Members & Service
2017 COTA BOD Election - Result
The online election of 2017 COTA Board of Directors was closed at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) on December 22nd. The election results are downloaded from the E-Voting site and shown as the followings:
COTA BOD Member:
| Candidate Name | Percent | Rank |
| Dr. Jianming Ma | 71.15% | 1 |
| Dr. Ning Li | 28.85% | 2 |
Bases on the above result, Dr. Jianming Ma is elected as the BOD member. He will serve on the BOD for two years starting from the time of the COTA BOD meeting on January 8, 2017 during 2017 TRB Annual Meeting.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ma. We wish his great success in his future endeavor to serve on the COTA BOD.
We also thank Dr. Ning Li for his strong enthusiasm and willingness to provide service to COTA. And we all best wish he continue to support COTA in the future.
Finally, special gratitude goes to all COTA members who have casted their ballots under their busy schedules.
2017 COTA BOD Members Election Committee
2017 COTA BOD Election - Rules
Dear COTA Members:
This web page is dedicated to 2017 COTA BOD Members Election.
Election Period: Dec. 6th 2016 12:00 AM (Tuesday) - Dec. 22nd 2016 12:00 AM (Thursday)
On-line Election (E-Voting):
COTA continues to take advantage of the on-line E-Voting tool (http://www.ballotbin.com/) to run the BOD election.
The on-line E-Voting system ensures the privacy of each voter (e.g., nobody, including the election administrator, will be able to view the voting result and the voter status while the election is still open, and the E-Voting system does not record any information of who voted for whom).
For additional information regarding the privacy issues of the on-line E-Voting system, please check the
Privacy Statement
and the FAQ for voters at the E-Voting hosting website.
Voting Guidance:
1. Only the active COTA members who have registered and paid the 2016 COTA membership fee by October 1, 2016 are eligible for voting, and will receive a notice.
2. Each voter will receive an email notification directly from the E-Voting system with the on-line voting web link as the election begins. Please keep in mind to check that notification in your mail box and also junk mail box in case you won’t see it. Please clicking the web link to be provided in the notification email, and cast your ballot by following the direction at the voting page.
3. Please be aware of that the E-Voting system allows you to vote once only. Once your ballot is submitted, no modification is permitted.
4. For any questions, please feel free to contact the election administrator via email at kyang2005@gmail.com.
2017 COTA BOD Members Election Committee
2017 COTA BOD Election - Candidates
COTA has one regular BOD member vacancies to fill in. We have the following four eligible applicants:
| Candidate Name | Current Position | Current Affiliate | Endorsement |
| Dr. Ning Li | State Traffic Asset Engineer | Virginia Department of Transportation |
Dr. Yinhai Wang, University of Washington (MEM) Dr. Guohui Zhang, New Mexico University (BOD) Dr. Zhen(Sean) Qian, Carnegie Melon University (BOD) Dr. Shanjiang Zhu, George Mason University (BOD) |
| Dr. Jianming Ma | Transportation Engineer | Texas Department of Transportation |
Dr. Yinhai Wang (Past COTA President), University of Washington (MEM) Mr. Jason Wang (Past COTA President), ARC (MEM) Dr. Ping Yi (Past COTA President), The University of Akron (MEM) Dr. Guohui Zhang (COTA BOD), University of Hawaii at Manoa (BOD) Dr. Lei Yu (Past COTA President), Texas Southern University (MEM) Dr. Yu Zhang (COTA President), The University of South Florida (BOD) |
(BOD) - Current COTA Board Member (2016)
(MEM) - Current COTA Member (2016)
COTA BOD Candidate - Ning, Li, PhD, PE, PMP
Dr. Ning Li
Candidate Information
Dr. Ning Li, PE, PMP
State Traffic Asset Engineer
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 E Broad St
Richmond, VA 23233
Email: ning.li@vdot.virginia.gov
Dear COTA Members and Board Member Election Committee:
I would like to nominate myself to run for the election of 2017 COTA Board of Directors. As an overseas
Chinese transportation processional, I benefited significantly from the knowledge and friendships of
many COTA members and also helped many fellow Chinese advance their transportation career. With
my qualifications and experience, I hope I could give back and bring fresh perspectives to the Board of
Directors to better serve COTA members.
Personal Profile:
I am currently the State Traffic Asset Engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
and oversee the state’s traffic asset program. In this capacity, I manage $20M annual traffic asset
programs and am responsible for providing technical guidance, project delivery support, financial needs
assessment, data analysis, and performance management of the state’s over $4.5 billion worth of traffic
assets including ADA curb ramps, signals, guardrails, ancillary structures etc.
Prior to my current role, I worked as a Senior Engineer in VDOT’s safety program. My previous
experience also includes an engineer position with Minnesota DOT in its design, traffic, safety and
innovative contracting offices. I am a Fellow of Institute of Transportation Engineer (ITE), a Professional
Traffic Operation Engineer (PTOE), and served on multiple expert panels of ITE and the Transportation
Research Board (TRB).
My education background includes dual bachelor degrees in Civil Engineering and Economics (With
Honors) and a master in management from the Tsinghua University. I also earned master and Ph.D.
degrees in transportation engineering from the University of Minnesota and the University of Virginia
respectively.
Accomplishments and Awards:
I have been recognized for some of my work accomplishments by being the first Chinese winner for
several national transportation awards. In 2009, I identified and addressed a defect in the current
national standards of Roadway Departure (RD) crashes. As a result, FHWA released a new technical
memorandum to improve RD crash data. Not only were my suggestions adopted in this memo, FHWA
staff also acknowledged my “significant contributions to this important highway safety effort”. I was
therefore awarded the 2009 ITE Past President Award for Merit in Transportation. Most recently, I was
recognized by AASHTO with the 2016 Transportation Vanguard Award for innovation and was invited to present VDOT’s innovative work in front of 200 executives of 51 state DOTs and industry leaders.
Track Record of Contributing to Chinese Transportation Community:
I have a strong track record of contributing to the Chinese transportation community. As the first Chinese with a H1-B visa in VDOT, I have directly helped over a dozen fellow Chinese to get job offers within and outside VDOT and provided career help to well over a hundred young professionals. I personally extended job offers to four highly qualified fellow Chinese transportation professionals and currently have three working in my team. I also helped arrange visits of Chinese delegations from Chinese universities, research institutions and provincial governor’s office and contributed to many COTA events such as serving as a panelist in 2016 winter symposium. I developed and taught the first employee-organized PE refresher course in VDOT and helped many to pass this important exam. My contributions have been recognized by many fellow COTA members and professional organizations such as TUMU Salon in DC.
Vision Statement:
I believe my experience and qualifications lend themselves well to help COTA tackle these challenges. If elected, I will work with other BOD members to help advance the following agendas: Improve career guidance and network channels to help professionals at different stage of their career; Strengthen COTA’s ties with industry, government entities, professional and international organizations; and take all other measures to help increase the voice and influence of Chinese Transportation Professionals in the overall transportation profession.
Your help and support for my election is greatly appreciated.
Endorsement:
Dr. Yinhai Wang (COTA Member), Professor, University of Washington;
Dr. Guohui Zhang (COTA BOD Member), Assistant Professor, New Mexico University;
Dr. Shanjiang Zhu (COTA BOD Member), Assistant Professor, George Mason University;
Dr. Zhen(Sean) Qian (COTA BOD Member), Assistant Professor, Carnegie Melon University.
COTA BOD Candidate - Dr. Jianming Ma
Dr. Jianming Ma
Candidate Information
Dr. Jianming Ma, P.E.
Traffic Operations Division
Texas Department of Transportation
9500 N. Lake Creek Parkway
Austin, TX 78717
Tel: (512) 923-6456
Email: mjming@gmail.com
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY
Jianming Ma holds a Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at
Austin. Dr. Ma coordinates connected and automated vehicle activities at the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT), whether demonstration, pilot projects, national
studies and university research. Dr. Ma has over twenty years of professional and
research experience in connected and automated vehicle (CAV), econometric modeling,
human factors, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and traffic safety. He has over 40
technical papers and reports published in the above mentioned areas. He is the
Research Coordinator for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on
Safety Data, Analysis and Evaluation (ANB20) and a member of SAE DSRC Technical
Committee. He also sits on TRB’s Traffic Speed and Safety – Cross-cutting Issues Joint
Subcommittee (ANB20-5) and TRB Active Traffic Management Joint Subcommittee
(AHB20-5). Dr. Ma has been invited to serve on numerous research panels such as
TxDOT, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), the Strategic
Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2), the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) CAV Working Group, the Vehicle to Infrastructure
(V2I) Deployment Coalition, and the Connected Vehicle Pooled Fund Study (CVPFS).
Dr. Ma serves as Edit-in-Chief for the International Journal of Vehicular Telematics and
Infotainment Systems (IJVTIS)
development.
QUALIFICATION & CONTRIBUTION
Active in COTA committees, conferences, and activities, Dr. Ma has been strongly
promoting cooperation and collaboration between overseas transportation professionals
and their counterparts in China. Since he was elected to the COTA Board of Directors
(BOD) in 2011, Dr. Ma has successfully organized and chaired a number of international
conferences, workshops, and symposiums. For example, Dr. Ma served as the Chair of
the Organizing and Executive Committee for both CICTP2012 and CICTP2014. As
COTA Vice President, Dr. Ma chaired the CICTP2016 Sponsorship Committee and
raised more than $15,000 to sponsor and support CICTP2016. During his tenure as
COTA Treasurer, he revamped COTA financial rules to more effectively manage the
COTA financial operations, better assist administrative needs, and more timely manage
cash flow for all COTA activities and events; Dr. Ma has also served as a bridge between
COTA and governmental agencies, associations as well as research institutions in China
to promote COTA, and expand its global influence and reputation; he has provided
numerous support and guidance to the organizing committees of COTA summer
conferences and winter symposiums.
QUALIFICATION & CONTRIBUTION
- Enhance connections among Chinese transportation professionals;
- Promote transport development China;
- Improve networking and collaboration among COTA members; and
- Serve as a platform to exchange information and knowledge among transportation professionals.
Please feel free to contact me at mjming@gmail.com or (512) 923-6456 if any additional information is needed.
Endorsement:
Dr. Yinhai Wang (Past COTA President), Professor, The University of Washington;
Mr. Jason Wang (Past COTA President), Senior Transportation Specialist, ARC;
Dr. Ping Yi (Past COTA President), Professor, The University of Akron;
Dr. Guohui Zhang (COTA BOD), Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa;
Dr. Lei Yu (Past COTA President), Professor, Texas Southern University;
Dr. Yu Zhang (COTA President), Associate Professor, The University of South Florida.
COTA BOD Election - Call for Nominee for 2017 COTA BODs
Dear COTA Members:
The Board of Directors (BOD) of Chinese Overseas Transportation Association (COTA) is seeking a highly-qualified candidate to fill in one vacant Regular Member position on the BOD. The responsibility of this new board member will be assigned after the election.
The new positions will take effect on January 8, 2017 at the COTA BOD meeting in Washington DC during the 2016 TRB annual meeting. If you desire to be part of our BOD with strong willingness to contribute to the continuing success and growth of COTA, please send your self-nomination information to the 2017 COTA Board Member Election Committee that consists of the following members:
- Lei Zhang (Chair): lei@umd.edu
- Heng Wei (Member): weihg@ucmail.uc.edu
- Yafeng Yin (Member): yafeng@ce.ufl.edu
- Ken Yang (Member and Online Voting Manager): kyang2005@gmail.com
The deadline for nomination is Friday, December 2, 2016.
Each nominee must obtain endorsements from at least three active COTA Members, including at
least one current BOD Member NOT serving on the election committee. (http://cota-home.org/Organization_Board_Officers.html). Each
nominee must submit a written statement (no more than 2 pages) stating his or her qualifications and envisioned commitment.
To be an eligible candidate for election, the nominee must be a COTA Member who has paid 2016
Annual membership by October 1, 2016. For other eligibility requirements, please refer to COTA
Bylaws http://cota-home.org/About_ByLaws.html.
According to COTA Bylaws 4.1.1, “No more than one (1) candidate from the same organizational
entity is permitted to run the election at one time. No candidate is allowed from an organizational
entity that currently has an active BOD member who will continuously serve after the election.
Association, at the judge of the BOD, is not eligible for election.”
The nominee will be informed if he or she is eligible and becomes a candidate for the election by
December 5, 2016. The election will be held online between December 6 and December 22, 2016.
For questions regarding the nomination or election, please contact the Election Committee.
2017 COTA Board Member Election Committee
Chinese Overseas Transportation Association
