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GVF recently hosted its 34th Annual Meeting, which featured the 2024 Leadership Awards and a moderated panel discussion of federal elected officials Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon.
The panel discussion was moderated by Jeff Guzy, GVF Board President and focused on the current state of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) including how the bill is being used to address climate change and carbon reduction strategies, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and transit funding challenges.
Congresswoman Madeleine Dean spoke in support of the rail projects coming to the region stating, “Sometimes what’s old is new again, like the investment revitalizing rail. Anytime we can put more money into SEPTA, Amtrak, regional rail, it improves communities. We know that. It makes life more convenient.”
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan mentioned the delay that occurs from the passing of bills in favor of transportation improvements, imploring upon the crowd, “One thing I would ask of you is to advocate… if you see projects that are happening as a result of a lot of the work that’s happened at the federal or state level, please make sure that you talk about them. Please make sure that you notice things like traffic cones as being good things rather than bad things. If there’s construction happening in our area, that’s a good thing. That’s resources coming to our area.”
Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon spoke about a bill that she is proposing within the next month related to pedestrian and bicyclist safety; “one of the big pushes in the infrastructure bill is to pay more attention to pedestrians and bicyclist safety. That’s something that is very exciting that fits very well with what GVF has done over time. We’re trying to build on that. Later this month I am going to introduce a bill called the Pedestrian Protection Act, which is going to move to update motor vehicle standards. Motor vehicle standards have always focused on the interior of the vehicle but over the last twenty years, we have seen as cars and trucks have gotten bigger and bulkier, we have seen a corresponding rise in pedestrian and bicyclist deaths.”
From L to R: GVF's Deputy Executive Director Maureen Farrell, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, GVF's Executive Director Rob Henry, GVF Board President Jeff Guzy.
GVF’s Executive Director Rob Henry was recognized for his 25 years of service to GVF with a citation from the U.S. House of Representatives, presented by Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, who said about Rob: “I was thinking of [a] Walt Disney quote that very much embodies [Rob]. ‘If you can dream it, you can do it,’ and for 25 years you’ve been doing that. You’ve been dreaming really good things for this region around transportation, around safer communities… You know how much I like the work around biking and cycling. I am very proud to offer you a Congressional citation.”
Representatives Tim Briggs, Ben Sanchez, and Joe Webster also presented Rob with a citation from the PA House of Representatives marking his 25 years at GVF. Rep. Tim Briggs described Rob as “a force in our community” and thanked him for his advocacy and willingness to educate the delegation throughout his time at GVF.
From L to R: Rep. Tim Briggs, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, Rob Henry, Rep. Joe Webster, Rep. Ben Sanchez
As a thought leader in the industry, GVF’s signature events, such as its 34th Annual Meeting, provides an opportunity for executive professionals, and elected officials to network while hearing from prominent speakers and leaders in the transportation industry.
2024 Leadership Awardees (pictured from L to R):
Elected Official Leadership Award - PA State Senator Amanda Cappelletti
Elected Official Leadership Award - PA State Representative Ben Sanchez
Elected Official Leadership Award - PA State Representative Matt Bradford, Democratic Majority Leader (not pictured)
Advocacy Award - Pamela Sarne McCormick, SEPTA
Public Sector Leadership Award - North Coventry Township (accepted by Township Manager Erica Batdorf)
Private Sector Leadership Award - BET Investments (accepted by Mike Markman, President, and Peter Clelland, Vice President of Development)
Planning Leadership Award - Whitpain Township (accepted by members of the Board of Supervisors, Jeff Campolongo, Scott Badami, Joyce Keller, and Sara Selverian)
Connected Communities Award - Horsham Township (accepted by Bill Whiteside, President of the Township Council; Bill Walker, Township Manager; and Larry Burns, Director of Community and Economic Development)
Engineering Leadership Award – Pennoni (accepted by Brian Keaveney, Vice-President, and Joe Mastronardo, Vice-President)
Innovation Award – Conshohocken Borough (accepted by Kathleen Kingsley, Borough Council Vice President, and Tina Sokolowski, Borough Council President)
GVF Board Leadership Award - Terrence Foley
Peter P. Quinn Leadership Award - PA State Representative Tim Briggs
GVF Legacy Award - Jeff Guzy, GVF Board President
Contact Kaitlin Valliere | KValliere@gvftma.com | 570-498-4553
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