ITS America’s New Board Members Include State DOT Representation
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America has elected several representatives from state departments of transportation to its board of directors.
ITS America advocates for the research and deployment of intelligent transportation systems. Its members include various representatives from private companies, public agencies, state offices and research groups.
Of the seven new board members, three are state DOT officials. Among them are California DOT Director Laurie Berman, Delaware DOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan and Washington State DOT Secretary Roger Millar.
Other new board members include a variety of private sector experts. Several members of the technology industry, including Rebecca Hunter, external affairs officer at Crown Castle; Abbas Mohaddes, president of Econolite; and Ramin Massoumi, senior vice president of Iteris. The new board also includes Malcolm Dougherty, senior vice president of Michael Baker International and former Caltrans director.
“We are so pleased to welcome these very talented, diverse and forward-thinking professionals to the ITS America board,” said Chairman Carlos Braceras, who also serves as director of Utah DOT.
Each member of the board of directors serves a three-year term. Other current board members that hail from state transportation departments include Kevin Biesty, deputy director of Arizona DOT, and Leslie Richards, executive director of Pennsylvania DOT.
“These great leaders will bring creative thinking as we continue our efforts to advance the research and deployment of intelligent transportation technologies to save lives and improve mobility,” ITS America President Shailen Bhatt said.
Bhatt is a fairly new addition to ITS America. He was appointed president of the organization in late October. Before joining ITS America, Bhatt served as executive director of the Colorado DOT.
During his time in Colorado, Bhatt worked with the private sector on several endeavors that blended technology and transportation needs. For example, he arranged to conduct a feasibility study for rapid-speed travel infrastructure and partnered with Panasonic to build what was called the world’s first commercial grade, licensable Connected Vehicle Ecosystem.
