Cambridge Systematics (CS) CEO Brad Wright announced six staff promotions to Principal and recognized the annual Manheim and Taggart award recipients.
Six Senior Staff Promoted to Principal
“Earning the promotion to Principal is a significant milestone in a career at Cambridge Systematics,” said Wright. “Our six new Principals have shown tremendous dedication to CS while building a strong track record of success in leading strategic initiatives, driving results and upholding our core values.”
Introducing Our Newest Principals…
Scott Boone
Scott’s influence at CS goes far beyond his position as Team Lead in the Transit & Shared Mobility Practice. A people-oriented leader as much as he is a technical expert, Scott has built strong relationships across the firm and has a reputation for stepping up and working collaboratively with others. Focused primarily on the South Central market, he still contributes widely across the organization. He proactively seeks opportunities for cross-business-line collaboration and helps optimize business processes while nurturing the growth and development of both junior and senior staff. A people-first leader, Scott is recognized for his ability to challenge the status quo, foster innovation, and drive CS's strategic direction forward.
Rich Denbow
With over 33 years of experience in transportation planning, Rich is a powerhouse in Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) leadership and a nationally recognized expert in the field. His deep expertise has been a driving force in positioning CS as the go-to trusted advisor for MPOs navigating rapid change. From safety and resiliency to performance-based planning and modeling, Rich has made a lasting impact across the board. Over many years, Rich has worked closely with staff across the firm to drive our visibility at industry events and develop conference strategies. A respected leader, he inspires others by leading with purpose and setting a high standard for himself and those around him.
Latasha Estes
In her 12 years at CS, Latasha has played a key role in driving company-wide initiatives, including co-chairing the AI committee and leading proposal trainings. As Marketing Manager, she oversees a high-performing team of eight that manages the pursuit and delivery of over 300 proposals annually, totaling around $100 million in business opportunities, with an impressive success rate and an exceptional track record of on-time submissions. Latasha also plays a pivotal role in streamlining operations and optimizing resources, all while ensuring strong support, staff engagement, and strategic impact. Through her work ethic and leadership skills, Latasha has left a profound and lasting impact on CS.
Ryan Klitzsch
Ryan has excelled in a hybrid role as both Safety Practice Lead and Team Lead, significantly enhancing the Safety Practice’s capabilities while driving growth. With a deep understanding of safety priorities, trends, and client needs, Ryan consistently delivers above and beyond the expectations of our clients. He’s also active in various professional organizations and has consistently represented CS in ways that have allowed us to elevate our work. Setting the standard of excellence, he prioritizes the mentorship of our junior staff and delivers high-quality work while continually refining his leadership skills to grow the Safety Practice.
Dalia Leven
Dalia has successfully managed some of CS’ biggest and most high-profile projects. Her leadership on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Better Bus Network Redesign helped put CS on the map as a premier transit service planning firm. Leading with humility and a sense of humor, she has demonstrated herself as an industry leader through her keen ability to solve complex challenges and communicate highly technical analysis to decision-makers and the public. Despite considerable demands on her time, Dalia is also deeply committed to mentorship, serving as a mentor in our Wayfinders Mentorship Program for two years and consistently teaching and guiding junior staff.
Sarah Walker
Sarah has built a stellar reputation over her 18-year career at CS, particularly with Florida DOT, while also contributing significantly to projects in other states like Texas. Her expertise in project management, client relations, long-range planning, revenue forecasting and resilience is highly sought after. Sarah demonstrates leadership throughout all project phases, provides thoughtful feedback to staff and is committed to developing junior team members by fostering accountability and pride in their work. Known for her integrity, dedication to CS’s success and ability to build trust-based relationships, Sarah exemplifies the qualities of an ideal Principal.
2024 Manheim and Taggart Award Winners
Marvin L. Manheim Award Winner: Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Strategic Transportation and Development Analysis Project Team
This team led the delivery of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Strategic Transportation and Development Analysis (STDA), a landmark study commissioned in 2023 to assess how Ohio’s highway corridors support long-term economic growth. Their work reflects the creativity and intellectual leadership championed by Marvin Manheim, with innovative approaches in five key areas. Their technical analysis stress-tested future scenarios to identify corridor risks, introduced new methods to assess 78 strategic development sites and developed tools for analyzing congestion and resilience. The team also conducted a comprehensive policy review across market access, site readiness, workforce development and other key areas, offering insights that could inform planning in other states. The stakeholder engagement approach was extensive, with 10 interactive regional workshops recognized as a high point in ODOT public outreach. The team also developed clear, accessible communications, including a Governor-requested online story map, and produced a wide array of reports and public-facing materials. Behind the scenes, they managed over 50 staff, 16 partners and a highly complex workflow with a collaborative, adaptive approach. The STDA is one of the largest projects in CS history, and its success will continue to set the industry standard for future strategic planning efforts nationwide. The core project team includes: David Jackson, Baird Bream, Nick Badman, John Gliebe, Nicole McCall, Navnit Sourirajan, Sarah Windmiller, Casey Woodley and Lia Yakumithis. Learn more about the project.
Established in 2001, the Marvin L. Manheim Award celebrates the legacy of one of the four original founders of CS, Marvin L. Manheim. His vision, intellectual leadership and emphasis on creativity were some of the key driving forces behind the growth and success of CS. Each year, this award is presented to an individual or team who best demonstrates Marvin Manheim’s key qualities in the development of a new product or service, an innovative solution for a client, a new approach to client service or a business process improvement.
Chip Taggart Exceptional Service Award Winner: Will McKee, Creative Services Manager
Will exemplifies Chip’s commitment to service, excellence, and living our values through his 25-year journey at CS, rising from an entry-level graphic artist to Creative Services Manager. Throughout his career, Will has consistently demonstrated exceptional design and branding skills while also taking on increasing responsibility for managing staff, processes and a wide range of internal and external client needs. His leadership style is marked by collaboration, flexibility and a deep investment in developing his team, ensuring that each person shines while maintaining strong quality control across all deliverables. He has also played a central role in redesigning internal production processes, managing complex logistics and meeting tight deadlines for high-profile events such as the TRB Annual Meeting and the NCHRP/AASHTO “moonshot” visioning retreat. His contributions are deeply appreciated across CS and leave a lasting, positive impact on every project and partnership.
The Chip Taggart Exceptional Service Award is named in honor of CS’ first Chief Operating Officer. Chip embodied the philosophy of forming strong personal relationships to improve operational performance and to strive for excellence in all our work endeavors. Created in 2011, this award honors his many contributions to CS and represents our continued corporate commitment to excellent service, operational efficiency and our core values.
Congratulations to our newest Principals and award recipients. Thank you all for your continued commitment to service and excellence across the firm!