Board of Directors

Tom Coogan

Chair

Mr. Coogan is the Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning for RouteMatch Software. He has worked in the transportation management industry for nearly 25 years planning, designing and implementing large complex public, private and human service transportation systems. Over the last 6 years Mr. Coogan has focused on mobility management initiatives transportation coordination. He is currently providing executive oversight in the deployment of two Federally Funded Mobility Services for All Americans (MSAA) Call Centers and the Statewide ITS deployment for the State of Idaho. Mr. Coogan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and currently serves as the Chair for the Local Transportation Coordination Council and also serves as a member of the Health & Human Service Advisory Board in Broomfield, CO.

Matthew Helfant

Vice Chair

Matthew Helfant is the Transit Mobility Program Manager for Douglas County. In this position, Matthew is responsible for working with community stakeholders including municipal jurisdictions and transportation providers to establish a Douglas County Local Coordinating Council (LCC). Matthew has also successfully applied for FTA grant funding to enhance and coordinate existing services in the County. Matthew has an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from the University of Central Florida, a master's degree in Political Science from Florida State University, and a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida. He has worked as a land use planner for a private firm in Orlando, Florida and most recently oversaw planning and operations for Central Maryland Regional Transit. In that role he also oversaw the development of a transportation information clearinghouse project for the Baltimore metro region. Prior to his career in planning, Matthew worked in politics. This included work in the legislative and campaign arenas.

Rich Burns

Secretary

Rich moved from Chicago to Frisco, Colorado in 1990 and worked for the Summit Stage as the manager for 10 years. During that time, he saw the ridership increase and oversaw the building of a new bus storage facility and transit center. He moved to Boulder in 2001 and began working with Special Transit as the Operations Manager. Currently, he is the Director of Operations and oversees the Special Transit demand response service, which provides transportation for seniors, people with disabilities, and low income with service primarily in Boulder County. He also oversees services that are under contract with RTD, including the HOP—Boulder downtown fixed route, Call-n-Ride public demand response service in 8 locations, and access-a-Ride. Special Transit operates from two facilities—the main facility in Boulder and a rented Denver facility. Rich is a board member of The Climb, committee member of the DRMAC Database/Call Center Committee, member of CASTA. He is also a Community Transportation Association of America-certified transit manager. Rich's transportation coordination successes include the Stakeholder Longmont 1st and Main project, Longmont Special Transit/RTD/call-n-Ride coordination project, and serving on the RouteMatch mobility coordination group. Rich is a member of the American Legion and a Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association member.

Cindy Pieropan

Treasurer

Cindy Pieropan is the Mobility Manager for Boulder County. Current projects include working with human service agencies and transportation providers to form a Local Coordinating Council for Boulder County and use of JARC funds to support low income employment opportunities in partnership with area non-profits. Cindy also works with human service agencies to help them understand how to spend their transportation funds more efficiently. With a bachelor's degree in political science and economics, Cindy has a background in affordable housing, human services and land use planning. She was a housing planner for the City of Boulder, working with both private sector and non-profit developers to provide affordable housing for a variety of populations. Cindy is also a therapeutic riding instructor for persons with disabilities.

Hank Braaksma

Immediate Past Chair

Hank Braaksma has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of specialized transportation service provision. He is the Manager of Transportation Services for the Seniors' Resource Center in Denver, directing a $1.8 million multiple county, door-to-door, specialized transportation and brokering service. Hank is an alumnus of the Leadership Jefferson County Program. He had also served on the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) Board for six years, elected Board President in 2001. In 2008, he was reelected to the CASTA Board. SRC Transportation Services was recognized by the Beverly Foundation for Innovations in Senior Transportation in 2005.

Stephanie Cline

Stephanie has worked at the Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (DDRC) since 1987 in various capacities. DDRC is the Community Centered Board for developmental disabilities services responsible for Summit, Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Jefferson counties. Stephanie is currently a Resource Coordination Team Leader and she supervises ten Resource Coordinators to ensure excellent case management services for approximately 500 adults with developmental disabilities. Previously she held the positions of Residential Program Manager and Program Specialist at DDRC. Through her positions at DDRC, Stephanie has acquired a broad knowledge base of community resources and governmental assistance programs.

Linda Haley

Linda Haley is the Housing, Community Development, and Senior Resources Division Manager for Arapahoe County. She currently manages the Older American's Act and State Funding for Seniors transportation program for Arapahoe County. Linda manages the Homemaker Program, Chore Services Program, and County Veterans Service Office in addition to several smaller programs for seniors. Linda also manages the Housing and Community Development Programs for Arapahoe County. Linda's background involves working in several positions with transportation challenged clientele including the Central Maine Area Agency on Aging, Nursing Home Social Services Director, Meals on Wheels and the Foster Grandparent Program.

Travis Menefee

Travis Menefee has over 15 years of management experience and has been in the transportation industry with Colorado Cab since 2005. Travis serves on the Driver Committee as well as the Driver Review Board for Denver Yellow Cab. In addition he manages both the Mobility Plus program and the Communications Department servicing the Denver Metro and Boulder areas for on demand taxi service. Travis was the recipient of the Manager of the Year award for Colorado Cab in 2006.

Brad Calvert

Ex Officio Board Member

Brad Calvert is a Senior Planner with DRCOG. In addition to supporting efforts to develop and implement Metro Vision, he also serves as a liaison between DRCOG's planning staff and the Area Agency on Aging (AAA). He has fourteen years of professional planning experience with a variety of organizations including regional planning agencies, environmental non-profits, a local government and a university. Brad has a Masters degree in city planning from Georgia Tech.