Central Northeast Florida Section ITE

Formed in 2020 under the OneITE initiative, Central Northeast Florida Section of ITE (CNFLITE) serves as a networking and knowledge transfer platform for a brilliant group of Transportation intellectuals in Central and Northeast Florida. With 330+ membership till date, CNFLITE is home to four student chapters (University of North Florida, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University) and one local chapter serving northeast Florida (First Coast ITE).
Presidents Message:
CNFLITE – Happy 2023! We’re midway through the year and I hope everyone is enjoying their summer vacation plans. I also find myself getting excited about the holidays to come later in the year. Although we’re only midway, our Section has a handful of celebrations. We’ve fully returned to in-person meetings, held three monthly luncheons, collaborated with student groups, toured a premier intermodal facility, and kicked off our Linked In group.
Come the 1st Tuesday of the month, it’s luncheon day. As noon approaches, seeing the mix of new faces and returning faces walk through the door is energizing – and I hope you feel the same. Our Section is home to 346 members and four student chapters, so there is always great collaboration across discipline focus area, years of experience, and personal backgrounds.
Our Section extends from Osceola County all the way up to the FL/GA Stateline (check out the FLPRITE homepage to see the full Section coverage). We are happy to have the First Coast ITE chapter under the CNFLITE Section umbrella. FCITE hosts in-person meetings each month at the District 2 RTMC.
We also have two section members to highlight – Emmanuel Posadas and Usha Nadella. Emmanuel was awarded the FLPRITE District Transportation Professional of the Year Award (2022) and Usha was awarded the FLPRITE District Rising Star Award (2023).
I am excited to build on our momentum through the rest of the year. I leave you with a call to action – come out to a luncheon. The technical content brings us together, but we’re strongest when connecting with each other.
Hope to see you this year. -Megan
Come the 1st Tuesday of the month, it’s luncheon day. As noon approaches, seeing the mix of new faces and returning faces walk through the door is energizing – and I hope you feel the same. Our Section is home to 346 members and four student chapters, so there is always great collaboration across discipline focus area, years of experience, and personal backgrounds.
Our Section extends from Osceola County all the way up to the FL/GA Stateline (check out the FLPRITE homepage to see the full Section coverage). We are happy to have the First Coast ITE chapter under the CNFLITE Section umbrella. FCITE hosts in-person meetings each month at the District 2 RTMC.
We also have two section members to highlight – Emmanuel Posadas and Usha Nadella. Emmanuel was awarded the FLPRITE District Transportation Professional of the Year Award (2022) and Usha was awarded the FLPRITE District Rising Star Award (2023).
I am excited to build on our momentum through the rest of the year. I leave you with a call to action – come out to a luncheon. The technical content brings us together, but we’re strongest when connecting with each other.
Hope to see you this year. -Megan
Upcoming Events
August 15: Overview of Big Data in Transportation Engineering
We've got something exciting lined up for you! 🚀 Mark your calendars for August 15, 11:30 AM, as we dive into the fascinating world of “Big Data in Transportation Engineering” with Stephen Spana, Engineer/ Planner at Fehr & Peers.
Event Details:
Date: August 15, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM ET
Location: HDR Office
What’s in store?
🔍 Overview of Big Data: Discover its impact on modern transportation systems
📊 Big Data Sources: Learn where the data comes from to improve planning and decisions
📈 Real-world Applications: Get inspired by practical project examples
Who is Stephen Spana?
Stephen is a Planner/Engineer in the Fehr & Peers Orlando Office. He has been with the company for 2 years. In that time he has worked on a wide variety of projects involving big data, including those related to safety, accessibility, and active transportation. Stephen graduated from the University of Florida in 2021 with a Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering and served as an officer for GatorITE for several years while at UF.
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at centralnortheastflite@gmail.com (mailto:centralnortheastflite@gmail.com) .
We've got something exciting lined up for you! 🚀 Mark your calendars for August 15, 11:30 AM, as we dive into the fascinating world of “Big Data in Transportation Engineering” with Stephen Spana, Engineer/ Planner at Fehr & Peers.
Event Details:
Date: August 15, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM ET
Location: HDR Office
What’s in store?
🔍 Overview of Big Data: Discover its impact on modern transportation systems
📊 Big Data Sources: Learn where the data comes from to improve planning and decisions
📈 Real-world Applications: Get inspired by practical project examples
Who is Stephen Spana?
Stephen is a Planner/Engineer in the Fehr & Peers Orlando Office. He has been with the company for 2 years. In that time he has worked on a wide variety of projects involving big data, including those related to safety, accessibility, and active transportation. Stephen graduated from the University of Florida in 2021 with a Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering and served as an officer for GatorITE for several years while at UF.
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at centralnortheastflite@gmail.com (mailto:centralnortheastflite@gmail.com) .
August 24: Connecting with Confidence, A Networking Refresh
The local ITE, WTS, and ASHE chapters have joined forces to this professional development event!
We will provide best-practice networking guidance and test your own skills, along with some cocktails and appetizers.
Event Details:
Date: August 24, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM ET
Location: Cocina 214, Winter Park
Cost: $10 for ITE, WTS, and ASHE members
The local ITE, WTS, and ASHE chapters have joined forces to this professional development event!
We will provide best-practice networking guidance and test your own skills, along with some cocktails and appetizers.
Event Details:
Date: August 24, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM ET
Location: Cocina 214, Winter Park
Cost: $10 for ITE, WTS, and ASHE members
Recent Past Events
July 11: FDOT D5 Safety Talk Luncheon
CNFLITE is hosting an exclusive meeting with Loreen Bobo, Safety Administrator for the Office of Safety at District 5. Get ready for the latest updates since its establishment two years ago.
Event Details:
Date: July 11, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM ET
Location: Turnpike HQ - Auditorium A
Lunch: Free for ITE members, $15 for non-members
Loreen Bobo will share exciting progress and achievements in safety practices within District 5. This is your chance to gain valuable insights and discover emerging trends.
CNFLITE is hosting an exclusive meeting with Loreen Bobo, Safety Administrator for the Office of Safety at District 5. Get ready for the latest updates since its establishment two years ago.
Event Details:
Date: July 11, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM ET
Location: Turnpike HQ - Auditorium A
Lunch: Free for ITE members, $15 for non-members
Loreen Bobo will share exciting progress and achievements in safety practices within District 5. This is your chance to gain valuable insights and discover emerging trends.
June 6: Brightline Station and Vehicle Maintenance Facility Tour
Thanks to Brightline Trains, current commuters will very soon (from Sept 1, 2023) enjoy the option to relax and be productive during their commute time from Orlando to Miami and vice versa. CNFLITE organized a tour lead by Katie Mitzner, Director of Public Affairs for Brightline, of the Brightline terminal, lounge, platforms, and the vehicle maintenance facility prior to it's opening. The Structural Engineer for all of the bridges constructed gave us a thorough overview of the innovative bridges within the Brightline project. Good to know about all the first mile/last mile options Brightline will be offering, background of naming 'Mary Mary' Bar, smooth security system, kids playground, lounge facilities and more. Brightline made history as the fastest train in Central Florida. We had a great turnout!
Thanks to Brightline Trains, current commuters will very soon (from Sept 1, 2023) enjoy the option to relax and be productive during their commute time from Orlando to Miami and vice versa. CNFLITE organized a tour lead by Katie Mitzner, Director of Public Affairs for Brightline, of the Brightline terminal, lounge, platforms, and the vehicle maintenance facility prior to it's opening. The Structural Engineer for all of the bridges constructed gave us a thorough overview of the innovative bridges within the Brightline project. Good to know about all the first mile/last mile options Brightline will be offering, background of naming 'Mary Mary' Bar, smooth security system, kids playground, lounge facilities and more. Brightline made history as the fastest train in Central Florida. We had a great turnout!
May 2: Lunch + Presentation Medley
CNFLITE hosted a Networking Lunch and Presentation Medley at HDR Orlando office. The presenters did an excellent job of updating us on exciting projects and initiatives taking place in Central and Northeast Florida. We want to thank the presenters: Chris Russo from Atkins, Fatema Hoque from HNTB, Jimmy Mai from HDR, and Md Sakoat Hossan from WSP.
CNFLITE hosted a Networking Lunch and Presentation Medley at HDR Orlando office. The presenters did an excellent job of updating us on exciting projects and initiatives taking place in Central and Northeast Florida. We want to thank the presenters: Chris Russo from Atkins, Fatema Hoque from HNTB, Jimmy Mai from HDR, and Md Sakoat Hossan from WSP.
April 4: Data-Driven Decision-Support Platform for Selection of the Intersections with Adaptive Traffic Control
We had the pleasure of hosting Nikola Mitrovic, Ph.D. from CHA Consulting at our latest CNFLITE presentation. His insights on using data to select intersections with adaptive traffic control were valuable and insightful. Thank you, Nikola, for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate your contribution to our CNFLITE community.
We had the pleasure of hosting Nikola Mitrovic, Ph.D. from CHA Consulting at our latest CNFLITE presentation. His insights on using data to select intersections with adaptive traffic control were valuable and insightful. Thank you, Nikola, for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate your contribution to our CNFLITE community.
Board of Directors
Officers |
Committee Chairs |
President: Megan Ferguson, PE, AICP
Vice President: Usha Nadella, PE Secretary: Claudio Figueroa, PE, PTOE Past President: Arjun Chauhan, PE Section Representative: Francisco Cardona, PE, PTOE |
FCITE Representative: Mario Dipola, PE, PTOE, RSP2I, MBA
Membership Enhancement Committee: Claudio Figueroa, PE, PTOE Young Members Committee: Morgan Smith, PE, RSP1 Sponsorship Committee: Md Sakoat Hossan, Ph.D., PE, PMP, PTOE, RSP2I Social Media Committee: Griffin Holloway Technical Events Coordinator: Fabio Sasahara, Ph.D., PMP |
Awards
To Be Announced