Speakers

Bicycle Indiana, Executive Director

A Terre Haute native and resident, Margaret Barawskas has joined the organization effective April 3, 2023.  Margaret has strong experience in non-profit management in the cycling industry.  She led the Indiana Interscholastic Cycling League with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) for over three years and strived to get more kids, coaches, and families on bikes across the state. 

Presentation Title: Walk, Roll, and Pedal: Multi-Modal Transport Expert Panel

Transportation Planning Director, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Caitlin serves as the Transportation Planning Director for the national Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Washington, D.C. She joined AMPO in December 2020 and leads the efforts for all Interest Groups, the Executive Director’s forum, and both national committees. In addition to peer-to-peer efforts she serves as the project manager for the Activity Sim Consortium, an activity-based travel open-source model, and is leading the efforts to create the first ever national MPO Institute. Prior to AMPO Caitlin led data and performance measure efforts at the Mid-America Regional Council, and served as the MPO Planning Manager for a small, non-TMA MPO. She holds a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Kansas.

Indiana University, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator and Bicycle Manager 

Anna Dragovich previously served as the Senior Transportation Planner with the Bloomington Monroe County MPO. She currently serves as the TDM Coordinator and Bicycle Manager at Indiana University Bloomington. In this role, she operates where higher education, public health, climate action, and multimodal transportation solutions link up. She understands the role universities play in advancing sustainable transportation and their unique opportunity for fostering innovation and influencing students who will become future leaders. In addition to marketing and managing TDM programs, this academic year Anna is working with campus partners to analyze data to understand commute patterns and behaviors and engaging the campus community to effectively improve the transportation system.

Presentation Title: Walk, Roll, and Pedal: Multi-Modal Transport Expert Panel

Transportation Specialist

Richelle Ellis is a Transportation Planner with FHWA Eastern Federal Lands.  Richelle joined FHWA-EFL in 2009 as an Environmental Protection Specialist and became a member of the Planning Team in 2012.  Richelle possesses a BS in Geology from West Virginia University and over 25 years of professional experience including prior state level experience with the Florida Department of Transportation as the District 4 NEPA Coordinator as well as private experience in environmental consulting. 

Richelle began her role in FHWA Planning by becoming involved in the development and implementation of the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) and the management role EFL Planning would play in the new Program within the MAP-21 Legislation. Since 2012, Richelle has been the Access Program Planning Coordinator conducting the FLAP Call for Projects and outreach in all 31 EFL states and 2 Territories. As a member of the EFL Planning Team, Richelle has also participated in Integrated Planning Studies, NPS Alternative Transportation Studies, FWS Climate Change Vulnerability Studies, Feasibility/Safety Studies, PEL Studies, PPP Route Studies, National Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plans and contract management (COR).

Presentation Title: Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division Support Overview

Federal Highway Administration Indiana Division, Safety Engineer

Eryn is a graduate of Purdue University and a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Indiana. She joined Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2009 and she has worked in major project delivery and recently as the Indiana Division Safety Engineer. Eryn is responsible for developing grant administration procedures for the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant program. Prior to joining FHWA, Eryn worked in multiple roles at the Indiana Department of Transportation, including management of INDOT’s planning office.

Presentation Title: Federal Grants with a focus on Safe Streets 4 All (SS4A) Grant

Planning Team Leader

Since joining the Federal Highway Administration in 2010, Mr. Grimm has been the Planning Team Leader with the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division office of the Federal Highway Administration in Sterling and Ashburn, Virginia. In this role, he has directed the preparation of a wide range of multimodal transportation planning assignments in support of several federal land management agencies. This work has involved the development of the initial set of multistate regional long range transportation plans for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the country. In support of the Department of Defense’s Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Mr. Grimm is currently managing the conduct of a group of 18 Power Projection Platform (PPP) Route Assessment Studies connecting major U.S. Army and Marine Corps installations with their designated seaports of embarkation on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico.

A native of West Virginia, Mr. Grimm obtained BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University. He began his professional career with the Delaware Department of Transportation prior to joining the Wilmington Metropolitan Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO), the MPO for Wilmington, DE. He later accepted a position with a consulting engineering and planning firm in Washington, DC and has been a resident of the Washington, DC metropolitan area since that time.  Mr. Grimm is a registered professional engineer in the states of Delaware and Virginia and he is a Member of both the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Presentation Title: Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division Support Overview

Federal Highway Administration Indiana Division, Division Administator

Jermaine R. Hannon has been the Division Administrator (DA) for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Indiana Division since March 2021.  Jermaine is responsible for directing the delivery of the $1 billion+ federal-aid program in Indiana.  He leads a multidisciplinary professional staff responsible for civil rights, safety, planning, finance, environment, engineering, and operations.  

Prior to becoming Division Administrator, Jermaine served as Deputy Division Administrator (DDA) for the FHWA Indiana Division for 6 years.  Prior to working in Indiana, Jermaine served in various positions in FHWA’s California and Arizona Division Offices. 

Jermaine joined FHWA in 2004.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology from South Carolina State University, a Master of Science degree in Transportation Planning and Management from Texas Southern University, and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University.  Jermaine is member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.  Jermaine is a married to his high school sweetheart Adrianna and is the proud father four (Abigail, Jayden, Collin, and Myles).

City of Bloomington Economic and Sustainable Development Department, Transportation Demand Manager

Jeff is the Transportation Demand Manager in the City of Bloomington’s Economic and Sustainable Development Department. Prior to joining the city, Jeff ran his own consulting business providing transportation management services to the passenger rail industry.

Jeff spent the first half of his career working for public transit authorities in Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida.  Jeff was the Executive Director of Tri-Rail which, at the time, was a new start commuter rail service that operated between Miami and West Palm Beach, FL.  Jeff spent the second half of his career in the private sector and was the Chief Operating Officer for a private excursion rail company that had operations in Colorado, North Carolina, California, Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.  He also started an event company that licensed events at tourist railroads in 40 states in the US, United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico. 

Jeff started his transit career as an Intern at Bloomington Transit while he attended Indiana university where he graduated with a major in Transportation.  Jeff is originally from Indiana, has a large family that lives in the state and his daughter attends Indiana University in Bloomington.

Presentation Title: Implementing a New Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program:  The Goals are to Decrease CO2 Emissions, Reduce Traffic, and Improve Parking Availability

Madison County Council of Governments in Anderson; Systems Planning, Analysis, and Forecasting Senior Transportation Manager

Brandon Kendera is a Senior Transportation Planner within the Systems Planning, Analysis, and Forecasting team for the Madison County Council of Governments in Anderson. He has experience leading and assisting in over 30 projects, plans, and programs, providing technical assistance to communities ranging from 500 to 140,000 people. In his time at MCCOG, he has had the opportunity to oversee the agency's first SR 9 non-motorized safety action plan, numerous thoroughfare plans, and data visualization products. 

Presentation Title: Supporting Regional Goals through Multi-Level Implementation

Presentation Title: Planning for Zero: Crash Data & A Safety Plan Case Study

Community Planner

Lian Li has been a Community Planner with the FHWA Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division since March 2022 and is a key member of the Planning Team.  Her main responsibilities include assisting in several ongoing planning studies in support of the National Park Service and Department of Defense, coordinating with Federal, state, and local agencies in support of the integrated planning study in Pennsylvania, as well as assisting in the FLAP application review and screening process. 

Prior to joining Eastern Federal Lands, Lian was a Community Planner for the FHWA Alabama Division since 2013 where she was the lead for the oversight of several programs including the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), State Planning and Research (SP&R) work program, Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWPs), Air Quality Conformity, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ).  She led several TMA certification reviews, one Federal Planning Finding, and was considered a subject matter expert by her peers. 

Lian is a veteran and served in the United States Army for eight years.  She received her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Syracuse University and her master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia.

Presentation Title: Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division Support Overview

Executive Director, Indiana Arts Commission

Previous to joining the Arts Commission, Michaelsen served as the first Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts for the City of Bloomington, Indiana. In that role she developed and implemented all aspects of programming and services offered to the creative sector by the City of Bloomington and its state-designated cultural district, the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD). Areas of programmatic focus included creative entrepreneurship, downtown investment and small business support, destination and attraction development, public art, grants-making, and cultural facility development. During her tenure at the city, she leveraged partnerships to institute new sources of funding and investment in arts organizations, artists, and arts-based small businesses, and developed strategic plans for cultural district development and public art. She also facilitated the commission and donation of dozens of new works of public art throughout the community by both the public and private sectors. Prior to her work in the public sector, Michaelsen’s leadership experience included local arts agencies, community arts centers, festivals, and museums.

She enjoys being on the road experiencing communities' unique creative assets and sharing the impact of the arts on Indiana’s people and places. Currently Michaelsen serves on the Board of Governors for Hendrix College in Conway, AR and on the Community Advisory Board for WFIU Public Radio in Bloomington. She lives in Bloomington with her husband, Jonathan, and has two sons, Brendan, and Wyeth.

Presentation Title: The Geography of Creativity:  Cultural Districts

Madison County Council of Governments in Anderson; Systems Planning, Analysis, and Forecasting Manager

Ryan Phelps, AICP, PTP is the Systems Planning, Analysis, and Forecasting Manager for the Madison County Council of Governments in Anderson. He has experience leading and assisting in over 40 projects, plans, and programs, providing technical assistance to communities ranging from 500 to 140,000 people. In his time at MCCOG, he has had the opportunity to oversee the agency’s first comprehensive safety action plan, first scenario planning process, and complete re-build of the travel demand model.

Presentation Title: Supporting Regional Goals through Multi-Level Implementation

Presentation Title: Planning for Zero: Crash Data & A Safety Plan Case Study

City of Bloomington Department of Planning and Transportation, Director

Scott is a community based civic-minded leader who empowers his colleagues, listens to and respects community members, and is a forward-thinker who is mindful of future needs of the community.  Scott has a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Biology and Political Science and a Masters of Planning from the University of Wyoming. He has over 21 years of experience in planning while working for the City of Bloomington and has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planner since 2006.  Scott has worked in a number of roles for the Department and currently is appointed as the Director.  During his tenure, he has experience with Comprehensive, Transportation, and Neighborhood planning, Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program development, and Unified Development code updates and approvals.

City of Bloomington Planning & Transportation, Assistant Director

Beth Rosenbarger, AICP, is the Assistant Director of the Planning and Transportation Department for the City of Bloomington, Indiana. As an urban planner with over a decade of experience, Beth focuses on how the built environment–and the policies that regulate it–impacts peoples’ behavior and lives. 

Presentation Title: Designing for pedestrians and inducing pedestrian demand (win-win!)

Indiana Department of Transportation, Commissioner

Michael (Mike) Smith was named Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner in February 2022 by Gov. Eric Holcomb.  

Mike joined INDOT in 2015 as Deputy Commissioner of the east central district. In 2017, he became deputy commissioner of statewide operations, where he focused on improving agency capital assets, including increased investment in fleet and facilities, and process improvement, particularly within planning and maintenance activities. He was named chief financial officer in 2021 and oversaw INDOT’s financial relationships with contractors, consultants, and partners, leading the agency through the management of federal COVID relief funds and continuing to deliver record construction projects.  

His leadership roles throughout his tenure at INDOT provided him with unique insight into the agency as a whole. As commissioner, Mike is responsible for the management of the agency’s 3,500 employees and the development of its $4 billion annual budget. He provides strategic management direction to the agency’s finance, construction, capital program, operations, people services, and legal divisions.   

Mike’s background is one of increasing management and leadership experience in both the private and public sectors. He served in various leadership capacities with the nation’s largest retailer, achieving successful results while leading company initiatives that included the opening of new stores and assisting in the redevelopment of urban areas. As both a private or public organizational leader, Mike has worked to improve operating conditions and productivity, build relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, develop talent, and engage employees at all levels.   

Mike serves on a number of boards and is active with the Mid American Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO) and Conexus Indiana, a non-profit focused on the development and growth of Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries. As Chairman of the Board of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, he oversees continued development of the South Shore Line, a commuter rail transportation system that provides light rail service between northwest Indiana and Chicago.   

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. 

Monroe County Commissioner

Julie L. Thomas serves as a Monroe County Commissioner, a position she has held since 2012. Prior to this, she was elected to the Monroe County Council (2009-2012). In these elected positions, Thomas has been a member of the Monroe County Plan Commission (2009 to present) and has served as a representative on the Bloomington-Monroe County MPO for more than five years.

Thomas is employed as Adjunct Faculty at Franklin (Indiana) College and as an Online Adjunct Faculty at Southern New Hampshire University - she teaches global, European and Russian history at these institutions. She recently taught Political Activism and Civic Engagement at Indiana University-Bloomington.

Thomas has volunteered extensively in Monroe County. She is the past Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) PAC, where she served on the Steering Committee from 2008. Thomas was a member of the Board of Directors at WFHB Community Radio, Planned Parenthood-Indiana, and Middle Way House, a domestic violence shelter and rape crisis center.

Dubois County Engineer

Brent is a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Indiana. He has worked for the Dubois County Highway Department since 2014. At the Highway Department, he oversees the Bridge Department and inventory, is the ADA Coordinator for the County, and acts as a project manager for all contract work in the County. Prior to working for Dubois County, he was the Warrick County Assistant Engineer and Stormwater Director for 4 years. 

Presentation Title: Federal Grants with a focus on Safe Streets 4 All (SS4A) Grant