Program Manager Public Relations

Erica Interrante Washington, D.C., Chicago, IL

***************@*****.***, 773-***-****

Objective

Seeking a position as a Research and Analysis Specialist that would best utilize skills and knowledge gained through related experience and education.

Educational Background

Master of Arts in Urban Planning & Transportation, 3.57 GPA UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO – Chicago, IL

Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations

MOUNT MARY COLLEGE – Milwaukee, WI

Bachelor of Arts in Education

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY – Chicago, IL

Professional Experience

TOP DRIVER 10/2024 - current

Driving Instructor Chicago, IL

Teach driving classes and individual lessons to high school students and adults. ROSE DUCATORS 04/2023 – 12/2024

Substitute Teacher Chicago, IL

Instructed students, K-8th grade.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 10/2007 − 12/2019

Program Manager Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC Wrote and reviewed paper studies on transportation, economics, and the environment. Developed scopes of work and project estimates for future contracts for Office of Policy and Public Affairs. Worked with contractors to complete project milestones. Prepared presentations and research briefings for leadership, as well as conferences and meetings, on topics including youth and travel, technology and travel, climate change, and highway history, including Contributions and Crossroads: Our National Road System’s Impact on the U.S. Economy and Way of Life (1916-2016).

• Coordinated collaborative, productive discussions with working groups on upcoming research and research needs; produced final reports for Executive Order on Broadband.

• Furthered the mission of agency and National Highway System (NHS) through daily activities, publication of research, and participation in special events.

• Served as program manager of more than 20 studies; managed and contributed to the following studies and initiatives: 1. Next Generation Travel Project; 2. GPS Based Trip Characteristic Data and Analysis to Support Livability in Transportation, Phase I and II; 3. Geographic Variations in Travel Project; 4. Projecting Trends in Personal Travel; 5. Technology and Transportation Choice; 6. The Sharing Economy, Social Equity and Access to Transportation; 7. Vehicle Manufacturing Trends; 8. Future Uses of Highway Rights of Way; 9. CAFÉ Standards and Their Effect on the Highway Trust Fund, Broadband Deployment

Transportation Specialist Transportation Research Board (TRB), National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC

Prepared documents for the TRB’s Special Task Force on Climate Change and Energy. Co-facilitated meetings, assisted in developing committee’s research agenda, wrote and distributed surveys, took notes and prepared written materials for a number of programs, including State Planning & Research Funding and Transportation Pooled Fund Program. Wrote and edited conference proceedings for International Performance Measurement Conference.

• Networked and engaged in productive dialogue with experts and leaders in transportation, housing, and energy sector.

• Prepared analysis of survey results of 2008 TRB Annual Meeting which was reviewed at annual Technical Advisory Council Meeting.

• Contributed significantly to the following: Transportation Pricing/Congestion Pricing Committee, Freight and Data Traffic Committees, National Parks Committee, and International Committees Transportation Specialist/Community Planner Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center, McLean, VA Interviewed experts, collected information from labs about innovative technologies in development, presented materials to leadership.

• Through adept writing and editing, developed one-page summaries on engineering, including Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil, Adaptive Control Systems (ACS), Diverging Diamond Interchange, Cable Median Barriers, and Low-Cost Rural Safety Improvements. Community Planner Eastern Federal Lands Office, Washington, DC, & FHWA DC Division Office, Sterling, VA Completed applications for environmental permit renewals. Reviewed Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) on O&P Streets in DC and developed project alternatives. Reviewed federal recertification recommendations for DC area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Community Planner FHWA Headquarters: Office of Project Development & Environmental HEPE Review, Washington, DC

Reviewed contracts, wrote scopes of work, prepared templates and supporting materials for projects, and presented information at internal office meetings. Produced internal report for Office of Project Development

& Environmental (HEPE) Review on successful projects using transportation control measures based on cost and ability to reduce VMT and GHG emissions. Assisted planning of FHWA moderated sessions and peer exchanges for Looking Beyond the Transportation Footprint Conference.

• Thoroughly researched and produced internal report on “cap and trade” initiatives to mitigate greenhouse gases.

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, Chicago, IL 7/2006 − 10/2007 Program Manager

Managed implementation of Human Service Transit Plan (HSTP) for downstate Illinois rural and small- urbanized areas. Defined regions in Illinois for transit planning through combination of research including public and professional input, survey feedback, maps, and investigation of best practices. Developed scope of work and facilitated contract process for hiring coordinators to facilitate development of plan at regional level. Proposed new initiatives for maps and defining Level of Service (LOS) for non-fixed route transportation in rural areas.

• Created regional planning template, identified strategies for collecting information, and organized data efficiently.

• Organized, presented at, and facilitated public discussions at approximately 50 meeting sessions and conferences, drawing useful feedback from engaged residents.

• Awarded honorable mention at 2008 Transportation Planning Excellence Awards sponsored by FTA, FHWA, and American Planning Association.

SCHOOL DISTRICT 54, Schaumburg, IL 10/2005 − 06/2006 Long-term Substitute Teacher / Spanish Resource Teacher K-3 Provided classroom instruction and curriculum for early reading, using resources from the school's bilingual program. Worked collaboratively with teacher (while she was on sick leave) to enhance curriculum and classroom presentation.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, Mount Prospect, IL 06/2003 − 01/2005 Program Manager

Managed implementation of the 4-H program for the north and west side of Chicago.

• Coordinated annual 4-H fair

• Set up mini camps based on U of I curriculum

• Managed the promotion and distribution of U of I curriculum

• Participated in school presentations based on U of I curriculum YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICES, Chicago, IL 08/2001 − 08/2002 Program Manager

Initiated and implemented the Permanency Initiative Program, a state-funded grant from the Department of Children and Family Services meant to serve foster families and reunified families on Chicago's north side.

• Provided support to caseworkers and their assigned families with services and needed items to help them remain independent and intact

• Held training and informational talks for parents; developed training and informational materials WEST ALLIS/WEST MILWAUKEE SCHOOL DISTRICT, West Milwaukee, WI 09/1995 – 06/2001 Long-term Substitute, Summer School Teacher, Tutor Provided classroom instruction and developed curriculum for grades K-8, including: students “at risk,” 7th grade classroom, 8th grade Earth Science and teaching assistant for 7th and 8th grade LD and CD classrooms. Taught summer school in reading and math for K-4th grade. Volunteer

Office Assistant, Holistic Family Health, Reston, VA, 2019-2020 Helped to administer hyperbaric oxygen sessions, cool laser detox packages, medicinal oils, water pick up, schedule appointments and general office duties.

Council Member, Transportation Research Forum, Washington D.C. Chapter, 2007-2019 Survey Worker, Chicago Transit Authority, 2006

Public Meeting Facilitator, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (CMAP), 2004-2006 Scholarships

UIC-CUPPA Board of Trustees Scholarship George Krambles Transportation Scholarship Publications

1. Contributions and Crossroads: Our National Road System’s Impact on the U.S. Economy and Way of Life, 2017; in addition, script writer for accompanying mini-documentary 2. Conditions and Performance Report to Congress, 2015, Chapter One: Travel Behavior and Personal Mobility

3. Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment, final reports, policy briefs and presentations; in addition, coordination of public meeting series 4. Next Generation of Travel Final Summary Report, 2012 5. The Next Generation of Travel Behavior: Potential Impacts Related to Household Use of Information and Communications Technology, 2011 (contributing author) 6. Future Uses of Rights of Way Final Report Summary, 2011 7. Additional articles, research, policy briefs, and presentations on various topics, as requested

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