Autonomy.
In motion.

Daniel joined ARK in January 2023 as a Research Analyst focused on Autonomous Technology & Robotics. Previously, he worked at PwC Dublin and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA).

Bret Turpin brings over two decades of experience in automation and robotics to his role as General Manager for Agriculture at ASI. Raised on a farm in Idaho, Bret developed a deep appreciation for agricultural work early on. He earned dual bachelor's degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business from Utah State University, combining technical expertise with strategic insight. Throughout his 20+ years at ASI, Bret has worked across all the company’s market industries, gaining a broad perspective and honing his skills alongside some of the most talented minds in the field. His greatest professional satisfaction comes from being in the field with customers, ensuring ASI’s cutting-edge technology performs seamlessly at their sites. Bret also holds a PMP certification and a Product Owner Scrum certification, underscoring his commitment to excellence in project and product management.

Senator Jeff Brandes is a highly respected and accomplished leader who served in the Florida Legislature from 2010 to 2022. He represented District 24, which covered a majority of Pinellas County, and was known for his innovative and independent policy-making. Throughout his tenure, he consistently advocated for solutions to address Florida's most challenging issues.

Brandes is a strong advocate for free market principles and has worked to reduce regulations and taxes to promote business development in Florida. He is a vocal supporter of cutting-edge technologies and has played a vital role in the state's advancing self-driving vehicles, rideshare, and other emerging technologies. For fourteen years, he has hosted the Florida Automated Vehicle Summit, which assembles industry leaders from around the country to address transportation technologies, operations, and policy issues.

He is a veteran, having served as an Army officer in the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. This experience gave him a unique perspective on leadership and public service. He has also been an advocate for prison reform, worked to increase public safety through improvements in the criminal justice system, and was a leader in property insurance reform.

In addition to his legislative duties, Brandes is a business owner and serves on the boards of several community organizations. He is dedicated to making Florida a better place to live, work and raise a family.

In 2023, Jeff founded the Florida Policy Project, a not-for-profit think tank and research bank. The Florida Policy Project provides best practice policy solutions across four pillars: housing affordability, transportation, insurance and criminal justice reform.

Senator Brandes has four children and lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. He enjoys reading, aviation and working on policy solutions for Florida.

Devin Lee is Director of Future Mobility at Metropolis, where he leads work on preparing cities and the built environment for the next generation of mobility, from autonomous vehicles and eVTOL aircraft to drones and sidewalk robots. Devin works across Metropolis' 4,500 locations to equip assets with the smart infrastructure and services needed to support future mobility use cases rapid growth and expansion.

Metropolis is the leader in applied AI. Each year, its technology interacts with more than 50 million customers and processes over $5 billion in payments. One of the fastest-growing technology companies in the United States, Metropolis adds more than 1 million new Members each month. Metropolis is defining the Recognition Economy, a new age of personalized intelligence where presence replaces devices and credentials as the foundation for a more intuitive, connected, and human world. Its computer vision platform eliminates friction from daily life, enables checkout-free payments, and unlocks seamless, predictive, and personalized experiences across the real world.

Donna Lynch serves as Vice President of Laboratory Services for BayCare Health System, where she leads laboratory operations across the system, including clinical and specialty laboratory services, pathology, point-of-care testing, phlebotomy, courier services and community outreach. With more than 40 years of health care and laboratory experience, she has held progressively responsible leadership roles spanning operations, strategic planning, quality improvement and service growth.

A board-certified medical technologist through the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Lynch holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the University of South Florida and has completed graduate studies in public health and epidemiology. She also holds a Florida Clinical Laboratory Medicine Supervisor’s license across multiple laboratory disciplines and Six Sigma yellow belt and executive belt credentials. During her leisure time, she is an avid antique collector and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Brian is an infrastructure problem solver and advocate for innovating transportation technology. As Senior Vice President of Growth at Glydways, he brings over 20 years of experience delivering complex infrastructure projects as a consultant, engineer, developer, contractor and advisor. For the last four years, Brian has focused on the transit sector and has been involved in bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail (LRT), automated people mover (APM), gondola, and autonomous vehicle projects while working at Flatiron Construction, The Boring Company, and as an advisor to early stage mobility startups. He is a well known advocate for new mobility technologies that offer a great user experience to encourage ridership and lower capital costs. Brian is a registered Engineer in California, Texas, and Missouri with a degree in Civil Engineering and Master's of Business Administration from the University of Missouri - Kansas City where he was a national scholar athlete basketball player.

Jonathan is an infrastructure development executive with nearly 20 years of experience leading major transportation, infrastructure, and next-generation mobility initiatives across North America. His work spans the full project lifecycle – including project development, commercial strategy, procurement, financing, construction delivery, and long-term performance.

Jonathan has played a leading role in several of the region’s landmark undertakings, such as SR 400 Express Lanes, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the Ottawa Confederation Line LRT (Stages 1 & 2), and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. He has also been involved in developing and delivering next-generation mobility initiatives, such as the Automated Transit Network Pilot Project in Atlanta. His experience, including his background as a licensed Professional Engineer, reflects a deep understanding of multidisciplinary project delivery across technical, commercial, legal, and operational dimensions. He brings a collaborative and solutions-driven approach to developing and delivering complex P3 and alternative-delivery projects, working closely with public-sector partners, private-sector stakeholders, and integrated project teams to bring impactful infrastructure to life across North America.

Gerald McDowell was appointed Executive Director of the ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts (AACIDs) following his outstanding leadership at Gateway 85 CID. Under his direction, AACIDs has secured more than $50 million in grants and project funding. He oversees the operations and development of both Airport West and Airport South CIDs, overseeing a $3.7 million budget.

McDowell’s leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including the South Fulton Chamber Award (2015), ABL Award (2016), the inaugural CID Professional Excellence Award (2020) and recognition as a Notable Georgian by Georgia Trend (2018–2024), Georgia 500 (2022–2023) and Georgia Titan 100 (2023–2024). A 2019 graduate of Leadership Atlanta, he continues to be recognized as an influential leader in the region. He currently serves on the boards of the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, Council for Quality Growth, Georgia Foreign Trade Zone, New Life Community Alliance, Project ReStart, and the Georgia Titan 100.

Krystal is the new Director of Capital Communications & Infrastructure Integration at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). During her tenure at ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts (AACIDs), Harris led transportation, infrastructure, technology, beautification, and wayfinding initiatives that strengthened connectivity and supported economic development throughout the Airport Area. Her signature accomplishments include the delivery of AACIDs' gateway monument signs welcoming visitors to the airport area and the world's busiest and most efficient airport, leadership of the nation's first Automated Transit Network (ATN) Demonstration Pilot, scheduled to open later this year, and development of Shift On Demand, a 2026 ACT Outstanding Innovative Partnership Award. She also advanced strategic partnerships and managed complex capital improvement projects that enhanced mobility, accessibility, and the visitor experience.

As Director of Capital Communications & Infrastructure Integration for MARTA's Capital Program, she functions as a strategic integrator, connecting people, projects, information, and decisions across the organization to strengthen governance, accelerate decision-making, enhance operational readiness, and ensure MARTA communicates and executes with one informed voice. Her work focuses on creating alignment across the full capital project lifecycle, enabling more effective delivery of the Authority's infrastructure investments.

Krystal has been named among the Top 100 women in Engineering for 4 consecutive years and received the 2025 Women Who Move Atlanta award from COMTO Atlanta.

State Representative Leonard Spencer serves as State Representative for Florida House District 45, representing portions of western Orange and Osceola counties, including Oakland, Gotha, Horizon West, Windermere, Celebration, and parts of Winter Garden and Ocoee.

A seasoned business leader and public servant, Leonard is dedicated to strengthening Florida’s economy and expanding opportunity for working families. Throughout his career, he has driven innovation within large organizations and built partnerships that help small businesses grow, create jobs, and lower costs. His leadership reflects an ability to bring people together, navigate complex challenges, and deliver results. He believes a strong economy grows from the middle out and the bottom up, with opportunities for everyone to succeed.

Since taking office, Leonard has served on House committees focused on commerce, state affairs, human services, careers and workforce, transportation, and economic development. His legislative work emphasizes affordability, workforce development, infrastructure investment, and long-term economic growth.

During the 2026 Legislative Session, Leonard sponsored HB 1093, bipartisan legislation to establish a statewide framework for the development and regulation of vertiports. The measure seeks to position Florida as a leader in advanced air mobility through clear guidelines for planning, permitting, and integrating vertiports into the state’s transportation system. By encouraging collaboration among state agencies, local governments, and private industry, the legislation aims to attract investment, support high-skilled jobs, and advance transportation innovation.

Leonard earned a degree in finance from Tuskegee University, holds an MBA from the University of Alabama, and completed senior executive education at Columbia University. He brings his experience in business and public service to his advocacy for Florida’s families, workers, and small businesses.

As the father of two adult children, Leonard is passionate about ensuring future generations have access to quality education, affordable living, and meaningful opportunities. He remains focused on building a more affordable and prosperous future for families throughout District 45 and across Florida.

Michelle Carrasquillo, PharmD, MS, is the Director of Pharmacy for BayCare Health System, leading Specialty Pharmacy and Home Infusion services. She brings extensive experience in health-system pharmacy leadership, with expertise spanning clinical practice, pharmacy operations, medication safety and quality, regulatory compliance and strategic planning. Michelle earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a specialization in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Sara Peters is a Washington, D.C., attorney and a partner in Holland & Knight's Public Policy 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 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 major automakers as outside counsel in litigation and investigations and as in-house counsel at Volkswagen Group of America.

Jake Robinson leads the State Government Affairs function for Zipline, the world’s largest commercial drone delivery company. Jake works directly with elected and regulatory officials at the state level to ensure policies promote a future where life-saving and time-saving deliveries are made in minutes.

Zipline makes a delivery every 15 seconds, delivers from hundreds of locally-owned businesses and national retailers, and serves more than 5,000 hospitals and health facilities globally. Having grown across 5 U.S. metros in fewer than 18 months, Zipline plans to expand service into Florida in 2027.

Jodie Bare is a nationally recognized leader in AI-driven innovation, data strategy, and digital transformation for critical infrastructure organizations. As Vice President of Parsons X and a Parsons Fellow, she advises public-sector owners on how to modernize operations through the strategic use of data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and enterprise technology.

Her work spans transportation agencies, airports, transit systems, and smart cities, where she has led initiatives involving connected vehicle data, AI-enabled asset management, digital governance, operational analytics, and large-scale technology modernization. Most recently, she has helped organizations explore how emerging AI capabilities can transform infrastructure operations, maintenance workflows, and decision-making processes.

Jodie specializes in bridging strategy and execution, helping organizations move from vision to operational adoption while ensuring technology investments deliver measurable value.

Robert Suess leads Parsons Intelligent Infrastructure sector managing their Advanced Traffic Management, Transportation Safety Operations, and Vehicle Inspection Services businesses. Robert oversees over 70 intelligent transportations projects utilizing software, hardware, and AI technology to help improve the safety, mobility, and efficiency of our transportation network. Key projects include the deployment of predictive analysis to reduce pedestrian deaths and vehicle collisions as well as ML models for decision support and traffic flow optimization.

Robert joined Parsons in 2022 and has over 20 years of experience leading international technology businesses most recently at Microsoft, where he held various positions including General Manager of New Technology for Western Europe, General Manager of Developer & Platform for Latin America, and General Manager of Developer & Platform for US East Region.

Robert served in the United States Navy as a non-commissioned officer specializing in communications and is a Private Pilot and experimental aircraft builder.

Katelyn Magney-Miller is the Communications Director for Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE), a coalition of industry, nonprofit, and academic institutions working to educate the public about automated vehicles. In her role, Katelyn leads the development of communications and media strategies for PAVE's public education and outreach programs. She also serves on the Board of Directors and manages marketing for Women in Automotive Technology (WAT), a diverse group of female subject matter experts who are passionate about driving advances in the automotive and new mobility industries.

Katelyn holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has over 10 years of experience leading strategic communications for technology and mission-driven organizations.

Frank Martz is the City Manager of Altamonte Springs, Florida, and Chief Executive Officer of the Altamonte Global Innovation Lab (AGīL). He created one of the country’s first demand-response transportation algorithms and partnered with Uber on a community-wide mobility program now replicated in more than 70 communities across four continents. With FDOT and Beep Mobility, he launched CraneRIDES, Florida’s first mixed-traffic autonomous vehicle service and the nation’s first permanent AV deployment operated by a city. He chairs Congressional District 7’s Transportation Advisory Committee and serves on the ACES Mobility Coalition executive board and the American Public Transportation Association’s national Autonomous Vehicle Committee. Through AGīL, he brings public and private partners together to pilot and scale solutions in mobility, environment, and data-driven governance.

Dr. Douglas Brauer has over 30 years of global expertise in facilitating strategic solutions to maximize organizational leadership, sustainability, profitability, and return-on-investment. His experience uniquely encompasses global business and higher education for which he has advanced organizations through transformational innovation using: a) strategic planning, b) financial and investment analysis, and c) communication and relationship building.

Douglas has served as the Dean of Engineering & Industry for Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) since July 2018. Since joining FSCJ, the Engineering Department has increased enrollment more than 65% and has become a national leader in National Science Foundation grants for two-year schools. Overall, higher education grant and gift attainment is more than $55 million.

His scope of global business leadership activities involving technology transfer and manufacturing operations and engineering have engaged organizations in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Japan, North America, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, and Taiwan. His private business activities include founding and serving as President & Managing Partner of MudTurtle Industries, LLC, which includes the divisions of Design Assurance Sciences and MudTurtle Furniture.

Dr. Brauer has taught both higher education undergraduate and graduate courses. He has authored four engineering textbooks. His degrees include: a) B.S. in Industrial Technology from Illinois State University, b) M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois, and c) Ph.D. in Education & Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University.

Joshua Schank is the Managing Partner at InfraStrategies, a transportation and financial advisory firm, where he leads a practice focused on innovation, strategic planning, and technology. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Autonomous, Connected, Electric, and Shared (ACES) Mobility Coalition, and is a Senior Fellow in the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Research Associate at the Mineta Transportation Institute. His latest book is “New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Improving Public Policy Outcomes in the Public Sector”.

Prior to joining InfraStrategies and UCLA, Dr. Schank was the first-ever Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Dr. Schank joined Metro in 2015 to establish the agency’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation (OEI), which fostered innovations to improve mobility, equity and environmental outcomes across LA County. Dr. Schank led an office that shaped Metro’s high-level strategic vision, serving as a liaison to the academic community, designing, piloting and implementing innovative programs and policies, and engaging entrepreneurs and businesses to develop public-private-partnerships. Dr. Schank helped create and lead numerous transformative Metro projects including the Vision 2028 Strategic Plan, Metro Micro, Mobility on Demand, Metro’s Traffic Reduction Study, Better Bus, two Pre-Development Agreements for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor, a Public-Private-Partnership for the West Santa Ana Branch, and an aerial tram from Union Station to Dodger Stadium.

Dr. Schank previously served as President and CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation, a leading national transportation policy think-tank based in Washington, D.C. Prior to that he led the National Transportation Policy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center and has worked as a consultant for Parsons Brinkerhoff (now WSP) and ICF International. Dr. Schank served as Transportation Policy Advisor to Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) during the authorization of SAFETEA-LU and is also the co-author of All Roads Lead to Congress: The $300 Billion Fight Over Highway Funding. Dr. Schank holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Columbia University, and a Master of City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He began his career working on behalf of the riders of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City and has never lost that spirit. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.

Mark Reid is a sales, marketing and operations expert with more than 30 years of international experience spread across various industries. At Beep, Mark handles public affairs.

Prior to Beep, Mark was the co-founder and CEO of Zilarah Technologies: an IT and Telecommunications solution provider known for its design, creation and implementation of mobile wallet software and hardware configurations on secured networks. Preceding this, he was co-founder and CEO of Jamaica Network Access Point Limited, a telecommunications colocation facility—the first of its kind in the Caribbean. Mark drove the planning, permitting, construction and operations, successfully deploying Stages I through III of the business model—namely the hub interconnection, intra-island, and inter-Caribbean deployment phases.

Mark was also the founder and CEO of Haltek Global Corporation, a telecommunications firm in Florida, focused on the delivery of Voice over IP (VoIP) based solutions to a broad base of customers. He was also with Chang International Enterprises, Inc., (DBA Car World), a specialty automotive retailer, as their Operations Manager and quickly moved up to become the General Manager of their South Florida operations.

Mark earned his MBA from Barry University in Miami, Florida.