Speaker Bios

Morning Ethics Session

Larry Stone, P.E., RPLS | Parkhill

Larry Stone, PE, RPLS, is Group Lead for Site Development and Planning at Parkhill and has over 40 years of experience in civil engineering. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Larry’s career has focused on municipal engineering, site development, and public infrastructure. He led the award-winning Abram Street Reconstruction project in Arlington, recognized as the Texas Public Works Association’s Project of the Year. Larry is a member of TPWA and serves on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army of Fort Worth, as well as the Board of Directors and Spiritual Advisor for Christian Relief Fund in Saltillo, Mexico. One of Larry’s more memorable experiences outside of engineering was winning the FOX game show Beat Shazam alongside his daughter. Email Larry at LStone@Parkhill.comLorem

Morning IGNITE Session Theme: Regional Connectivity

Missing Links
Jody Short, P.E., PTOE | President | Lee Engineering

Jody graduated from Texas A&M with BS and MS in Civil Engineering and has more than 35 years of Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning consulting experience in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  He has been actively involved in ITE, beginning as a student at A&M.  He served as President of the Student Chapter, President of the Dallas Section, and the Texas District, and was a member of the first LeadershipITE class.   He has been with Lee Engineering for 29 years, and is currently serving as President of the firm, overseeing more than 50 employees in 7 offices across the southwest.   Jody served three terms on the Colleyville City Council and was actively involved in the adoption of roundabouts as a preferred intersection treatment in northeast Tarrant County. Email Jody at jshort@lee-eng.com

Universal Truths: Planning and opening a new theme park
Joel Fitts, P.E., PTOE | Transportation Planning Manager | City of Frisco

 Joel Fitts received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska.  He then worked for Parsons in Dallas for 11 years where he specialized in traffic operations analysis and simulation before becoming Parsons’ Traffic Engineering Practice Leader for Texas.  In 2008, Joel switched to the public sector and joined the City of Frisco.  He is the Transportation Planning Manager at the City and heads up the traffic engineering group responsible for development plan review, transportation planning, traffic studies, standards and agreements, citizen concerns, and school safety and circulation.  Joel helped create the roundabout program at the City and encourages their use as development occurs and now Frisco has the most roundabouts of any Texas city.  Email Joel at jfitts@friscotexas.gov

US 287 Texas Corridor Study - Developing a Stakeholder-Driven Phased Implementation Plan
Dhruva Lahon P.E., PTOE | Senior Project Manager | Kimley-Horn

 Dhruva Lahon, P.E., PTOE is a Senior Project Manager with Kimley-Horn. She has over 21 years of experience in transportation engineering and planning. She leads large-scale transportation studies that integrate mobility, safety, and multimodal considerations across Texas. She is the Consultant Project Manager for TxDOT’s first Traffic and Safety Analysis Procedures (TSAP) Manual, the 2025 TMUTCD Update, and the US 287 Texas Corridor Study.  Email Dhruva at  dhruva.lahon@kimley-horn.com

Harris McConnell | Transportation Planner | Kimley-Horn

 Harris McConnell served as Kimley-Horn’s Deputy Project Manager for the US 287 Texas Corridor Study. Harris is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography. He has 5 years’ experience. Harris brings extensive experience in transportation planning and corridor studies, with a focus on stakeholder engagement, needs assessments, and feasible implementation strategies that advance connectivity and technology statewide. Harris is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) and enjoys golfing and flying in his free time when he is able.  Email Harris at Harris.McConnell@kimley-horn.com

Rockwall County Outer Loop Study
Matt Craig, P.E. | Senior Vice President, Transportation | Halff
Dhruva Lahon P.E., PTOE (Bio Above)

 Matt Craig is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Cincinnati (go Bearcats!) and a Masters in Civil Engineering from the UTA (Go Mavericks!).   He serves as Transportation Deputy Practice Leader for Halff Associates, where he has been employed for over 40 years. His early years at Halff included work in environmental, public works, water/wastewater and land development projects while his last 30 years have focused on transportation, primarily in advance planning for major freeway corridors including SH 360, SH 183, IH 30, IH 35E and 35W, IH 635, Dallas North Tollway and now Rockwall County Outer Loop.  And ask him about Engineers Without Borders, where he serves as mentor and Engineer in Charge for the UTA student chapter and for the North Texas Professional Chapter, having traveled to Bolivia building a water system for a rural indigenous community. Email Matt at mcraig@halff.com

Regional Connectivity and the Kaufman County Outer Loop
Roshna Ashraf, P.E., PTOE, PTP, RSP2I | Traffic Operations and Safety Section Lead | HDR Engineering

 Roshna Ashraf is a transportation professional with more than 16 years of experience in transportation planning, traffic operations, and roadway safety. A graduate of the UT Arlington, she holds a Master’s degree in Traffic & Transportation Eng. and is a certified Road Safety Professional (RSP2I).  As the Traffic Operations & Safety Section Lead in HDR’s Dallas office, Roshna leads multidisciplinary teams in delivering innovative transportation solutions across Texas. Her expertise includes travel demand modeling, traffic microsimulation, traffic operations, and safety analysis.  Known for her collaborative leadership style, Roshna is passionate about mentoring professionals, developing high-performing teams, and creating meaningful impacts for clients and communities. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active and spending quality time with her family.  Fun fact: Whether it’s managing traffic flow on Texas roadways or coordinating her family’s busy schedule, Roshna enjoys finding efficient solutions that keep everyone moving in the right direction.  Email Roshna at roshna.ashraf@hdrinc.com

Grand Prairie SH 180
Blake Hubbard, P.E., PTOE | Traffic Engineer | Westwood Professional Services

Blake Hubbard earned his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2020. With six years of experience as a traffic engineer at Pacheco Koch and Westwood Professional Services in Fort Worth, he focuses on a range of design projects, including traffic signals, street lighting, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Blake also conducts various reports involving speed studies, signal warrants, and signal timing improvements. Blake is a member of ITE’s Fort Worth Section. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities like mountain biking, biking along the Trinity Trails, and playing disc golf. Email Blake at blake.hubbard@westwoodps.com

DCTA Updates
Austin Frith | Vice President, Planning & Development | Denton County Transportation Authority

 Austin Frith oversees short- and long-term service planning, capital planning and project controls, data analytics and management, and transit-oriented development for DCTA.  DCTA is a regional transit agency serving the cities of Denton, Highland Village, and Lewisville. It provides several services, including the A-train commuter rail service, GoZone (a microtransit service ranked among the top 25 in the country for ridership), bus service to the City of Denton and the University of North Texas (the fourth-largest university in Texas), and access paratransit and vanpool services. Key projects currently under Mr. Frith’s direction include the A-train Enhancement Program, which involves multiple phases to improve corridor runtime; the Downtown Carrollton Extension; enhancements to grade crossings and quiet zones; and expanded service hours.

Mr. Frith joined DCTA in 2023 after serving as the Assistant Vice President at DFW Airport, where he was responsible for facilities maintenance, condition assessments, and near- and long-term strategic capital planning.  He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers) in 2007.  Austin resides in Flower Mound with his wife and son. 

Arlington Grand Prix
Christian Alonso, P.E., PTOE | Sr. Project Manager | HNTB

 Cristian Alonso, PE, PTOE, earned his bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. He works as a traffic team lead and project engineer at HNTB Corporation in Fort Worth. He focuses on a range of design projects, including traffic signals, street lighting, signs and pavement markings. Cristian has also conducted various reports and studies such as Interstate Access Justification Report (IAJR), safety studies, and signal warrants. Cristian is a member of ITE’s Fort Worth Section. Outside of work, his hobbies include live music events, theater, and photography.

IH30 Canyon Improvements
Mohammad Sarim | Associate Traffic Engineer | WSP

 Mohammad Sarim is an Associate Traffic Engineer with WSP in Dallas, specializing in transportation design. His experience includes traffic signal design, signing and pavement markings, ADA improvements, and intelligent transportation systems. He holds a master’s degree in transportation engineering from Texas A&M University and is passionate about developing practical solutions that improve transportation safety and mobility.  Email Sarim at Mohammad.sarim@wsp.com.

Beyond Crashes: Leveraging Safety Action Plans to Uncover Local Connectivity Gaps
Mike Kublanov, AICP, RSP | Transportation Planner | Gresham Smith

 Mike Kublanov is a Transportation Planner with Gresham Smith and has 11 years of experience delivering transportation planning and safety projects for state and local agencies. Mike received his Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University in New Jersey. His expertise includes but is not limited to Safety Action Planning, corridor studies, multimodal planning, freight planning, and transportation grant support. Mike has led or contributed to transportation projects throughout Texas, including safety planning efforts for the City of Laredo, the City of Pilot Point, and multiple TxDOT corridor studies. Mike holds AICP and RSP1 certifications and is on the Dallas Regional Chamber Tech Policy Task Force. In his off-time, Mike enjoys visiting new places with his wife Hannah and six-year-old son Max, as well as flying his drone to capture unique perspectives of the built environment.  Email Mike at mike.kublanov@greshamsmith.com

Connected Corridors: Regional Signal Control with XTraffic
Jeremy Wilson and Everett Ivy | XTraffic

 Jeremy Wilson is a marketing and professional sales graduate in his first year with XTraffic, based in Southlake, Texas. He is actively involved with industry organizations including ITE, APWA, and ITS America, where he builds connections across transportation, public works, and intelligent transportation systems. Outside of work, Jeremy is a dedicated fitness enthusiast who competed in his first bodybuilding show last year and is already eyeing a possible return to the stage in 2027.  Email Jeremy at jeremy@xtraffic.com

 

 

Everett Ivy is the founder and CEO of XTraffic, a Southlake, Texas company developing AI-powered traffic signal control. He studied computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence before leaving college to work on factory-automation control systems at Amazon. At Amazon, he led a machine-learning project that forecast downstream work for robotic systems. He later founded XTraffic and built the first version of the company’s traffic-control algorithm. His work contributed to the Lewisville–XTraffic FM 407 corridor project, recognized by TexITE in 2026 for transportation achievement in TSMO. Everett participates in the regional transportation community through city partnerships and TexITE presentations. In his free time he is building a rocket engine as a personal engineering project.  Email Everett at everett@xtraffic.com

Lunch Keynote

Dan Lamers, P.E. | Senior Program Manager | North Central Texas Council of Governments

 Dan Lamers is a Senior Program Manager for Transportation Planning with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Dallas-Fort Worth region. He joined NCTCOG in 1985 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and later received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington. Dan’s responsibilities at NCTCOG include the development of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, conducting multimodal corridor studies, freight and goods movement planning, integrating emerging technologies into transportation project development, and incorporating local government planning efforts into the metropolitan transportation planning process. Dan is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and is a past President of the Fort Worth Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).  Email Dan at DLamers@nctcog.org

Afternoon Session

Collin County Northeast Freeway
Curtis Hanan | Senior Project Manager | LJA

 Curtis has over 38 years of experience in transportation planning, traffic forecasting and analysis, schematic design, and environmental and public involvement efforts including 35 years at TxDOT Fort Worth. During that time, he supervised the schematic and environmental sections, developed schematics in-house and managed consultant services contracts to achieve environmental clearance of proposed improvements for reconstruction of freeways, managed lanes and toll roads. He also provided oversight at the District level to help achieve approval of the procurements for the DFW Connector and North Tarrant Express Comprehensive Development Agreements. He joined LJA in 2023 as the North Texas Planning Lead and serves as Deputy Project Manager for the Collin County Northeast Freeway and TxDOT FTW I-20 Weatherford Schematic / Environmental studies. He earned his BSCE from University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Public Administration from University of North Texas. Email Curtis at chanan@lja.com.

Clarence Daugherty | Director of Engineering | Collin County

 Clarence earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has worked for local governments in Texas for over 55 years either as employee or consultant, including two stints at Collin County totaling 26 years. Mr. Daugherty’s responsibilities at Collin County currently include transportation planning, design and construction of transportation bond projects, and regulation of developments in unincorporated areas.

Clarence is a former President of both the Texas Public Works Association and the Texas Association of County Engineers and Road Administrators and serves as a deacon and teacher at his church. He was widowed after 52 years of marriage and has two sons and two adult grandchildren. Email Clarence at cdaugherty@collincountytx.gov.

Generative AI Toolkit
Krystle Li | Sr. Engineering Technician | Fehr & Peers

Krystle Li leads the Creative Design Practice Group at Fehr & Peers, applying over a decade of experience to turning complex technical work into clear, engaging communications for planners, engineers, and public agencies. As generative AI reshapes the design profession, her work has turned to a central question: how firms can keep building expertise and producing work that keeps its craft and judgment while pushing the bounds of innovation with AI. Alongside her design and project leadership, she helps shape how Fehr & Peers adopts generative AI responsibly, with a focus on the human side of adoption that emphasizes professional judgment, mentorship, and building institutional knowledge. She now helps lead the development of a generative AI policy starter kit as part of a multi-firm ITE working group and authored its section on firm responsibility, ethics, and policies related to staff development.  Email Krystle at k.li@fehrandpeers.com

DART's Role as a Regional Economic and Mobility Asset
Key Shelton | Chief of Staff/Chief Strategy Officer | DART

 Kay Shelton serves as Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer for DART, and is responsible for internal issues resolution, project oversight, policy review and development, and strategic plan execution. Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, Ms. Shelton served in a variety of roles for the DART Capital Planning group, including Vice President. During her tenure, she has been responsible for long-range transit system plan updates including a variety of studies, planning efforts, and capital project development to help sustain and grow transit’s role within the region, enhance the customer experience, and accommodate strong regional growth. She also led significant agency, stakeholder, and public engagement to build consensus around projects and programs. 

 Ms. Shelton led the development of the new Point B Strategic Plan for the agency, approved in June 2024. This plan seeks to advance DART’s role as a strategic mobility and economic asset for the North Texas region through six transformative goals. She oversees the Government Relations team and works with staff across the agency to advance Strategic Plan initiatives. Ms. Shelton has a B.A. in Economics/Business from UCLA and a Master’s degree in City Planning from San Diego State University.  She is active in the community, serving on the boards of the Lake Highlands High School (LHHS) Education Foundation and the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority (MATA), and is a member of 2024 Leadership Dallas class.  Email Kay at KShelton@dart.org