2018 DOT Civil Rights Virtual Symposium Speaker Bios - Session 10

Session 10: Inclusion and Equity from the Perspective of State and Local Transportation Entities

Katherine Delaney, Community Planner, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Katherine Delaney is a graduate of Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in Aviation Management.  She has been a Community Planner with the Federal Aviation Administration for over 15 years.  Ms. Delaney works with airports in the states of Michigan and Ohio to develop and prepare planning documents for future airport development projects, including alternatives analysis, financial planning, and public involvement. She has worked on environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, Part 150 noise studies, and master plans. 

Jonathan Klein, National Team Lead, Airport Disability Compliance Program, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Jonathan Klein is the National Team Lead for the Airport Disability Compliance Program at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  He is directly responsible for three team members that manage all aspects of Americans with Disabilities Act and Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act enforcement for airports nationwide.

Prior to joining the FAA Office of Civil Rights in September 2015, Jonathan worked with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for nine years.  From October 2006 until February 2009, Jonathan led FTA’s review program for Americans with Disabilities Act and Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act compliance.  For the balance of his time with FTA, Jonathan served in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Office, overseeing grant development and Federal law compliance for multiple Los Angeles area transit projects. 

Steve Mayers, Airport Director, Customer Experience and ADA Coordinator, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Steve Mayers is the director of customer experience and ADA coordinator. He oversees the guest experience, social media, ADA administration, volunteer and nonprofit programs, and team member development.

For Mr. Mayers, successful management of the world’s busiest and most efficient airport comes down to one matter: excellent customer service. As head of the customer experience, he views the more than 100 million passengers as his guests and seeks to unite airlines, airport vendors and local businesses to create the ultimate traveler experience from curbside to gate — and back.

With more than 25 years of hospitality experience, Mr. Mayers has held leadership positions in some of the world’s leading hospitality companies, including Sandals Resorts, Radisson and Best Western Hotels & Resorts.

A Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA), Mr. Mayers is a graduate of Temple University’s Fox School of Business and its School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Stephanie Ward, Manager, Aviation Planning, Mead & Hunt

Stephanie Ward is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BS in Urban Planning and has been with Mead & Hunt as an aviation planner for nearly 19 years.  She has over 27 years of aviation planning experience completing projects of all sizes across the U.S.  She is a certified planner (AICP) and has completed more than 150 projects across the country ranging from traditional airport master planning, environmental assessments, land acquisition, state aviation system plans and national research for the Airports Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) where she has been involved with more than 20 projects.  Stephanie’s perspective as both an aviation planner and pilot brings unique understanding to her projects, big and small.  She has a passion for public involvement and engagement which she believes provides more successful development and implementation of her various projects.