Leo A. Vecellio, Jr., has been elected to chair the development arm of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the industry’s leading advocate before Congress and the White House, it was announced at the association's recent national convention.

The Transportation Development Foundation and its trustees oversee and develop funding for $2 million in training, education and public awareness programs related to vital transportation development issues.

“It is critical that we, as a country, rebuild and improve our aging transportation infrastructure,” said Vecellio. “Not only for safety’s sake, but to compete in the 21st century global marketplace. One of my priorities as Foundation chairman is to develop initiatives that clearly demonstrate this to our elected officials and the American public.

TDF supports this and other transportation efforts through its “Transportation Builder Institute,” federal contracts on work zone safety and other training issues, special economics and research reports, scholarships and awards, and a large-scale transportation exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History – bringing to life the story of transportation’s role in the country’s prosperity.

“I have long believed that America’s economic growth and quality of life depend on transportation investment,” Vecellio said.” It is one of the soundest investments we can make in our nation’s future.”

Vecellio has been active in ARTBA leadership for more than 10 years, serving as its Chairman in 2007-08 and as a long-time ARTBA-TDF Trustee. His other ARTBA leadership positions: Senior Vice Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Southern Region Vice Chairman, and Vice Chairman-at-Large.

In addition to ARTBA leadership and his role as CEO of the family-owned business bearing his name, Vecellio is active in numerous industry, educational and business associations. He is among the founders and executive members of Floridians for Better Transportation, serves on the Florida “Council of 100,” is a founding member and was first president of the Flexible Pavements Council of West Virginia. He is also a member of the “Committee of 100” of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, and a former trustee of the Virginia Tech Foundation, where he chaired the investment committee.

Vecellio’s many honors include induction into the Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni at Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering, the Academy of Engineering Excellence at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, and the Academy of Distinguished Alumni at Virginia Tech’s Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Other ARTBA-TDF trustees include:

• Tom Hill, president and chief executive officer, Summit Materials, Washington, D.C.
• Charlie Potts, chief executive officer, Heritage Construction & Materials, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Garry Higdem, president and group chief executive, energy and chemicals, CH2M HILL World Headquarters, Englewood, Colo.
• Ken Rezendes, chairman, K.R. Rezendes, Inc., Assonet, Mass.
• Gene McCormick, senior vice president, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Naples, Fla.
• Rich Wagman, chairman and chief executive officer, G.A. & F.C. Wagman, Inc., York, Pa.
• Mike Walton, E.H. Cockrell centennial chair in engineering, University of Texas, Austin
• Pete Ruane, ARTBA president and chief executive officer, Washington, D.C.

Established in 1902, ARTBA represents the transportation design and construction industry before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, and general public. Its 2009 convention was held in Charleston, SC, in October.

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