History
In 1971, a small group of Wisconsin transportation leaders founded TDA to advance the development of an efficient, effective, and safe transportation system. Their efforts drew the increasingly strong support of businesses, individuals, communities, and organizations involved in every transportation mode. TDA grew in size, respect, and influence.
Today, TDA is a prime Wisconsin resource for a clear analysis of transportation finance and policy and is a crucial participant in Wisconsin’s transportation planning process. TDA serves more than 400 members and stakeholders and is recognized for nonpartisan expertise, advocacy, and leadership on transportation issues.
TDA Presidents
The strength and diversity of TDA’s membership are represented in the men and women who have served as TDA presidents throughout the years. From city managers to business executives to civic group leaders, the TDA presidents listed here have helped build TDA into an influential and respected voice for transportation in Wisconsin.
Mark O’Connell, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Counties Association, is the current TDA president.
| 2019 | Summer Strand, Director of Government Affairs, Walbec Group |
| 2018 | Allison Bussler, Public Works Director, Waukesha County |
| 2017 | Tom Bressner, Executive Director, Wisconsin Agri-Business Association |
| 2016 | Dave Brose, Senior Vice President, EMCS, Inc. |
| 2015 | Jerry Derr, Chairman, Town of Bristol |
| 2014 | Barb LaMue, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation |
| 2013 | John Schmitt, President/Business Manager, Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council |
| 2012 | Steve Higgins, Vice President, Payne & Dolan, Inc. |
| 2011 | Paul Halverson, Commissioner, Douglas County Highway Department |
| 2010 | Dean Haen, Port Manager of Green Bay, Wisconsin Commercial Ports Association |
| 2009 | Richard Jones, Commissioner of Public Works, City of Racine |
| 2008 | Phil Ramlet, President & CEO, OMNNI Associates |
| 2007 | Sheldon Johnson, Deputy Director, North West Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission |
| 2006 | Kristine Scott, Vice President of Organizational Development, Hoffman Construction Company |
| 2005 | Scott Sharp, Treasurer, Wisconsin Council 40, AFSCME |
| 2004 | Lee Crook, Director of Wisconsin Transportation Services, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. |
| 2003 | Ernie Stetenfeld, Vice President of Corporate Relations, AAA Wisconsin |
| 2002 | Doug Pearson, Executive Director, CHAMCO/Oshkosh Industrial Development Corp. |
| 2001 | Ken Graham, President, HNTB Corporation |
| 2000 | David Mumma, Transit Director, City of Janesville |
| 1999 | Donald Hoeft, Airport Director, Austin Straubel International Airport |
| 1998 | Mary Ellen O’Brien, President, Transportation Environmental Management |
| 1997 | William Welch, President, Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce |
| 1996 | William Kennedy, President Rock Road Co. Inc. |
| 1995 | Michael Korby, Marketing Director, Cooper Engineering |
| 1994 | Kenneth Theine, Executive Director, East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission |
| 1993 | Kenneth Warren, Deputy Director, Milwaukee County Transit System |
| 1992 | Mark Artensen, Administrator, Village of Plover |
| 1991 | Michael Marsden, Director, Outagamie County Department of Public Works |
| 1990 | James Malloy, Executive Vice President & CEO, Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. |
| 1989 | Harvey Hammond, Partner, HNTB Corporation |
| 1988 | Michael Soley, Sr., President, Miller-Bradford & Risberg Inc. |
| 1987 | Donald Walker, Program Director, U.W. Madison |
| 1986 | W.A. Schullenberg, President, Ayres & Associates |
| 1985 | Thomas Pilgrim, President, Bublitz Inc. |
| 1984 | Robert Henken, Commissioner, Dodge County Highway Department |
| 1983 | Ronald Fiedler, Marketing Vice President, Donohue & Associates |
| 1982 | Donald Stone, Executive Director, Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce |
| 1981 | Earl Skagen, Commissioner, Racine County Highway Commission |
| 1979-1980 | John Keyes, Editor/Publisher, Western Builder Publishing Company |
| 1978 | Dale Dresel, President, Dresel Construction Co. |
| 1977 | Bruce Wencel, President, Nagle-Hart Inc. |
| 1971-1976 | Charles Aring, Jr., President, Ahlgrim Explosives Corp. |
TDA Transportation Service Award
TDA’s highest honor, the Transportation Service Award, is presented annually to members or public officials who have significantly advanced the cause of a safe, modern, interconnected transportation system in Wisconsin. TDA is proud to recognize the distinguished leadership and significant contributions made by the honorees listed here.
| 2019 | The Essential Transportation Worker |
| 2018 | League of Wisconsin Municipalities |
| Wisconsin Counties Association | |
| Wisconsin County Highway Association | |
| Wisconsin Towns Association | |
| 2017 | Speaker Robin Vos |
| Mark Gottlieb, Former Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary | |
| 2016 | Chet Caine, Dodge County Highway Commission |
| 2014 | Mary Ellen O’Brien, Transportation Environmental Management, Inc. |
| 2013 | William Kennedy, Rock Road Companies, Inc. |
| 2012 | Senator Herb Kohl |
| 2011 | Richard Stadelman, Wisconsin Towns Association |
| 2010 | Congressman David Obey |
| 2009 | David Mumma, City of Janesville Transit |
| 2008 | Phil Evenson, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission |
| 2007 | Ken Warren, Milwaukee County Transit System |
| 2006 | Lee Crook, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. |
| 2005 | Wisconsin Senator Roger Breske |
| Wisconsin Representative Jeff Stone | |
| 2004 | Tom Boguszewski, Rock County Highway Department |
| Tom Kujawa, Milwaukee County Transit System | |
| 2003 | Jean Jacobson, Former Racine County Executive |
| 2002 | Terrance Mulcahy, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary (retired) |
| Phil Scherer, TDA Executive Director (at retirement) | |
| 2001 | Donald Hoeft, Austin Straubel International Airport |
| Ernest Stetenfeld, AAA Wisconsin | |
| 2000 | Wisconsin Representative David Brandemuehl |
| Charles Thompson, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary | |
| 1999 | Emmer Shields, Ashland County Highway Department |
| Henry Ellison, Wisconsin Earth Movers Association | |
| 1998 | Mike Marsden, Outagamie County Department of Public Works |
| John Keyes, Western Builder Magazine | |
| Congressman Thomas Petri | |
| 1997 | Kurt Bauer, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission |
| 1996 | Wisconsin Senator Joe Andrea |
| Harry Lindberg, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association | |
| 1995 | James Rooney, Racine County Department of Public Works |
| Edward Burkhardt, Wisconsin Central Ltd. Railroad | |
| 1994 | Marilyn Hardacre, Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry |
| Don Stone, Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry | |
| 1993 | Don Walker, UW Transportation Information Center |
| 1992 | Governor Thompson |
| Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation | |
| 1991 | Ron Fiedler, Wisconsin Department of Transportation |
| 1990 | James Peterson, James Peterson & Sons |
| 1989 | Ed Strese, Burnett County Highway Department |
| William Redmond, Wisconsin Association of Manufacturing & Commerce | |
| 1988 | George Bechtel, Bechtel & Associates |
| 1987 | Robert Paddock, Federal Highway Administration |
| Tom Walker, Wisconsin Department of Transportation |