How did you begin working at TRA? Who was your first client?

I was a graduate student at Penn, taking a course on public transportation systems and technology. I found that the nuts and bolts of public transportation – how people and systems come together to make these agencies run safely every day – aligned my professional and technical interests with my passion for transportation. I was fortunate to attend an event hosted by the department, where TRA’s own Chris Wallgren was one of the presenters. The rest is history!

One of my first clients was the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), part of a larger Canadian transit security initiative to develop Threat and Vulnerability Assessments for agencies across the country. TRA helped the TTC identify its critical assets and the accompanying security risks and vulnerabilities to help prioritize spending limited resources on the kinds of security countermeasures that would be most effective for the unique physical and operational characteristics of the agency. It was a great introduction to our project work, and our creative and flexible approaches to meeting client needs.

What do you like most about your job?

I love our holistic, creative, and flexible approaches to meeting client needs. We’re big enough to bring the necessary resources and expertise to even the most challenging projects, but small enough so that we retain vital flexibility and nimbleness in serving our clients. We tailor all of our work to our client’s project, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. I also appreciate the great deal of variety in the type of work we’re doing, with whom we’re working, and where it’s taking place. One week could be spent in the office collaborating with team members, another week could be spent in the field – everything from inspecting infrastructure or systems, interviewing front-line employees, or leading workshops on safety management. TRA is a challenging and exciting place to work!

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I dabble a little in voiceover work on the side. I’ve done a few ads and even narrated a virtual-reality guided-relaxation. That’s my voice you hear on TRA’s YouTube video series about Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

I love being a husband and dad, first and foremost! I have an amazing wife and two wonderful kids. We live in South Philadelphia and try to take advantage of all the great amenities we have within walking distance or a short subway ride away. We’re members of the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and we also love hiking through the Wissahickon Valley section of Fairmount Park.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Someday I’d love to visit South America, especially Argentina.