Connecting Transit to Suburban Employment Centers

Bio: Market Development: More than 12 years proven success in working with corporate and civic sectors to develop new niche markets for Metra, the Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority. Work crosses all market segments, including emphasis on reverse commute, and involves significant interaction with Planning departments at Metra and at sister transit agencies, including Pace. Earlier work experiences include more than 10 years in post-secondary education, including serving as Assistant Dean Institutional Advancement for one of the City Colleges of Chicago before joining Metra. In 1998, my work and contributions, particularly community outreach and business development, with City Colleges were recognized via a City of Chicago Council Resolution. Areas of expertise include outreach, promotion, grant writing, communications (both oral and written)and project development and management.

Education: Bachelor of Science, Northwestern University, Evanston IL (graduated with Distinction)

Past Assignments: Association for Commuter Transportation, Annual Conference, Chicago Hyatt Regency, August 2011

Bio: I have served as Executive Director of the TMA of Lake Cook , a nonprofit business association who mission is to improve employees commute to work since its inception in 1989. Our organization represents over 40 major firms and 42,000 employees in suburban Cook and Lake counties including such firms as Allstate Insurance, Astellas, Takeda, Walgreens, Discover Financial, Aon/Hewitt, Underwriters Labs & WW Grainger. The TMA played a major role in the initial planning, funding and implementation of the Shuttle Bug service that started in 1996 and continues today. We currently manage the service currently of shuttle 12 routes (soon to be 13!) in partnership with Pace Suburban Bus and Metra rail. The TMA works pro-actively with elected officials, communities and transportation agencies to provide a voice for the business community for better transportation planning, highway improvements and transit service. I have also worked in local government & regional transportation planning in the Chicago area.

Education: I have a BA from Northern Illinois University in History and Economics and a Master’s in Urban Planning from University of Illinois at Chicago.

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Bio: Kristen Andersen is a Transportation Planning Analyst at Metra Commuter Rail in Chicago. Her work focuses on data and policy analysis in support of the agency's long-term planning initiatives, and providing technical assistance during station area and transportation corridor planning efforts throughout Northeast Illinois.

Education: B.A., History, Auburn University; Master of Community Planning, Auburn University

Bio: In July 1998, Karen joined Planning Services at Pace Suburban Bus as a Service Planner II. The new program called "Lake-Cook Road Shuttle Bugs" was her first major assignment. She has since worked to develop new routes and restructure existing routes across Pace's six-county service area and she was promoted to Supervisor of Service Planning in 2009.

Education: Karen earned her Masters in Urban Planning (MUPP) with a focus on Transportation Planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1998.