Speakers

Jennifer Mitchell was appointed as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration in April 2022. In that role, she provides executive leadership and direction on agency operations and policy matters, including the agency’s safety and rail development activities.

Ms. Mitchell has over 25 years of experience working in the transportation industry in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the FRA, she served for eight years as Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DPRT) where she led several strategic initiatives. These include landmark agreements between CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway and Amtrak to significantly expand passenger rail service in the State over the next ten years, as well as advancing construction of the new Long Bridge across the Potomac River. Jennifer also helped lead the creation of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission in collaboration with Maryland and the District of Columbia. She played a key role in securing dedicated regional funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, development of a new transit ridership incentive grant programs, and creation of the Commonwealth’s SmartScale multimodal transportation funding program.

Ms. Mitchell has served on boards of the American Public Transportation Association, Women’s Transportation Seminar, and the Eno Transportation Foundation. In 2018 she was named by Railway Age as a Woman of the Year, and in 2020 she was named by the Council of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) as a Woman that Moves the Nation. She holds a Bachelor of City Planning degree from the University of Virginia and a Masters in Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In August 2019, Cheryl became the Associate Administrator for Safety at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In this position, Cheryl is responsible for providing executive leadership and direction to a multidisciplinary professional staff of transportation safety experts in developing and implementing strategic national initiatives, programs, and policies to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the Nation’s 4 million miles of public roads.

Previously Cheryl was the Director of the Office of Safety Programs, where she led national safety programs. From June through October 2018, Cheryl served as FHWA’s Acting Executive Director. From 2012 through 2018, Cheryl held the position as the Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs and Policy Communications.

She also has served as the Special Assistant to the FHWA Administrator and as Legal Counsel to FHWA’s Chief Counsel.

Prior to joining FHWA, Cheryl served for three years as an attorney with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and, before that, for a decade as an attorney in an energy regulatory practice for private law firms in Washington, D.C. Before attending law school, she worked as an electrical engineer for an automobile manufacturer. 

Cheryl earned a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan.

Richard will present on Thursday, August 24 @ 8:05am on the Design of Crossings at adjacent to Roundabouts/Rotaries

Richard has 21 years of municipal government experience in surveying, design and construction/ project management.

He started his municipal career in 2002 with the City of Dawson Creek, BC after a 5 year career with Louisiana-Pacific in the engineered wood industry. In 2005 he made the move to Vernon and has led numerous civil related capital works projects ranging from small parking lot design builds, coordinating complex rock scaling to large civil road projects. The railway crossing project being presented at this conference was the most intricate city project to date considering the coordination efforts required for the railway crossing approvals, agreements and construction.

Richard grew up in Sudbury, Ontario and graduated from the Civil Engineering Technology program at Cambrian College in 1994 and made the move to Dawson Creek in 1995. He has been a member of the Applied Science Technology and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) since 2001 and is registered as an Applied Science Technologist ( AScT).

He lives in Vernon, British Columbia with his wife Karen, has two boys aged 25 and 20 and has recently become a grandfather. In his spare time, he coaches high school volleyball with his wife. When not coaching he enjoys mountain biking, fly-fishing, golfing and pickleball (yes mandatory being a grandfather)

Rachel Maleh is Executive Director of Operation Lifesaver, Inc., the national, nonprofit rail safety education organization based in Washington, D.C. Maleh has over 25 years’ experience in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, fundraising, organizational development, and leadership transition planning.

Prior to joining Operation Lifesaver, Inc., Maleh ran a communications consulting firm offering comprehensive nonprofit management services. Previously, she was Deputy Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region of the American Heart Association. Her experience also includes serving as Senior Advisor/Chief of Staff with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition in Washington, D.C.

Maleh has advanced degrees both in International Relations and International Communications from Boston University as well as a Master of Science in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and French from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Michael Longley is the Director of the Office of Rail Program Development in the Office of Railroad Development at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). In this role, Michael is responsible for policies, programs, and technical assistance to promote effective rail development decision-making on projects using principles and processes that satisfy FRA mission responsibilities.

He directs a multidisciplinary staff of grant managers, program analysts, and transportation industry analysts by providing management and leadership in the development and implementation of national policies, regulations, guidelines, standards, procedures, and techniques. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the Federal grants and project management arena as both a management consultant and a federal employee.

Michael was a key contributor to the creation of a grants management office within FRA and led FRA’s Project Management and Oversight Division, which administered more than $8.5 billion in planning, design, and construction grants under a variety of infrastructure investment programs.

Michael facilitated the launch of a new rail and mass transit division along with the nation’s first transit-focused homeland security grant program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He also implemented risk and allocation models for five of DHS’s risk-based grant programs.

Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Affairs from the University of Virginia.

In 1998, Frank began his government career with the Massachusetts’ Department of Public Utilities (DPU) as a Transit Engineer. Among his roles involved the implementation of state safety oversight of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), as well as state oversight of all public railroad grade crossings within the Commonwealth. Specifically, he assisted in the review and approval process for engineering design layouts of railroad grade crossing warning devices to ensure compliance with state and federal design standards.

After thirteen years as the state’s transportation safety engineer; in June 2011, Frank joined the Federal Railroad Administration as their General Engineer at its Washington, D.C. headquarters. Frank’s current role is to ensure the safe design layout of railroad grade crossing signal equipment along High-speed Rail (HSR) corridors in the country. His position requires periodic travel throughout the country, conducting diagnostic safety reviews of grade crossing locations with various railroads and municipalities involved. Not limited to HSR initiatives, Frank is also involved with new and innovative grade crossing signal technology, and supports the Federal Transit Administration in providing technical engineering advice with Light-rail crossing designs.

Frank attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA where he received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology. Shortly thereafter, he attended the University of Massachusetts where he earned a M.S. in Public Affairs. Married since 2006, he and his wife Sarah have three young children and currently reside in southern Maryland.

Duane H. Thomas, P.E. is a graduate of the University of Kentucky’s Civil Engineering program and is a licensed professional engineer in Kentucky. Duane’s career includes 22 years in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Traffic Operations, serving four years as the State Traffic Engineer. He worked for ten years in the Kentucky Division Office of the Federal Highway Administration where he served as an area engineer and managed the Division’s Major Projects. In 2018, Duane joined the FHWA Resource Center’s Operations Technical Services Team, specializing in Work Zone Traffic Control Management. Duane is also a member of FHWA’s MUTCD Team with responsibility for Highway Traffic Signals and Traffic Control for Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings.

Eric Madsen has over 30 years of experience with the Signal Department at Union Pacific (UP). He has held various field positions in Maintenance, Construction, and most recently as Senior Director Signal Design. He earned his Associate of Electronics degree in 2010. He has also been an active member of AREMA since 2008, participating in Committees 36, 37, and 39.

Eric was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, which he currently resides. Eric has been married to his wife Sothea for 24 years and they have two boys aged 24 and 19. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, watching his sons play baseball, and spending time with his family.

James has been with FRA for the past 7 years working on grade crossing safety. Prior to FRA, he worked for FHWA for 7 years in their Headquarters office and in their North Carolina Division Office. He also worked 5 years for Caltrans District 11 in San Diego and 5 years for an engineering firm in St Louis, MO where he grew up.

James received his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Bradley University in 1999, and is a registered Profession Engineer in the State of California

Mitch Beard is an Assistant Director Signal Design with BNSF Railway. He earned his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering in 2010. He is also an active member in AREMA through participating in committees 36, 37, and chair of 39.

Mitch has spent 12 years in the rail industry at BNSF. He has held positions in Maintenance, Constructions, Design and most recently Research & Development. Through these roles he has developed an expertise with multiple vendors products and continues to work towards ways to further leveraging new technology. He is currently leading efforts with developing OMA VBS and Wireless Crossings at BNSF.

Raised in rural NW Kansas (Phillipsburg) and now resides in the Kansas City metro. Mitch has been married to his wife Mandi Beard 12 years and has one daughter Georgia Faye Beard (1.5). Mitch enjoys spending time woodworking, hiking, and spending time with his family.

Mark Culver is the Subject Matter Expert (SME) of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 234-Grade Crossing Safety, for the Office of Safety at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). As the Part 234 SME, Mark is responsible for regulatory interpretations and clarification as well as publishing and ensuring compliance manuals remain current and up to date. A primary focus of Marks is to ensure that the FRA is applying Part 234 consistently across the nation.

Mark began his railroad signaling career in 1991 where he worked as a signal contractor. He continued to work for a few railroad properties until 2002 when as the Director of Signals for the Iowa Chicago and Eastern (IC&E) and the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern (DM&E) he left the railroad and joined the FRA.

Mark works out of the Washington, D.C. office and lives in St Louis, Missouri with his wife Kelly. They have 3 children, Juel, Olivia and Riley, Mark and his family all enjoy spending time outdoors and are often found boating.

Debra (Dee) Chappell is a Transportation Analyst in the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Railroad Safety, Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach Division. Dee has over 30 years’ experience with Federal, State, local, academic, and corporate entities. She has previously worked at the Federal Highway Administration as the Section 130 Program Manager, Pavement Safety Program Manager, and the MUTCD Team. She also worked at the Volpe Center conducting research on ITS technologies for crossing safety and trespass prevention, four-quadrant gate systems, quiet zone research, freight car reflectorization and strategic plan development. Prior to her Federal service, Dee served as the Assistant Director of the Office of Engineering and Science Support and Adjunct Professor at the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering. Additionally, Dee also worked as a highway design engineer for HNTB. Dee started her career with the Florida Department of Transportation as a Professional Engineer Trainee.

She holds professional memberships with AREMA (Committee 36), the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and immediate past member of TRB Committee AR080.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, Dee graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (with Honors) at the Florida A&M University/Florida State University College of Engineering (as the first female and African-American graduate) and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (with High Honors) from Howard University (as an FHWA Eisenhower Graduate Research Fellow). She is married to Dr. Isaac Chappell, II. She is a lifelong, die- hard NASCAR fan and collects clocks.