Investing in Future Transportation Leaders: IBTTA Foundation Welcomes the 2026 Leadership Academy Class

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Investing in Future Transportation Leaders: IBTTA Foundation Welcomes the 2026 Leadership Academy Class

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 12, 2026) – The IBTTA Foundation is proud to announce the 2026 class of the IBTTA Leadership Academy, welcoming a new cohort of 40 emerging leaders from across the global tolling and transportation industry. The class will convene in Washington, D.C., February 8-13, 2026, for the program’s intensive, weeklong executive development experience.

A full list of the 2026 Leadership Academy class is available here.

Since its launch in 2008, the IBTTA Leadership Academy has served as the industry’s premier leadership development program for mid- to senior-level professionals in the public and private sectors. The curriculum focuses on strategic thinking, policy and finance, communications, innovation, and leadership—equipping participants with the tools and networks needed to lead in a rapidly evolving transportation environment.

“The Leadership Academy is where investment becomes impact and impact becomes influence,” said Joi Taylor Dean, IBTTA president and CEO of the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “This class will help drive what’s next for tolling and mobility by bringing fresh thinking, bold leadership, and a commitment to shaping the future of user-based transportation.”

Distinguished Guest Speakers

The 2026 Leadership Academy will feature expert faculty and guest speakers from across the tolling, infrastructure, policy, and technology communities, including:

• Anna Bonet, Elizabeth River Crossing, an Abertis Company
• Mark Compton, PMP, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
• Joi Taylor Dean, Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Bruce Gartner, Maryland Transportation Authority
• Wayne Reed, PMP, AtkinsRéalis
• Jim Wilson, TransCore
• Catherine (Cathy) Sheridan, P.E., MTA Bridges and Tunnels
• Ferzan Ahmed, P.E., Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission
• Mike Shay, Illinois Tollway
• Marshall Herman, Virginia Department of Transportation
• Patricia (Trish) Hendren, Ph.D., The Eastern Transportation Coalition
• Additional speakers to be announced.

Participants will engage in interactive sessions, case studies, and peer-to-peer discussions designed to strengthen leadership capabilities and foster lasting professional connections. 

Meeting the Moment: Funding, Workforce, and the Future of Tolling

As governments around the world prepare the next generation of surface transportation investment programs—including the upcoming U.S. surface transportation reauthorization—the tolling and roadway community is confronting a sobering reality: infrastructure needs far exceed available funding, and even today’s historic investment levels leave massive long-term gaps. With the purchasing power of traditional fuel taxes continuing to erode, user-based solutions such as tolling, road usage charges and dynamic pricing are increasingly essential to sustain, modernize and expand critical roadway networks. Yet agencies face a parallel crisis—an aging workforce, persistent recruitment and retention challenges, and rapidly shifting skill requirements driven by automation and cashless tolling—leaving too few trained professionals to deliver, operate and maintain the systems the traveling public depends on worldwide.

More than 500 professionals have completed the IBTTA Leadership Academy since 2008 and now comprise the Leadership Academy Alumni Association (LAAA). This global network provides ongoing mentorship, collaboration, and professional development opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom.

IBTTA Foundation: Investing in the Future

The IBTTA Foundation, the charitable arm of IBTTA, supports the Leadership Academy, the LAAA, community service initiatives at IBTTA meetings, and a robust scholarship program for students pursuing transportation-related degrees.

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About IBTTA and the IBTTA Foundation

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is the global association for toll facility owners, operators, and businesses, dedicated to advancing transportation solutions through advocacy, education, and collaboration. Founded in 1932, IBTTA promotes innovation and improved transportation systems worldwide.

The IBTTA Foundation, the charitable arm of IBTTA, supports the Leadership Academy, the LAAA, community service initiatives at IBTTA meetings, and a robust scholarship program for students pursuing transportation-related degrees. Contributions to the IBTTA Foundation may be tax-deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

For more information, visit www.ibtta.org and www.ibtta.org/foundation.