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Purpose-Driven Leadership

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At its core, purpose-driven leadership means grounding decisions, priorities, and behavior in a clear sense of purpose: the impact you are trying to have, the values you are accountable to, and the people your work is meant to serve. It's a way of leading that starts with why before how.

 

I’ve spent more than a decade working at the regional scale, helping shape transportation strategy, policy, and long-range plans that influence people's everyday life.

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For me, purpose-driven leadership means starting with long-term intent and values, then using them to guide decisions in complex, resource-constrained environments. It’s about being clear on what we are trying to achieve, who our decisions affect, and what responsibility we carry when outcomes are uneven or imperfect.

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In practice, that shows up in my work leading regional policy development, long-range transportation planning, financial planning and investment prioritization. I focus on turning big-picture goals into clear direction and implementable outcomes, while being honest about tradeoffs, constraints, and uncertainty. Purpose provides the through-line when priorities compete and consensus is challenging to reach.

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Along the way, I’ve built a reputation for earning trust across institutions, developing strong teams, and exercising sound judgment in politically sensitive environments. Purpose-driven leadership, in those settings, is less about authority and more about providing clarity, consistency, and a shared frame for decision-making.

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At its core, my approach to leadership is rooted in public service and stewardship. I see leadership as a responsibility to strengthen the systems that shape long-term outcomes for communities and to help institutions make decisions that are responsible, durable, and worthy of the public's trust.

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Strategy, Policy and Implementation

  • Translating vision into implementable policy

  • Long-term institutional thinking

  • Performance-based planning

  • Framing tradeoffs

  • Transportation finance and fiscal constraint

  • Capital investment evaluation and prioritization

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Governance and
Change Management

  • Board and executive-level support

  • Navigating complex governance environments

  • Federal and state regulatory compliance

  • Institutional adaptation

  • Leading through uncertainty

  • Incorporating distributional impacts into decision-making

Image by Matteo Vistocco

Program and
People Leadership

  • Program development and management

  • Work planning and budgeting

  • Procurement, grants, and contract management

  • Mentoring, developing and directing staff in a matrixed environment

  • Cultivating resilient teams and psychological safety 

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Collaboration and
Coalition Building

  • Translating complexity for diverse audiences

  • Interagency coordination

  • Consensus-building

  • Fostering trust-based partnerships

  • Technical and public communication

  • Inclusive stakeholder engagement and facilitation 

Professional Experience

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) 

Chicago, IL

Director, Regional Policy and Implementation | August 2026 - Present

Provide strategic direction and program ownership for CMAP's regional transportation investment portfolio, guiding policy development, funding strategy, and implementation planning for northeastern Illinois.

  • Lead the development and maintenance of the Regional Transportation Plan and Congestion Management Strategy from strategic framing through adoption, aligning technical analysis with long-range fiscal and policy priorities.

  • Develop diversified relationships with civic and implementing partners to advance CMAP's regional policy and investment agenda.

  • Shape agency-wide strategic direction through collaborative, cross-divisional initiatives that strengthen coordination across program areas.

  • Represent CMAP's executive leadership before CMAP Board, MPO Policy Committee, working committees, partner agencies, and regional stakeholders on high-impact policy and investment decisions. 

  • Oversee program and project budgets to ensure alignment with annual work plans and the efficient use of agency resources.

  • Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of policy professionals, setting strategic direction, work plans, and professional development goals.

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Principal Policy Analyst | May 2022 – August 2026

Provide senior-level leadership for regional transportation policy and investment initiatives supporting northeastern Illinois, with a focus on long-range planning, fiscal strategy, and implementation.

  • Lead development of the Regional Transportation Plan, including policy development, transportation financial planning, and capital project evaluation and prioritization.

  • Direct complex, multi-year policy and analytical efforts that inform regional decision-making and guide implementation partners.

  • Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of policy professionals, setting strategic direction, work plans, and professional development goals.

  • Serve as a key point of coordination among CMAP divisions and with local, state, and federal partners to align policy objectives with regulatory and funding requirements.

  • Support executive leadership and policy committees through clear, balanced analysis and recommendations on high-impact, regionally significant issues.

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Senior Policy Analyst | June 2020 – May 2022

  • Led policy research and analysis advancing implementation of CMAP’s comprehensive regional plan.

  • Managed multiple concurrent initiatives requiring coordination with external stakeholders.

  • Served as staff liaison to CMAP’s Freight Committee and represented CMAP on external committees and task forces addressing transportation policy.

Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)

Seattle, WA

Senior Transportation Analyst | June 2018 – June 2020

  • Provided leadership on the regional Transportation Improvement Program and administration of federally funded transportation investments.

  • Ensured compliance with Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration requirements.

  • Supported data analysis and policy development that informed regional investment decisions.

Amador County Transportation Commission

Sutter Creek, CA

Transportation Planner | May 2015 – July 2016

  • Led development and maintenance of the Regional Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program, and Overall Work Program.

  • Worked directly with the ACTC Board of Directors and implementing agencies to advance regional priorities.

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Local Project Delivery Specialist | May 2013 – April 2015

  • Supported delivery of regional transportation projects from planning through construction closeout.

  • Served as ADA Coordinator and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Liaison Officer.

Center for Community & Economic Development (CCED)

Madison, WI

Research Analyst (part-time) | November 2017 – May 2018

  • Conducted applied research and data analysis supporting downtown and business district economic development initiatives in rural communities.

Reflections By Design

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Evanston, IL

Managing Member | November 2005 – December 2009

  • Created a sustainable home remodeling and interior design business. 

  • Oversaw monthly and quarterly assessments and forecasts of the business’s financial performance against budget, financial and operational goals. 

  • Managed day-to-day processing of accounts receivable and payable using QuickBooks, producing reports when needed.

  • Served as primary liaison with outside vendors.

  • Contributed to short and long-term organizational planning and strategy.

  • Developed and implemented marketing plans and projects for new and existing services.

  • Served as primary liaison with media and advertising. 

  • Served as primary liaison to legal counsel in addressing legal issues e.g., copyright, partnerships, permits etc.

Upward Bound Program

 

Cedar Rapids, IA
 

Senior Staff - Assistant Activities Director | Summer 2005

  •  Responsible for supervising and evaluating students and staff. 

  •  Developed and implemented daily activity programming.

  •  Assisted in the training of summer staff.

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Bridge Tutor/Counselor | Summer 2004

  • Supervised high school-aged students during summer academic program. 

  • Tutored high school graduates in college-level summer courses and facilitated their preparation for college.

University of Iowa Student Government (UISG)

Iowa City, IA

Senate Executive | April 2004 – May 2005

  • Elected leader of Undergraduate Activities Senate. 

  • Performed executive functions for the legislative branch. 

  • Successfully developed and implemented dozens of student-centered initiatives.

Education

Master of Science in Urban & Regional Planning 

University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • Research Interests: regional planning, transportation policy, growth management, performance-based planning, and inclusive and equitable engagement

  • Awarded the Community of Graduate Research Scholars (CGRS) Fellowship

  • Awarded the Jessica L. Bullen Community Service Award

Bachelor of Arts
University of Iowa

  • An interdisciplinary program emphasizing quantitative, economic, and political analysis of social and environmental problems with an emphasis on urban planning and sustainability

  • Minor in Political Science

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