NICTI

David G. Taylor
NICTI Chair, Growth Dimensions
Exceptional background in both the insurance industry and insurance regulation. A distinguished career that reflects a record of problem identification and successful solutions. A proven history of

introducing new programs and markets which includes every aspect of their management. As President and COO of two insurance companies I have learned to be the ultimate risk manager. The skills necessary to manage an insurance company translate well into managing the risks associated with many industries and programs. I have worked within large companies and startups. This exposure has provided a unique depth to my understanding of different operations and how to function with a plethora of personalities. By recognizing the different needs and the solution to each, I can be more creative in problem solving, and still stay within workable boundaries.

Teamwork

Project Participants

The Rockford Area Transportation Study (RATS) is the organization responsible for this type of project. The RATS Policy Committee will make the final decision based on recommendations from the study.

The NICTI Executive Committee, representing the RATS Policy Committee, is providing input and advice to the Project Team.

The decision will be based on a combination of local objectives and federal guidelines administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FTA is involved because the region expects to seek federal funding to help cover the costs of developing the new transit system.

Public input is important and will be considered throughout the project.

Mayor Morrissey
Mayor of the City of Rockford
Larry Morrissey was elected Mayor of Rockford on April 5, 2005 at the age of 35. Morrissey’s course to the Mayor’s office followed an unconventional path. He ran and was elected as an independent candidate. Morrissey held no political office prior to the Mayor’s office, but he had been active in numerous grass-roots organizations and neighborhood groups.

Mayor Morrissey’s agenda for the City of Rockford includes a strong emphasis on job creation through improving Rockford’s education system, improving public safety, and making core investments in Rockford’s infrastructure; what he refers to as the three R’s: roads, rail, and riverfront development. Mayor Morrissey has an aggressive and inclusive leadership style, working through neighborhood groups and inviting public participation to improve the City of Rockford.

Mayor Brereton
Mayor of the City of Belvidere
Fred Brereton has served as Belvidere's mayor since 1997, also currently serving as vice chairman of the Rockford Area Transportation Study (RATS). As a member of the NICTI Executive Committee,

Mayor Brereton represents the City of Belvidere's interest in attracting passenger rail service to the region, and liaison between NICTI and the Belvidere City Council.

Janyce Fadden
President, Rockford Area Economic Development Council|
As President of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC), Janyce is responsible for managing all the organization’s efforts, including business retention and expansion, new business recruitment, and improving the business climate of our region. In her role for the RAEDC Janyce serves on the executive committee of NICTI, the boards of Rockford Local Development Corporation, the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, of Growth Dimensions of Belvidere and Boone County, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Janyce currently serves on the Boards of the League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford, Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling and Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden. She is also on the Rockford Alumni Board for the Northern Illinois University College of Business and was recently honored as the 2005 Alumni of the Year.

Scott Christiansen
Chairman, Winnebago County Board
Scott Christiansen was born and raised in Winnebago County. Throughout his life he has been active in the community as a volunteer and as a leader. Though an active Republican, he has dedicated himself to include all parties in crafting solutions to the problems facing Winnebago County.

Scott is the owner of Christiansen, Inc. a roofing contractor based in Rockford. He has applied his experience as a businessman to his roles as Winnebago County Board member and various church and charitable activities.

His experience in government and politics include 12 years on the Winnebago County Board. As a board member, he served two terms as Majority Leader and Chairman of the Executive Committee. Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Forest Preserve Executive Committee, Chairman of the Legislative Committee and member of the Zoning and Labor Relations Committees.

Richard W. McVinnie
Executive Director, Rockford Mass Transit District
Rockford, IL
Mr. McVinnie has been in the transit industry for over 31 years. Mr. McVinnie started at RMTD in January 1975 as a maintenance mechanic. Over the years, his dedication and commitment to RMTD help earn him numerous promotions within the Maintenance Department and ultimately to the position of Executive Director which he has held for the last 16 years. As head of RMTD, Rick’s responsibilities include the overseeing of a staff of 130 employees, a fleet of over 65 vehicles, and a system that provides almost 1.4 million rides per year to the City of Rockford and the surrounding communities of Loves Park and Machesney Park.

Rick McVinnie is an active member of the Illinois Public Transportation Association (IPTA) and has been for a number of years currently, serving on the IPTA nominating committee. Rick also serves on the Illinois statewide ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) committee.

Chuck Abraham
Ex Officio (IDOT)
Chuck Abraham is the Program Support Chief for the Division of Public and Intermodal Transportation at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). He manages IDOT’s public transportation planning projects and runs its technical assistance programs. He has held this position for approximately six years. Prior to this position, Mr. Abraham has held various transportation planning positions at Metra and within Massachusetts government for over fourteen years. He is currently managing the state funding grant for the NICTI study, providing technical assistance to NICTI, and overseeing this project for the State of Illinois.

James R. Ryan
NICTI Project Manager
James R. Ryan was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and was raised in Rockford after moving here with his family at a very young age. He attended public schools until high school, where he enrolled at Boylan, and became heavily involved with athletics and student government activities. Jim went on to receive his undergraduate degree at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, majoring in both Public and Business Administration. Jim went on to receive a Master'’ degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University, with a specialized focus in city management.

After working in the Chicagoland Region in various positions, Jim relocated back to Rockford in 1999, accepting the position of Construction Program Manager with the City of Rockford Public Works Department. Much of his efforts have been developing plans and pursuing funds to reconstruct major state highway entries into the City such as West State and South main Streets. Jim has been the project Director for the Northern Illinois Commuter Rail Initiative, the regional effort to bring commuter rail to the Rock River Valley, as well as the chief architect of Rockford Global TradePark, an aggressive economic development strategy to retain and attract jobs within a 6600-acre area surrounding the Greater Rockford Airport. Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey appointed Jim Ryan to City Administrator on May 3, 2006.

Catherine H. Ward
Chairman, Boone County Board
Catherine was appointed to County Board in 2003 and elected to a four year term in 2004. She is a retired executive of Gannett's Rockford Register Star where she spent 20 years as a staff reporter and assistant editor.

Catherine received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater with minors in French and Education. She is also a former High School English teacher.

Her volunteer work and County Committee Work Includes: Boone County Council on Aging, Boone County Citizen's Corps, Boone County Board of Health, Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce, Boone County's Growth Dimensions, Sister Cities of Belvidere, Zonta Club of Belvidere, Volunteer at Belvidere's Ida Public Library, Boone County Garden Club, former board member and volunteer of Midway Village and Museum Center, former board member of Rockford's Visiting Nurses Association.

TranSystems
People, places, concrete, steel, dollars, sense, safety, and stress. TranSystems recognizes that it's the interplay of these key elements—and a thousand other factors—that drive the decisions of those who control highway and bridge operations.

With our integrated transportation consulting expertise, we offer a considerable understanding of, and sensitivity to, the wide and ever-changing range of rules and regulations governing this sector.

Our team has the vision and innovative thinking to deliver transportation solutions to this sector on the broad scale that their critical roadway projects demand. Clients include: State Departments of Transportation, City and County DOTs/DPWs, Special Transportation Districts, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Tollway Authorities, Federal Highway Administration and other State and Local Government Entities. The NICTI Study is being led from TranSystems Chicago Office.

Stephen Ernst
Rockford Area Transportation Study, Director

Steve Ernst has been with the City of Rockford and the Rockford MPO for 28 years and has been managing the Traffic Engineering Division for Rockford since 1993. His responsibilities include transportation planning, traffic engineering, traffic operations, traffic maintenance, parking operations, parking maintenance and parking control. The transportation planning responsibilities include oversight and administration direction for the Rockford Area Transportation Study as the MPO Study Director.

The Rockford MPO has the responsibility to program and manage all federal transportation funds which, in cooperation with the Rockford Mass Transit District, includes the transit funding for the NICTI project. Acting on behalf of the NICTI Executive Committee, the MPO staff provide day to day management, technical oversight and communications for the NICTI project.

PB Americas
Founded in 1885, PB is one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in the world. Recognized as a leader, PB provides a full range of engineering, consulting, planning, program management, construction management services for award-winning highways, tunnels, bridges, transit systems, power facilities, airports, and marine facilities, as well as buildings and site developments. PB is employee-owned, with over 9,000 people in more than 250 offices on six continents.