Who we are
YPT Kansas city board of directors
Allison Buchwach
Chair
Transit and Mobility Planner - HNTB
Allison practices active transportation planning - transit, biking and walking - including conceptual planning, environmental
review, funding strategies, design, construction and implementation and ongoing operations and maintenance in midwestern markets. Her passion for her field stems from the love of public gathering places and our natural need for community identity through run-ins with our friends, neighbors and strangers in the street. Allison received her degrees from the University of Michigan and Georgia Institute of Technology. In her free time, she enjoys bike rides, Spanish club, civic engagement, socializing, and gawking at dogs.
Michael Schmidt
Deputy Chair
Landscape Architect - HNTB
Michael works as a Landscape Architect in the Transit and Urban Design group at HNTB. He is a licensed Landscape Architect with 9+ years of experience on a variety of projects in the Kansas City area. Michael is also an active member of the Prairie Gateway Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a board member of Better Block KC. Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree of Landscape Architecture with a dual major in Environmental Studies from Iowa State University in 2015 and is a die-hard fan of all things Cyclone Athletics. Outside of work Michael likes spending time with his family, going to the lake, and watching sports.
Mike Goodman
Secretary
Operations Manager - Herzog Transit Services
Mike has 15+ years experience in transit, route service planning, scheduling and operations. He is the Operations Manager for Herzog Transit Services for the Kansas City Streetcar supporting Streetcar Operators through training, coaching and compliance. Mike supports safety programs and accident investigation along with coordination with the City of Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City Streetcar Authority. Mike also has 10 years of experience with KCATA (RideKC) in paratransit, planning and scheduling (Hastus). Mike has a BA in Urban Planning and Design from University of Missouri-Kansas City and he enjoys weightlifting (olympic + powerlifting), memes and monster movies.
Marshall Allen
Treasurer
Project Manager - HNTB
Marshall works as a Project Manager in the Transit and Urban Design Group at HNTB. He is an AICP Certified Planner that works on exciting transit projects throughout the Midwest. Marshall is an active member of the Prairie Gateway Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association. Marshall earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and his Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University. Beyond work and YPT, Marshall enjoys traveling, checking out breweries, ringing handbells, and rooting on the Buffalo Bills.
Andie Lynch
Communications Director
Transportation Planner - WSP
Andie is a dedicated Transportation Planner working for WSP in the Kansas City office. She has a robust background in public transit, operations, and urban planning. Her career in transportation began as a Transit Coach Operator and Dispatcher for CAMBUS, the University of Iowa’s student operated transit system. She then worked as a Transit Planner for the City of Lawrence. During this time, she developed and led the Travel Training program and worked on a bus technology project to enhance the City’s bus fleet. Andie earned her Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Kansas in 2024. Beyond work and YPT, Andie enjoys swimming, traveling, and yoga.
Alvaro Villagran
Acting Chair /
Director for Programs
Director of Federal Programs - Shared-Use Mobility Center
Alvaro leads the Shared-Use Mobility Center’s Federal Programs work, including being part of a capacity building team supporting the USDOT Thriving Communities Program, as well as providing technical assistance and conducting applied research for the Federal Transit Administration’s mobility innovation programs.
Alvaro is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Alvaro holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and a Master’s Degree in History from Northwestern University. Prior to moving to KC, Alvaro served in many positions on YPT-Chicago's Board and served twice as YPT-International's Director for Chapter Development.
Nikhila Gunda
Communications Director
Associate Researcher - KUTC
Nikhila currently serves as an Associate Researcher (Senior Transportation Planner) at the University of Kansas Transportation Center (KUTC) located in Lawrence, Kansas. Her extensive education includes a Master's in Urban Planning and Construction Management, and Bachelor's in Architecture. Nikhila began her career with WSP USA as a planner, doing field investigations and developing transportation plans that addressed demographics for urban planning projects. This prepared her for future research assignments where she expanded her knowledge and impact. She later became a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Kansas in 2018, collecting and analyzing data for urban and rural transportation projects to support the center's research goals. Her hard work and talent helped her in securing a full time job at KUTC. As a principal investigator, she leads major projects, including but not limited to, safety, active and public transportation, and improves Transportation Center research through novel investigations and team management. Her affiliations with the Institute of Transportation Professionals (ITE), American Planning Association (APA), Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), ITS Heartland and Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT) demonstrate her broad involvement in professional transportation sectors.