What drew you to this position?

Previously I had a similar position as an assistant director of transportation down at the MPO in Kansas City. I had been involved in transportation for a long time and liked the regional aspect of transportation that this agency deals with. Those were a couple of reasons – my background and liking what the organization works on.

Talk about how working the position in Kansas City relates to this.

I was in charge of the long-range transportation plan down there, updating that, working with the various communities, counties, the city and two states (Missouri and Kansas), updating the long-range plan, developing those goals and objectives that are in the plan and seeing how the system operates – across the system.

What do people need to know about the MPO?

The MPO is a nonprofit organization that is an associate of member governments. What we do is, with the federal dollars that are expended on transportation, we help coordinate those expenditures with the member governments to make sure that the processes are followed that need to be followed, and working with those member governments so they can get those transportation projects built.

How challenging is it to take over for Tom Kane?

Obviously big footsteps to fill. Tom had been here a number of years and had done a great job. I had known Tom previously, from when I was in Kansas City. Tom had given my boss there his first job, so it was kind of this weird connection. Having to step in for someone who was already doing a lot of good things in the region, I’m just trying to keep that going and making incremental improvements as well.

How positive have some of the changes been in the last year for regional transportation?

Some of the transit things that are going on are very interesting. The transit hub that DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority) is putting together, we’ve been a partici-pant in that process. And I think it’ll help operations and increase transit service in the region and particularly the downtown area. Passenger rail, we’re having a few funding issues, but I think those are being resolved. We’re very excited about that and we’re involved with the (Iowa Department of Transportation) and the communities to the east to make sure that is still happening.

What issues need to be addressed?

An overall one is just funding. The federal transportation legislation actually has expired that we’ve been operating on with continuing resolutions. While that maintains a certain funding level, it doesn’t really show you what your funding for the next six years is going to be. Typically the bills are for six years in length. Maintenance is always a big issue, striking that balance between construction and maintenance for roadways or for any mode of transportation, capital expenditures versus operational expenditures. So as a region I think we are going to be looking at those kinds of issues. How do you balance the preservation of the system?

What do you do outside work?

I do a lot of volunteer work. I’m involved with the Kiwanis Club in Ankeny, and that does a lot of work both in Ankeny and in other parts of the region as well, doing projects that help children in various ways. I’m a board member for the Cyclone Gridiron Club. I’m a big sports person. That’s been fun. (Iowa State football coach) Paul Rhoads was a couple years ahead of me in high school. That’s been kind of a fun tie when he came back to the program. I play golf very badly. I enjoy traveling with my wife, anywhere warm.