MEET THE TEAM
Chad Parasa, PE, PTOE
Executive Director
Chad Parasa has more than 20 years of MPO Transportation planning experience in the public sector, and he has 5 years of consulting work experience in the private sector, in the areas of Traffic Engineering. Chad has a graduate degree in Civil Engineering, major in Transportation Engineering, from the University of Oklahoma. Chad also obtained his Master degree in Mathematics, from Fairfield University, Connecticut. Chad has a passion for public service, and he believes that many choices of transportation modes of public, develop into a transportation system. The transportation system becomes an integral part and a foundation for economic development. Thus there are so many areas to serve the public’s interests in a multi-modal transportation system. One of the ways to serve the public is by serving elected officials because they represent the public and strive for the larger good of the public. Chad believes that MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) is a great place for collaboration by bringing together various agencies such as local jurisdictions, regional leaders and stakeholders, state agencies, as well as federal agencies.
Jessica Warren, LMSW
Director of Mobility Management for South Central Kansas
Jessica has been the Mobility Manager for South Central Kansas since April 2021. Her focus on creating safe, affordable, and accessible mobility solutions for all is guided by her previous work with individuals who have experienced traumatic events. She is passionate about working with organizations and systems to find equitable “big picture” solutions that will increase quality of life for as many people as possible. Jessica has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Wichita State University.
Nick Flanders
Senior Transportation Planner
Nick Flanders has been a transportation planner at WAMPO since 2020. He holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and previously worked as a travel-demand modeler at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.
Dora Gallo
Transportation Planner
Dora graduated with a Master's degree in Regional and Community Planning at Kansas State University, where she got her first manuscript published. Dora is an experienced Field Supervisor, and she has led numerous surveys to gather data on transportation patterns and usage. She is skilled in traffic modeling and has used this expertise to develop transportation plans that are both efficient and sustainable. Dora has a passion for working with diverse communities and ensuring that their transportation needs are met. She is particularly interested in traffic modeling, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and the use of data analytics to inform transportation planning decisions.
Peter Mohr
Manager of Transportation Engineering & Data
Peter joined WAMPO in April of 2023 as an Engineering and Data Analyst. He graduated from Wichita State University in 2022 with a Computer Science degree. Prior Peter served his community as a Registered Nurse working at a local hospital. He has a passion for helping others and applies his knowledge of data analytics to best serve the transportation needs of the greater Wichita area.
Markey Jonas
Administrative & Public Outreach Coordinator
Markey graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Modern and Classical Languages, with a French concentration, before joining the WAMPO team in October 2023. She is enthusiastic about creative problem-solving, joyful lifelong learning, and engaging with a diverse global community. An avid traveler, Markey is excited to contribute her unique perspective and organizational skills to streamline WAMPO's mission and improve the regional transportation network.
Kyle Thomas
Senior Accountant
Kyle joined WAMPO in June 2023 as the Senior Accountant. He has over a decade of accounting experience, working in a variety of industries within the private sector. He graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree of Business Administration in Accounting. As a lifelong Wichitan he’s excited to help serve the WAMPO region and be a part of its continued growth and development.
Kim Neufeld
Multimodal Transportation Safety Planner
Kim joined WAMPO in March of 2024 as the Multi-Modal Transportation Safety Planner. She graduated from the University of Texas - Austin in 2001 with a Bachelors in Classics. Prior to joining WAMPO, Kim served as the Executive Director at Bike Walk Wichita. She has served on WAMPO committees for the past seven years and is excited to apply her community engagement, grant writing, and planning skills. Kim has worked in public health for the past 23 years, focusing primarily on health policy and system improvements.
Marcela Quintanilla
Engineering & Data Analyst
Currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Computer Science at Wichita State University, with a Technical Certificate in IT Computer Support Specialist, and holding certifications such as A+ and Server+, this team member serves as a GIS & Transportation Data Analyst and is proficient in Spanish.
Dylan Cossaart
Engineering & Data Analyst
Dylan joined WAMPO as an Engineering and data analyst intern as of May 2023. He is currently working towards a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Wichita State University, starting his education in August of 2022. He has a passion for programming and data analysis, wanting to dive deeper into the subjects. He plans to play a major role WAMPO while he continues to further his education.
Lauren Bulcroft
Engineering & Data Analyst
Lauren joined WAMPO in February 2024 as a part-time Engineering and Data Analyst. She is currently working towards a bachelor’s degree in Applied Engineering with an emphasis in management at Wichita State University. She has a passion for data analysis, planning, and scheduling. She plans to play a major role WAMPO while she continues to further her education at WSU and graduate in May of 2025.