2025 Power Players in Transportation

Alex Keating is head of policy and partnerships at Veo, the micromobility company on a mission to end car dependency by making clean transportation accessible to all. Before joining Veo, Alex worked across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including Getaround, the New York City Department of Transportation, and the Penn Institute of Urban Research. Alex holds an M.A. Honors degree in politics from the University of Edinburgh, and a master’s in city planning from MIT.

How can policymakers support the transportation industry?
Micromobility cannot thrive without support from policymakers at all levels of government. Federal and state funding must become more (not less!) available to support planning and implementation of micromobility. At the state level, we need seamless integration of micromobility with transit fare payment systems to boost ridership. At the local level, policymakers must continue reclaiming space within the right-of-way to provide parking and riding infrastructure for bikes and scooters.

Is there a transportation improvement or project that you hope to see completed in 2025?
Congestion pricing is going to be transformative for New York City – and it will have impacts well beyond Manhattan. In 2025, I’d love to see shared micromobility systems expand into new areas of Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island to improve first- last-mile connections to the MTA and NYC DOT transit services heading into the central business district.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Communication matters. Great ideas will struggle to be implemented if we cannot clearly articulate their pros and cons with communities. In transportation, this means reminding people that saying NO to a project means we are saying YES to its alternative. If we say no to density, we are saying yes to sprawl. A NO to congestion pricing is a yes to increased emissions and traffic. The best ideas need equally thoughtful communications behind them.

Chris Larsen, CEO of Halmar International, is a leader in transportation and infrastructure development for more than 30 years. Chris, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has transformed Halmar to become the cornerstone in shaping the future of large-scale, critical infrastructure projects. He has driven transformative initiatives and delivered on some of the most ambitious and challenging projects in the industry. His leadership reflects a commitment to innovation, excellence, and addressing the infrastructure needs of tomorrow.

How can policymakers support the transportation industry?
Mobility is such a crucial aspect of the economy and understanding the value of the transportation assets, policymakers should understand the intrinsic value of moving people and goods these assets create, and fairly assess and price them. This will help users see the value in mobility. Policymakers should see value in partnering with the private sector to deliver projects faster and cheaper because of efficiency and innovation, this is key to maintaining public support.

Is there a transportation improvement or project that you hope to see completed in 2025?
I hope to see significant progress in many crucial area projects, including Penn Station Access, Gateway, Midtown Bus Terminal and JFK. Halmar is proud to be working on all these projects.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
I think having situational awareness and perspective are important attributes. This has helped me lead my team and support them effectively. Perspective is important because we don’t really build any one-way streets. Listening and understanding “why” creates strong alignments to get things done.

John “Janno” Lieber was confirmed as chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in January 2022, following his nomination to that position by Governor Kathy Hochul. Lieber served as MTA acting chair and CEO from July 2021 to January 2022 and is the Authority’s 15th chairperson since it was founded in 1968. In this position, Lieber provides strategic, financial, and operational leadership for the MTA, the largest public transportation agency in North America.

Stephen Lyman, executive director of the Maritime Association of the Port of NY/NJ, is a dedicated advocate for the commercial maritime industry. With expertise in operations and nonprofit management, he champions policies that enhance trade, sustainability, and port efficiency. A Certified Maritime Port Executive, LeadNJ fellow, and Leadership Newark alum, Stephen actively engages in industry workgroups and initiatives, driving progress for the maritime sector and supporting its critical role in global commerce and economic development.

How can policymakers support the transportation industry?
Policymakers can support the maritime industry by investing in modern infrastructure, fostering workforce development, and promoting regulatory clarity. Streamlining regulations, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving intermodal connectivity can boost efficiency and global competitiveness. Financial incentives, such as tax breaks and subsidies, can encourage innovation and sustainability. Collaborate with industry stakeholders to create inclusive public awareness campaigns highlighting the industry’s economic significance. By aligning these actions, policymakers can emphasize maritime transportation’s critical role in global commerce.

Is there a transportation improvement or project that you hope to see completed in 2025?
Emphasizing maritime transportation in the New York State Freight Plan, and highlighting the environmental and economic benefits is key. Waterborne transportation, as the most sustainable mode, reduces greenhouse gas emissions while alleviating congestion. New York Harbor’s ongoing improvements – such as deepening navigational channels to 55 feet, and berth maintenance – boost capacity and efficiency. These initiatives ensure the harbor remains a vital hub, supporting over $200 billion in goods annually and strengthening the state’s supply chain resilience.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
“You don’t need to know everything; you just need to be open to continuous learning.”

Assemblyman Magnarelli focuses his efforts on bringing more jobs to Central New York, lowering taxes, providing our students a better education at every level, improving our access to healthcare, keeping our families safe and supporting our Veterans. He serves as chairman of the Transportation Committee, charged with the responsibility of reviewing legislation and overseeing the State’s management of all types of transportation systems within the State.

How can policymakers support the transportation industry?
The best way policymakers can support transportation is by providing sufficient financial resources to build and maintain our transportation infrastructure. Our vast network of roads, bridges, rails, airports and public transportation networks need sufficient capital funding for maintenance and improvements. We need to be creative in finding new dedicated funds to make sure these networks are safe, reliable, and convenient.

Is there a transportation improvement or project that you hope to see completed in 2025?
The first contracts associated with the rebuilding of Interstate 81 in and around Syracuse, my hometown.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
When trying to build a coalition or consensus on an issue, never ask an elected colleague to do something that you know would be detrimental to that colleague. Be mindful and thoughtful of your colleagues’ positions.

A self-proclaimed “energy nerd,” John Markowitz is looking for new ways to make it easier for New Yorkers to drive electric vehicles. At the New York Power Authority, Markowitz is in charge of developing the energy agency’s capabilities and networks for charging electric vehicles, including faster charging stations, a key goal of the state’s clean energy transition. Markowitz is not just a New York State clean energy official, but also an electric vehicle owner himself.

How can policymakers support the transportation industry?
Policymakers can support the transportation industry by investing in electric vehicle infrastructure, such as fast-charging stations, to encourage the adoption of EVs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By providing incentives for zero-emissions vehicles, such as rebates and funding programs, EV ownership becomes more accessible and affordable.

Is there a transportation improvement or project that you hope to see completed in 2025?
At NYPA, we continue to bolster the state’s EV infrastructure and expect to add the 200th fast charger to our EVolve NY fast charging network in 2025. NYPA has installed nearly 1,000 total electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state; a milestone we hope to achieve in the coming year.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
The best advice I received from a mentor was to embrace continuous learning and innovation. Staying curious and open to new technologies is crucial, especially in the rapidly evolving field of eMobility. This mindset has helped me to push boundaries and explore groundbreaking solutions in electric vehicle infrastructure. Additionally, focusing on collaboration and leveraging diverse perspectives has been invaluable in driving progress and achieving our clean energy goals at NYPA.

Suzette Noble is CEO of LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the private entity selected by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to manage and redevelop LaGuardia’s new award-winning Terminal B. Suzette is an experienced leader with more than 20 years of experience developing and operating transformational guest experiences at companies recognized for customer service excellence and brand loyalty, including Walt Disney World Parks & Resorts and Krispy Kreme.

How can policymakers support the transportation industry?
To support the transportation industry, policymakers should focus on curating a system that reflects the diversity of how people travel, especially in a city like New York. Whether someone is walking, cycling, flying, taking the subway, or riding the train, the goal should be to make every option safe, reliable and efficient.

Is there a transportation improvement or project that you hope to see completed in 2025?
In 2025, I’m most excited to see all of the amazing work and continued progress at JFK’s Terminal 6 by JFK Millennium Partners, a consortium led by Vantage Group. Although it’s not scheduled to open until 2026, I anticipate this will be a productive year for our greater Queens airport community.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
“Be comfortable being uncomfortable” – this advice was intended to encourage curiosity about discovering new things and be open-minded to different ways of thinking. As my confidence evolved in my roles and responsibilities, I embraced being a risk-taker and gradually leaning into uncertainty versus the comfort of what I knew. As leaders, it’s important to master craft and be extremely knowledgeable. It’s equally important to discover new experiences and challenge our thinking and capabilities.

Tim is SVP of ferries and transportation at Hornblower Group where he leads public-private partnership implementation for NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and six other domestic ferry operations. Tim leads business strategy and contract development for Hornblower Marine, a vessel repair yard in Bridgeport, CT, and Seaward Services, Hornblower’s offshore operations division. In 2024, Tim led the team’s implementation of Hornblower’s new contract as the founding operator of NYC Ferry, which surpassed 7 million passengers.

How can policymakers support the transportation industry?
We’re proud to work with policymakers in NYC and across the country to make public transit more inclusive, accessible, and interconnected for passengers of all backgrounds. Bringing diverse perspectives to the policymaking level and finding collaborative opportunities between systems and operators to build multi-modal commutes will help everyday commuters access reliable transit that serves the needs of the modern passenger.

Is there a transportation improvement or project that you hope to see completed in 2025?
Our team is excited to work with NYC EDC within the NYC Ferry contract on the implementation of an industry-leading suite of carbon reduction initiatives,  including piloting renewable (non-fossil) diesel into our operations and converting more NYC Ferry vessels to the highest EPA Tier (Tier IV) for clean diesel engines.

Kaan Özbay joined NYU in August 2013 and since 2017 has been the founding director of the C2SMART Center. He is also a global network professor at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. Professor Ozbay was a tenured full professor at Rutgers University, which he joined in 1996. Professor Ozbay has received prestigious awards including the NSF CAREER, IBM Faculty, and AASHTO High Value Research awards, and has been the PI/Co-PI of 120+ projects. 

Larry Pappas is the president of Forte Construction Corp., a leading public works general contractor specializing in infrastructure improvements and ADA accessibility. A graduate of Cooper Union, Larry has led Forte to triple its workforce and contract values in the past three years. Under his guidance, Forte earned Crain’s Best Place to Work as well as LIBN’s Corporate Citizenship Award.

How can policymakers support the transportation industry?
Policymakers can help the transportation industry by investing in key infrastructure and ADA projects that make transit more accessible and efficient for all New Yorkers. Focusing on accessibility improvements, such as ADA-compliant upgrades and elevator installations, ensures everyone has equal access to work and live in neighborhoods across the city while supporting local economies. These projects spark innovation, improve services, and increase ridership and revenue.

Is there a transportation improvement or project that you hope to see completed in 2025?
Generally speaking, I’d like to see any projects that are scheduled for completion in 2025 to achieve their goals. That being said, I would also love to see more progress on future projects, including the Interborough Express and Second Avenue Line. I believe these projects will greatly benefit the surrounding neighborhoods by improving transportation efficiency and reducing transit congestion. These improvements will generate new opportunities for economic development, both for the riders and their communities.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
I’m fortunate to have had amazing mentors throughout my career. There are two key pieces of advice I’ve received that have frequently proven their worth over the years. First, never ignore the sense that something is going wrong – this has been invaluable both in business and in my personal life. Second, a bad decision is better than no decision. Taking action, regardless of the outcome, provides an opportunity to learn, adapt, and move forward.