Member spotlight: Emma Shlaes
Meet Emma Shlaes, Senior TDM Program Manager at Commute.org and TDM-CP. Read the spotlight below to learn about her, what brought her to the industry, and her involvement in ACT.
Please introduce yourself and your organization.
What brought you to TDM and how did you get involved in the field?
I came to the TDM profession through the environmental field. After obtaining my master’s degree in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at American University, I was drawn to work on urban transportation issues since transportation has such a large impact on greenhouse gas emissions. After working for a bicycling non-profit for eight years, I made the jump to Commute.org and TDM.
Why did you get involved in ACT?
I learned about ACT through my colleagues at Commute.org. It was clear that this was the key thing to get involved in to not only increase my knowledge of TDM but also to network and learn from peers around the country.
A highlight was the river boat cruise at the ACT Conference in Chicago in 2022. I’m also excited to have been part of launching the Micromobility Council this year.
Do it! You gain access to incredible resources and connections from around the world.
An opportunity and challenge is reconciling the remote work/in-office cultures. There is a tension now with more workplaces wanting employees to return to the office full-time and employees appreciating a more flexible schedule. The remote work trend has also had a huge impact on our public transit systems, and we need to find ways to financially support those options.