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© Feonix - Mobility Rising 2025
Charnelle owns and leads a multidisciplinary urban planning firm addressing complex planning and infrastructure challenges for clients nation-wide. She has worked with CHPlanning since 1998 after working for 15 years in municipal planning, infrastructure, and management consulting.
Karina Ricks is a Partner at Cityfi where she leverages her international, city, federal and private sector experience to bring together government, community and companies in collaborations that advance core values of equity, safety, climate preservation and economic growth. Her previous roles include serving as Associate Administrator for Innovation, Research and Demonstration at the Federal Transit Administration of USDOT; founding Director of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure; Director of Transportation Planning for Washington, DC; and Office Director and Sector Leader for Nelson\Nygaard Associates.
John is a strategy consultant in the intelligent transportation sector. Mr. Peracchio also serves as a senior advisor to the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification and leads the council’s workgroup on electrification. Mr. Peracchio is an active member of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and serves on its Standing Advisory Committees on Smart Infrastructure and Sustainability and Resiliency. He is also active with the International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association serving on its Emerging Technologies Committee and chairing the electric vehicles and associated infrastructure subcommittee.
Peter Appel has more than 30 years of leadership and consulting experience in transportation across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors . He served as the Administrator of the US Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, where he led major safety management initiatives along with research and development on technologies to advance transportation safety, sustainability, and efficiency.
Colleen leads the social innovation mobility team, which is responsible for strategic partnerships and investments that improve the quality of life in underserved communities. Her team has implemented innovation transportation programs across North Texas and the nation to improve access to jobs, basic needs, and education. She also serves on the Collin County Leadership Council for Texas Health Resources.
Crissy is the Head of Public Policy and Strategy with Optibus and is a member of APTA’s Board of Directors. As a 15-year transportation industry veteran, she builds coalitions to ensure that the public good is preserved through policies that improve equity.
She also currently serves on APTA’s Technology Standards Policy and Planning committee.
Komal brings over a decade experience working at the intersection of mobility, technology, and cities. She currently holds the position of Director of Mobility at Walker-Miller Energy Services where she works to advance the deployment of equitable clean mobility and support development of a diverse workforce in this growing space. She has worked extensively on supporting growth of innovative mobility technology companies through her endeavors like launching new programs, building tools, and advancing strategic public-private partnerships to further deployment of technology in the public realm.
A fierce community advocate and activator, Ashley is currently the West Dallas Community Center Manager where she works with many community based organizations to provide a diverse portfolio of programs and services that meet the stated needs of local residents. Ashley brings a wealth of expertise as the former Operations Manager for the Baylor Scott & White – Health and Wellness Center at Juanita J Craft Recreation Center, and Dallas Director of the Texas A&M Institute for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation. Ashley is the author of Texas Department of Health and Human Services certified Community Health Worker Instructor curriculum for the Baylor Scott & White Community Health Worker Training Center. Additionally, she facilitated the development and authored the collaborative action plan Charting The Course Action Plan providing a pathway for Dallas to eliminate childhood obesity in the community.
Valerie Lefler is the Founder and Executive Director of Feonix – Mobility Rising, an organization at the forefront of addressing transportation equity and accessibility in communities across the United States. Since establishing Feonix in 2018, Valerie has led the organization to launch impactful programs in ten states, collaborating with renowned entities like the National Institutes of Health, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, Easterseals, Ford Philanthropy, AARP Office of Driver Safety, Toyota North America, Centene Corporation, and the Michigan Department of Transportation. These partnerships and programs have solidified Feonix’s reputation as a trailblazer in developing mobility solutions that bridge gaps for individuals facing transportation barriers.
Valerie’s achievements have garnered national recognition. Smithsonian Magazine hailed her as one of the “Top 9 Innovators to Watch,” and her work has been featured in leading outlets such as The New York Times, NPR, and the Christian Science Monitor. Through Feonix, she has not only introduced innovative mobility programs but also advocated for systemic changes in transportation policy and planning, ensuring inclusivity and sustainability are central to the conversation.
Valerie’s journey began with a strong academic foundation. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with distinction from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, focusing on International Economics through studying abroad at the University of Oxford. She furthered her expertise with a Master of Public Administration with honors from the University of Nebraska—Omaha, specializing in Public Management
Before founding Feonix, Valerie held prominent leadership roles in organizations driving innovation and public service. As President and CEO of Liberty Mobility Now, Inc., she pioneered solutions for rural transportation challenges, and at Integrated Global Dimensions LLC, she led strategic initiatives in intelligent transportation systems, civil rights, national defense, and research technical assistance. Earlier in her career, Valerie served as the Research Program Coordinator at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Mid-America Transportation Center, where she facilitated groundbreaking research in freight transportation and STEM education.
In addition to her leadership roles, Valerie is a contributor to thought leadership in transportation. She co-authored a chapter in Empowering the New Mobility Workforce: Educating, Training, and Inspiring Future Transportation Professionals and contributed to the National Academies of Sciences report on the intersection of healthcare and transportation. Valerie also lent her expertise to Driving the Future: A Vision for Electric, Connected, and Autonomous Mobility (SAE International), exploring advancements shaping the future of mobility.
Valerie’s industry influence extends to her roles on national panels and committees, such as the ITS America Automated Vehicles Standing Committee and the TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program, where she has worked on advancing racial and social equity in transportation.
At the heart of Valerie’s leadership is a commitment to equity, innovation, and community impact. Her work ensures that transportation remains a lifeline for all, connecting individuals to essential services and opportunities. Valerie Lefler’s vision continues to inspire change, setting a standard for mobility solutions that prioritize inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability.
Joe leads the integration of mobility solutions, volunteer engagement, and social impact for Ford Philanthropy. His team is tasked with layering mobility solutions and employee volunteer activation across the Ford Motor Company’s global enterprise in partnership with community. His experience includes leadership roles in business strategy, partnerships, autonomous vehicle operations, engineering, design, and product launch.
Nicole is currently the Assistant General Manager at Transdev, which serves the Greater Hartford Transit District (GHTD). Prior to that, Nicole worked at Palm Tran in Palm Beach County, Florida as the Disability Accessibility Specialist. During her time at Palm Tran, Nicole created and implemented ADA sensitivity training and also worked with local and state legislatures to advocate for continuous funding for the State Transportation Disadvantaged Program, as well as Paratransit. In addition, Nicole has worked in transportation in Maryland for over 20 years. She started as a member on the Citizens Advisory Committee for Accessible Transportation with the Maryland Transit Administration, then became the chair. She also assisted with the creation and chair of the Consumers for Accessible Rides Service with Disability Rights Maryland.
Ron is an Associate at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, and advises municipalities and counties on a variety of matters related to public finance, real estate, planning, zoning, contracts, ordinances, regulations and Freedom of Information Act. He provides advice and counsel on state and federal grant programs, including the Community Development Block Grant and the Home Investment Partnerships Program. Ron also works with businesses, religious and nonprofit organizations on corporate governance, compliance issues and real estate matters including land use and zoning planning.
Dr. Sener’s research focus examines the intersection of social and behavioral sciences and brings together the elements of mobility, safety, equity, health, and technology. She has led various interdisciplinary and data-driven studies examining individuals’ decisions and activity-travel patterns, the changing nature of transportation choices, and the related impact on and/or connection to wellbeing, as well as sustainable and equitable mobility. Ipek serves in the graduate committee faculty of Texas A&M University and is a faculty affiliate at the Texas A&M Center for Population Health and Aging. Dr. Sener is also on the board of directors of the International Professional Association for Transport and Health. She is deeply involved with TRB, serves as a handling editor for the Transportation Research Record journal, and is an active member of several TRB committees.
Ipek currently serves as the Chair of the TRB’s Transportation and Public Health Committee.
