s AB 32 Environmental Justice Advisory Committee, where she became co-chair during the 2030 Target Scoping Plan process. She was selected to be the first consultant for the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies, and then became Policy & Political Director for the California Environmental Justice Alliance. Katie currently consults for environmental justice groups on state legislation.

Katie holds a bachelors and masters degree in Community Development from the University of California at Davis. She is a renter and spends her spare time with her two dogs, Chevy and Kevin.

After spending a decade in public relations and communications at nonprofit organizations in workforce development, affordable housing and homelessness, Caitlin transitioned to focus on strategic partnerships and community collaboration to help underrepresented entrepreneurs launch their startups. This year, Caitlin pioneered a new pilot in Oregon that provides respite childcare for women entrepreneurs and is the co-host for the Women’s Innovation Network.

Caitlin was elected President of Lane Transit District’s Board of Directors in her second year of board service and recently spearheaded the agency’s first-ever Strategic Business Plan. Caitlin has a lengthy list of volunteer committees and boards that she serves on, including the Leadership Board for Relief Nursery, Board of Stewards for Looking Glass, and she is one of the founders of the Eugene Young Professionals program.

In 2005, Caitlin received her Bachelors in Anthropology from Sonoma State University in California before heading to New Mexico State University for graduate school in Medical Anthropology. In 2015, Caitlin graduated at the top of her class from Bushnell University with her MBA. A resolute sports mom, you can find Caitlin on the weekends coaching her four children (ages 5, 7, 9 and 12) in either soccer, basketball, or tennis.