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)

Bill Allaway

Austin, Texas

Principal, WHA Consulting

Former Senior Advisor, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) (Retired)
Former President, TTARA Research Foundation

• Served as President and principal spokesman for TTARA and its research foundation for nearly 30 years. TTARA works to ensure fiscal responsibility in Texas state government through the development and advocacy of sound tax and budget policies.
• Formerly served as director of revenue estimating for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and on the economics staff of the Texas Water Development Board.

Board Service

• Texas Strategic Economic Policy Commission
• Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness
• State Job Training Coordinating Council
• The Commission of 125 at the University of Texas at Austin

Al Alonzi

Austin, Texas

Texas Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

• Provides executive direction over the $3.8 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 28 years.

Jeffrey Arndt

San Antonio, Texas

President and CEO, VIA Metropolitan Transit

• Leads this agency, which provides transportation services to the fast growing city of San Antonio, identified as the 7th largest city in the U.S and previously served as Deputy CEO/Chief of Business Support Services.
• Experienced in transit service and capital facility development; training and safety; financial management and planning; labor relations; special event transit/traffic management; and transit operations.

Former Senior Vice President of Operations, Houston METRO

Former Research Scientist, Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Board Service

• American Public Transportation Association Bus Safety Committee
• Board of Directors, Centro San Antonio
• Texas Diversity Council
• South West Transit Association
• San Antonio Chamber of Commerce

Robin Autenrieth

College Station, Texas

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

• Leads the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, which is ranked 8th (undergraduate) and 9th (graduate) among all civil engineering programs at public institutions and is the largest civil engineering program in the country.
• Oversees 73 faculty, 800 undergraduate students, and over 400 graduate students.
• Has a joint appointment in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health.
• Joined Texas A&M in 1986 as an assistant professor and has served in numerous positions, including senior associate dean for academic affairs.

Board Service

• Clarkson University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Council
• Clarkson University Research Council
• American Society of Civil Engineers Department Heads and Chair Council

Michael Behrens

Yoakum, Texas

Director, National Transportation Programs, Michael Baker Corporation

• Provides advice and guidance on project delivery methods for clients and participates in national transportation initiatives on behalf of the company.

Former Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation (2001-2007)

• Managed TxDOT programs, policies and operating strategies, and represented the agency before the Texas Legislature.
• Began his career with TxDOT in 1971; formerly served as District Engineer in the Yoakum District and as Assistant Executive Director for Engineering Operations.

Board Service

• Transportation Research Board Executive Committee
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (past president)

Rollin Bredenberg

Fort Worth, Texas

Vice President, Capacity Planning and Operations Research, BNSF Railway (Retired)

• Determined priorities for investment in expansion of line and terminal capacity. Leads operations research and advanced analysis teams (2011-2016).
• Vice President, various operations functions, BNSF Railway (1996-2016).

General Manager, Southern Pacific Railroad (1965–1994)

• Served 29 years in management positions in San Antonio, Ennis and Houston, including vice president of the Mexico business unit.

Board Service

• Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Barriger National Transportation Library
• Port Terminal Railroad Association of Houston

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

• 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)

Chuck Ellison

College Station, Texas

Founder and Principal, The Ellison Firm, Attorneys at Law

• Serves clients in areas of business, real estate, banking, municipal law, estate planning and probate.

Board Service

• A&M Political Action Committee (founding trustee and chair)
• Brazos Valley Community Foundation (founding trustee and past chair)
• United Way of the Brazos Valley (former campaign chair)
• Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University (past chair)
• Texas A&M Corps Development Council
• The Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s Century Council (executive committee)
• Bush School of Government and Public Service Development Council
• CHI St. Joseph Health Board of Trustees
• Board of Directors CHI St. Luke’s Health System
• Hospice Brazos Valley Ethics Committee

Edward Fernandes

Houston/Austin, Texas

Partner, King & Spalding LLP

• 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

• 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)

Roger Guenther

Houston, Texas

Executive Director, Port of Houston Authority

• Named Executive Director in January 2014 and has 26 years of experience at the Port of Houston Authority.

Former Deputy Executive Director of Operations for the Port Authority

• Was responsible for all container and breakbulk cargo operations, management and construction of capital development projects, facility and asset maintenance, and real estate interests.
• Also has served in various capacities related to facilities management, including master planning of the Bayport Container Terminal, redevelopment of the existing Barbours Cut Terminal, and procurement of all container handling cranes and equipment over the last two decades.

Previously served as an engineer with Emscor, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia

Board Service

• Port Authority Advisory Committee
• Texas Department of Transportation

Mike Heiligenstein

Austin, Texas

Executive Director, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority

• Leads the implementation of innovative, multimodal transportation solutions that reduce congestion and create transportation choices that enhance quality of life and economic vitality in the Central Texas region.

Former County Commissioner, Williamson County (1989–2003)

• Led the development of environmental and public infrastructure projects.

Former City Councilman, Round Rock (1980–1987)

• Helped supervise and managed more than $2.5 billion in capital improvement projects.

Board Service

• International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
• Envision Central Texas
• National Association of Counties Air and Water Quality Committees (past chair)
• Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council (past vice chair), Texas Technology Task Force
• Carma Advisory Board

Bob Jones

Houston, Texas

President and CEO, Jones Engineering Solutions, LLC

Former President, CEO and Founding Partner, Jones & Carter, Inc.

• Managed this 350-person, Texas-owned, civil engineering company with primary emphasis on municipal, land development and transportation infrastructure. Provided guidance on master planning; political coordination; finance and cost evaluation; program development and management; and regulatory assistance. Worked with local, state and national entities to enhance transportation and transportation funding.

Board Service

• Texas Council of Engineering Companies (president-elect)
• North Houston Association
• West Houston Association
• Texas Building and Procurement Commission (former commissioner)
• Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District (former director)
• Texas A&M University Dwight Look College of Engineering Advisory Council
• Texas A&M University Department of Civil Engineering Advisory Council (emeritus member)

Jungus Jordan

Fort Worth, Texas

City Councilman

• First elected to the Council in June 2005, representing District 6 and was re-elected to his eighth term in May 2019.

Previous Experience

• Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Air Force, serving in Vietnam, Germany and the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.
• Formerly served as development officer at Texas Christian University and later in management positions in marketing and financial advising.

Board Service

• National League of Cities
• North Texas Commission
• Texas Municipal League (past president)
• North Central Texas Clean Air Steering Committee (vice chair)
• North Central Texas Regional Transportation Council (former chair)
• Passenger Rail Working Group (chair)
• Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition (former chair).

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 36 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 33 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 (vice president)
• Associated General Contractors of Texas
• Houston Contractors Association
• Texas Asphalt Paving Association
• The Road Information Program
• Texas Good Roads and Transportation Association
• Houston Construction Industry Coalition

Russell Laughlin

Fort Worth, Texas

Executive Vice President, Hillwood Properties

• Oversees the management, operation, land and infrastructure planning, and entitlements of AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre mixed-use, master-planned community encompassing an international trade and logistics complex, 265 corporate residents, 30,000 employees and 7,600 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 25 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

Carol Lewis

Houston, Texas

Professor and Director Emeritus, Center for Transportation Training and Research, Texas Southern University

• Educates students in fundamentals of transportation and urban transportation issues and conducts operations and policy-related transportation research.
• Conducts research in improving demand estimation for intercity rail systems; policy and operational implications of automated vehicles; and defining need and planning parameters for multijurisdictional (megaregions) transportation planning.

Previous Experience

• Prior to joining Texas Southern University in 1992, spent 15 years as a manager and director of planning at the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County.

Board Service

• USDOT Transit Research Advisory Committee
• Transportation Research Board Inclusion and Diversity Committee (chair)
• Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Advisory Committee
• Gulf Coast Rail District Transportation Advocacy Group (co-chair)
• Houston Exponential Connectivity Committee (chair)

Monica Lombraña

El Paso, Texas

Managing Director, City of El Paso Department of Aviation and International Bridges

• Oversees all aspects of the management, development and operations for two departments that serve as major corridors and ports of entry into the region with a combined staff of over 300.
• Has over 24 years of service with the City of El Paso, serving various departments, including the Comptroller’s, Management and Budget, and Contract Compliance offices.
• Is an Accredited Airport Executive and member of the American Association of Airport Executives.
• Directed the investment of over $285 million in airport capital improvement projects.
• Under her leadership, El Paso International Airport was recognized by Airport Council International’s Air Service Quality Awards as 2nd Place for Best Airports in North America in 2016 and 2017.

Board Service

• Texas Commercial Airports Association
• Airport Council International-North America
• City of El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization

Brenda Mainwaring

Houston/Spring, Texas

Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs, Union Pacific Railroad

• Oversees government, community and philanthropic activities for Union Pacific’s seven southern states: Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, New Mexico and Arizona.
• Has provided legislative policy analysis for the railroad’s multi-state network, redesigned the Union Pacific Museum and created formal protections for the company’s historical assets, developed a trademark licensing and branded-products program; and managed the company’s involvement as supplier to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
• Represents Union Pacific on the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Freight Advisory Committee and Border Trade Advisory Committee and the Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Council.

Previous Experience

• Previously served 15 years at Union Pacific’s Omaha headquarters in a variety of public-facing roles, including public affairs in Nebraska and Iowa.

Board Service

• Texas Business Leadership Council, Executive Committee
• Public Affairs Council State Government Relations Leaders
• Transportation Advocacy Group Houston Advisory Council
• Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce
• North Houston Association

James McCarley

Dallas, Texas

Principal, James McCarley Consultants

• Provides consulting services in state governmental relations.

Executive Director, Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition (1996–2007)

• Promoted transportation projects for this coalition of five counties and 26 cities.

Interim Executive Director, North Texas Tollway Authority (1997–1998)

• Reorganized the organization from a state agency to a local government operation.

Former Assistant City Manager and Chief of Police, City of Plano

Board Service

• Viewpoint Bank (chair)
• Texas Credit Union Coalition Board of Directors
• Texas Police Chiefs Association (past president)
• Director Emeritus, Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition

Drayton McLane Jr.

Temple, Texas

Chairman, McLane Group

• The McLane Group is a parent company consisting of family owned companies operating throughout the world, including McLane Advanced Technologies, which pursues technology advancements for the commercial, government, and defense industries.

Former Chairman and CEO, Houston Astros Baseball Club for 19 seasons

Former CEO, McLane Company

• Operated the family wholesale grocery business for 30 years. The $19 billion company achieved an average growth rate of 30 percent per year. Following the McLane Company’s merger with Wal-Mart, Inc., in 1990, also became vice-chairman of Wal-Mart., which until November of 2011 included the Houston Astros where he served as Chairman and CEO.

Board Service

• Board of Trustees, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare (chairman)
• Boy Scouts of America National Board (vice president at large)
• National Board of Governors, Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research
• The Bush School of Government and Public Service Board of Directors
• Texas A&M University Board of Visitors

Gregg Mitchell

Dallas, Texas

Chairman, Trinity Logistics, Inc.

• Operates the only full-line manufacturer of highway guardrail and crash cushions in the United States, with product lines featuring several proprietary products, including end terminals, crash cushions and a cable barrier guardrail system.
• Oversees Energy Absorption Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Trinity Highway Products.

President, Trinity Logistics Group, Inc.

• Leads all national logistics within Trinity Industries, including trucking, rail and barge, and transformed the group into a market leader operating in 47 states and internationally.

Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, Glazer’s Family of Companies

Vice President, Gap International Logistics

Board Service

• North American Super-Corridor Coalition Board
• Highway Users Alliance Board
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association Board
• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service Advisory Board.

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)

Phil Ritter

Dallas, Texas

Chief Operating Officer, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

• Oversees the programs, staff and operations of the Institute, which provides high quality, nonpartisan and objective policy research and development to improve mental health services in Texas.

Former Executive Vice President, Government and Stakeholder Affairs, DFW International Airport

• Directed public policy and oversaw the airport’s industry and association leadership, media relations, community relations and other public affairs functions.

Former Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Texas Instruments, Inc.

• Directed the company’s public affairs initiatives, including government relations, philanthropy and community affairs (2001–2009).

Board Service

• Development Board, University of Texas at Dallas (chairman)
• Dallas Symphony Association Board of Governors
• United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (former campaign chair and chairman of the board)
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit (former board member)
• North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Transportation Council (former board member)

Sandra Phillips Rogers

Dallas, Texas

Group Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

• Oversees the legal services function for Toyota’s North American operations, Toyota Legal One (“TL1”), and the representation of the company and its affiliates.
• Directs the strategy to help Toyota navigate significant business and legal challenges while supporting its expansion as a global mobility company, one that is an industry leader in autonomous, connected and sustainable vehicle technologies.
• Provides strategic guidance in areas such as global transactions, cybersecurity, privacy, government and regulatory investigations, complex litigation, labor and employment and intellectual property, among others.
• Recognized by Black Enterprise as one of its “75 Most Powerful Women in Business” (2017) and “300 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America” (2018).
• In recognition of leadership in advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, she received the 2016 Legacy Award from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.

Previous Experience

• Prior to joining Toyota in 2012, she was a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; as senior vice president, associate general counsel and chief litigation counsel at Pfizer Inc.; and as managing partner of the Houston office of Shook, Hardy & Bacon.

Board Service

• YWCA USA
• United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
• University of Texas Law School Foundation

Gary Slagel

Richardson, Texas

President and CEO, CapitalSoft, Inc.

• Manages one of the leading providers of enterprise software for efficiently managing capital programs for public and private sector construction markets.

City of Richardson, Texas: Council Member (1987-2011); Mayor Pro Tem (1989-1991); Mayor (1991-2007; 2009-2011)

Previous Leadership Experience

• Previous leadership experience in technology development and management with Texas Instruments and General Electric.

Board Service

• Dallas Area Rapid Transit
• Metroplex Mayors Association (past president)
• North Central Texas Council of Governments (past president)
• Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition Executive Committee
• Regional Transportation Council

Robert Spillar

Austin, Texas

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, and special events management.
• Has developed numerous regional partnerships to improve the transportation system conditions not
  just in Austin, but in Central Texas through projects such as completion of the Ben White/Loop 1 interchange, Austin Strategic Corridor program and expansion of parking operations.

Former Vice President, Parsons Brinckerhoff

Former Director of Traffic Management, City of Seattle

Oscar Trevino

North Richland Hills, Texas

President and Owner, 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

• 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)

Gary Trietsch

Houston, Texas

Executive Director, Harris County Toll Road Authority

• Leads the improvement of mobility in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area through excellence in the operation of urban toll highway systems, while upholding a commitment to leadership, public service, and quality of life.

Former Vice President for Dannenbaum Engineering Company for five years

Former Houston District Engineer, Texas Department of Transportation

• Spent 40 years with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), serving the last 13 years as the Houston District Engineer, managing projects comprising six counties and a $1 billion budget, including one of the largest freeway traffic management systems in the U.S.—Houston TransStar.

Board Service

• Institute of Transportation Engineers
• Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• National Society of Professional Engineers

Jennifer Woodard

Austin, Texas

Executive Vice President, 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.