Matt Walsh serves as Regional Head of State & Local Public Policy at Waymo where since 2023, he has been responsible for leading Waymo’s state and local government affairs work across the eastern US.

Matt joined Waymo after serving as Government Relations Lead for the Northeast at Accenture where he was responsible for managing Accenture’s regulatory objectives at the state and local level as well as supporting their health & public service sales division. Previously, Matt served as Vice President at CMW Strategies, a lobbying firm based in New York City, where he was responsible for leading legislative and regulatory lobbying efforts across the firm focusing on a range of corporate, transportation, and technology clientele.

Prior to joining the private sector, Matt held several senior roles in both state and local government in New York including the State Assembly, New York City Department of Transportation, and the NYC Law Department.

Matt received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School and completed his undergraduate studies at SUNY Albany. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Colette and their two children Camille and Matthew.

Christine serves as the FDOT State Connected Mobility and Technologies Engineer. She passionately provides statewide leadership for the development and implementation of the processes the Department utilizes to advance the Connected Automated Vehicle (CAV) program in Florida, along with the relevant supporting technologies. Besides CAV program, Christine is also responsible for leading multiple crucial programs within FDOT including the Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O) Software, the Statewide Arterial Management, the Wrong Way Driving, and the Managed Lanes programs.

Christine is a seasoned Engineer with a deep passion for innovation and building high-performing teams. Throughout her 18-year career dedicated to serving the state of Florida, she has held a variety of positions, bringing valuable public sector perspectives to each initiative, including her former role as FDOT’s State TSM&O Software Engineer. In this capacity she oversaw the operations, stakeholder coordination and improvements of the multiple traffic engineering and operations statewide software. Her previous experience includes managing multiple multimillion-dollar construction projects. Prior to that, she gained extensive experience at FDOT, which included roles in Program Management Office, as well as Planning and Design Offices.

Christine has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Her eagerness to learn and her passion have enabled her to possess many certifications including Florida Professional Engineer, Certified Public Manager, Florida Certified Contract Manager, Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Project Management Professional, and Florida Certified Contract Negotiator.

Jared W. Perdue was named Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 7, 2022. As Secretary, Perdue oversees the lead agency in state government with the statutory responsibility to coordinate the planning and development of a safe, viable, and balanced transportation system serving all regions of the state, and to assure the compatibility of all components, including multimodal facilities.

Secretary Perdue has devoted his career to the FDOT since entering public service through the Professional Engineer Training Program with FDOT District Three. After completing the program, he served in various leadership roles within the Department, including Geotechnical Engineer, Interim District Maintenance Engineer, District Traffic Operations Engineer, District Design Engineer, and Director of Transportation Development for District Three. Before being appointed as Secretary, he served as the District Five Secretary for two years during which he was responsible for projects and operations in the nine-county region, including SunRail, the multibillion-dollar I-4 Ultimate Project, and Wekiva Parkway.

Under Secretary Perdue’s leadership, the FDOT will continue to prioritize safety and embrace innovation to create and deliver a robust multimodal transportation system to support Florida.

Secretary Perdue received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. He is married to his beautiful wife Brandis and has five daughters.

Mark has more than twenty-five years of experience in the transportation industry in both the public and private sectors.  Prior to his current role as the Florida Department of Transportation Director of Traffic Engineering and Operations, he spent ten years serving in various roles including the Transportation Systems Management and Operations Program Engineer and District Traffic Operations Engineer.  Mark’s passion is to use technology to improve safety and operations for our communities including Traffic Incident Management, Integrated Corridor Management, Connected and Automated Vehicles, and Mobility in Construction.  Mark received his bachelor’s and master’s in civil engineering from Wayne State University and was awarded the David D. Henry Award for leadership and scholarship. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Florida and graduated from the Operations Academy Senior Management Program.

Greg Slater is the Executive Director and CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) – a dynamic transportation agency that owns, manages, and operates the Selmon Expressway, Meridian Avenue, Brandon Parkway, and the Selmon Greenway. With over 100,000 daily expressway commuters and thousands of pedestrians that utilize the agency’s network of trails for last-mile commutes and urban walkability, Slater oversees an agency focused on adding value to the community and offering transportation options that enhance quality of life.

Slater is a transportation leader with over two decades of public service experience in a variety of transportation modes, most recently serving as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT).

He and THEA are committed to bringing the best technology and most progressive concepts possible to address transportation challenges. The agency processes 58 million toll transactions each year on the Selmon Expressway. It serves almost 2 million annual customers with an investment plan to deliver over $1.2 Billion worth of capital improvements to the Selmon Expressway over the next 10 years.

Congressman Aaron Bean proudly represents Florida’s Fourth Congressional District, which encompasses Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties. The grandson of a coal miner, the son of teachers, Aaron grew up as the baby of nine children in a working-class family and is committed to restoring our nation’s prosperity and preserving the American Dream for millions of hardworking Floridians.

Aaron is currently serving his second term in Congress and is a member of the prestigious Committee on Ways and Means. He is also the founder and co-chair of the Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus. This caucus is working to reduce government fraud, waste, and abuse.

As the Vice President of Operations at PlusAI, Amisha helped build and now oversees industry-leading operations and program management, safety processes, trainings, and pilot programs that pave the way for the safe commercial rollout of PlusAI’s autonomous driving solutions. The operations team under Amisha’s leadership coordinates testing and data collection, manages the supply chain, and supports national customer deployments of our AI-based virtual driver for factory-built autonomous trucks.

She previously worked in the renewable energy sector, leading operations at a solar monitoring and data analytics company.

Amisha graduated from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Management.

Alastair is the global leader of McKinsey’s Infrastructure Special Initiative and a senior leader of its Private Equity & Principal Investors Practice.

Alastair specializes in serving private equity and infrastructure investors and their portfolio companies on a broad range of topics spanning fund strategy, transactions, project development, and value-creation programs. In addition, he serves innovators and public institutions on investment and infrastructure topics, including how to effectively partner with private investors. Alastair’s expertise spans several sectors, given the breadth of his clients, and has worked extensively in the energy, travel and logistics, real estate, industrials, and technology sectors. He is a thought leader who helps his clients navigate the complex infrastructure landscape in light of rapidly changing policies and technology.

Darren Michael Soto is a democratic legislator, commercial and civil rights attorney, conservationist, and musician from Kissimmee, Florida, who is the representative in Congress for Florida’s Ninth Congressional District. As a member of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, Congressman Soto has been a tireless advocate for advanced technology, transit, and the deployment of autonomous vehicles.

In 2020, Rep. Soto successfully authored and passed legislation to increase security in the deployment of 5G technology. In 2023, the Congressman founded the Vehicle Data Access Caucus alongside Congressman Carter (R-GA). In 2024, Congressman Soto helped secure nearly $30 million for the deployment of 30 new buses as part of the Low- or No-Emission Grant program. In 2024, Rep. Soto was the keynote speaker at the Bipartisan Policy Institute’s event “Driving Equity: The Benefits and Impact of AVs on Underserved Communities.” Then, during a June 2025 Energy & Commerce hearing, he emphasized how Central Florida has been key to autonomous vehicle innovation, including LiDAR development.

Congressman Soto received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University and his Juris Doctor from George Washington University.

Len Becker is a Senior Vice President with HNTB, a nationally recognized infrastructure solutions firm. With over two decades of experience in transportation, Len is passionate about delivering transformative mobility solutions to transportation agencies. At HNTB, Len is engaged in strategic initiatives that integrate cutting-edge technology with innovative design to create next-generation transportation systems. His expertise spans tolling systems, managed lanes, connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), and intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Len has played a pivotal role in advancing mobility projects that enhance safety, efficiency, and resiliency in both urban and regional settings. A licensed professional engineer in the State of Michigan, Len holds BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and is an active member of national transportation organizations, including ITS America, IBTTA, ACEC and WTS.

JC Asencio is the Infrastructure and Emerging Markets Partnerships Manager at Wisk Aero, where he’s a key player in advancing Autonomous Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) globally. With roles ranging from Operations Systems Engineering Lead to establishing Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) processes at Wisk Aero, JC has been instrumental in shaping the future of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL). A University of Florida alum with a BS in Aerospace Engineering, he’s deeply committed to sustainability and has a passion for educational outreach. JC’s expertise in partnerships management, policy analysis, and MBSE, combined with his fluency in Spanish and love for jazz vocals and piano, highlights his multifaceted skills and interests that extend well beyond the aerospace sector.

Michelle Maikisch (MY-kish) is the Executive Director of the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) – a dynamic transportation agency serving nearly 80 million residents and visitors on its 125-mile expressway network that connects Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

Recognized for her high-energy, inclusive leadership approach, Maikisch has positively shaped and impacted the success of CFX, including spearheading the agency’s first performance-driven strategic business plan. Under her guidance, the agency is currently executing $4 billion in critical infrastructure projects through 2028.

With over 20 years of transportation experience, Maikisch is deeply committed to delivering a world-class, integrated mobility network to the Central Florida region. She continues to drive service excellence across every facet of the organization, while building on the partnerships, policies and opportunities that will enable CFX to help keep the Central Florida region moving for generations to come.

Michael K. Friedberg is a Washington, D.C., attorney who is a member of the firm’s Transportation & Infrastructure Industry Sector Group. Mr. Friedberg focuses on developing and implementing advocacy strategies for Holland & Knight’s transportation and infrastructure industry clients on a wide range of issues, including all modes of transportation such as aviation, rail and transit, autonomous vehicles, maritime, pipelines and the transportation of hazardous materials. 

In addition, Mr. Friedberg has experience assisting clients on developing support for infrastructure developments, especially with respect to getting prospectuses approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction on approval of prospectuses.

Mr. Friedberg most recently served as staff director of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In this role, he served as the committee’s primary advisor on passenger rail, rail safety, the economic regulation of railroads, pipeline safety and the transportation of hazardous material. He assisted the chairman in managing various bills, including the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act and the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015.

Scott Belcher is the Executive Director of the publicly lead Automated. Connected. Electric. Shared. (ACES) Mobility Coalition.  He is also the Founder and Chief Executive of SFB Consulting, LLC and a co-founder of Cybrbase, LLC.  In these capacities he works at the intersection of transportation, technology, and communications and advises public and private agencies on transportation technology issues such as connected and autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, Mobility as a Service, and data.  Scott serves on multiple private advisory boards and is active in several industry associations. 

Before founding SFB Consulting and Cybrbase and joining the ACES Mobility Coalition, Scott was the CEO of the Telecommunications Industry Association and of ITS America.  Scott has held executive leadership positions at several other prominent trade associations, practiced environmental law with Beveridge & Diamond, PC, served as professional staff for the U.S. House of Representative Appropriations Committee, and served in a number of positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Michael Stephens
Chief Executive Officer, Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Michael Stephens is a dynamic and innovative leader with over 25 years of experience in legal affairs, technology, human capital management, and transportation. As the Chief Executive of America’s Favorite Airport, he brings a track record of innovation, strategic leadership, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

A U.S. Air Force and Army Veteran, Michael joined Tampa International Airport (TPA) in 2015 as General Counsel and Executive Vice President, overseeing Information Technology Services, Human Resources and Administration, Government and Community Relations, Risk Management, and Business Diversity. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping TPA’s strategic growth, operational resilience, and advancements in aviation security and emerging technologies.
Before his tenure at TPA, Michael forged a distinguished career in public service and transportation. He served on active duty as a Captain and Trial Counsel in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, where he was also appointed Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Earlier, he served as an Air Traffic Controller in the U.S. Air Force, gaining firsthand expertise in aviation operations.

Michael is a nationally recognized expert in cybersecurity, data privacy, and critical infrastructure protection, having testified twice before Congress on emerging threats. He has also played a pivotal role in navigating complex policy and regulatory landscapes, setting new benchmarks for legal agreements in the aviation industry.
A lifelong learner and forward-thinking executive, Michael is a 2024 graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Morehouse College, a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the School of International Service at American University, and a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at American University.

He is an active member of The Florida Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel and is a graduate of Leadership Florida. Nationally, he serves on the Transportation Security Services Committee for the American Association of Airport Executives. Beyond his professional achievements, he is committed to mentorship, community service, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Jim Katsafanas, PE, PTOE, is a Vice President and the National Connected and Automated Vehicle Technology Director at Michael Baker International. He is an experienced leader with over 32 years in transportation engineering consulting. In his role, Jim co-leads the company’s Mobility Technology Solutions Practice, where he provides national program leadership, guiding strategic direction, business development, and client advisory and engineering services. His expertise includes pioneering transportation technologies such as connected and automated vehicles, digital infrastructure, vehicle electrification, advanced air mobility, smart logistics, and other emerging mobility technologies. Jim actively participates in several industry organizations, including serving on the board of directors for the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the ACES Mobility Coalition. A licensed civil engineer and a certified Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, Jim earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Tal Kreisler is the CEO and Co-Founder of NoTraffic, the leading AI-powered mobility platform transforming traditional traffic infrastructure into smart, connected ecosystems. With a background in entrepreneurship, business leadership, and strategic consulting for global corporations and governments, Tal brings deep expertise at the intersection of technology and mobility. He holds an LL.B in Law and a B.A. in Business and Accounting from Reichman University.

Todd co-founded Aerolane in 2021 with a simple mission: Radically expand the availability of air freight at the same cost as traditional trucking (and do so while reducing emissions, improving payload velocity, and reimagining existing aerial technology).

Before co-founding Aerolane, Todd founded BNSF Railway’s safety-focused use drones and advanced data analytics. Todd and his team at BNSF paved the way for much of today’s scaled commercial operations in the drone industry. His team partnered with The Federal Aviation Administration in 2015 to create pathways for long-range, beyond visual line of sight operations in the national airspace – a partnership that continues to this day. During the partnership, The BNSF UAS/FAA team made aviation history multiple times including, in 2015, the first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) commercial operations in the lower 48 United States – flown by an aircraft now on display at The National Air and Space Museum. 

During Todd’s tenure as leader of BNSF’s program, the team grew from 12 pilots to over 250 employee drone pilots using both line of sight and beyond line-of-sight drones in 28 states. Milestones include the first production/scaled BVLOS operations in 2015, first Part 107 night operations authority, multi-state expansion of BVLOS in 2017 and then The FAA’s first approved nationwide commercial BVLOS flight approval in 2020 – which covered 23,000 miles of flight routes.

Todd serves on AUVSI’s Board of Directors and most recently served on The FAA’s BVLOS Advisory and Rulemaking Committee (ARC) where he co-chaired the ARC’s Flight Rules working group. Todd is founding member of The FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee and served on The FAA’s Drone ID and Tracking Rulemaking Committee.

Along with several UAS certifications, Todd is an active general aviation pilot. He is based in Fort Worth, TX.

Steve Miller is one of the insurance industry’s leading voices in autonomous vehicle (AV) risk management and commercialization. Since 2015, he has built tailored insurance solutions for dozens of AV companies across all modes—robotaxis, autonomous trucking, delivery bots, and teleoperations. His work has helped shift the industry from traditional risk modeling toward product-integrated and usage-based approaches that better reflect the reality of autonomy.

As Vice President, Innovation at Hub International, Steve oversees a team dedicated to the future of mobility. He is a three-time Risk & Insurance Technology Power Broker. A frequent speaker and panelist, Steve is recognized for bridging the gap between frontier technology and insurance infrastructure, helping emerging AV companies scale responsibly and sustainably.

Dr. Ali Peker, CEO of ADASTEC, has 25+ years of experience in IoT, mobile, and location-based services. He started as a software designer and became a software architect at Nortel.

In 2000, he became vice president and one of the co-founders of Infotech. Infotech was acquired in 2007 by investment funds, and he became the CEO. The software platforms built by Infotech are used by thousands of companies in 6 different countries. He has many years of experience in selling solutions to the automotive industry.

He has BSc., MSc., and Ph.D. in computer engineering. His Ph.D. thesis is titled “Digital map and GNSS fusion to enhance localization for intelligent vehicle applications” His research interests are location-based technologies, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles.

Mr. Braun, formerly the President and Chief Executive Officer of AVIAT Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNW), and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Networks LLC. Mr. Braun is a prominent standards influencer and spokesman in the telecommunication industry and is recognized as one of America’s “Top 100 Voices of the IP Communications Industry” by Internet Telephony Magazine. In 2009, Mr. Braun was also awarded the prestigious “International CEO of the Year” award by Africa IT & Telecom.

Larry Cuddy, Jr. brings over 25 years of leadership in the supply chain industry, with experience spanning transportation giants like DHL, XPO, and RoadOne, as well as key executive roles in cutting-edge tech companies such as Envase Technologies, WiseTech Global, and Nascent Technology. His expertise encompasses operations, finance, and commercial strategy, where he has consistently built high-performing, collaborative teams with a track record of driving accelerated global delivery.

Now, as the CEO of Lynxis, Larry is spearheading a transformative ‘build & buy’ strategy. This initiative integrates Nascent Technology, Buckeye Mountain, Tedivo, NaviTrans, and other acquisitions to revolutionize landside terminal operations on a global scale.

Toby McGraw joined Beep as its Chief Revenue Officer in 2023, responsible for the comprehensive Go-To-Market strategy. With a proven track record in scaling teams and driving revenue growth, Toby brings 20 years of dynamic mobility leadership to Beep’s industry-leading team. Before Beep, Toby served as SVP/EVP of Sales at HopSkipDrive, the leader in safe youth transportation, orchestrating its transformation from B2C to a thriving B2B model. His contributions saw revenue grow 10x while helping secure more than $100M in capital funding. Prior to his time at HopSkipDrive, Toby made significant contributions to the commercial vehicle telematics industry as a leader at Zonar Systems from 2008 to 2018. He culminated his tenure at Zonar as the SVP of Sales, overseeing its transition from a privately held founder based business into a subsidiary of the German-based organization Continental AG. Toby’s data-driven strategies and team development skills make him an invaluable asset to Beep and the broader mobility industry. Toby resides in Los Angeles where he studied at the University of Southern California.

Bryan Reimer, Ph.D., is a Research Scientist at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics
and the MIT AgeLab. A pragmatic possibilist working at the intersection of technology, human
behavior, and public policy, his work focuses on solving human factors challenges in vehicle
safety and artificial intelligence.

He is the founder and co-director of two academic-industry partnerships: the Advanced Vehicle
Technology (AVT) Consortium, which explores how drivers interact with emerging vehicle
technologies, and the Advanced Human Factors Evaluator for Attentional Demand
(AHEAD) Consortium, which develops holistic approaches to support driver attention.

His 2018 TEDx talk, “There’s More to the Safety of Driverless Cars Than AI,” highlights the
human dimensions of road safety beyond automation alone.

His forthcoming book with futurist Magnus Lindkvist, “How to Make AI Useful: Moving Beyond
the Hype to Real Progress in Business, Society, and Life,” argues that AI’s true value emerges
when we integrate it thoughtfully into human systems—augmenting, not replacing, human capabilities.

Dr. Reimer is an author of over 300 technical contributions and has been recognized with several honors, including the 2024 Bartimaeus Award from the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, the
2019 Jack A. Kraft Innovator Award from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and a
2018 Autos 2050 Impact Award. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island.

Ali Javidan is a hands-on engineer with a history of leading pioneering teams at Tesla, Google, and Zoox. As an early hire at Tesla, Ali built the very first Model S and was responsible for early-stage testing and development for all vehicle programs. Prior to founding Range Energy, Ali architected the prototyping and experimental operations org – xOps – at Zoox, supporting the ground-up development of all vehicle platforms at the company. At Google, Ali led the ATAP Skunkworks team where he filed 15 patents in the areas of micro-machining, additive manufacturing, and robotics, and supported the development of the Soli radar chip, Jacquard conductive textiles, and Tango mapping tablet. Ali spent his early career at Caltrans and as a racing team engineer, and currently serves as a venture partner at R7.

Gabe is the VP of Commercial Growth at Forterra where he leads global defense and commercial partnerships, and Forterra’s commercial business. He focuses on delivering off-road self-driving vehicle technology to defense and industrial customers. Prior to joining Forterra, Gabe was a Deployment Strategist at Palantir, where he built the DoD Cyber business and managed enterprise software deployment programs for Palantir customers across the Department of Defense as well as State and Federal government. Gabe retired from the Marine Corps in 2018, following a career as both a Field Artillery Officer and Cyberspace Operations Officer, and is a plank holder on two of the Marine Corps’ Offensive Cyber Combat Mission Teams.

Gabe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from SUNY Albany and splits time between Annapolis, MD and Dillon, CO with his wife Audrey and their pack of four large dogs. In his free time, Gabe plays guitar, loves to ski and play pickup hockey, and runs an amateur charcuterie program out of his wine cellar.

Kendal Prosack is the US Lead for Policy and Community Affairs at Wing, focusing on building programs for successful community integration and grassroots mobilization. She works at the state and local level on legislative efforts to educate on the UAS industry and Wing’s emerging drone technology. Before Wing, she was a Community Strategist for Postmates powered by Uber, focusing on relationship building and analyzing how AB5 would directly impact the gig economy. At Bird, she was a Community Relations Manager, where she helped codify rules and regulations for scooters and created outreach campaigns to secure community advocates. Kendal studied Political Science at Winona State and dove feet-first into the policy world after moving to Washington, D.C., where she worked on compliance and regulatory issues for several Political Action Committees.

Outside the office, Kendal is sipping on an iced coffee and exploring Austin’s trails with her partner and dog.

Alex Roy is a founding general partner at NIVC, a seed stage venture capital fund investing in automation, robotics, supply chain, energy and defense.

Roy is co-founder of Autonocast, a podcast about the future of transportation, and The Drive, one of the world’s largest automotive news platforms. He was previously Director of Special Operations at self-driving technology developer Argo AI.

As the “Godfather of the Modern Cannonball Run”, Roy has set 9x endurance driving records in the ICE, EV & 3-wheeled classes, and most recently set the first Tesla FSD coast-to-coast driving record.

Roy is also the author of “The Driver”, producer of “APEX: The Secret Race Across America”, and is Chairman Emeritus of The Moth storytelling series.

Matt Hunnicutt has more than 25 years of experience in port terminal operations, technology, and automation. Since 2010, he has served as Chief Information Officer at Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT), where he has led the technological strategy behind one of the most advanced terminal modernization projects in the world.

At LBCT, Matt oversaw the technology aspects of the terminal’s decade-long modernization, automation, and expansion program. Delivered in three phases, the project represented nearly $1.5 billion in infrastructure investment by the Port of Long Beach and an additional $700 million by LBCT in cargo handling equipment, advanced computer and software systems, and workforce training. Under his leadership, the initiative more than doubled terminal capacity, deployed nearly 200 pieces of electric cargo handling equipment, and established LBCT as a global model for sustainable, automated port operations.

Before joining LBCT, Matt was General Manager of Network Engineering at APM Terminals, where he directed major development and infrastructure projects. His career has been defined by driving innovation in port technology and building future-ready terminal operations.

Shilpa is an experienced engineering leader with over 15 years of experience in building and scaling teams to solve complex problems in Robotics using state-of-the-art technologies.

Shilpa is currently the Director of Safety and Compliance for Onboard Software at Waymo. She serves on the Safety Steering Committee as part of Waymo’s Safety Governance framework to ensure that Waymo continues to meet high standards of safety as its service expands across more cities. She also leads Waymo’s Road Rule Compliance program to ensure that the Waymo Driver understands applicable Road Rules and behaves in a way that complies with them.

Previously, she was the Director of Behavior Prediction at Waymo. In this role, she led the team responsible for building the AI/ML algorithms to predict the behavior of other road users—a critical component of the onboard software that drives Waymo’s autonomous vehicles. Before Waymo, Shilpa led teams to solve Planning and Prediction for Autonomous Vehicles at Nuro and Apple. Shilpa holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Chris Moulder is Executive Vice President for Amwins Group, a leading excess and surplus lines specialty insurance brokerage. Chris has focused exclusively in the transportation insurance sector for over 20 years, and has assisted in the placement of numerous worldwide insurance placements for autonomous vehicle providers. He is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and holds a Masters in Insurance Management from Boston University.

William Frazer is a seasoned engineering and operations executive with a deep passion for innovation, mobility, and mission-driven technology. With a track record of building high-performing teams and solving complex technical challenges, he brings a unique blend of industry expertise, entrepreneurial drive, and public sector insight to every initiative.

As Chief Innovation Officer at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), Mr. Frazer leads the Authority’s efforts to integrate emerging technologies into public transit operations. He oversees the NAVI autonomous fleet service and spearheads initiatives that enhance service delivery and organizational efficiency through innovation. His work is central to JTA’s strategy for advancing mobility and modernizing infrastructure.

Mr. Frazer recently returned to JTA after serving as Chief Executive Officer of Pawnee Mobility, where he led the development of off-road series-hybrid vehicles for defense applications. Earlier in his career, he played a key role in launching JTA’s Armsdale Test & Learn Facility, a pioneering site for evaluating autonomous vehicles and next-generation transit technologies.

He holds both BS and MS degrees from Kettering University and actively collaborates with universities, advisory boards, and public agencies on AV policy, workforce development, and STEM engagement. His leadership is grounded in systems thinking, curiosity, and a commitment to building sustainable, forward-looking solutions for the future of mobility.

Chris Gerdes is Field Safety Architect at Waymo, focusing on developing practical, scalable methods to identify and mitigate safety issues in autonomous vehicle field operations.

Chris is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Emeritus, at Stanford University and former Director of the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford (CARS). His laboratory at Stanford developed a number of vehicles including Niki, a Volkswagen GTI capable of turning a competitive lap time around the track without a human driver; Marty, the electrified, automated, drifting DeLorean; and Takumi, a Toyota Supra that performed automated drifts in tandem with its sibling, Toyota Research Institute’s Keisuke. 

His experience extends to public service, having spent a year on detail at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). While there, he served as the first Chief Innovation Officer and contributed to the development of the U.S. Federal Automated Vehicle Policy.

Chris was a co-founder of Peloton Technology, a truck platooning company, and served as its Principal Scientist before his time at the USDOT. He also provided safety guidance as Safety Advisor for Ford’s autonomous vehicle program.

Eric M. Topp is a SVP and Practice Leader at WNS. He has 34+ years in Supply Chain, Transportation & Logistics (SCT&L), leading operations, IT transformations, solution development, and partner strategy. His career spans the U.S. Army, IBM, Silicon Valley startups, APL (CMA CGM), Bolloré Logistics (CEVA), Crowley, Longbow Advantage, and AWS, where he led global SCT&L solution and business development. He now serves as Corporate SVP & Practice Leader, Shipping & Logistics at WNS. Eric has lived and worked across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. He holds a B.S. in Transportation & Logistics (University of Tennessee) and an MBA in Supply Chain/Digital Transformation (Penn State).

Tu Le is the Founder and Managing Director of Sino Auto Insights, a global mobility advisory firm helping organizations navigate the fast-evolving transportation landscape.

He authors the widely followed SAI Weekly Newsletter, a go-to resource for anyone serious about the future of mobility, with a sharp lens on China. Tu also co-hosts two influential podcasts — China EVs & More and At The Wheel — where he breaks down the trends reshaping the global auto, transportation, and tech industries.

His global career spans over two decades across Michigan, Silicon Valley, and China. Tu cut his teeth in Michigan’s auto sector, later joining Apple and Logitech in Silicon Valley, and then spent 13 years in China working with Ford in Shanghai, at Chinese startups in both Shanghai and Beijing, before founding Sino Auto Insights in Beijing in 2017.

Tu is a go-to source for prominent media organizations like Bloomberg, Channel News Asia, CNN, The Economist, Financial Times, Le Monde, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, known for his candid insights on what’s next in mobility and the tech shaping it.
Now based in Detroit, Tu also mentors and scouts emerging mobility startups all over the world for investors in the space.

Rohit is a seasoned business leader with over 17 years of experience in commercial aviation. He has lived and worked across Asia for over 12 years (China, Indonesia & Malaysia), prior to moving to Europe and joining the AAM industry in 2022.

Rohit grew up in Nebraska and received his MBA and Masters in Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

Rohit joined SkyDrive earlier this year.

Samuel Herrera serves as the Underwriting Director for Technology at CNA, where he leads a team of Technology Underwriters across 8 branches across the West Coast.  He is headquartered in the Bay Area and given the proximity to Silicon Valley, has extensive experience in underwriting emerging technology accounts, including Autonomous Vehicles.  Sam has 14 years of experience in the insurance industry with roles in Underwriting, Risk Management, and Claims, the last seven years as part of CNA’s Technology Team.

Dr. Erez Agmoni is Co-Founder and General Partner at Interwoven Ventures, investing in early-stage robotics, AI, and automation startups transforming supply chains and industrial operations. He sources opportunities, guides portfolio companies, and builds partnerships across the venture ecosystem.

Previously, Erez served as Global Head of Innovation at Maersk, leading the Maersk Innovation Center’s three pillars—Automation, Digital, and Product Innovation—and fostering collaborations with internal teams, customers, academia, government, and venture partners.

With over 25 years of global experience in supply chain management, freight forwarding, logistics, engineering, and digital innovation (AI, Machine Learning, Digital Twins, Computer Vision, and more), he excels in creating sophisticated, scalable solutions for complex supply chain challenges.

Erez holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering, a Master’s in Telecommunication Science, and a PhD in Organizational Development. His career has spanned Israel, Asia, and Latin America, and he is now based in New Jersey, USA.

Beyond work, Erez is married with three children, enjoys traveling, hiking, and mountain biking, and is a licensed private pilot. Fluent in Hebrew, English, and Thai, with beginner-level Japanese, he embraces new cultures and lifelong learning.

Pete Bigelow is the public relations manager at Kodiak AI, an autonomous driving technology company with driverless trucks deployed in the real world today. Pete joined Kodiak in October after a long career as a journalist in which he reported on autonomous vehicles and the future of transportation. He lives near Ann Arbor, Michigan.

John Lund brings over 20 years of experience helping marine and intermodal terminals achieve their operational goals through digitalization and process modernization. He has led numerous projects that enhance safety, efficiency, and profitability, guiding operators through every stage of digital transformation. Passionate about building a more dependable, sustainable, and resilient industry, John’s work bridges technology and real-world operational insight.

Originally from Boston, USA and now based in Tampere, Finland, John holds an MBA and a law degree and is pursuing a master’s focused on how digitalization and process modernization improve the industry’s environmental footprint. Outside of work, John is a world champion in rowing and a proud member of Finland’s Athletic Hall of Fame for the sport of wife carrying (“eukonkanto”).

Claudio Diaferia, MS, PE is the Chief Operating Officer for the Greater Miami Expressway Agency. He oversees all of the operations at GMX, including Engineering, Maintenance, Tolling operations, IT, ITS and Technology. Claudio administers the execution of GMX’s work program through the coordination of all capital and renew & replacement projects. This includes all planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of the GMX highway system and facilities. The GMX System includes five of the busiest and most important State Roads in Miami-Dade: Dolphin Expressway (SR 836); Airport Expressway (SR 112); Don Shula Expressway (SR 874); Gratigny Parkway (SR 924) and the Snapper Creek Expressway (SR 878) and NW 138th Street from US-27 to just east of NW 97th Avenue. Claudio began his career with FDOT as a PE trainee and ultimately served as the Resident Engineer at the Florida Department of Transportation District 6 construction office, where he oversaw over $1 billion of construction projects.

Thomas Johnson-Kaiser is the CAV planning and policy manager at MnDOT, where he leads the development and implementation of CAV policy and CAV-related public and stakeholder engagement. He previously served as the public engagement manager for MnDOT’s Communications and Public Engagement office. In that role, he helped provide tools, resources, and training to MnDOT public engagement practitioners and consultants who conduct public engagement on MnDOT’s behalf. Prior to that, he served as the CAV engagement and project manager and as a project coordinator in MnDOT’s Office of Research and Innovation. He holds a BS in Economics and Political Science from Iowa State University.

Jacques Coulon has had the pleasure of working with the City of Orlando since 2015. He currently leads the Transportation Department’s Planning Division with a focus on supporting the City’s efforts on preparing for emerging transportation technologies such as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAV), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and transportation data standards with an emphasis in multi-modal integration, passenger experience and the intersection of transportation and Land Development. Jacques has served on numerous panels and working groups across the country devoted to understanding and mitigating the impacts of the introduction of AAM into the existing urban fabric of communities.

In his current role with the City’s Transportation Department Jacques also serves as the lead for transportation focused issues and items for all major proposed developments within the City and has been actively working as part of the core team to reimagine the city’s Growth Management Plan to be more future ready, flexible and focused on safety.

Christopher Todd is the Founder and Executive Director of AIRT (Airborne International Response Team), the leading 501(c)3 non-profit organization supporting the use of uncrewed and autonomous technology for public safety, security, emergency services, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief (HA/DR). AIRT is the official home of the DRONERESPONDERS program, supporting over 10,000 public safety and emergency services organizations from over 85 countries around the globe, the Florida Public Safety Coordination Group (FLOGRU) supporting over 500 drone operators representing more than Florida government agencies, Drones For Good®, and AAM For GoodSM.

Mr. Todd is also the Founder and President of Airborne Response, overseeing the company’s strategic partnerships and business operations. His focus includes emergency management, disaster operations, public safety, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, counter-UAS (C-UAS), and their combined intersection with uncrewed and autonomous systems across the air, ground, and maritime domains.

Chris a FAA-certified Remote Pilot, USCG licensed master for vessels not more than 100 gross tons, and Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) who is also serves as a command staff member of the Southeast Florida All-Hazards Incident Management Team (SE FL AHIMT), based at the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Department in Florida.

He holds an Executive Master of Professional Studies (EMPS) degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., as well as a Certificate in Critical Infrastructure Protection from TEEX. He completed graduate coursework in crisis communications at Northwestern University and holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Drake University.

FDOT Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Secretary Will Watts has a long and storied transportation career spanning over 20 years. His wide-ranging background includes hands-on delivery, local program and community support, completing complex projects under accelerated schedules, and statewide strategic program leadership. Will has been a driving force behind implementing the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative and currently serves as the Program Executive Director for the Moving I-4 Forward program. Under his stewardship with Moving I-4 Forward, the new congestion relief lanes on I-4 opened eight months ahead of schedule and immediately improved travel times from 60 minutes to just 22 minutes! Reaching that accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without the major effort he has put in with industry partners to improve contract delivery methods and developing a brand-new method unique to only Florida called Modified Phased Design Build. As a testament to his great contributions to the transportation industry here in Florida he recently was the recipient of the Ben Watts Partnership Award. With his strategic mindset and drive to get the job done, Assistant Secretary Watts developed FDOT’s action plan for implementing Advanced Air Mobility in our state and he’s here today to share more information about this exciting development.

Sara Peters is a Washington, D.C., attorney and a partner in Holland & Knight’s Public Policy & Regulation Group. She was Deputy Staff Director for the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, Counsel to Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS), and staff on the transportation appropriations subcommittee where she was responsible for vehicle safety funding. She also worked at the Department of Transportation during the first Trump administration, as Deputy Director of Congressional Affairs at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In that role, she served as a senior liaison to Congress on automated vehicle legislation. In the private sector, Sara worked for several automakers as outside counsel in litigation and investigations and as in-house counsel at Volkswagen Group of America.

Lee White currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation. As a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary, he generates strategic recommendations that help steer and optimize transportation research policies and programs. Lee directs the implementation and day-to-day management of research and technology programs, driving the Department’s innovation agenda while upholding operational excellence.

Lee’s career in transportation started as a peak-season driver for UPS during college. After graduating in 1984, he became a UPS Driver. He then progressed through multiple leadership positions to become the senior engineering leader in several operating districts across the US. He has a track record of achieving improvements in service, production, and cost results. He developed and led programs that laid the foundation for future successful deployments. Directing transportation technology projects required him to work across technology, strategy, and engineering disciplines. His successes include managing the Autonomous Trucking Project Charter and leading the deployment of systems and new business models globally.

More recently, as the Vice President of Strategy for TuSimple, he built the autonomous freight network business model, partnerships, operations, and ecosystem, enabling multiple customers to test autonomous trucking for hundreds of thousands of miles with real freight on real lanes. His mandate spanned all aspects of the network—from defining the business model to engaging and onboarding partners—resulting in a $9 million network with 15+ customers across 11 states.

Most recently, as the President of LM White Consulting, Lee worked with boards, fleets, OEMs, and supply chain stakeholders in developing forward-looking strategies, business models, and roadmaps for AV operations. His unique background enables him to bring all systems, planning, operations, and structures together allowing his clients to adopt, integrate, and scale the technology rapidly.

Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Georgia. Beyond the professional accolades, Lee is a recognized thought leader in the AV industry, frequently sharing his insights in media interviews and at major conferences.

When he’s not immersed in shaping the future of freight, Lee enjoys life with his wife, Jean. They’re proud parents of three children and delighted grandparents to three energetic grandchildren.

Gregory is responsible for the overall management of HOLON U.S., a vehicle manufacturing company that produces autonomous electric movers with automotive-grade standards. Prior to being the General Manager at HOLON U.S., Gregory served the Benteler Group for over 10 years, serving overseas as the Commercial Director for Asia Pacific and Asian OEMs globally and later as the Commercial Director and Head of BU Structures.

Prior to his time at the Benteler Group, he worked for General Motors, Magna International, and the Vehicle Production Group. Gregory earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Central Michigan University.

Nicola Liquori is a transportation professional with over 20 years of industry experience and currently serves at the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is part of the Florida Department of Transportation and is legislatively mandated to pursue innovations as well as best practices found in the private sector. A diverse agency with over 515 centerline miles of roadway and a $10 billion five-year capital program, the Enterprise prioritizes the use of technology in order to process nearly three billion toll transactions annually and support toll interoperability across 22 states with the SunPass-branded transponder.

In June 2023, the Turnpike Enterprise added SunTrax to its broad inventory of transportation assets. SunTrax is a test facility that embodies the future of transportation in connected and autonomous vehicle technology, as well as other emerging transportation technologies. The SunTrax mission is to advance technology solutions which improve the safety and efficiency of transportation.

Ms. Liquori currently serves on the boards of the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Alliance for Toll Innovation and the Transportation and Expressway Authority Membership of Florida. She chairs the IBTTA Government Affairs Committee. She is also a licensed CPA.

As the City Manager of Altamonte Springs (FL), Frank Martz brings more than 30 years of industry expertise, P3 creation, strategic direction, and executive management experience to his role. His blend of vision, empowerment, and fiscal management produced one of the most innovative cities in the world while at the same time lowering the Altamonte Springs’ property tax rate to one of the lowest in Florida and remaining a completely debt-free city. During Mr. Martz’s tenure, the City has expanded its’ portfolio and collaborated with businesses and entities across a large spectrum of industries to develop top-notch amenities for residents.

Frank is a former minor league infielder and brings that work ethic and focus on team building and execution to everything he does. Responding to a community need, Martz collaborated with corporate businesses, educators, professionals and volunteers to create a private sector-funded/city-run practical STEM education experience for Seminole County students. The Altamonte Springs Science Incubator (AS2I) is an innovative program promoting career-readiness in the high-tech, high-demand fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This past year, Martz expanded that program to include high school classes to train graduating seniors to become licensed wastewater operators. Frank has managed and overseen the planning, engineering, financing, and/or development of nearly $2.7 billion of public, public/private or private projects. In partnership with the Secretaries of the Florida Departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection, Mr. Martz led the development of an innovative project, A-FIRST, that captures and treats stormwater from the I-4 Ultimate project, creating more than 1 billion gallons of new alternative water for the region every year. In 2016, Frank led the formation of the first community-wide congestion management and connectivity pilot in the world with Uber Technologies, Inc.

In 2017, the City created pureALTA, a project that converts reclaimed water to purified drinking water without reverse osmosis and exceeds all drinking water standards. pureALTA became the first project in Florida to ever win the national water reuse award. Frank has served as a member or chair of numerous regional committees relating to land use, transportation and mobility, fiscal planning, opioid addiction, mental health, and other issues relating communities. In 2016, Frank formed a partnership with Uber to create the first community-wide mobility program in the world. The pilot with Uber was replicated nationally and internationally, and served as the basis  to  change Florida law to support transportation network companies. To scale the pilot with Uber, he formed a mobility group that serves nearly 150,000 residents within five cities spanning two counties. In September 2018, pureALTA won an international innovation award in Tokyo, Japan, beating out projects from 45 other countries. He also led the formation of the Altamonte Electric Utility, which seeks to develop sustainable energy solutions for the City’s operations. Under his leadership, the City was named a “Utility of the Future Today” by the Water Environment Federation for the City’s transformational programming. At the outset of the COVID pandemic, Frank and his team became one of the first cities in the world to deploy RNA analysis using ddPCR protocols of wastewater.

In partnership with the University of Arizona, they developed the Altamonte Springs COVID-19 Predictive Model which accurately forecasted new cases based on viral concentrations in wastewater. Like a “Doppler Rader” for COVID, the model is now being used in other areas of the United States. Frank also developed a communications structure to inform international organizations like the WHO, national agencies such as the CDC, state, regional and local governments, as well as hospitals and research universities. The City of Altamonte Springs partnered with the CDC to help create the National Wastewater Surveillance System, and he is currently working with the White House and the CDC on revisions to the national readiness program. Mr. Martz participates on various innovation committees across the world, including: Technology and Entrepreneurial Center at Harvard University; Cities Today Institute; as a Board Member for the Urban Leadership Foundation; as an executive cohort member for Meeting of the Minds; as a Global Founding member of MasterCard City Possible Program; and he was named one of the Top 10 Public Sector Transportation Innovators in the United States by the Eno Center for Transportation. Altamonte Springs was one of only three cities in Florida to be ranked by Money Magazine in the top 50 cities in America in which to live, and was ranked the 19th best city in the United States for small business investmexnt by WalletHub.

In 2023, the City of Altamonte Springs and the Florida Department of Transportation launched an autonomous vehicle program, the first to be funded by the state over multiple years.  It will operate in mixed traffic alongside mixed modes, and in both public rights-of-way and private properties.  The City chose Beep as the AV operator.  Frank and his team also have launched the Altamonte Global Innovation Lab (AGīL) to create, curate and host the development of both public and private sector mobility, environmental, technological, and data-driven innovation solutions that can be scaled and implemented in other communities nationally and internationally.