Nevada Department of Transportation
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Tracy Larkin Thomason, P.E. - Director
Tracy also brings a national perspective and has a deep understanding of the federal funding process as well as proven leadership capability. For the past two years, Tracy has been working for the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA), developing a national non-profit organization program department, and initiating a growing statewide smart and connected infrastructure applications. She is a transportation innovator, applying her unique and diverse experience in visionary leadership, industry collaboration, and strategic planning to advance a future transportation network that benefits all.
Tracy received her MBA and her B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is a Certified Public Manager, a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, and holds a license as a Registered Professional Engineer in Nevada.
Sondra Rosenberg, P.T.P. - Deputy Director, Planning and Administration
Sondra Rosenberg started at NDOT in 2008 as a Transportation Planner/Analyst (Federal Programs Manager). In 2014, she was promoted to Assistant Director of Planning and served in that role until her recent promotion to NDOT Deputy Director. In the Deputy Director of Administration role, Sondra oversees NDOT groups, including Administration, Planning, Human Resources, Communications, Internal Audit, and External Civil Rights.
Sondra received her bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Rochester and a Master of Science degree in Transportation Technology and Policy from the University of California, Davis. Before coming to NDOT, Sondra worked as a consultant for several years and then a Transportation Scholar through the National Park Foundation.
Sondra is a certified Professional Transportation Planner and is active in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), currently serving as the Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Forum and member of the Committee on Planning. Sondra has spent her career at NDOT focusing on strategic partnerships across sectors and jurisdictions through statewide and multistate transportation planning and data-driven, performance-based processes for decision making.
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Mario Gomez, P.E. – Deputy Director, Operations and Maintenance
Mario serves as NDOT’s Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance. Mario was named District I Engineer in 2019 and is a two-decade department veteran who previously served as Assistant District Engineer for Construction. Mario oversees maintenance, operations, construction and planning duties, among other responsibilities.
The department’s District I coverage area consists of Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye, Clark and Mineral counties. Mario manages 500 state workers as well as a network of 1,900 miles of highway throughout southern Nevada. He is also an active mentor to engineering and construction students.
Mario graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in both Texas and Nevada. Additionally, he is a state-certified public manager.
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Sajid Sulahria, P.E. - Deputy Director, Project Delivery and Engineering
Sajid Sulahria started his career with NDOT in 2003 and began his current position as Deputy Director of Project Delivery and Engineering in June of 2023. Throughout his career with NDOT, Sajid has worked in the Hydraulics Division as a Principal Hydraulic Engineer and has managed the statewide bridge scour program. Sajid has also participated in the Department’s rotational engineering program.
Sajid served as the Senior Project Manager for the Reno Spaghetti Bowl project and phase one Spaghetti Bowl Xpress (SBX) and most recently as the Assistant Director of Engineering.
As Assistant Director of Engineering, Sajid oversaw all project delivery divisions, including Design, Project Management, Hydraulics, Structures, Location, Right of Way, and the Construction Division.
Now, as Deputy Director of Project Delivery and Engineering, he will oversee several divisions responsible for designing, engineering and constructing NDOT projects, including Project Management, Design, Structures, Location, Hydraulics, Right-of-Way, Construction, Environmental Services and Stormwater Management.
Sajid received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a registered professional engineer in Nevada.
He lives in Reno and enjoys spending time with his family and outdoors including hiking and biking.
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Felicia Denney - Assistant Director, Administration
Felicia Denney was named NDOT’s Assistant Director of Administration in early 2020. In her role, she oversees Financial Management, Accounting, Information Technology, Administrative Services and Headquarters’ Buildings and Grounds divisions.
Felicia has been with NDOT for over 14 years, serving as chief of the Financial Management Division prior to her current position. She also has experience working for the State of Nevada Department of Taxation, State Industrial Insurance System and the Department of Insurance.
Felicia earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a Finance Concentration from San Jose State University where she was a proud member of the San Jose State swim team.
Felicia is honored to work for an agency that strongly supports Nevada communities and visitors and can make a positive impact on Nevadans' daily lives. She is focused on the responsible use and maximization of taxpayer dollars and providing the department and the public with excellent customer service.
Felicia enjoys swimming, gardening and cheering her children on at their sporting events and theater productions.
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Scott Hein started his career with NDOT in 2000 and began his current position as Assistant Director of Engineering in August of 2023. Scott has worked in multiple capacities at the Department throughout his career, working in the Roadway Design Division, Structures Division, and then most recently back to Roadway design as both a Principal Engineer and Chief of the Design Division. Scott has been involved in multiple large projects, such as Project Neon, Centennial Bowl, Boulder Bypass, Spaghetti Bowl Xpress (SBX) and Tropicana Interchange.
Now, as the Assistant Director of Engineering, Scott will be overseeing the project delivery divisions responsible for the design, engineering, and construction of NDOT contracts. Divisions under his supervision include Roadway Design, Project Management, Construction, Hydraulics, Structures, Location and Right of Way.
Scott received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a registered professional engineer in Nevada.
He lives in Reno and enjoys family life and building and tinkering with classic cars and modifying new cars as well.
Jae Pullen, P.E. - Assistant Director, Operations
Jae Pullen joined NDOT in 2005 as a staff engineer in the Department’s Rotational Engineering Program, where he spent over a decade in District 2, serving in various roles within the maintenance and operations programs. In 2016, Jae was promoted to Engineering Services Manager, overseeing the encroachment permits and inspection, utility coordination, traffic engineering, and road operations center sections.
Jae also served as a Senior Project Manager for the Ely CMAR and US 395 North Valleys project. In 2021, he joined the Traffic Operations Division as an Assistant Chief Engineer and supported the 2021 Caldor Fire efforts by coordinating with local agencies to develop a traffic detour strategy for South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County.
As the Assistant Director of Operations, Jae will oversee the operational divisions, providing support to all three districts. These divisions include Maintenance and Asset Management, Traffic Operations, Materials, and Equipment.
Jae received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a registered professional engineer in Nevada. He is also a certified Professional Traffic Operations Engineer.
He lives in Reno with his supportive family and enjoys repairing vintage wrist watches and listening to music.
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Rebecca Kapuler - Assistant Director, Planning
Rebecca Kapuler has an extensive background working in multimodal transportation and planning in northern Nevada, with more than 24 years of experience with government agencies at the local, regional and state levels.
Rebecca most recently served her community as Assistant Chief of Multimodal Planning at the Nevada Department of Transportation where she led the Active Transportation Program that included Safe Routes to School, Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Education, and the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program.
Rebecca returned to NDOT in 2022 after eight years at the RTC Washoe County and a previous role at NDOT.
Out of NDOT, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs, visiting her family cabin in Sattley, California and she relaxes by being a creative quilter.
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Joe Harrington - Chief of Communications and Government Affairs
Joe brings roughly 20 years of award-winning communication experience to the role. Most recently, he represented Palm Beach County, Florida as the Senior Manager of Public Relations and Public Information Officer for the one of the state's largest transit and paratransit providers and as the Director of Communications for the Department of Airports.
Prior to Florida, Joe served as the Public Information Officer at the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC). He led communications efforts on a number of major projects including: the 4th Street/Prater Way Bus RAPID Transit Project, the Virginia Street RAPID Transit Extension Project, the Southeast Connector and the Pyramid Way and McCarran Boulevard Intersection Improvement Project.
In addition to his public service career, you may recognize Joe from his decade as a journalist, including at Reno's KOLO-TV channel. 8.
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Always a resident of the mountain west, Lori has been a Nevadan for more than three decades. She graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Social Psychology and obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1998.
During her legal career, Lori worked as a Staff Attorney for U.S. District Court of Nevada for nearly a decade, focusing on Constitutional Law and Civil Rights. She furthered her litigation experience while spending several years in private practice doing construction, business, and employment law. Lori joined the Nevada Attorney General’s office in 2013 representing the Departments of Public Safety and Motor Vehicles. She was promoted to Senior Deputy while representing the Secretary of State and the Division of State Lands. During her nearly ten years with the Attorney General’s office Lori has also advised various boards and committees, as well as practicing with the Attorney General’s Employment Division representing the Department of Business and Industry.
Lori joined the Transportation Department’s legal team in 2019 and was appointed Chief Deputy and Chief Counsel to the Transportation Department in January, 2023.
Lori loves her work supporting the Department in its mission of moving Nevada in a safe and connected way.