SOUTH FLORIDA CONNECTED

Uniting Mobility, Economic Growth, and Next-Generation Infrastructure Through Regional Collaboration

A forward-looking conversation on enhancing passenger mobility, supporting the region’s economy, overcoming construction and capacity challenges, and aligning agencies across air, sea, rail, and roadway systems to deliver a more connected South Florida.

Continental Breakfast included.

Panelists:
John Krane, FDOT D4 Director of Transportation Development

John is the Director of Transportation Development for Florida Department of transportation, District 4 where he oversees approximately 200 staff in 5 offices consisting of: Modal Development (Aviation, Transit, Rail, Bicycle & Pedestrian, and Freight & Logistics), Planning and Environmental Management  (Systems Analytics, Policy and Mobility Planning, MPO Liaisons, Project Development, Environmental Resources, Concept Development and the Strategic Intermodal System), Right of Way (Acquisitions, Relocations, and Management), and Design (Roadway, Structures, Traffic, Drainage, Utilities, and Survey & Mapping) and Program Management (Scheduling, Estimating and Production of a $5.6B Five-Year Work Program for maintenance and construction projects).  

John has over 35 years of experience in Transportation Engineering, serving in both the public and private sectors.  John has a background in transportation planning, traffic engineering, traffic operations, safety, and Project Development.  

John graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.  He is a graduate of FDOT’s Leadership Academy and the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Florida.  

A couple noteworthy projects he delivered during his career include the Environmental Impact Statement for the Crosstown Parkway Extension Bridge in the City of Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County (opened to traffic in 2019) and the Interchange Justification Report and Type II Categorical Exclusion for the Oslo Road Interchange in Indian River County (currently under construction – 2025).  Both projects were top priorities for the respective Transportation/Metropolitan Planning Organizations.

Valerie Neilson, Executive Director– Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Valerie Neilson is a dedicated urban planning professional committed to advancing multimodal transportation and building healthy, economically vibrant communities. She serves as Executive Director of the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), leading regional efforts to plan, prioritize, and fund projects that create a safe, efficient, and connected transportation system in Palm Beach County.

With over 17 years of urban planning experience, Valerie has held leadership roles including Chair of the City of Greenacres Planning Commission and Vice Chair of the Miami-Dade Health & Built Environment Committee. A Leadership Palm Beach County (LPBC) Class of 2016 alumna, she also co-chairs the LPBC Engage Program’s Transportation & Tourism Day.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Valerie brings a global perspective to her work. She holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and a Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning from Florida State University.

Sean Adgerson, Deputy Director, and Chief Transit Operations Officer – Miami-Dade County Dept. of Transportation and Public Works

Sean has more than 30 years of progressively responsible leadership experience. As the COO for DTPW, Sean is responsible for the day-to-day operations for DTPW’s four operational modes that include a (70) Route Local Bus system, a 25-mile Metrorail system, a 4-mile elevated people mover system and a county-wide Paratransit system. 
Sean was named Deputy Director, COO at DTPW in August of 2022. Before being named the COO at DTPW, Sean spent the previous (4) years as the Chief Operating Officer at the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). In that role, Sean oversaw the daily operations of one of the largest multimodal transportation systems in the U.S. 
Sean’s success in his role is because he has focused on delivering excellence in customer service, discipline in operations, and engagement and development of the workforce.

David Anderton, AICP, PPM, Assistant Director – Port Everglades

As Assistant Director of Broward County’s Port Everglades, David Anderton provides oversight and direction for the development and implementation for the seaport’s short and long-range strategic plans including facilities planning and maintenance, engineering and construction, capital improvements programming and implementation of the Five-Year Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) totaling more than $600 million.

He also oversees economic impact analysis, grants writing and administration, and coordination on federal and state legislative efforts.

Mr. Anderton began at the port in 2002 with the Seaport Engineering and Construction Division, assisting with the development of the Five-Year CIP and supporting the Division with technical planning assistance on tasks pertaining to project implementation.

Prior to his Port Everglades positions, Mr. Anderton held senior positions with the consulting firms Post, Buckley, Schuh and Jernigan (now Atkins Global), Craig A. Smith & Associates, and the City of West Palm Beach. He was also a legislative assistant and campaign coordinator for former Florida Attorney General Robert A. Butterworth. These positions provided a vast array of experience in transportation and land-use planning, residential and commercial development as well as the legislative process.

Mr. Anderton holds a bachelor’s degree in both Political Science and History from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University. He is registered with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) through the American Planning Association and is certified as a Professional Port Manager (PPM) through the American Association of Port Authorities. Mr. Anderton is also a graduate of Leadership Florida Class of 34.

Lauren Scott, Deputy Director of Planning & Development – Palm Beach County Department of Airports

Lauren Scott is the Deputy Director of Planning and Development at the Palm Beach County Department of Airports where she leads the Planning, Construction and Technology departments.  She is responsible for the planning and implementation of the airport system’s capital program.  Lauren earned a Bachelor’s in Aeronautics and MBA in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  She is an Accredited Airport Executive and commercial pilot.  Her experience includes operations and planning at large and medium-hub and general aviation airports. 

Diane Hernandez Del Calvo, Deputy Executive Director and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA)

Diane Hernandez Del Calvo serves as the Deputy Executive Director and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA). In this role, she provides executive oversight of the Authority’s day-to-day operations, including engineering, finance, information technology, human resources, planning, procurement, and public affairs. She also oversees critical administrative functions supporting operations, maintenance of way, and safety and security.

During her more than 26 years with SFRTA, Ms. Hernandez Del Calvo has played a central role in advancing major agency initiatives. Her leadership has been instrumental in SFRTA’s successful assumption of maintenance-of-way and dispatching responsibilities for the South Florida Rail Corridor, the achievement of Federal Railroad Administration certification for Positive Train Control (PTC), the coordination of systemwide fare changes, and the securing of millions of dollars in federal grant funding to support both capital and operating programs. Under her oversight, the Authority’s financial operations have earned multiple awards from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

Ms. Hernandez Del Calvo was a key contributor to the successful application for $71.7 million in Federal Transit Administration grant funding to replace aging vehicles. This award ultimately leveraged more than $200 million in rolling stock investments, enabling the replacement of approximately 32 percent of the Tri-Rail fleet. She also spearheaded the development of SoFloGO, a first-of-its-kind regional transit application created in partnership with the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization and in coordination with Broward County Transit, Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works, and Palm Tran, providing riders with a seamless, integrated regional transit experience. In addition, she led the successful completion of the Federal Transit Administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 Triennial Review, which concluded with zero findings.

Ms. Hernandez Del Calvo brings more than 31 years of administrative and leadership experience in public transportation. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Transportation Management Certificate from the University of Miami.

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