Jared Schwennesen, ODOT Jared Schwennesen, P.E., was named the Rail Division Manager for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in 2019. Schwennesen began his tenure with ODOT as an Engineer in Training. Since then, he held roles in Bridge Division, Traffic Division, Maintenance in ITS and Fiber Optics, Environmental Programs Division and served as the assistant to the Director of Capital Programs. He also leads the modernization effort, directing the merger with the Office of Mobility and Public Transit and Waterways. Jared earned his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering and his Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Additionally, he gained his professional engineering license in 2012.
Curt Roggow, OTA Lobbyist For over 20 years, Curt Roggow has been involved in Oklahoma's political process developing good relationships while understanding the dynamics of grassroots representation, pro-business issues and political strategy. After graduating from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics, Curt started on his uncharted political adventure knocking doors in his brother's 1990 House of Representatives campaign. After getting involved with political action groups and working on U.S. Congressman Frank Lucas' staff in the mid 1990's, he too realized that he had an ambition for of a higher calling to serve the state of Oklahoma. Curt completed a successful career in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006. Representative Roggow served as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Appropriation and Budget Sub Committee on Natural Resources. He focused on areas of economic development by rewriting the Small Quality Jobs program and promoting value added agriculture incentives. He also dedicated years of service to authoring legislation on behalf of the Child Advocacy Centers of Oklahoma. Charla Sloan is a Transit Director at The KI BOIS Community Action Foundation based in Stigler, Oklahoma. Previously, Charla was a Board Member at Oklahoma Transit Association. Charla began in transit in 1988 as a part-time clerk at KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. By 1996, Charla had earned the position of Transit Director. Since then she has been instrumental in increasing public transportation services to needy residents in eastern Oklahoma. KI BOIS has been able to expand service from a four county to an eleven county area and has directed the statewide “Road to Work, Oklahoma” program. Mrs. Sloan recently worked with former Congressman Brad Carson’s office and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to obtain funding and build a brand new maintenance facility and offices in Stigler, Oklahoma, for the thriving and growing non-profit agency. Mrs. Sloan serves as the Oklahoma delegate for the Community Transportation Association of America’s (CTAA), United We Ride program and still serves on the Oklahoma Transit Association Board. Charla Sloan, OTA Advocacy Co-Chair Rich Sampson, SWTA Executive Director Rich Sampson is the Executive Director of the South West Transit Association (SWTA). He oversees all SWTA programs and activities, including member services, training and events, communications and advocacy, including growing investment in transit at all levels of government and refining regulations and policy impacting transit and mobility providers. Previously, Rich spent more than 17 years in a variety of roles at the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), including most recently serving as its Membership & Communications Director. During his tenure at CTAA, Rich oversaw its many communications platforms – including launch of its bi-weekly Fast Mail e-newsletter, managed member services and benefits programs, participated in development of its legislative and policy agenda, attended meetings with members of Congress, their staffs and along with those at several federal agencies and coordinated CTAA’s annual National Community Transportation Roadeo. Breakout 1 Session OTA Advocacy Priorities and National Grassroots Engagement Monday, May 23rd - 2:45 - 3:45 PM - Room: Boomer Moderator: Andrea Ball, OTA
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