KEY CONVENTION SPEAKERS

Dennis Hastert

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (Republican) – A former high school teacher and wrestling coach, Rep. Denny Hastert represented Chicago’s western suburbs in Congress from 1987 to 2007.  His colleagues elected him speaker in 1999 and he eventually became the longest-serving Republican speaker in history.  A one-time member of the House Public Works & Transportation Committee (as it was known at the time), Speaker Hastert presided over the passage of SAFETEA-LU during his tenure as speaker.  Since retiring from Congress, he has co-chaired the Illinois Works coalition, a group charged with developing and promoting a capital funding plan for the state.

William Lipinski

The Honorable William O. Lipinski, former U.S. Representative (Democrat) – After serving as a Chicago alderman from the city’s southwest side, Rep. Bill Lipinski represented that area and its adjacent suburbs in Congress from 1983 to 2005.  He retired as a senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, on which he served during his entire career in Congress.  A tireless champion of major projects like the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), Rep. Lipinski remains involved in the local and federal transportation scene as a consultant to key agencies and companies.

Charlie Cook

Charlie Cook, one of the nation’s premier political analysts, is the publisher of “The Cook Political Report” and a regular contributor for “National Journal” magazine and “CongressDailyAM.”  He also serves as an election analyst for NBC News.  Cook writes a regular column for the “Washington Quarterly,” published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.  During an entertaining and lively discussion, Cook will handicap the 2008 presidential and congressional races.

Mike Eskew

After a long and distinguished career, Mike Eskew retired in December 2007 as chairman and chief executive officer of UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services.  Under Eskew’s leadership, UPS expanded its capabilities into new lines of business to complement the company’s global package delivery operations.  These expanded capabilities included multi-modal transportation services, sophisticated technologies, international trade management, supply chain consulting and financial services.  A native of Indiana, Eskew graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in industrial engineering.  He first joined UPS in 1972 and served in positions with UPS’s operations in Germany and with UPS Airlines.  Eskew serves on the 3M Board of Directors and is a member of the Business Roundtable.  He will discuss the need for a national goods movement program and share his agenda for getting America moving again.

Bill Millar

Bill Millar became chief executive officer of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) in 1996 after spending 24 years in transportation operations and management.  He spent 13 years as executive director of the Port Authority of Allegheny County—the principal transit system serving Pittsburgh, Pa.  During his tenure at APTA, Millar has worked with a broad coalition of interests to advocate before Congress and the White increased investment in public transportation.  He has served as chair or on the governing boards of the Transportation Research Board, the Transit Cooperative Research Program, Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the Transportation Technology Center, Inc.  Millar will outline APTA’s “TransitVision 2050” plan and discuss his group’s goals for the 2009 highway/transit bill.

Peter Getchell

Since 1992, Peter Getchell has been president of Newtown, Pa.- headquartered PKF-Mark III, Inc. He began his construction career at Chicago Bridge and Iron Company.  When he first joined PKF-Mark III, Inc., in 1981, he assumed project management for water and wastewater treatment plants and highway projects.  His area of expertise are planning, coordinating, and executing major projects on critical time schedules.  He is on the boards of ARTBA and the New Jersey chapter of the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association.  He will discuss the importance of grassroots involvement in the political process.

Paul Yarossi

As president of HNTB Companies, Paul Yarossi serves on the company’s board of directors and is responsible for overseeing and directing the firm’s governance, capitalization strategy, compliance and audit functions as well as its external and government relations.  Yarossi, who has been with the firm for 35 years, has served as officer-in-charge for several HNTB offices in New York and New Jersey, as chairman of HNTB’s Aviation Services, and was instrumental in developing HNTB’s training and development programs.  He has been principal-in-charge of planning and design projects at airports throughout the northeastern United States.  Yarossi is an ARTBA vice chairman-at-large and co-chaired the association’s SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization Task Force.  Grassroots participation by the firm’s employees is engrained in HNTB’s culture.  He will share tips for successfully establishing a corporate grassroots program.

The Second City (Chairman’s Banquet Entertainment)

Since 1959, The Second City has established itself as a Chicago Landmark and a national treasure. The theatre has launched the careers of such comic greats as John Belushi, Mike Myers, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner.  The Second City Group will be providing entertainment at the ARTBA Chairman’s Banquet.  You will enjoy and remember this great night of funny and highly original from the current Second City Group.