Meet The External Board of Directors

PacTrans External Advisory Board and Its Role

The role of the External Advisory Board (EAB) is to provide input on PacTrans’ strategic planning and outreach activities. We anticipate up to two meetings per year where the EAB will help review PacTrans activities and provide advice and vision on strategic directions. Members of the EAB include directors from the research office of the state DOTs in Region 10 and representatives from other transportation agencies, private industries, and communities.

Currently, the PacTrans EAB includes the following transportation professionals:

  • Carolyn Morehouse (Alaska DOT)
  • Scott Drumm (Port of Portland)
  • Charlie Howard (Puget Sound Research Council)
  • Michael Bufalino (Oregon DOT)
  • Wayne Kittelson (Kittelson & Associates)
  • Frank Breust (BMW)
  • Ned Parrish (Idaho Transportation Department)
  • Jerry Whitehead (Idaho Transportation Board/Western Trailers)
  • Rhonda Brooks (Washington DOT)

The first meeting of the PacTrans EAB with the PacTrans Board of Directors was held on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 on the UW Campus.

    • Carolyn Morehouse
      Carolyn Morehouse

      Alaska Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities

      Office:
      (907) 465-8140
      carolyn.morehouse@alaska.gov

      Read her bio

       

      Carolyn MorehouseCarolyn Morehouse
      Alaska Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities
      Office:
      (907) 465-8140
      carolyn.morehouse@alaska.gov

      Carolyn works as the Chief of Research Development & Technology Transfer, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (AKDOT&PF).

       

      She has worked for ADOT&PF for nine years, first as the Traffic and Safety Engineer for Southeast Region and then as Preliminary Design and Environmental Group Chief. She came to headquarters in fall 2012 to head the new Quality Improvement Section. This section has expanded to include Transportation Asset Management and Research and Technology Transfer.

       

      Prior to ADOT&PF, she worked at the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation where she helped create and manage the state’s Cruise Ship Environmental Compliance program from its inception until 2005. Morehouse has also worked as a consultant and for private industry. She graduated from Clarkson University with a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering and has an MBA from University of Alaska, Southeast. She is a registered professional engineer in the State of Alaska.

    • bio_drumm_210
      Scott Drumm

      Mgr., Research & Strategic Analysis Dept. at the Port of Portland, Portland, Oregon

      Office:
      (503) 415-6540
      scott.drumm@portofportland.com

      Read his bio

       

      bio_drumm_97Scott Drumm
      Mgr., Research & Strategic Analysis Dept. at the Port of Portland, Portland, Oregon
      Office:
      (503) 415-6540
      scott.drumm@portofportland.com

      Scott Drumm is the manager of the Port of Portland’s Research & Strategic Analysis Department. The Port owns four marine terminals, three airports (including Portland International), and seven business parks. He has been with the Port for more than 20 years, providing research support and project management for a variety of trade, transportation, and industrial land-related studies. The Port’s Research department has a diverse portfolio of responsibilities ranging from economic analysis to airport traveler customer satisfaction surveys and from maritime market studies to policy analysis. In addition Scott leads the Port’s strategic and business planning processes.

      An active member of the Transportation Research Board, Scott is the past chair of TRB’s Freight Transportation Data Committee, and has served on a number of TRB committees and NCHRP and NCFRP panels.

      Scott graduated with a B.A. in political science (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Oregon (1987) and earned a masters degree in urban planning from Portland State University (1989).

    • bio_howard_210
      Charlie Howard

      Director of Integrated Planning for Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)

      choward@psrc.org

      Read his bio

       

      bio_howard_97Charlie Howard
      Director of Integrated Planning for Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)

      choward@psrc.org

      Charlie Howard is the Director of Integrated Planning for the Puget Sound Regional Council. Prior to joining PSRC in 2005, Charlie worked with the Washington State Department of Transportation for 18 years, most recently as the Director of Strategic Planning and Programming. Charlie has been involved in state and regional transportation issues for the past 30 years, including an active role in developing and implementing the state’s growth management act. Charlie is a graduate of the Ohio State University, and has a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University.

    • bio_kittelson_210
      Wayne Kittelson

      Principal at Kittelson & Associates, Inc.

    • Breust-Kopie_Website
      Frank Breust

      Vice President Government and External Affairs, BMW Group Representative Office, California

      Read his bio

       

      Bio_Breust_97Frank Breust
      Vice President Government and External Affairs, BMW Group Representative Office, California

      Frank Breust is heading the government and external affairs office of the BMW Group in Sacramento, California since July 2013. In this function he coordinates corporate positioning with all relevant stakeholders in the fields of environmental, mobility and sustainability policies.

      Prior to this, Mr. Breust was responsible for coordinating the political communication of the BMW Group in Munich with regard to human resources related issues as well as sustainability engagements. Mr. Breust also steered social sustainability topics in the HR strategy. Before joining the BMW Group, Mr. Breust was an officer of the German Air Force and served as an air traffic controller and in the German Military Intelligence Service for twelve years.

      Frank Breust was born and grew up in Oldenburg, Germany and holds a Diploma in Business and Economics Education and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

    • bio_parrish_210
      Ned Parrish

      Research Program Manager for the Idaho Transportation Department

      Office:
      (208) 334-8296
      ned.parrish@itd.idaho.gov

      Read his bio

       

      bio_parrish_97Ned Parrish
      Research Program Manager for the Idaho Transportation Department
      Office:
      (208) 334-8296
      ned.parrish@itd.idaho.gov

      Ned serves as Research Program Manager for the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). He joined the department in 2007, and is responsible for coordinating ITD research, development, and technology transfer activities. Ned serves as Idaho’s state representative to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and represents ITD on the AASHTO’s Research Advisory Committee. He also has served as Co-chair for the Region X Transportation Consortium, is part of the RAC/CUTC Liaison Group, serves on the advisory board for the National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology (NIATT) at the University of Idaho, and was recently appointed to the TRB Conduct of Research Committee. Prior to joining ITD, Ned worked as program evaluator for almost 20 years for the state legislatures in Arizona and Idaho. He received a Master of Public Administration degree from Arizona State University.

    • bio_whitehead_210
      Jerry Whitehead

      Chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board

      swhitehead@westerntrailer.com

      Read his bio

       

      bio_whitehead_97Jerry Whitehead
      Chairman of the Idaho Transportation Department

      swhitehead@westerntrailer.com

      Whitehead has an extensive background in transportation. He established a trailer manufacturing business in Boise four decades ago and continues to serve as President and owner of Western Trailers. He has been a member of the Idaho Motor Carrier Advisory Committee the past 16 years and is past chairman of the Idaho Trucking Association and Idaho Truck Pac Inc.

    • Bufalino
      Michael Bufalino

      Research Manager Oregon Department of Transportation

      Office:
      (503)-986-2845
      Michael.Bufalino@odot.state.or.us

      Read his bio

       

      Bufalino97Michael Bufalino
      Research Manager
      Oregon Department of Transportation

      Michael.Bufalino@odot.state.or.us

      Mr. Bufalino has worked for ODOT since 2007. His work has included managing the development of the state’s first statewide freight plan and overseeing the ConnectOregon program. Mr Bufalino serves as the department’s research program manager. In this capacity, he supervises the Research Section including the Technology Transfer Center ODOT Library, and agency research projects. Prior to Joining ODOT Mr. Bufalino has worked as a planning consultant, university lab coordinator, college instructor, GIS professional and cartographer, and as a mate and deckhand on cargo ships.

      Mr. Bufalino currently leads ODOT’s research efforts focusing on producing original research that supports the department’s mission of providing a safe, efficient transportation system that supports economic opportunity and livable communities for Oregonians. He focuses on ensuring the Research Section works in collaboration with staff from across the Department and focus on delivery of research projects that are timely, intellectually robust, and relevant to the ongoing delivery of transportation infrastructure and services in Oregon. Through the ODOT Technology Transfer Center, Mr. Bufalino looks forward to helping tie training, technical assistance and technology transfer to current research.

    • Rhonda Brooks
      Rhonda Brooks

      Director of Research and Library Services, Washington State Department of Transportation

      Office:
      (360)-705-7945
      BrookRh@wsdot.wa.gov

      Read her bio

       

      Rhonda BrooksRhonda Brooks
      Research Program Manager Washington State Department of Transportation

      BrookRh@wsdot.wa.gov

      Rhonda Brooks has served as a transportation policy advisor and manager at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for over thirty years.  Her multidisciplinary transportation expertise includes finance, planning, research, project development and communications.  She has also served as a state transportation liaison to federal, state and local elected officials and agencies, business and industry leaders and special interest groups concerning a number of high profile transportation projects involving complex and controversial issues.

      Her professional experience includes directing and publishing a number of large, complex transportation studies including major investment studies; environmental impact statements; traffic and revenue studies, project finance plans and a number of state transportation policy reports.

      Currently, she is serving as the WSDOT Research Program Manager overseeing the agencies participation and resources with national, regional and statewide multimodal transportation organizations.  She also serves as a project manager for environmental, design, safety, and Washington State Ferries research projects.

      Ms. Brooks has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and an undergraduate degree in Communications from The Evergreen State College.

Previous Members of the External Board of Directors

Thanks to our former board members for their efforts and continued support of transportation research

    • bio_mantey_210
      Edward Mantey

      Vice President of Toyota Vehicle Planning, Corporate Strategy, Technical Administration

      Read his bio

       

      bio_mantey_97Edward Mantey
      Vice President of Toyota Vehicle Planning, Corporate Strategy, Technical Administration

      Edward J. Mantey is Senior Vice President for Engineering at Toyota Technical Center (TTC), located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. TTC, Toyota’s North American R&D center, is a division of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, North America, Inc. (TEMA). Mantey is responsible for overseeing the departments of the Product Development Office (PDO), Corporate Strategy Office (CSO), and Technical Administration (TAPO).

      Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Mantey was Vice President of Engineering Design – Exterior Division and Electronic Systems Division.  Mr. Mantey joined TTC in 1991 with responsibility for overseeing the structural evaluations of products developed in North America. From 1996 – 2000, Mr. Mantey held the position of Executive Engineer for Development, Planning and Operations, where his responsibilities included the position of Chief Engineer for the 2000 Avalon.

      Prior to joining TTC, Mr. Mantey held a variety of positions during his ten years at General Motors Corporation in their Large Car Engineering division.

      Mr. Mantey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University.

    • bio_adler_210
      Clint Adler

      Civil and Environmental Engineer, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

      Read his bio

      bio_adler_210Clint Adler
      Civil and Environmental Engineer, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
    • bio_jones_210
      Barnie Jones, Ph.D.

      Research Section Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation

      Read his bio

       

      bio_jones_97Barnie Jones, Ph.D.
      Research Section Mgr, Oregon Dept. of Transportation

      Barnie Jones is a social scientist with over 27 years experience in transportation research in Oregon. His entire transportation career has been with the Oregon DOT, were he worked first as a senior research analyst, researching effectiveness of licensing and other regulatory programs for drivers, along with a broader range of transportation topics.

      In 1998, Barnie became manager of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Research Section.

      Dr. Jones has published numerous journal articles, book chapters and agency reports in the areas of highway safety, human factors in transportation, road pricing and statistical methods.

      In 2013, Dr. Jones retired from his roles at the Oregon DOT and PacTrans. Many thanks to Dr. Jones for his years of service and support!

    • bio_oman_210
      Leni Oman

      Director of Research and Library Services, Washington State Department of Transportation