Welcome to a transformative discussion with Sophia Mohr, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). In this engaging episode of The Infrastructors, Sophia sheds light on COTA's mission to move lives forward and the groundbreaking initiatives shaping the future of public transportation in Central Ohio.

Explore the evolution of public transit, from on-demand bus services to smart infrastructure and generative AI. Discover how COTA, in collaboration with cutting-edge technologies like Rekor, is proactively reshaping the transit landscape, ensuring seamless commutes, and enhancing the overall quality of life in the region.

🚍 Key Points Discussed:

Join us in this enlightening conversation, exploring the limitless possibilities technology holds for the future of public transportation. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this inspiring journey toward a more connected, efficient, and accessible transit future.

In this episode, we welcome Safe Fleet's Director of Project Management, Justin Malcolm. Safe Fleet is a company that's reshaping fleet vehicle safety worldwide.

Safe Fleet's mission is nothing short of remarkable—making fleet vehicles safer and the areas around them as secure as possible while optimizing their productivity. Justin breaks down the extensive range of specialty fleets they work with and how they're leveraging cutting-edge technology to achieve these goals.

The conversation delves into the most significant advancement in their business—intelligent sensors. Safe Fleet is dedicated to providing drivers with vital information about their surroundings, even in areas they can't see.

Tune in to discover how Safe Fleet is leading the charge in making smarter vehicles, fostering better drivers, and ultimately creating safer fleets and streets.

Derk Boss, the Director of Surveillance for the renowned Angel of the Winds Casino Resort joins The Infrastructors and delves into the fascinating world of surveillance and gaming industry security. Derk's impressive resume has earned him the moniker the "Godfather of Surveillance" and demonstrates how he has dedicated his career to mastering the art of surveillance.

In this captivating interview, Derk shares his journey, from the early days that sparked his interest in this field to becoming an authority in the industry. We learn how his passion for catching cheaters led him to his current role as Director of Surveillance at the Angel of the Winds Casino in the beautiful state of Washington.

Tony Clark, Director of Surveillance for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, joins The Infrastructors to discuss the fascinating world of casino surveillance, debunk myths from movies, and explore the real-life challenges and advancements in technology. Tony shares insights into the role of surveillance in protecting assets, ensuring customer satisfaction, and enhancing overall casino operations. Additionally, they delve into topics such as the benefits of operating casinos for Indian tribes, emerging technologies in surveillance, collaboration with marketing departments, and success stories of using surveillance technology to prevent incidents and improve liability management.

Carl Novelli, the Assistant Vice President of the Public Sector at Wejo joins The Infrastructors and shares his journey into the industry, and talks about his passion for the technical aspects of his job. Carl explains what connected vehicle data is and how Wejo harnesses this information to make roads safer.

Wejo is a data, analytics, and software-as-a-service provider that analyzes connected and electric vehicle data to create real-time insights. With this information, they give businesses and organizations across a variety of industries the power to innovate, drive growth, transform communities, save lives, and improve the world we live in. This is all made possible by data from more than 13 million active vehicles.

Laurie Matkowski, the director of Connected and Automated Vehicle Services at Gannett Fleming, joins The Infrastructors podcast and shares her background as a civil engineer and how her interest in transportation began at a young age. She explains her role in managing contracts dealing with Connected Vehicles (CVs) and the strategic planning involved in this space. Matkowski gives a lesson on CVs and how they work, including how cars will be able to communicate with each other to avoid accidents. Tune in to learn more about the future of transportation and smart city innovation.

Timothy Weisberg, the Deputy Director of Marketing and Public Affairs at the California Office of Traffic Safety joins the podcast to discuss the various initiatives to increase roadway safety in California. The California Office of Traffic Safety’s mission is to efficiently distribute traffic safety grants that deliver cutting-edge programs to slash traffic fatalities and injuries on California roadways. They collaborate with approximately 300 state and local agencies to make the most effective use of federal grant program funds. OTS annually funds over $80 million dollars in education and enforcement programs and technologies designed to make California’s roadways the safest they can be. Timothy Weisberg and the California OTS team represent the state as thought leaders in traffic safety efforts at the local, state, and national levels.

Dale Porfilio, Chief Insurance Officer of the Insurance Information Institute and President of the Insurance Research Council, and Vickie Kilgore, Assistant Vice President of the Insurance Research Council, join the podcast to discuss all things insurance. For decades, these organizations have provided timely research and valuable insights on public policy issues affecting the property-casualty insurance industry. One of their primary goals is to reduce the number of uninsured motorists on the road. In fact, a blog post published by the Insurance Information Institute in 2021 reported that U.S. drivers spent $13 billion in one year to protect against uninsured and underinsured drivers. Both Mr. Porfilio and Ms. Kilgore believe that through better education and data we can provide more equitable access to auto insurance and reduce the amount of money insured drivers spend protecting against those that are uninsured.

Russ Martin, Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations for the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), discusses his role in shaping national transportation policy and assisting states as they work to address highway safety issues. His goal is to reduce or even eliminate traffic fatalities on our nation’s roadways and achieve Vision Zero.

GHSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit representing the state and territorial highway safety offices that implement federal grant programs to address behavioral highway safety issues. GHSA has two tiers of membership: its core State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) Members and Associate Members. Their mission is to provide leadership and advocacy for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices.

Kurt Schmoke, current President of the University of Baltimore and former Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, joins the podcast to discuss his storied career in politics and education. As the very first African American mayor of Baltimore, Mayor Schmoke was awarded the National Literacy Award for his efforts to promote adult literacy and lifelong learning. Additionally, during his tenure and even now today, Mayor Schmoke's goal is to identify economic and public safety issues that can be solved through automated technology.