Who we are
2025 board of directors
Alvaro Villagran, Chair
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.
Mike Goodman, Deputy Chair
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.
Sydney Crandall, Secretary
Design Engineer, HNTB
Sydney is a design engineer in the Transit and Urban Design Group at HNTB. She became interested in the transportation industry because she wants her work to have a positive impact on the environment and community as a whole. Sydney earned her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas in 2022. Outside of work, Sydney enjoys traveling, crafting and biking around town.
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 who 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.
Nikhila Gunda, Communications Director
Associate Researcher, University of Kansas Transportation Center (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 a bachelor's in Architecture. As a principal investigator, she leads major projects, including but not limited to safety and 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.
Wendy Zhang, Sponsorship Director
Transportation Engineer & Analyst, WSP USA
Wendy is a design and traffic engineer at WSP, specializing in traffic analysis, travel demand modeling, and transportation design. Her work is driven by her passion for Intelligent Transportation Systems, transportation sustainability initiatives, and transportation safety for all users. Wendy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Computational Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. Beyond her professional endeavors and involvement with YPT, Wendy enjoys hiking, attending musicals, working out, playing Cities: Skylines, collecting transit smart cards, and biking around every town she visits. When she travels, she tries to bike everywhere as she did in Austin, enjoying being both a designer and a user of public, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure
Cy Splichal, Programs Director
Transportation Planner, MARC
Cy is a transportation planner with the Mid-America Regional Council, where he focuses on public engagement and long-range transportation planning for the Kansas City region. Cy holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies and a Master of Science in Community Development, both from Kansas State University. With an academic and professional emphasis on community involvement and planning, Cy strives to help make the KC area a sustainable, thriving place to live.