Annette Bair, SW CERT Coordinator and Physical Development Director, Southwest Regional Development Commission: Ms. Bair grew up in Indiana and Nebraska; she has an Undergraduate degree in Geography and a Master’s Degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. In 1986, she began working as a Physical Development Planner for the Southwest Regional Development Commission in Slayton, MN. This position has included work in assisting local units of government in Transportation, Land Use, Solid Waste Management Planning, Environmental, and Energy planning. Currently, her work focuses on Transportation and Renewable Energy planning issues. The Transportation planning objective is to coordinate with the Minnesota Department of Transportation in the planning and development of a comprehensive transportation system in SW Minnesota. She serves as staff to the SRDC Transportation Committee, technical staff to Area Transportation Partnerships 7 and 8, and provides technical assistance to local units of government. She has served as the State Regional Development Organization Transportation Planner chair, and has been on various state plan advisory committees, including Transit and Freight.
Lynne Bly, Transportation Policy Director, Fresh Energy: Lynne Bly joined Fresh Energy in June 2008 as Transportation Policy Director — Fresh Energy’s lead advocate on transportation and transit policy. Her program seeks to reduce global warming pollution, decrease dependence on foreign oil, accelerate development of transit and rail options, and advance complete streets and smart growth practices. Previously, she supervised the Statewide Planning Unit within Mn/DOT’s Statewide Planning & Analysis Section, worked with Minnesota’s metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and as a planner for Mn/DOT’s Metro District. From 1985 to 2000, Lynne provided consulting services in public policy, planning, environmental review, communications, and public involvement. She is also the former Division Manager for air quality and solid waste planning at the Metropolitan Council. Lynne has a strong conviction that it is possible for any and every person to change the world for the better. She earned a BA from Macalester College, with a Geography major and History minor, and a MS in Environmental Health from the University of Minnesota.
Transportation Fuels & Green House Gas Emissions Reduction
Steven Taff, Extension Economist, University of Minnesota: Steven Taff is the Extension Economist at the University of Minnesota. His focus is on agriculture policy, local public finance, and environment policy. Current research includes analysis of alternative climate change remediation policies and economic implications of biofuels policy. Major extension teaching is in agriculture policy, land resources management, local public finance, and environment policy. He has a Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1985.
