• Nancy Ledbetter, President

    Nancy Ledbetter brings together a 33-year career in transportation planning, environmental planning and public outreach programs. As Founder and President of Nancy Ledbetter & Associates, Inc. (NLA), Nancy's focus is on design and management of public outreach programs for transportation projects. The hallmark of her work is a clear understanding of all facets of effective communication and the ability to implement strategies that recognize the needs of various stakeholder interests. This knowledge and expertise results in comprehensive and highly effective outreach programs.

     

    Nancy is thoroughly familiar with transportation and environmental-related regulatory processes and the public input component of those processes. Prior to forming NLA, Nancy worked for a world-wide transportation engineering consulting firm, a small transportation planning consulting firm, a metropolitan planning organization (CAMPO), and the City of Austin, Williamson County, and the Texas Transportation Institute. She has prepared several Major Investment and Feasibility Studies, long-range transportation plans and has been a key participant in the preparation of numerous National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) -responsive Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements.

     

    Nancy earned her Master of Science degree in Community and Regional Planning from the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. Her concentration was in transportation and environmental planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Geography, also from UT Austin.

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  • Randall Dillard, Senior Associate
    Randall Dillard has been effectively communicating information to the general public — promoting public understanding of citizen involvement — for 32 years. As Senior Associate at NLA, Inc., Randall manages public involvement on several high-profile TxDOT projects, including: the I-35 GEC for Williamson, Travis and Hays counties; the Texas Freight Mobility Plan update, SH 45SW and the Oak Hill Parkway (US 290/SH 71West). Prior to joining NLA in August, 2011, Randall served as Director of Communications for the Texas Secretary of State for more than two-and-a-half years. He also held numerous key communication positions during a nearly 24 year career with the Texas Department of Transportation. His positions at TxDOT included Director of Public Information Office, Manager of Media Relations and District Public Information Officer in the agency's Austin and Lubbock Districts. As a spokesperson for two state agencies, Randall earned the confidence of top executives while providing meaningful information about agency programs, initiatives and activities to the public. An Austin native, Randall holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.

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  • Mitzi Ellison, Vice President
    Mitzi Ellison has more than 19 years of experience in environmental planning, public involvement and communications. She has 11+ years’ experience focusing on public involvement for environmental, planning, design, and construction phases for transportation projects. An expert in the environmental study process, Mitzi has managed, coordinated and authored numerous documents compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act for many high profile transportation projects as a consultant to the Texas Department of Transportation. She has successfully coordinated public involvement on environmental and planning studies on a wide range of issues in addition to transportation including habitat conservation and environmental remediation. Mitzi has effectively coordinated a variety of complex issues with federal, state and local elected and public officials to reach decisional points on projects. An accomplished communicator, Mitzi easily translates technical issues into meaningful and understandable information for citizens while abiding by regulations and requirements for the environmental and planning processes. Mitzi holds a M.B.A., M.A. in Communication and a B.S. in Psychology, all from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

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  • Sheri Davis, Senior Associate
    Sheri Davis has more than 30 years of experience in communications and public involvement. Sheri has successfully coordinated public involvement for environmental studies on transportation issues. An accomplished communicator, Sheri easily translates technical issues into meaningful and understandable information for citizens. She brings extensive experience in researching and producing large, complex documents with meticulous attention to detail. Sheri has produced and maintained newsletters, website content and databases on behalf of senior management. Her communication skills also include meeting facilitation and coordination, conflict management and internal communications. Sheri has been the public involvement consultant lead for several TxDOT Mobility35 projects including I-35 from Rundberg Lane to US 290E, I-35 at Riverside Drive and I-35 from RM 2243 to Southeast Inner Loop. She has also contributed to several projects including the 183 North Mobility Authority Project, I-35 at SH 123, I-35 at Kyle Crossing, I-35 at River Ridge and SH 48 Robstown Route Study. Sheri holds a Bachelor’s degree from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) in Canyon, Texas

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  • J. Scott Johnson, Vice President and Facilitator
    J. Scott Johnson is a skilled and professional meeting facilitator. An electrical engineer and integrated circuit designer by training, Scott brings to the team more than 31 years of experience in marketing and project management. His experience includes coordination of major technical conferences and training programs, serving as a team leader on numerous R&D programs in computer design and production, and advising such major manufacturers as AMD, Intel, HP, and Texas Instruments. Scott's talents are particularly well-suited to assisting in public involvement activities where a combination of technical background and facilitation/mediation experience is required. Scott is a native of South Louisiana and received his BSEE from Louisiana State University. The entirety of his professional career has been based in the State of Texas, first in Fort Worth and, since 1996, in the Austin Area. His has published papers in several Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) sponsored conferences as well being granted two patents in the field of integrated circuit design.

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  • Kerry Neely, Public Involvement Manager
    Kerry Neely brings more than 30 years of state agency experience in public information, communication and marketing. She served 17 years at the Texas Department of Transportation where she held various public information and communication roles including writer, assistant to TxDOT’s Commission Chair Robert Lanier; special project information officer; and community relations manager. Kerry’s responsibilities included developing publications, presentations and programs to communicate to TxDOT’s external and internal audiences and preparing presentations, correspondence and announcements on behalf of TxDOT’s administration. She also managed the agency’s website content, complaint resolution program, Texas Roadhand awards program and historical exhibit. Kerry also served the state at the Texas Department of Agriculture where she held various marketing and management jobs including deputy assistant commissioner of marketing and promotion. Her responsibilities included developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote Texas agricultural products, and oversight of a wide array of promotions, special events and marketing materials to support the diverse initiatives of the division. Since joining NLA in July 2013 she has contributed to a variety of TxDOT projects including the Oak Hill Parkway (US 290/SH 71W), SH 45SW, I-69, State Freight Plan and I-35 in Williamson, Travis and Hays counties. Throughout her career, Kerry has worked closely with top administrators, boards and commissions; legislators and other elected officials; consultants; staff members; community groups; media and the general public. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

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  • Annie Sikes, Senior Public Involvement Specialist
    Annie began working at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as a Public Involvement Specialist in 2014 and started at NLA in 2018. In that time, she has led and assisted with public involvement efforts on a multitude of projects including: rail studies, project development, long-range planning, feasibility studies and construction-related activities. She has gained skills in bringing innovative practices to all facets of public involvement. She has experience in working with local, state and federal officials to ensure members of the public are meaningfully involved throughout the lifecycle of a project. Annie excels in crafting and implementing effective public participation programs to reach the underserved and ensure public involvement activities are inclusive. Annie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a native Austinite.

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  • Heather Parscal, Senior Public Involvement Specialist
    Heather Parscal has supported public involvement and outreach activities on several important transportation projects, including the I-35 Corridor, the I-369 Corridor, MoPac Improvement Project and projects associated with the Hays County Road Bond Program. She has also provided public involvement services for TxDOT projects, including 183 North (Austin), SH 45SW (Austin), US 290/SH 71W (Austin), Copano Bay Causeway (Rockport), Buford/Horizon Blvd. (El Paso) and SH 45/O'Connor (Round Rock), Loop 360 Improvement Study, SH 71, I-69 Corridor Support, SH 44 (Robstown), US 281 (Premont), US 59 Upgrade (El Campo), and I-35 GEC (Austin). Prior to joining NLA, Inc. in May 2010, Heather was a project development coordinator for the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP) with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. She planned and coordinated all public outreach activities, including workshops, the production of brochures, notices and other outreach informational materials. She assisted with Public Hearings on legislative changes to the TERP program and consulted with potential grant recipients. She was also a planner in the Municipal Solid Waste Planning Department of TCEQ providing technical assistance to private industry and COG's and responding to requests received from legislative staff, executive management and the general public. Heather has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Environmental Studies and a Bachelors of Arts in Speech Communication from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

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  • Liza Ross, Public Involvement Specialist
    Liza has more than 18 years of experience in administration and data management. She has an administration background in public involvement, marketing, education and program management. Her diverse professional experiences have strengthened her customer service, interpersonal and organizational skills. Liza started with NLA, Inc. in 2008 working on the President George Bush Turnpike — Western Extension (SH 161) project in Dallas County. This experience strengthened her understanding of the transportation industry and highway development. It also provided an opportunity to gain skills in project controls and contract requirements for federally-funded projects. Liza currently provides a variety of public involvement support on all NLA projects. Liza studied at the University of North Texas in Program Management.

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  • Lauren Hardacker, Public Involvement Specialist
    Lauren Hardacker brings over five years of diverse experience with a professional background in public involvement, marketing communications, outreach, sales and customer service. With exceptional digital marketing, strategic planning and project management experience, Lauren has worked closely with clients and media outlets on coordinated PR and outreach marketing efforts. For over two years, Lauren has provided public involvement support for various local, regional and statewide transportation projects. Her project experience includes stakeholder outreach, content design and development, and other project related tasks. Her role also focuses on bringing innovative communication improvements to public outreach and engagement activities on transportation mobility improvement projects including the Loop 360 Feasibility Study, and I-35 projects in Williamson, Travis, and Hays counties. Lauren is a native Texan and Austinite. She holds a Bachelor of Business degree specializing in Marketing and Supply Chain Management from Texas A&M University.

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  • Patricia Kelly, Administrative Assistant
    Patricia Kelly joined NLA in 2014. She has more than 18 years of experience in a variety of professional fields including legal, nonprofit, and educational. Patricia’s focus is on management and staff relations. Since joining NLA, Patricia has been working in a client’s project office providing a variety of services, including administrative support to team members and leadership, preparation of documents, expense reporting, event planning, and communication processing. Patricia has enjoyed learning about the procurement process while assisting on the US 181 Harbor Bridge and the Southern Gateway Project Procurements. Patricia earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She maintains a connection to the university by serving as the President of the Ohio State Austin Alumni Club; planning events, raising money for scholarships, and leading community service projects. She also spends time volunteering for the Austin Boxer Rescue and House the Homeless. She is an active soccer player, involved with the Austin Women’s Soccer League and the Austin Co-ed Soccer League.

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  • Mandy Gonzalez, Graphic Designer
    Mandy Gonzalez has nine years of experience in graphic design, photography, and social media. She is thoroughly familiar with all facets of creative design and social media as it relates to communicating with the public. As part of the NLA, Inc. team, Mandy creates newspaper display ads, online surveys, reports, as well as graphics and informational materials for several TxDOT environmental Public Meetings and hearings. Prior to joining NLA, Inc., Mandy created graphics and informational materials for the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation, Ranch Studios on the production of the movie Conflict of Interest, and for Emmis Austin Radio as their news and event photographer. Mandy holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital & Photographic Imaging from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

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Who We Are

 

We are transportation and environmental planners, public outreach specialists, marketing specialists and communicators, who together have over 250 years of combined experience. We have expert skills in environmental studies, group facilitation, marketing, planning, event coordination, public speaking, media relations, graphic design, website content and development, photography, social media, language translation and data base management.

© 2017 by Nancy Ledbetter & Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved.