Member Profiles

Steven Albright

Austin, Texas

Director of Government Affairs, Association of General Contractors of Texas

• Specializes in the areas of transportation, energy, natural resources and homeland security policy.

Previous Experience

• Previously served as Senior Advisor and Budget Director for Governor Greg Abbott.
• Previously served eight years as Chief of Staff in the Texas Senate for Senator Robert Nichols, as well as Policy Director for the Texas Senate Committee on Transportation.
• Previously served as a legislative director in the Texas House of Representatives, focusing on natural resources and finance-related policy.
• Has more than 16 years of experience in the legislative and executive branches of Texas Government, including 22 regular and special legislative sessions.

Board Service

• Texas Bond Review Board (former chairman)
• Southwestern States Water Commission (former member)

Al Alonzi

Austin, Texas

Texas Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

• Provides executive direction over the $5.5 billion annual federal-aid apportionment to Texas, one of the largest and most complex federal-aid programs in the nation.
• Leads a multidisciplinary staff of 50 professionals to provide guidance to state and local funding recipients unified in the primary objective of remaining a relevant partner in Texas, while advancing national transportation goals.

Former Deputy Division Administrator, FHWA Texas Division Office

Has served FHWA in multiple capacities in several field offices as well as the Washington, D.C. headquarters for over 32 years.

Amelia Anderson

Coppell, Texas

Treasurer, Co-founder & President Emeritus, Advancing Women in Aviation Roundtable (AWAR)

• Leads AWAR, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 2015 with a mission to work with senior executives around the globe to build awareness and develop strategies to promote the development and advancement of women leaders in aviation finance.
• Delivers interactive experiences that help senior leaders gain a deeper understanding of the career roadblocks that women often face and provides tools to help leaders develop strategies to break down barriers in their own regional and organizational settings.

Chair, Aviation Year of Inclusion, Dublin City University (DCU) (2019-2020)

• Led this joint initiative between Dublin City University’s Center of Excellence for Diversity & Inclusion and the Irish aviation industry focused on studying and promoting diversity in all sectors of aviation across Ireland.

Former Managing Director and Assistant Treasurer, American Airlines

• Executed more than $50 billion of best-in-class transactions, including financing 500+ new aircraft.
• Served as co-chair of the American Airlines Women’s Leadership Program (2017-2018).

Former Assistant Treasurer and Director of Corporate Audit, Phelps Dodge Corporation

Former Managing Director of Corporate Finance, US Airways

Board Service

• Arizona Opera, 2012-2016 (trustee)
• Arizona’s Children Association, 2009-2013 (board treasurer and finance committee chair)

Esperanza “Hope” Andrade

San Antonio, Texas

Co-Founder & Partner, GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

Commissioner, Texas Workforce Commission (2013-2015)

• Served as an advocate for nearly 485,000 Texas employers.

Secretary of State, State of Texas (2008-2012)

• Appointed as the first Latina Secretary of State and the fourth-longest serving in Texas history.
• Promoted Texas Wide Open for Business and championed transportation infrastructure to enhance statewide economic development.

Commissioner/Chair, Texas Transportation Commission (2003-2008)

• Served as the second female and the first to serve as chair.
• Provided impactful, multimodal transportation solutions and record-breaking funding for roadways and safety initiatives.

Board Service

• Tri-Chair, ConnectSA (2018-present)
• Metropolitan Transit Board of Directors (Former Chair)
• Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio (1998-2000)
• Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce (2000-2004) (Vice Chair)
• Our Lady of the Lake University Board of Trustees (2001-2003)
• San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (1998-2000) (Chair)

David Cain

Dallas, Texas

President, David Cain Consulting

• Conducts governmental affairs and relations consulting for numerous clients.

Member, Texas Senate (1995-2003)

• Elected chairman of the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Senate Committee on Administration, and twice elected chairman of the Southern Legislative Conference Transportation Committee.

Member, Texas House of Representatives (1977-1995)

• Served as chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and wrote the legislation that created the Texas Department of Transportation.

Board Service

• Capitol Preservation Board
• Council of Governments (governing board)

Dennis Christiansen

College Station, Texas

Director Emeritus, Texas A&M Transportation Institute

• Served as TTI agency director for 10 years and at TTI for 45 years in a multitude of leadership roles.
• Instrumental in increasing TTI research expenditures by 60 percent, the growing TTI’s total operating budget by 52 percent, and expanding TTI facilities from 216,000 square feet to more than 324,000 square feet during his time as agency director.
• Initiated new research programs in transportation finance, policy, environment and technology.
• Conducted extensive research in traffic operations, transportation planning, and transit planning and is an international expert in developing and implementing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

Board Service

• Brazos County Regional Mobility Authority
• College Station Planning and Zoning Commission
• ITS America Policy and Business Council
• International Institute of Transportation Engineers (former president)
• Council of University Transportation Centers (former president)
• American Road and Transportation Builders Association Research and Education Division (former president)

David Coatney

College Station, Texas

Director, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

• Responsible for the administration of the organization which includes planning, budgeting, operating and allocating resources for the agency; coordinating the planning, development and operation of all activities and programs of the agency; and providing for the operation and maintenance of the agency physical plants.

Former Fire Chief, Dallas Fire Rescue (2016–2018)

Former Fire Chief, Round Rock Fire Department (2011–2016)

Formerly with San Antonio Fire Department as Assistant Fire Chief, Chief of Fire Operations and Emergency Management Coordinator, among other leadership positions (1985–2011)

Previously served in positions in Emergency Medical Services and law enforcement.

Board Service

• Commissioner, Texas Commission on Fire Commission
• State of Texas Governor’s First Responder Council (chair)
• Texas Division of Emergency Management Executive Advisory Committee

Sergio Contreras

McAllen, Texas

CEO, Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez LLP (2022-present)

• Provides financial and operational leadership to this 70-year-old law firm, which is the largest law firm in the Rio Grande Valley

Previous Experience

• Previously served as President/CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership where he worked with local business leaders in four counties in South Texas to advocate for regional collaboration and economic development through initiatives that impacted the development of international trade, healthcare, improvements to transportation and port of entry infrastructure, education, and workforce development (2016-2022).
• Previously served as Executive Director of the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and as Regional Manager of External Affairs at AT&T.

Board Service

• Border Trade Alliance (immediate past chair)
• Texas Broadband Development Office Board of Advisors (member)
• Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (board member)

Ed Emmett

Houston, Texas

Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute, Rice University

Distinguished Senior Fellow, Global Resilience Institute, Northeastern University

Harris County Judge (2007-2019)

• Led the Commissioner’s Court for the largest county in Texas, with more than 4.7 million people and a $4 billion budget.
• Served as the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a role which established him as a national leader in emergency response and community resilience.

President, National Industrial Transportation League (1992-2003)

• Led national and global transportation policy initiatives.

Commissioner, U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission (1989-1992)

• Nominated by President George H.W. Bush to serve on this commission, which regulated railroads, trucking and other transportation carriers.

Member, Texas House of Representatives (1979-1987)

• Served as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and as a member of the House Transportation Committee.

Board Service

• Texas Department of Transportation Freight Advisory Committee (chair)
• Greater Houston Freight Committee, Houston-Galveston Area Council (co-chair)

Edward Fernandes

Houston/Austin, Texas

Partner, King & Spalding (2019-present)

Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (2009-2019)

• Nationally recognized for representation of domestic and international clients.
• Practice focuses on complex business litigation, legal and accounting malpractice, trade secrets, energy, securities litigation, and disputes in both state and federal courts across the United States.
• Recognized by The National Law Journal in its annual 2004 feature “Winning” ranking that profiles the nation’s top 10 litigators.
• Recognized as one of “The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal (2008).

Board Service

• Catholic Foundation – Diocese of Austin, Board of Directors
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas Advisory Board
• Texas Appleseed (director, 2007-2016)
• Board of Trustees, Texas Bar Foundation (chair, 2010-2011)
• LeadershipSBOT Steering Committee, State Bar of Texas (2010-2011)
• State Bar of Texas (director, 2005-2008)
• Houston Bar Association (director, 1996-2000)

Zachary Grasley

College Station, Texas

Department Head, Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University

• As department head, responsible for undergraduate and graduate degree programs in civil and environmental engineering.
• Leads one of the largest civil and environmental engineering departments in the United States.

Zachry Chair in Construction Integration, Texas A&M University (2020-present)

Professor of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University (2017-present)

CEO, Expert Profs Consulting, Inc. (2020-present)

• Leads this organization, which fills a critical gap at the intersection of the industry and academic worlds, safely connecting professors to clients in need of their expertise and skills.

Director, Center for Infrastructure Renewal, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, (2018-2021)

Board Service

• OSL Concrete, Inc. Board of Advisors

John Hall

The Woodlands, Texas

President and Chief Executive Officer, Houston Area Research Center (HARC)

• Leads HARC in research and policy analysis to forge effective and sustainable solutions to Texas’ climate resilience and climate justice challenges.
• Focused on policy and research in air quality, clean and adequate supplies of water, energy, coastal management, the preservation of green spaces, and developing emerging technologies to reduce air and climate pollution and support economic growth and new job creation.
• Works with federal, state and local officials, community leaders, partners, and funders.

Previous Experience

• Previously Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for the Environmental Defense Fund, where he led the advocacy organization’s clean energy efforts in 10 of the largest states in the nation and vehicle electrification initiatives in Texas.
• Previously chaired the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the predecessor agency to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, where he merged together environmental programs from several state agencies.
• As President of John Hall Public Affairs, played a significant role in leading Texas to effectively address ozone non-attainment challenges in the Houston-Galveston and Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan areas. (1996-2010)

Thomas Lambert

Houston, Texas

President and CEO, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)

• Oversees the management and operations of transit services for the nation’s fourth largest city.
• Previously served as Executive Vice President, as well as Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief of Police during his 43 years with the agency.

Former Senior Police Officer with the Austin Police Department

Board Service

• American Public Transportation Association
• Transportation Policy Council, Houston-Galveston Area Council
• U.S. Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems Advisory Council (former member)
• Intelligent Transportation Society of America Board of Directors (former chairman)
• Transportation Security Administration Peer Advisory Group (former chairman)
• Houston TranStar Leadership Team (former chairman)

David Laney

Dallas, Texas

Attorney, business and financial law

• Provides consulting services in transportation planning, construction, finance and state legislative matters.
• Experience also includes litigation management and planning; mediation; and strategic and organizational planning.

Former Managing Partner, Jenkins & Gilchrist, P.C.

Board Service

• Texas Transportation Commission (former chair)
• National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) (former chair)
• Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
• Texas Turnpike Authority (former member)
• Finance Commission of Texas (former member)
• Stanford University Board of Trustees (audit chair)
• Matador Resources Co.
• LBJ Express (chair)
• North Tarrant Express
• Freight Shuttle International

Bob Lanham

Katy, Texas

President, Williams Brothers Construction Co., Inc.

• Senior executive for one the largest highway construction firms in America. Serving as president since 2014 and in various leadership positions for 37 years.
• Served in the U.S. Army (1981-1985).
• B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1981.
• Selected as a Distinguished Graduate of the Texas A&M University Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, 2015.
• Registered professional engineer in Texas.
• Industry advocate who promotes better markets, improved business climate, ethical business practices and business accountability.

Board Service

• Associated General Contractors of America (past president)
• Associated General Contractors of Texas (past president)
• Houston Contractors Association
• Texas Asphalt Paving Association
• The Road Information Program (past president)
• Texas Good Roads and Transportation Association
• Houston Construction Industry Coalition (past president)

Russell Laughlin

Fort Worth, Texas

Executive Vice President, Hillwood Properties

• Oversees the management, operation, land and infrastructure planning, and entitlements of AllianceTexas, a 27,000-acre mixed-use, master-planned community encompassing an international trade and logistics complex, 525 corporate residents, 65,000 employees and 15,000 single-family homes.
• Instrumental in the development of AllianceTexas and in leading long-term regional planning initiatives for North Fort Worth and Tarrant County during 35 years with the company.
• Formerly served as director of Hillwood’s National Transportation Authority, with primary responsibility for privatized road development projects.

Board Service

• 35W Coalition (president)
• Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition (executive committee)
• Regional Transportation Council
• North American Super Corridor Coalition (secretary)
• Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council
• Region 6 Water Planning Group (secretary)
• Northern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (board chairman)

Roger Nober

Fort Worth, Texas

Executive Vice President, Law and Corporate Affairs, and Chief Legal Officer, BNSF Railway

• Responsible for overseeing BNSF’s legal and regulatory matters, environmental, claims, compliance, communications and state government and community affairs. Serves on the Board of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC. (2007-present)

Previous Experience

• Previously was a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he focused his practice primarily on transportation law and legislative matters.
• Served as chairman of the United States Surface Transportation Board, having been confirmed by the Senate to the Commission and appointed by President George W. Bush as the Chairman. (2002-2006)
• Served in a variety of transportation policymaking functions in the U.S. House of Representatives and at the U.S. Department of Transportation, including serving as chief counsel for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives. (1993-2002)

Board Service

• Business Advisory Council, Northwestern University Transportation Center
• Board of Directors, Texas General Counsel Forum (past member)
• Texas 2030 Committee (2008-2010) (past member)

Herbert H. Richardson

College Station, Texas

Chancellor Emeritus and TTI Director Emeritus, Texas A&M University System

Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Emeritus, Texas A&M University

Previous Experience

• Director, Texas A&M Transportation (13 years); greatly expanded its state-wide presence and multi-modal scope.
• Chancellor, Texas A&M University System (2 years); developed a long-range vision for the System and oversaw integration of several regional universities into the System.
• Dean of Engineering and Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University; Vice Chancellor for Engineering and Director, Texas Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University System (7 years).
• Chief Scientist, USDOT, 1970-72.
• Served 27 years in leadership positions at MIT, including as Professor, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean of Engineering.

Board Service

• National Academy of Engineering (council member)
• National Research Council (governing board)
• Transportation Research Board (past chair)
• Texas Food and Fibers Commission (past chair)

Gerald Schwebel

Laredo, Texas

Corporate Executive Vice President, International Bank of Commerce

• Provides special expertise in international trade and finance, industrial/economic development, and transportation. Directs the bank’s investments/wealth management program known as IBC Investments Services and serves as a board member for IBC Insurance Agency (1996-present).

Previous Experience

• Joined IBC Bank after distinguished service in the United States Army where he served as an Artillery Officer in Germany and the Republic of Korea.
• Previously held administrative positions in various fields including higher education, food services, media, and the securities industry.

Board Service

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Mexico Economic Council
• Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the I-69 Alliance of Texas
• IH 27 Advisory Committee
• Ports/Transportation Advisory Committee of Texas
• Border Trade Alliance (former national chairman)
• North America Strategy for Competitiveness (former chairman)
• U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (bi-national director)
• Transportation, Logistics and Infrastructure Committee and International Relations Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (member)
• Texas Secretary of State’s Border Trade Advisory Committee (BTAC) (member)
• Texas Freight Mobility Committee (member)
• Board of Advisors, Texas A&M International University A.R. Sanchez School of Business (member)

Pete Sepulveda, Jr.

Rancho Viejo, Texas

Executive Director, Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority
County Administrator, Cameron County

• Manages and directs $2 billion in transportation projects for the Cameron County RMA to reduce congestion, improve connectivity, and facilitate economic development.
• Provides management, coordination, and communication to elected officials on the legislative, intergovernmental and operational needs of the county.
• Supervises the day-to-day operations of non-elected county departments and agencies which are under the direct control of the Commissioners’ Court.

Previous Experience

• Previously served Cameron County as Director of Transportation and County Judge.
• Previously served as City Manager in Pharr and Eagle Pass, Texas.
• Has worked on highway, rail and bridge projects with TxDOT for 35 years, including the permitting and construction of five international bridges between the United States and Mexico.

Robert Spillar

Austin, Texas

Senior Vice President, National Director of Smart Cities, STV

• Leads STV’s multidisciplinary smart cities practice, which includes a fully integrated suite of thinkers, planners, finance experts, designers, procurement and grant consultants, digital technologists and program managers.
• Advises public and private clients on urban strategies, including long-range budget development and cost/revenue options, as they consider different approaches in mobility, social infrastructure, urban solutions, decarbonization and public resources management.

Former Transportation Director, City of Austin

• Responsible for the City’s multimodal transportation portfolio, including transit planning, automated vehicle and shared mobility, traffic engineering and operations, parking enterprise, right-of-way permitting, special events management, and emerging technologies.

Former Vice President, Parsons Brinckerhoff

Former Director of Traffic Management, City of Seattle

Board Service

• Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition Executive Committee (former member)

Oscar Trevino

North Richland Hills, Texas

CEO, O. Trevino Construction

• Manages this construction company with a strong background in heavy/highway contracts and an emphasis on concrete paving.

Mayor, North Richland Hills, Texas (2002–present)

Board Service

• Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition (chair)
• Regional Transportation Council (past chair)
• Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition (past chair)
• National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure and Services Steering Committee (past chair)
• Partners in Mobility, North Central Texas County of Governments (past president)
• Northeast Tarrant County Chamber of Commerce
• Texas A&M University Civil Engineering Advisory Council (past member)

Victor Vandergriff

Fort Worth, Texas

Executive Director, Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition

• Leads this public-private partnership that collaboratively cultivates opportunities in the identification, support, development, funding, and construction of innovative mobility and infrastructure solutions for the western portion of the North Texas region.

Commissioner, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) (2013-2018)

• Member of the five-member governing board for TxDOT that oversees 80,000 miles of road and supports aviation, maritime, rail, and public transportation across the state.

Chairman, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (2009-2013)

• Oversaw this agency beginning in the first year it was created, which registers almost 24 million vehicles; regulates vehicle dealers; credentials buses and big trucks for intrastate and interstate commerce; issues oversize and overweight permits; and awards grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts.

Vice President, Business Development, Van Auyl Automotive Group (1997-2009)

President, Vandergriff Automotive Group, (1989-1997)

Board Service

• North Texas Tollway Authority (former chairman)

Kirk Watson

Austin, Texas

Mayor, City of Austin (January 2023-present)

Founding Dean, University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs (2020-2021)

Texas Senator, District 14 (2007-2020)

• Served as Vice Chair, Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, 2001-2011; Member, Senate Finance Committee, 2015-2020; and Member, Senate Transportation Committee, 2013-2014.
• Became a statewide leader in addressing transportation challenges such as funding, air quality, traffic congestion, safety and planning, including serving as Chair of the Central Texas Mobility Improvements Program Committee.
• Championed an effort to end the diversion of dedicated transportation funds to other uses.
• Passed legislation to require seatbelts for back seat passengers.
• Streamlined the process for toll project development and environmental review for road projects, a model that was included in federal legislation.

Mayor, City of Austin (1997-2001)

• Instrumental in passing multiple transportation bonds, championed public transportation, opened a new international airport and championed environmental stewardship and transportation planning.
• Created the Clean Air Coalition within a five-county region, supported approval of State Highway 130, and championed light rail.
• Engaged with the TxDOT Commission to partner on numerous projects of benefit to the city.

Board Service

• Capital Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Policy Board, 2007-2010 (chair)
• Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, 2005 (chair)
• Citizen Campaign for Commuter Rail, 2004 (chair)
• Texas Air Control Board, 1991-1993 (chair)

Jeff Williams

Arlington, Texas

President and CEO, Graham Associates, Inc.

• Leads this civil engineering and surveying firm that has designed many landmark projects across North Texas, including AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park, Parks Mall, Southlake Town Square and IH-30 Three Bridges.

Mayor, City of Arlington (2015-2021)

• Under his leadership, Arlington was the first city in the United States to run an autonomous public shuttle and the first city in Texas to operate autonomous vehicles on public streets.
• Championed a technology rideshare program that has been implemented by 75 major cities across the nation.
• Instituted an iPhone app allowing citizens to easily report potholes on city streets and implemented smart traffic signals and LED streetlights.
• Worked with small business owners to retain new graduates of the University of Texas at Arlington for potential start-up business opportunities.
• Supported the Downtown Arlington redevelopment project and significantly expanded Arlington’s entertainment district.
• Led a successful national search to be the home of the National Medal of Honor Museum, which is scheduled to open in 2024.

Board Service

• U.S. Metro Economies Committee, U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) (chairman)
• COVID-19 Taskforce, USCM (chairman)
• Infrastructure Funding Taskforce, USCM (chairman)
• Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce (former chairman)

Jennifer Woodard

Austin, Texas

CEO, Associated General Contractors of Texas

• Operates the AGC of Texas Highway, Heavy Utilities and Industrial Branch.
• Previously served as the Director of Government Affairs and other leadership positions since 1986.
• B.A., Political Science, Texas A&M University, 1991.
• Selected as one of 25 transportation construction and design industry executives in the nation invited to participate in the American Road & Transportation Builders Association first “Young Executive Development Program” in Washington, D.C., 1996.