Our mentors are dedicated professionals from across the WesternITE community who are passionate about supporting the next generation of transportation leaders. Each mentor brings unique experience, insight, and perspective — from technical expertise to career guidance and industry knowledge.
In our mentee‑driven model, you have the freedom to explore the mentor list at your own pace and connect with those who best align with your goals. Every profile includes background information and areas of expertise to help you find the right fit. Whether you’re seeking advice, encouragement, or a sounding board as you navigate your career, our mentors are here to share what they’ve learned and help you grow.
| Mentor’s Name | Email Address | Section/Area | Company | Professional Sector | I can provide advice on… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Buczek | anthony.buczek@portlandoregon.gov | Oregon | Portland Bureau of Transportation | Public | Working as a Traffic Engineer for a City or other government. |
| Douglas (Doug) Smith | Douglas.Smith@hdrinc.com | Southern California Section/Orange County | HDR Inc. | Private | Career development, project management and technical expertise. |
| Sowmya Chandrasekhar | sowmya.chandrasekhar@kimley-horn.com | ITE SoCal | Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. | Private | Career/Professional Growth, women in engineering, work-life harmony |
| Henry Hammel | hhammel@bayareametro.gov | SF Bay Area | Metropolitan Transportation Commission | Public | Communication, career growth, and relationship building |
| Cathy Leong | cleong@wilsonokamoto.com | Hawaii Section | Wilson Okamoto Corporation | Private | Leadership skills, career guidance, women in the workplace, and other soft skills topics |
| Mark Spencer | mspencer@w-trans.com | SF Bay Area | W-Trans | Private | Career paths in transportation, project management, client management |
| Cameron Shew | camshew@gmail.com | Northern California | Sacramento County | Public | Public vs. private, early career growth, professional licensure, getting involved in ITE, Northern California market |
| Peter Koonce | peter.koonce@gmail.com | Oregon | Portland | Public | Multimodal transportation |
| Joe De La Garza | joe.delagarza@wsp.com | San Diego | WSP | Private | Traffic engineering and planning, resume review, professional development, career advice. |
| Keoni Wasano | keoni@goldwings-supply.com | Hawaii | Goldwings Supply Service, Inc. | Private | Building a career in technology, leveraging an engineering background to create influence in sales roles, and building a systems-integration solution-oriented mindset |
| Kimberly Leung | kimberly.leung@sfmta.com | SF Bay ITE Section | San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency | Public | Insights into the public sector, leadership development (including ITE involvement) |
| Smadar Boardman | smadar.boardman@gmail.com | SF Bay Area | City of Walnut Creek | Public | Career growth, professional development, public sector vs. private sector, management |
| Phil Armand | phillip.armand@portlandoregon.gov | Oregon | Portland Bureau of Transportation | Public | Engineering courses, Transportation Engineering, and overall career paths. |
Didn’t find a mentor who aligns with your goals? We’re here to help!
Reach out to our Career Guidance Committee Chair, Henry Hammel, and our team can help assist you in finding a mentor!
