Executive Leadership Team

Tamra J. Ward

Tamra J. Ward is one of three principals of Taloma Partners, a full-service public affairs firm in Denver, Colorado that offers senior-level counsel to clients in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

With 30 years of experience in local, state and federal government affairs, issue management, communications and operational leadership and oversight, Tamra’s approach in both business and civic engagement include her ability to quickly assess situations and stakeholders; clearly define steps to meet a vision or goals; building and maintaining high-performing teams and coalitions; a successful track record in raising financial resources, and strong relationships in Colorado’s government, business and nonprofit communities.

Prior to co-founding Taloma, Tamra served as the Chief External Relations Officer for Denver Zoo, the largest cultural and scientific guest attraction in Colorado. In this executive-level role she was responsible for visioning, managing and executing strategic local, state and federal government relations efforts, ballot issue and bond campaign engagement, community outreach and action, marketing, communications and public relations for the iconic and beloved 120-year-old organization.

Tamra also served as the President and CEO of Colorado Concern, a business advocacy association of more than 115 chief executives. While in this role she grew membership revenue by 25 percent, strengthened the organization’s organizational and governance culture, and successfully spearheaded a coalition focused on strengthening the fiscal transparency of the state’s ballot issue process with the passage of landmark legislation.

Before joining Colorado Concern, Tamra was the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, where she was responsible for the development and execution of a government relations and political strategy that met the needs of the organization’s 3,000 member businesses, as well as executing an organization-wide internal and external communications plan. Ward is also known for her work as the business community lead on statewide ballot measures. Since 2005 she led efforts to raise $28 million for successful campaigns to support or defeat measures viewed as helpful or harmful to Colorado’s economic climate.

A graduate of Baylor University, Tamra’s career began on Capitol Hill, where she served as Assistant Press Secretary for Sen. Alan Simpson, Press Secretary for Rep. Craig Thomas and Deputy Chief of Staff following Thomas’ election to the Senate. Prior to moving to Denver, the Wyoming native served as the Vice President of Marketing and Development for Columbia Hospital for Women, a private, not-for-profit hospital in Washington, D.C.

Tamra is a graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Denver Program, and was named by the Denver Business Journal as one of Denver’s “40 Under 40”—an annual list of Denver’s up and coming business leaders. She currently serves as the Chair of the History Colorado Board of Directors, and as a trustee of Mile High United Way and ARC Thrift Stores. She has been named a “Woman of Distinction” by the Mile High Chapter of the Girl Scouts, and one of the state’s “Top 25 Most Powerful Women” by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

Danielle Smith, PE

Danielle Smith, PE is the Central Region and West Region Director for Triunity, Inc. She has seasoned professional experience in public transportation project delivery, encompassing the project and program management and the design of highway, light rail and traffic-related projects. Danielle has worked and served in the Colorado Transportation Industry for over 26 years, and was intimately involved in the nationally recognized RTD multi-modal project T-REX and the RTD FasTracks project. Her experience includes program management, stakeholder coordination, highway and light rail design, utility coordination, project controls, cost estimating, and project coordination.

Danielle is a competent and skilled leader that will enhance any project or team at a company. She has great communication and the ability to lead teams to implement projects and bring them to completion with high satisfaction. She also has been the Discipline leads of office departments where she manages the day to day activities and staff utilization on projects.  Danielle also serves on the WTS International Board as the Secretary, impacting the growth and advancement of Transportation at a national level.

Jennifer Wood, P.E.

Jen Wood is the Business Development Director for Parsons’ Mountain/Desert Area. She has over 25 years of experience in the transportation industry including expertise in bridge design, alternative project delivery, and multimodal solutions. Jen has supported numerous industry organizations in Colorado including WTS (Co-Chair for the Professional Development Committee and At-Large Board Member) and ACEC (At-Large Board Member). As it relates to transportation, Jen has a solid understanding of local and national policy, evolving applications of technology, and equitable access. She is passionate about transportation and infrastructure improvements that help our seniors age in place, get our children to school safely, and provide affordable access to jobs.

Jeff Kullman

Jeff Kullman, P.E. is a seasoned leader with a demonstrated history working within both the public and private sector of the transportation infrastructure industry – always focused on improving Colorado’s quality of life. Through his 40 years of tenure, he has been engaged in transportation policy and finance and has a comprehensive understanding of the details of political and agency processes, and the significant transportation challenges confronting Colorado. Jeff is currently working for Kullman Engineering Group providing expertise and specialized services to select clients in the industry. He has been a member of Move Colorado since 2008 and served as its President from 2011-2017.  Jeff also currently serves on the DRCOG Regional Transportation Committee, the CU Denver Engineering Leadership Council and is a member of both WTS and ITE.  A 4^th generation Colorado native, Jeff received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University.

Mary Catherine Carroll

Kara Swanson

Kara Swanson has 23 years of experience as an environmental professional and currently serves as a senior environmental manager for Kiewit. She has diverse experience, ranging from managing planning and environmental studies to conducting oversight of environmental compliance for large design-build projects. Kara brings a unique perspective to the transportation industry from her experience on transit and highway projects across the country and US territories. She served as a City Councilwoman for the City of Edgewater for four years, is currently on the Edgewater Redevelopment Authority, and serves as a Metro Director for the Colorado Chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies. Kara has a BS in Environmental Science from Iowa State University and an MS in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Shawn Albert PE, DBIA

Shawn Albert has over 25 years of civil engineering experience involving program and construction management, engineering design, project controls, and structural inspection and testing. He has worked on a variety of projects throughout the United States, including airports, highways, and transit facilities. Mr. Albert’s projects have ranged from small residential structural designs to multi-billion dollar transit corridors.

His projects have received a multitude of awards including a National Design-Build Award (TREX), a Project of the Year award from the Project Management Institute (Prairie Waters Project), a Project of the Year award from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (US 36 Project), and a Best Project Award from ENR (Central 70 Project).

Mr. Albert’s experience in both the design and construction fields allows him to remain flexible to needs as projects transition from the planning phase through construction. He has experience with a variety of project delivery methods, including design-build and public-private-partnerships. Mr. Albert has excellent communication and writing skills, with experience preparing specifications, procurement documents, and federal reports. He has experience successfully working with local, state, and federal government agencies on complex projects. Mr. Albert has proven project management skills, as his projects have been delivered on-time and on-budget.

Brendan Carroll

Randy Grauberger

Randy Grauberger is a Senior Rail Consultant with Quandel Consultants.  Randy joined Quandel in March of 2021 after completing his 2-year assignment as Project Director for Colorado’s Southwest Chief and Front Range Passenger Rail Commission. Prior to joining the Rail Commission in 2019, Randy served as Senior Project Manager for WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff for 14 years.  Randy led several major rail studies, both passenger and freight for numerous clients.  This work included State Rail Plan and Rail Passenger Service Development planning. Prior to this work in the private sector Randy retired from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) after more than 28 years serving as Branch Manager in the Planning Division and leading CDOT’s Rail Programs.

Randy and his wife Cally enjoy spending time with their 3 grandchildren and playing as much golf as possible!

Alan R. Eckman, PE, PTOE, MBA

Alan Eckman is Senior Vice President of Strategy & Growth with Orion Group Holdings and lives in Golden with his wife Amanda of 23 years and two children.   He brings over 25 years of experience in engineering and construction, business strategy and leadership.

Alan is a 5^th generation Colorado native with continuing ties to farming and ranching, has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from CSU, an MBA from UC-Denver, and Executive Leadership Certificate from UCLA.  He has been involved in several organizations including the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership program and EDC Board of Governors, ARTBA leadership foundation, Downtown Denver Partnership, ITE, WTS, and ACEC.

Carla Romero Perez

Carla Romero Perez is a Senior Strategic Consultant with HDR and has more than 30 years of experience in executive management and advisory services specializing in transportation policy, finance, administration, governmental affairs, communications and program development. Ms. Perez gained her experience in both the public and private sector having served as Transportation Policy Advisor to Governor Ritter, Assistant General Manager for Administration at RTD, and Policy Director for CDOT. Ms. Perez has also provided consulting services to various corporate clients including JP Morgan, George K. Baum and various engineering firms. Carla recently served as project manager, leading the governance and policy efforts to advance the development of passenger rail along the Front Range, from Fort Collins to Pueblo, and serves as Past-President of the Move Colorado Board of Directors, COMTO Colorado Board of Directors, and the WTS Executive Advisory Committee.

Ms. Perez is a Denver native, has a B.A. from Colorado State University, her M.P.M. from University of Maryland College Park, with certificates in Public Policy from Harvard University, the Rand Corporation and S.U.N.Y. Stoney Brook.

Ann Rajewski

Ann Rajewski, Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA), has played a pivotal role in propelling the organization’s mission forward for 17 years. Her dynamic leadership has helped shape CASTA into a powerful advocate for transit professionals and organizations at both state and federal levels and has elevated the importance of transit services across Colorado’s diverse rural, resort, and urban landscapes.

With a background in Nonprofit Management, Ann brought valuable expertise to CASTA and has since been instrumental in navigating the association through significant milestones. She has steered CASTA and its member organizations through the end and re-establishment of earmarks, resolved critical technical issues through legislative bills, ensured consistent state funding for transit, pioneered innovative transit programs, and advanced the standard and availability of excellent training and technical resources to transit professions in Colorado.

Ann currently serves on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Transit and Rail Advisory Committee (TRAC), the CDOT Efficiency & Accountability Committee, and is a member of the Governing Board of the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology (SCITT).