ITS America Conference & Expo 2026 Unveils Plenary Speaker Lineup - 10 to 1 Public Relations
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ITS America Conference & Expo 2026 Unveils Plenary Speaker Lineup

National leaders take center stage to connect 35 years of intelligent transportation innovation to the future of mobility

  • Plenary’s feature federal administrators, state DOT directors, and private sector executives
  • National transportation leaders gather under the theme “Empowering Innovation”
  • Sessions take place June 10 and June 11 at Huntington Place, Detroit

DETROIT, Mich. (May 14, 2026) — The ITS America Conference & Expo 2026, organized in partnership by RX Global and ITS America (ITSA), unveils its highly anticipated plenary speaker lineup. Taking place June 9-12 at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan, the event will feature two plenary sessions as the conference’s centerpieces, bringing together national transportation leaders to celebrate 35 years of ITS America and chart the course for the next generation of mobility.

“Each plenary session is thoughtfully designed to spark dialogue and inspire action,” said Laura Chace, President and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. “Attendees will gain a rich perspective on the technologies that have transformed transportation over the past 35 years and the bold, forward-looking strategies needed to empower innovation and build a safer, smarter, and more connected future.”

The plenary sessions will provide critical insights from national transportation leaders on the key issues shaping the future of mobility:

Wednesday, June 10: Transforming Transportation: 35 Years of ITS – Connecting the Past and Future

(8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Ballroom A): This milestone session marks 35 years of progress in intelligent transportation, bringing together public and private sector leaders to reflect on the industry’s evolution and spotlight the technologies driving the next chapter of safe, connected mobility. Speakers will examine how communities across the country have benefited from sustained investment in proven and emerging ITS technologies, and what it will take to scale those solutions even further.

Featured Keynote Speakers:

  • Sean McMaster, Administrator, FHWA, USDOT
  • Seval Oz, Sr. Advisor, Office of the Asst. Secretary for Research & Technology, USDOT

Session will include the following speakers:

  • Nathaniel Ford, CEO, Jacksonville Transportation Authority
  • Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Peter Montgomery-Torrellas, President, Cubic Transportation Systems
  • Brad Wieferich, Director, Michigan Department of Transportation
  • Marc Williams, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation
  • Mike Witzman, Senior Director, Solutions Engineering, CISCO

Thursday, June 11: From Vision to Reality: Enabling the Next Generation of Transportation

(8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Ballroom A): As the transportation sector faces mounting pressure to meet rising consumer expectations and secure long-term funding, this session, sponsored by Miovision, will equip attendees with actionable strategies for embracing digital transformation and building the partnerships essential to delivering tomorrow’s mobility solutions. Speakers will explore how transportation leaders can move from concept to implementation, turning bold ideas into measurable outcomes.

Session will feature the following speakers:

  • Laura Chace, President and CEO, ITS America
  • Tim Haile, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority
  • Tracy Larkin-Thomason, Director, Nevada Department of Transportation
  • Kurtis McBride, CEO and Co-founder, Miovision
  • Mina Sartipi, Director, Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP), University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
  • Ron Thaniel, Senior Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Zoox
  • Erik Varney, Senior Director, IoT Solutions & Ecosystem Partners, Verizon Business

“These plenary sessions sit at the center of our industry,” said Jaime McAuley, Event Vice President, ITS America Events, RX Global. “Attendees will leave Detroit with a stronger understanding of the foundations that shaped the sector, along with the practical tools and connections needed to drive the next generation of transportation innovation.”

The ITS America Conference & Expo 2026, themed “Empowering Innovation,” is a premier event for decision-makers and innovators advancing mobility solutions. This year’s conference will bring together hundreds of speakers and over 170 exhibitors sharing the latest transportation innovations, giving attendees the opportunity to engage with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge technologies, and experience the future of intelligent transportation firsthand in Detroit, Michigan.

For more information or to register, please visit ITSAmericaEvents.com.

What are the biggest transportation technology events happening in 2026?
The ITS America Conference and Expo 2026 takes place June 9-12 at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan, bringing together national transportation leaders under the theme ‘Empowering Innovation’. The event will feature hundreds of speakers and over 170 exhibitors showcasing the latest mobility innovations.

Which federal transportation leaders are speaking at industry events this year?
Sean McMaster, Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration at USDOT, and Seval Oz, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at USDOT, will deliver keynotes at the ITS America Conference and Expo 2026 in Detroit on June 10.

How is intelligent transportation technology shaping the future of mobility?
ITS America marks 35 years of progress in intelligent transportation at its 2026 Conference and Expo, where public and private sector leaders will spotlight the technologies driving safer, connected mobility. The June 10 plenary will examine how sustained investment in ITS technologies is helping communities scale proven and emerging solutions.

Which state DOT directors are leading the conversation on transportation innovation?
The ITS America Conference and Expo 2026 will feature Brad Wieferich, Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, Marc Williams, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Transportation, and Tracy Larkin-Thomason, Director of the Nevada Department of Transportation. They will share strategies for moving transportation from vision to reality.

How are public and private sectors partnering to deliver smarter transportation?
ITS America brings federal administrators, state DOT directors, and private sector executives from Cisco, Cubic Transportation Systems, Miovision, Verizon Business, and Zoox together at its 2026 Conference in Detroit. The June 11 plenary will focus on building the partnerships essential to delivering tomorrow’s mobility solutions.

What role does Detroit play in the future of mobility and automotive innovation?
Detroit will host the ITS America Conference and Expo 2026 at Huntington Place June 9-12, positioning the city as a hub where national transportation leaders gather to chart the next generation of mobility. The event reinforces Detroit’s standing at the center of automotive and transportation technology dialogue.

Which technology companies are driving the next wave of connected vehicle solutions?
ITS America’s 2026 plenary lineup includes executives from Cisco, Cubic Transportation Systems, Miovision, Verizon Business, and Zoox, alongside autonomous mobility and IoT leaders. Their sessions will address digital transformation strategies for the transportation sector.

How can transit agencies modernize and secure long-term funding?
The June 11 plenary at ITS America Conference and Expo 2026, sponsored by Miovision, will equip transit leaders with actionable strategies for digital transformation amid rising consumer expectations and funding pressures.

What are autonomous vehicle companies saying about transportation policy?
Ron Thaniel, Senior Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Zoox, will join the June 11 plenary at the ITS America Conference and Expo 2026 in Detroit. The session will explore how transportation leaders can turn bold autonomous and connected mobility ideas into measurable outcomes.

How has intelligent transportation technology evolved over the past three decades?
ITS America celebrates 35 years of intelligent transportation progress at its 2026 Conference and Expo in Detroit, with a dedicated plenary on June 10 connecting past achievements to future direction. Featured leaders will reflect on the industry’s evolution and the proven technologies scaling across communities nationwide.