The mission of the Leadership Academy Alumni Association is to foster meaningful and lifelong connections through the ongoing advancement of leaders, exchange of ideas, and mobility solutions to link communities.
Alumni Event
2022 Distinguished Leadership Academy Alum of the Year
The Leadership Alumni Association (LAAA) is pleased to accept nominations for the 2021 IBTTA Distinguished Leadership Academy Alum of the Year Award. This award recognizes a leader that has demonstrated and made significant commitments to tolling and the transportation industry after graduating from the IBTTA Leadership Academy. Nominees for the IBTTA Distinguished Leadership Academy Alum of the Year should mirror IBTTA's focus on advancing leaders in the industry as well as serve to inspire others while building relationships. This outstanding Alum will embody emerging mindsets and the evolution of transportation in their respective organization or agency, along with demonstrating an intense commitment to providing excellent service to the tolling industry and maintaining perseverance in the face of adversity.
Purpose
The 2022 Distinguished Leadership Academy Alum of the Year will honor an Academy graduate who has made significant contributions to the transportation/tolling industry in a way that mirrors the Association’s focus on advancing transportation by attracting and developing talent with a keen recognition of the benefits of having a diverse and inclusive leadership and membership.
The 2022 Distinguished Leadership Academy Alum of the Year will honor an Academy graduate who has made significant contributions to the transportation/tolling industry in a way that mirrors the Association’s focus on advancing transportation by attracting and developing talent with a keen recognition of the benefits of having a diverse and inclusive leadership and membership.
This outstanding Alum will have personal and professional priorities that exemplify overall leadership within a tolling agency, forging genuine human connections within and across diverse teams and people, and mentor and cultivate employees, and creating a culture of respect that fosters an atmosphere conducive to advancement and enthusiasm for the tolling industry. This outstanding Alum will embody emerging mindsets and the evolution of transportation in their respective organization or agency, along with demonstrating an intense commitment to providing excellent service to the tolling industry and maintaining perseverance in the face of adversity.
This distinguished Alum should inspire and encourage personal and professional development in others; build strong relationships that support a high level of trust and credibility; promote the transfer of knowledge and influence from person to person, and recognize and respond to different learning preferences while cultivating other’s abilities and talents.
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Nomination Criteria
The Leadership Academy Alum Award is open to all IBTTA Leadership Academy graduates. Nominations may be submitted by an individual familiar with the work of a nominee. Self-nominations are also accepted. Previous winners are not eligible.
Nomination Criteria
The Leadership Academy Alum Award is open to all IBTTA Leadership Academy graduates. Nominations may be submitted by an individual familiar with the work of a nominee. Self-nominations are also accepted. To be considered for the award, a nominee must meet the following criteria:
- The nominee must be a graduate of the IBTTA Leadership Academy.
- The nominee must have demonstrated a continuing interest in and support of IBTTA and the Leadership Academy through the contribution of time, talent, or resources.
- The nominee must have contributed to the betterment of the bridge, tunnel, and tolling industry.
- The nominee should have demonstrated, through personal, professional and/or organizational achievement, initiatives outlined by IBTTA President during his term.
- During the current year, the Nominee must have served as a Leadership Academy mentor or must have guided and assisted others during participation in IBTTA committees, conferences, or activities.
- The nominee must be a current member of IBTTA.
- Previous winners are not eligible.
Selection Methodology:
- Nominations will be submitted and distributed to the LAAA Awards selection committees. Only the nomination forms will be reviewed by the committee and numbered. The LAAA Awards committee will select three finalists and from there, will make the selection, based on numerical scoring.
- All nominees will be considered but only will be notified if they are selected for the award.
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2021 Alum of the Year
Samuel Johnson, CEO, Transportation Corridor Agencies
The first Distinguished Leadership Academy Alum of the Year was awarded to Samuel Johnson, CEO of the Transportation Corridor Agencies dubbed IBTTA's 2020 "Wartime President". The award ceremony took place during the LAAA session on Sunday, October 10, 2021, during the 89th Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Congratulations Samuel - well deserved!
(Pictured L to R: Samuel Johnson (2012), Alum of the Year and Myneca Ojo (2018))
Samuel Johnson serves as CEO for the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) -- two joint powers authorities formed by the California legislature in 1986 to plan, finance, construct and operate Orange County’s public toll road system.
Prior to joining TCA in 2015 as Chief Toll Operations Officer, Johnson spent 12 years with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) overseeing countywide efforts to implement innovative transportation solutions and serving as part of the executive team responsible for the region’s tolling enterprise, including the State Route 125 toll road and the I-15 Express Lanes, the nation’s first dynamically priced toll facility.
Johnson has a rounded perspective for tolling since he is an accountant and has worked in transportation, transit, and advanced technology for nearly two decades.
He served as IBTTA President in 2020. During his presidency, Johnson was instrumental in establishing the Leadership Academy Alumni Association and the Toll Immersion Program, partnering platinum sponsors with agencies for internships. He also founded the Task Force on Diversity, Social, and Racial Inclusion to implement practices and programs that contribute to racial and social justice within IBTTA and beyond. Details of Samuel's extraordinary year are captured in the 2020 IBTTA Annual Report.
Before joining IBTTA’s Executive Committee, Johnson participated in the Finance, Membership, and Interoperability Governance committees and contributed to the IBTTA TollMiner™ Working Group.
A past president of the statewide California Toll Operators Committee (CTOC), Johnson earned a bachelor’s of science degree in business management with an emphasis in accounting from San Diego State University.
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LAAA Officers (2022-2023)
The LAAA Officers serve a two-year term.
- Co-Chair - Stephanie Blanco Capital Projects Manager (Toll), Riverside County Transportation Commission
- Co-Chair - Alan Williamson Senior Project Manager - Program Management, HNTB Corporation
- Vice-Chair, Programs/PAPC Chair - Mike Davis, VP, Tolls and Technology Service Group Leader, RS&H
- Vice-Chair – Membership/ Sponsorship - Carlos Campo, Assistant Vice President, WSP, USA
- Treasurer - Mark Hicks, Senior Toll Technology Specialist, RS&H
- Secretary - Tyler Milligan, Managing Partner, Milligan Partners LLC
- Ambassador - Lauren Hakos, Training and Development Manager, Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission
- Ambassador - Mary Sallach, Director of Strategic Initiatives, State Road & Tollway Authority
