The transportation industry is evolving rapidly, and with that evolution comes an important question:
Who will become the next generation of leaders?
In the latest episode of Toll Talk Podcast, hosts Kalie Jakovics and Alex Fakeri welcome Carley McClintock, Chair of the IBTTA Young Professionals Council (YPC), and Sophia Currier, PMP, Career Growth Chair for YPC and UX Design & Project Manager at Rideflag Technologies, to discuss how the council is helping prepare young professionals for successful careers in tolling and transportation.
Their conversation highlights why organizations like the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) are investing in workforce development and why building a strong professional community is more important than ever.
What Is the IBTTA Young Professionals Council?
The IBTTA Young Professionals Council (YPC) is a community within IBTTA dedicated to supporting professionals early in their transportation careers.
Rather than focusing on a single technical discipline, YPC brings together professionals from every corner of the industry—including engineering, operations, communications, technology, customer experience, marketing, finance, and business development.
Its mission is simple:
- Build meaningful professional relationships
- Develop future industry leaders
- Create opportunities for networking and mentorship
- Help young professionals navigate careers in tolling and mobility
As the conversation explains, YPC has grown into much more than a networking group—it’s become a supportive community that helps members gain confidence, build leadership skills, and contribute to the future of transportation.
There Is a Place for Everyone in Tolling
One of the most powerful moments from the episode comes from Sophia Currier, who reflects on a recent YPC leadership webinar.
The panel featured professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds, reinforcing an important message:
There is a place for everyone in the tolling industry.
Whether your experience is in:
- User Experience (UX)
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Communications
- Government Relations
- Technology
- Project Management
- Customer Experience
- Finance
- Operations
…the transportation industry needs diverse perspectives to solve today’s mobility challenges.
For professionals considering a career in transportation, this message is encouraging: you don’t need a traditional engineering background to make a meaningful impact.
Why Networking Matters Early in Your Career
Both guests shared stories about attending their first IBTTA conferences and feeling overwhelmed walking into rooms filled with experienced industry professionals.
YPC helped change that experience.
Through conference meetups, online communities, committee participation, and leadership opportunities, members quickly find peers facing similar challenges while also building relationships with seasoned professionals willing to mentor and support them.
Those connections often lead to:
- Professional mentorship
- Leadership opportunities
- Speaking engagements
- Conference moderator roles
- Committee participation
- Expanded industry networks
- Long-term career growth
In an industry built on collaboration, relationships are one of the most valuable assets a professional can develop.
Leadership Development Beyond Your Day Job
One of the biggest benefits of joining YPC is the opportunity to gain leadership experience outside of your primary role.
Members regularly volunteer to:
- Lead committees
- Organize webinars
- Moderate conference sessions
- Plan networking events
- Develop educational programming
- Support workforce development initiatives
These experiences help members strengthen skills they can immediately bring back to their own organizations.
Leadership isn’t something that starts after years of experience—it begins by saying “yes” to opportunities.
The Future of Workforce Development in Transportation
Like many industries, tolling is experiencing a generational transition.
As experienced professionals retire, organizations need to attract, develop, and retain new talent.
The episode explores how YPC is helping address this challenge through initiatives such as:
- Career development webinars
- Leadership programming
- University outreach
- Increased student participation
- Mentorship opportunities
- Greater accessibility to IBTTA conferences
These efforts are helping build a stronger pipeline of future transportation leaders while ensuring knowledge is passed from one generation to the next.
Advice for Young Professionals
For anyone beginning a career in transportation or tolling, Carley and Sophia offer a consistent message:
Get involved.
Attend conferences.
Join conversations.
Volunteer.
Ask questions.
Build relationships.
You don’t need decades of experience to contribute—you simply need the willingness to learn and participate.
The connections you make today can shape your career for years to come.
Listen to the Full Episode
If you’re interested in transportation, infrastructure, mobility, or professional development, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the industry’s fastest-growing communities.
Learn how the IBTTA Young Professionals Council is empowering emerging leaders, strengthening workforce development, and helping shape the future of tolling.
🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode of Toll Talk Podcast and discover why there’s truly a place for everyone in this industry.
Learn More
IBTTA Young Professionals Council (YPC)
https://ypcouncil.com/
Connect with Our Guests
Carley McClintock
Communications Manager, Elizabeth River Crossings
Chair, IBTTA Young Professionals Council
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carleybrierre/
Sophia Currier, PMP
UX Design & Project Manager, Rideflag Technologies
Career Growth Chair, IBTTA Young Professionals Council
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiacurrier/
This episode of Toll Talk Podcast is proudly supported by CSG. We appreciate their continued partnership and commitment to advancing innovation in customer engagement and payment experiences across the transportation industry.
