U.S. Representative John L. Mica

U.S. Representative John L. Mica is currently serving his eighth term in the 110th Congress representing Florida's 7th Congressional District, which stretches across six counties from the suburban areas north of Orlando to the Jacksonville city limits. From 2001 to 2006, Rep. Mica was Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee.  A panel under the jurisdiction of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the subcommittee has oversight of all matters regarding civil aviation including airport improvement, aviation safety and security, and other related issues.  Major federal agencies overseen by the Aviation Subcommittee include the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.  After 9/11, Mica authored the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which created the new Transportation Security Administration to focus on protecting aviation -- as well as all modes of transportation -- from future terrorist attacks. Rep. Mica is Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Rep. Mica has been recognized as a national and Florida leader in transportation issues.  He has spearheaded legislative efforts to improve our nation's infrastructure and to expedite Florida's highway and interstate expansion.  Mica has also led efforts to develop local and state transportation alternatives.

Jack Schenendorf

Jack Schenendorf, of Covington & Burling LLC will also be joining the conference. Schenendorf’s practice concentrates on transportation and legislation with a particular focus on legislative strategy, legislative procedure, and the federal budget process.  He was recently appointed by Speaker Hastert to the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, where he serves as Vice-Chairman. For nearly 25 years, Mr. Schenendorf served on the staff of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives.  He was Chief of Staff from 1995 to 2001.  In BNA's Daily Report for Executives, Mr. Schenendorf was described "as one of the most powerful staffers on the Hill, [who] has played a large role in crafting every piece of major transportation legislation in the past decade." Prior to joining the firm in 2001, Mr. Schenendorf served on the Bush/Cheney Transition where he was Chief of the Transition Policy Team for the U.S. Department of Transportation and was responsible for reviewing all transportation policies and issues for the incoming Administration.

Bill Owens

Bill Owens is Vice Chairman of RBS Greenwich Capital, an institutional banking and capital firm with more than $160 billion in assets. Owens served both as State Treasurer as well as two terms as Governor of Colorado, from 1999-2007 and was re-elected by the largest margin in Colorado history.  During his two terms as Governor, Owens was responsible for innovative private financing of roads, light rail, transit, corrections, and hospitals. Under his leadership, TREX – one of the largest road/rail transportation projects in U.S. history – was authorized and built, on time and on budget. Gov. Owens helped Colorado weather the post-9/11 economic downturn that hit Colorado hard – troubles that were intensified by the state’s worst drought in 300 years.  The Governor managed the state during a time when revenues declined 16 percent compounded by a $950 million deficit he inherited when he took office in 1999.  He dealt with that fiscal challenge by cutting almost $1billion in state spending and streamlining state services. Owens worked for more than 20 years in the private sector, including the consulting staff at Deloitte and Touche, the Gates Corporation, and as director of a statewide trade association.  He also chaired the Aurora Planning Commission.

Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett, USCG (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett, USCG (Ret.) was confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of Transportation on August 8, 2007. Earlier, he became the Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation on March 3, 2007. In his role as Deputy Secretary, Barrett is helping the President and Secretary Mary E. Peters ensure that the United States and its citizens have a safe, efficient, and reliable transportation system that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life for Americans today and into the future. Deputy Secretary Barrett serves as the Department’s chief operating officer, responsible for the day-to-day management of DOT’s $61.1 billion budget, 10 modal administrations, and approximately 60,000 employees. Barrett was sworn in May 31, 2006, by then Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta as the first administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  The PHMSA Administrator is the agency's Chief Executive Officer and advises the Secretary on all matters falling within PHMSA's jurisdiction. The Administrator directs the agency's national program for protecting against risks to life and property inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce and the transportation of liquid, natural gas, petroleum, and other hazardous liquids by pipeline. Before becoming PHMSA Administrator, Barrett was the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Prior to that, he served 35 years in the United States Coast Guard and attained the position of Vice Commandant.