Meet the Team

Executive Board

  • Smiling person with long dark hair, wearing a white shirt and necklace, on a white background.

    Em Hall, Ph.D.

    PRESIDENT

    Em is the owner of Em + H Chicago, a boutique consulting firm that’s a certified DBE with the Chicago Transit Authority and WBE with the State of Illinois. Em is an indoor cycling instructor, yogi, and Law & Order enthusiast. On the weekends, she’s teaching her old cats new tricks.

  • Smiling man in a suit with a pin on jacket

    David Schottky, AICP

    VICE PRESIDENT

  • Smiling person in a blue sweater and collared shirt on a white background.

    Jake Lang

    TREASURER

    Jake is a Data Scientist with the Chicago Transit Authority passionate about data accessibility and impact-oriented analytics. He's also a painter and has been known to brew his own mead on occasion.

  • Smiling person with curly hair wearing a dark jacket and blue shirt against a white background.

    Jill Kramer

    SECRETARY

    Jill is a transportation planner and NEPA practitioner at Parametrix, where she helps shape thoughtful, resilient, and environmentally responsible transportation systems. What drives her work is the opportunity to make a lasting impact—ensuring today’s projects support communities and the environment well into the future. Outside the office, Jill recharges by spending time outdoors, whether hiking, traveling, or discovering new places.

Steering Committee Chairs

  • Hunter Heyman

    Urban Planner, City of Oak Forest; Founder, Strong Towns Chicago

  • Pete Lauer

    Independent Mobility & Transportation Consultant

  • Francesca Lewis

    Program Coordinator, Shared-Use Mobility Center

  • Ryan McCray

    Master of Arts in Public Policy, University of Chicago.

  • Farid Peiravian

    Clinical Associate Professor, University of Illinois Chicago

  • Grace Zheng, AICP

    Urban Planner, WSP

Steering Committee Members

Pooria Choobchian - Sharma and Associates, Inc.

John Donners - R.M. Chin & Associates

Michael Dunst, AICP - Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

Victoria Kurlander (Tory) - Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

Farid Peiravian - University of Illinois Chicago