Zavisca Earns Professional Transportation Planner Certification

Congratulations to Ellen Zavisca of the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) for earning certification as a Professional Transportation Planner.

Her nine years of experience, along with her master's degree in urban transportation planning and policy?earned at the University of Illinois-Chicago--qualified her to sit for the exam. And she aced it on the first try, scoring the highest grade among all other test takers!

"I went after this certification because I wanted to be up to date on transportation planning as it's practiced today.

I'm proud to have earned this credential and also of the work that I and others at the Knoxville TPO do to create a more healthy, sustainable transportation environment."

Transportation planning strives to improve the movement of people and goods by motor vehicle, public transit, walking, and cycling. By helping build more cooperation among the public, transportation professionals, and decision-makers, transportation planners help balance competing goals of access mobility and safety with environmental, economic, and social equity concerns.

TPO Director, Jeff Welch speaks highly of Zavisca and her accomplishments. "Ellen is a tremendous asset to the TPO and the communities we serve. I am proud and happy to see her progressing in a career that she excels at."

Designation as a Professional Transportation Planner brings recognition for both Zavisca and the Knoxville TPO. Zavisca is distinguished from non-certified practitioners as having the knowledge, skills, and abilities to practice at a professional level. And, when a public agency like the TPO has certified professionals on staff, it tells elected officials and the public that the work the agency produces comes with an assurance of competence.

The certification process is administered by the Transportation Professional Certification Board. For more information, please visit their website, http://www.tpcb.org/default.asp