2017 DOT Civil Rights Virtual Symposium Speaker Bios - Session 3

Best Practices for Addressing Title VI in Transportation Projects

Jonathan Ocana (Moderator)

Jonathan Ocana is an Equal Opportunity Specialist at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Departmental Office of Civil Rights. In his capacity, he coordinates internal efforts to implement a consistent application and approach of DOT’s Title VI regulation across U.S. DOT. Jonathan joined the Departmental Office of Civil Rights in 2016, having previously served as the Federal Transit Administration’s Title VI Program Coordinator.

John Lozada

John Lozada is the Manager of Federal Programs for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, directing enterprise-wide efforts to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and leading the transition plan development and implementation efforts for MassDOT under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  John started his work with MassDOT in 2009 as the merged agency’s first Director of Civil Rights, where he led the restatement, implementation and oversight of affirmative action/equal employment and business opportunity programs.  Mr. Lozada is an attorney with extensive experience in government and administrative law, in transportation, employment and education. He is a graduate of Amherst College and the University of California – Hastings College of the Law.

Kevin Resler

Kevin Resler is the FHWA National Title VI Program Coordinator in the Headquarters Office of Civil Rights (HCR). Before joining HCR in July, 2015, he served as the Civil Rights Program Manager for FHWA’s Utah and Nevada Divisions, a position he has held since joining FHWA in September 2010.  In his current position, Kevin provides expert analysis and guidance to Divisions, state DOTs, Metropolitan Planning Organizations and local public agencies for policy development regarding Title VI and related nondiscrimination laws.

Prior to joining FHWA, Kevin had been the Contract Compliance Manager for the Indiana Department of Transportation, where he managed a variety of civil rights programs.  Kevin also served in various legal capacities with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.  Kevin holds a B.A. from Indiana University, and a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law.

Dawn Sweet

Dawn Sweet is the Director of the Headquarters Operations Division for the Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Civil Rights. The division works to ensure that public transit providers comply with Title VI, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, and other nondiscrimination requirements through oversight activity, such as compliance reviews and complaint investigations, and by providing training and technical assistance. Prior to becoming Director, she was the office’s Program Manager for Complaints and Communications. She joined FTA in 2009, after spending 5 years with the DOT Departmental Office of Civil Rights.