Selected 2013 ICAT Keynote Speakers

The Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation, United States Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.  

Mr. Ray LaHood was appointed by President Obama as the 16th Secretary of Transportation on January 2009. Secretary LaHood’s primary goals in implementing President Obama’s priorities for transportation include safety across all modes, restoring economic health and creating jobs, sustainability – shaping the economy of the coming decades by building new transportation infrastructure, and assuring that transportation policies focus on people who use the transportation system and their communities. As Secretary, LaHood leads an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a $70 billion budget that oversees air, maritime and surface transportation missions. Before becoming Secretary of Transportation, LaHood served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 18th District of Illinois. Before his career in government, Secretary LaHood was a junior high school teacher, and received his degree from Bradley University.

Douglas R. Oberhelman, Chairman and CEO, Caterpillar Inc.

Douglas R. Oberhelman is chairman and chief executive officer of Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria, Illinois.  He joined Caterpillar in 1975 and has held a variety of positions including senior finance representative based in South America for Caterpillar Americas Co; region finance manager and district manager for the company's North American Commercial Division; and managing director and vice general manager for strategic planning at Caterpillar Japan Ltd. (CJL) - Tokyo, Japan.  Mr. Oberhelman has a bachelor's degree in finance from Millikin University, and in May 2011 was awarded an honorary doctorate of human letters from his alma mater. He is currently a director for the boards of Eli Lilly and Company, and The Nature Conservancy - Illinois Chapter. Mr. Oberhelman is also a member of the Business Roundtable and the Business Council.  He has served on boards for Millikin University, Easter Seals, South Side Bank, and Ameren Corporation.

Gary Hanning, Director of Legislative Affairs, IL Governor's Office

Gary Hannig was a state representative from 1979-2009 and through his tenure he served on various committees and fulfilled the roles of assistant majority leader and deputy majority leader.  In February 2009, Mr. Hannig retired as a legislator and was then appointed as Secretary for IDOT.  While at IDOT, Mr. Hannig oversaw the largest construction program in state history.  The program repaired or rebuilt 4,800 miles of roads and more than 500 bridges, creating an estimated 135,000 jobs. Mr. Hannig retired as Secretary in June 2011.  In January 2012, Governor Quinn appointed Mr. Hannig the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Office of the Governor.  Mr. Hannig attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a B.S. with honors in Accounting and resides in Litchfield with his wife, Betsy.

The Honorable Martin Sandoval, Chairman, IL Transportation Committee

In January 2009, Sandoval was appointed to serve as the Chairman of the Transportation Committee, where he has worked to bring additional federal transportation dollars to Illinois. He has focused on developing High Speed Rail in Illinois, passing legislation to prohibit people from texting while driving, and banning the use of cell phones in work zones.   Sandoval was instrumental in bringing parties from all four caucuses together to pass a capital construction budget.  Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Sandoval has also been a champion of both elementary and higher education.  Sandoval also served as a member of the Appropriations II, Energy, and Licensed Activities Committees.  Sandoval’s career has included appointments to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and ten years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was also a leader in various federal labor unions.

 Ann Schneider, Secretary,  Illinois Department of Transportation, Springfield, Illinois

On October 24, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn appointed Ms. Ann L. Schneider Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, overseeing a work force of over 5,200 employees with oversight of more than $2.5 billion in capital projects. On November 29, 2011, by unanimous vote, her appointment was confirmed by the Illinois Senate. She began work with IDOT November 2005, as the Director and Chief Fiscal Officer of the Office of Finance and Administration. In August 2010, she was appointed Chief Operating Officer in the Secretary’s Office where she was responsible for six offices and four divisions of IDOT and functioned as a liaison with the Governor’s Office and the Illinois General Assembly. She has worked for the State of Illinois for nearly 25 years: Chief Fiscal Officer for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Budget Operations Director at the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, and Assistant State Comptroller for Fiscal Policy.

Gary Hannig, Director of Legislative Affairs, Illinois Governor’s Office

Mr. Gary Hannig is a former Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, having served in that post from 2009 to 2011, and was previously a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 98th District from 1979 to 2009.  He was born in Litchfield, Illinois, and was raised in Mt. Olive, Illinois.  He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign, where he graduated with honors with a degree in Accounting in 1974. In 1975, he passed the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant.  In 1978 Hannig was elected as the youngest member of the Illinois House of Representatives at that time. He has served as a member in every General Assembly until he resigned in February 2009. He was appointed Assistant Democratic Leader for the 89th General Assembly and Deputy Majority Leader for the 94th General Assembly. He was the Chief Budget Negotiator for the House Democrats.  

Rosemarie Andolino, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation, Chicago, Illinois

Ms. Rosie Andolino is responsible for the management and operation of O’Hare and Midway International Airports, which together comprise one of the largest and busiest airport systems in the world. She is also charged with implementing the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP) — an estimated $8 billion program that reconfigures O’Hare’s intersecting runways into a modern, parallel configuration to increase the airport’s efficiency and capacity well into the future. Andolino’s leadership has brought the CDA to the forefront for airport sustainability. She was a recipient of the 2010 ICAT Heartland Sustainability Award and has been recognized for excellence in environmental stewardship by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center and the United Nation’s Environmental Programme for Liveable Communities. Andolino was recently appointed to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and is a member of the Bradley University Civil Engineering & Construction Advisory Board.

Kristi Lafleur, Executive Director, Illinois Tollway, Downers Grove, Illinois

Ms. Kristi Lafleur was selected as executive director by the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors in April 2010. Lafleur is responsible for the agency’s day-to-day management, oversight of its $973 million annual budget and leading the nearly 1,600 employees in providing a safe, effective and efficient toll highway system. In October 2010, Lafleur was named by Governor Pat Quinn to co-chair the Elgin O'Hare West Bypass Advisory Council, which was created to help plan and build this important project. In September 2011, Lafleur was named to the board of directors of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the worldwide association for owners and operators of toll facilities. She also serves on the executive board of the E-Z Pass Group and on advisory boards for the Chicago Innovation Awards and Women's Transportation Seminar Greater Chicago Chapter. In January 2012, Lafleur and Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider were named Women of the Year by the WTS Greater Chicago Chapter.

The Honorable David Koehler, 46th District Senator, Illinois State Senate, Pekin, Illinois

Senator David Koehler has served as State Senator of the 46th District in Illinois since December 2006. He has served on a variety of committees including Local Government (Vice-Chairperson); Appropriations II; Commerce and Economic Development; Transportation. He was born and raised in South Dakota. He received Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971 from Yankton College in South Dakota, and a Masters of Divinity from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Formerly he served as staff member for the National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM), Community organizer and program manager for the Peoria Friendship House, Executive Director of the Peoria Area Labor Management Council (PALM), President for Labor Management Cooperative Health Programs, Inc., and Member of Peoria City Council from 1982 to 1997. He is a current co-owner of the Peoria Bread Company. Senator Koehler is married to Nora Sullivan, has three daughters and one granddaughter.

The Honorable Michael Unes, Illinois State Representative of the 91st District

State Representative Mike Unes is currently serving his first term in the Illinois General Assembly representing the 91st District. Rep. Unes is a dedicated leader focused on an agenda for Fulton, Tazewell and Peoria County families that includes fiscal responsibility, attracting employers back to Illinois, and reforming state government ethics. Representative Unes has a background in computer networking as well as experience serving on East Peoria's city council, where he oversaw accounts and finance and served as mayor pro-tem. He also started a literacy campaign for the Tazewell-Woodford County Head Start program. The 91st District includes all or parts of the communities of East Peoria, Pekin, Canton, Lewistown, Farmington, Cuba, Bartonville, Marquette Heights, Mapleton, Kingston Mines and Creve Coeur. Rep. Unes received his Bachelor's Degree from Bradley University in 1996. Mike, his wife Natalie and their four children live in East Peoria.

The Honorable Jehan Gordon, Illinois State Representative of the 92nd District

State Representative Jehan Gordon is a full-time state legislator serving the 2nd district in Illinois.  She is a lifelong Peoria resident.  Some of Rep. Gordon’s Committee assignments include Access to Federal Funding, Appropriations for Elementary & Secondary Education, Appropriations for Human Services, Health & Healthcare Disparities, Infrastructure, Veterans' Affairs, and Education Reform.  Prior to taking office as State Representative, Gordon served as a member of the Pleasant Hill District 69 School Board, worked at Illinois Central College as a retention coordinator, and was chair of Peoria Promise.  She also previously worked at Bradley University’s Small Business Development Center, helping to provide assistance to local entrepreneurs.  Her other involvements include being a former AmeriCorps VISTA worker; board member of the Friends of People with AIDS; and volunteer for the Junior Achievement of Central Illinois. Rep. Gordon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Ramadan Harb, Transportation Department Manager/Partner, Khatib and Alami , Beirut, Lebanon

Mr. Harb is Khatib and Alami Transportation Department Manager/Partner in the Company’s Headquarter office located in Beirut, Lebanon.  He manages over 150 engineers and technicians.  He has over thirty years of experience with Khatib and Alami in the design and construction supervision related to the fields of Highway and Railway Engineering. He is experienced in the implementation of highway/railway infrastructure projects. His responsibilities included projects design and management, contract administration and construction supervision.  He also has considerable experience in the implementation of works requiring coordination and compatibility between complex infrastructure elements.  His work with Khatib & Alami, gave him vast experience in the quality assurance and quality control of K & A international infrastructure projects. He has successfully managed and directed large-scale infrastructure projects in the Arab Countries and mainly in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Jack Brockway, President, Herrenknecht Tunneling Systems USA, Inc.

Mr. Jack Brockway is President of Herrenknecht Tunneling Systems USA, H+E USA conveyor systems and VMT USA guidance systems.  Jack is responsible for Herrenknecht tunnel-boring-machine and related business in North America where this year approximately 10 Herrenknecht TBMs are or will be in operation. He is a graduate of the University of Washington in mechanical engineering and a registered Professional Engineer in Washington State. He joined the TBM industry in 1973 as a design engineer and has held a variety of positions in engineering, marketing and business management all specific to the supply of tunnel boring machines worldwide. Since joining Herrenknecht 15 years ago, his primary focus has been tunneling projects for North America.

Robert Poole, Director of Transportation Policy, The Reason Foundation

Mr. Robert Poole is Director of Transportation Policy and the Searle Freedom Trust Transportation Fellow at the Reason Foundation. He has advised the U.S. DOT and half a dozen state DOTs on transportation policy. Over the past 20 years, he has helped introduce a number of policy ideas into U.S. transportation, including long-term toll concessions, HOT lanes, and truck-only toll lanes. A Reason policy paper Poole wrote in 1988 directly inspired the first state PPP (P3) law, enacted in California in 1989.  That law led directly to the 91 Express Lanes--the first all-electronic toll road and the first U.S. long-term toll concession project.   Poole received his B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering at MIT. He’s a member of the Transportation Research Board’s Congestion Pricing Committee and its Managed Lanes Committee, and was a member of TRB’s special committee on the long-term viability of fuel taxes for highway funding. In 2007 he was named “Private Sector Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Public-Private Partnerships division of ARTBA.