As a 30 year child welfare and foster parent advocate, Sam Macer works in partnership and collaboration with state and local agencies to helps raise awareness of the value of PTA in the state effort to provide the best possible educational outcomes for all of Maryland’s children.

Sharon Whitworth has been a PTA advocate for all children for over 36 years and is currently serving as project lead of a National PTA grant to educate parents and the community about the common core standards. Through her leadership, her team has educated over 9,000 parents and community members since October, 2011.

Deirdre Pierce helped advocate for the total renovation of her neighborhood high school, including a new Career and Technology wing and an auditorium. The success of her efforts resulted in the local school board allocating funds for all high schools to have the same.

As the proud mother of three, Emily Sack has always placed importance on being active her children’s school. Volunteering at the school and in classrooms give her an opportunity to interact with other parents, the faculty, school administrators and, most important, the children.

With a focus on collaboration, communication, accountability, and equity, Anne Stafford has empowered parents to work with teachers toward greater student achievement.

Dan Richard, chair of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, explains the work that has gone into establishing California's High Speed Rail over the past four years.

Through David Barger's personal commitment and committee stewardship a policy-level Federal advisory committee tasked with developing a common understanding of NextGen priorities in the context of overall NextGen capabilities and implementation constraints, with an emphasis on the near- and mid-term. The NAC provides a venue where the FAA can solicit a consensus-based set of recommendations on modernizing the air traffic control system and other issues that are critical to the successful implementation of NextGen.

As a senior planner at WalkBoston, Bob Sloane is bringing his extensive experience to bear in a way that prioritizes including the community in the development of a resource that helps people get from Point A to Point B in a timely fashion—a resource that is designed to highlight community assets and help people value the places in which they walk.

Jason Roberts is the founder of the Oak Cliff Transit Authority, originator of the Better Block Project and co-founder of Bike Friendly Oak Cliff. In 2006, Jason formed the non-profit organization Oak Cliff Transit Authority to revive the Dallas streetcar system and later spearheaded the city's effort in garnering a $23 million TIGER stimulus grant from the Federal Transit Administration to help reintroduce a modern streetcar system to Dallas.

A 30-year public transportation veteran, Beverly Scott is a past chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and nationally recognized for her extraordinary leadership and advocacy in advancing increased investment in quality public transportation choices – and the workforce responsible for making it all happen. During the height of the economic downturn, Scott and her volunteer team painted red X’s on MARTA buses and trains to help the general public, state and regional leaders understand the devastating impact that 25-30% transit service cuts would have on the region’s economy, employers, and – most directly on people’s daily lives – the thousands of daily transit riders without other options. It helped and resulted in a historic demonstration of support from the Atlanta Regional Commission – comprised of elected officials and policymakers across the greater Atlanta region.

Ellen Voie founded the Women In Trucking Association in March of 2007 and currently serves as President and CEO. Women In Trucking was formed to promote the employment of women in the trucking industry, remove obstacles that might keep them from succeeding, and to celebrate the successes of its members.

Veronica O. Davis, P.E. is the co-owner and Principal Planning Manager at Nspiregreen LLC. She is a transportation guru who uses her knowledge to spark progressive social change in the community.

Greivis Vasquez began by participating in sports clinics in his native Venezuela and later in Maryland to realize his ambition of motivating and encouraging children and young adults to establish high goals for their future and to focus on their school studies.

Three years ago, the Fairfax Police Department contacted Andres “Elmer” Arias to build a bridge with the growing Latino Community, affected by a high crime rate among children and teenagers. After he began organizing soccer tournaments in Fairfax County, the crime rate in the area dropped and the program has been extended to places like Springfield, Reston and Culmore.