PRESENTERS
Chris McCray
Transportation & Safety Manager, Pawnee Nation
Presentation: Construction Management / General Contractor (CM/GC) Construction Method
Mr. Chris McCray is a Pawnee Nation tribal member and currently serves as the Manager for the Pawnee Nation Department of Transportation & Safety. He is also the volunteer Assistant Fire Chief/Instructor and EMT for the City of Pawnee, with 16 years of service. Mr. McCray has been in the transportation field for 19 years, 8 years with the Pawnee Nation. As an advocate for public safety, Mr. McCray has promoted national highway safety programs and has overseen many important projects benefiting both the Pawnee Nation and the surrounding communities. Mr. McCray continues to demonstrate a commitment to maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure and public safety by using efficient and effective innovative ideas.
(918) 762-3655
Tom Edwards
President, Cross Timbers Consulting
Presentation: How to Take a Project From an Idea Through Construction
Presentation: What is a Request For Proposal? (Examples of Requests for Proposals)
Mr. Edwards began his career in the field of civil engineering with the Texas Department of Transportation in 1985. After working as an assistant county engineer (Smith County, Texas) for a number of years, he began his continuing trek into the world of tribal transportation. Mr. Edwards started with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1996 and remained there for nearly five years. Mr. Edwards has been immersed in nearly all aspects of tribal transportation such as funding, road and bridge design, long range transportation planning, road inventory, and environmental issues. He is trained and experienced in a number of civil engineering areas including site planning, parking lot design, roadway and bridge design, and transportation planning.
tom.edwards@crosstimbersconsulting.com
(405) 919-0039
Andy Vanaman
President, Premier Steel Services LLC
Presentation: Fast Cast Bridge
Andy Vanaman received a Bachelor’s in Science with a background in math and architectural drafting and design while attending Phillips University on a baseball scholarship in 1988.
With this background and his lessons learned in teamwork, he had the opportunity to take over the assets of a failed fabricator in 2004, Premier Steel was born. Since that time, Premier has amassed a portfolio of over four hundred projects ranging from gaming, hospitality, education, and healthcare across the United States. Premier has also differentiated itself as the leader in composite fabrication in multi-story facilities across the country. Under this leadership, Premier Steel Services has fabricated more than 2 million square feet of composite structures. In the spring of 2019, Premier Steel took the Fast Cast Stair System wall design and developed the Fast Cast Bridge™.
“Premier Steel Services strives for continual development while exceeding our customers’ and employees’ expectations.” See Demonstration Video
avanaman@premiersteelservices.com
(918) 227-0110
Zach Davis
GIS Specialist, Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Presentation: Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s GIS Drone Program
Zach Davis is the GIS Specialist for Citizen Potawatomi Nation. He received his bachelor’s degree of Cartography with an emphasis in Geotechniques from East Central University and has been working for CPN since 2017. Zach obtained his Part 107 drone operating license in 2018. He has done numerous projects for other departments including (Bypass Wetlands Project – Environmental, and Pro Pipe site layout and progress – Iron Horse Industrial Park Construction – Economic Development). In his spare time, Zach enjoys time outdoors, leading worship at First Baptist Church Wewoka and spending time with his wife and 2-year-old son.
Pamela Jurney
Project Manager, Cross Timbers Consulting
Presentation: Using ArcGIS for Asset Management, Map Location, and RIFDS
Ms. Jurney has been working in the world of tribal transportation since 2007. She received a master’s degree in Geography and has used her GIS and research skills to organize and manage IRR Inventory for several tribes. Currently, she is focused on environmental compliance and tribal transportation safety. As part of the CTC engineering services, Ms. Jurney handles the NEPA compliance that must be addressed for federally funded projects. She is proficient in ArcGIS, both with exemplary cartographic skills and data analysis. She provides GIS consultation and writes her own curriculum for basic and advanced ArcGIS instruction.
pamela.jurney@crosstimbersconsulting
(405) 255-6999
Miley Williams
GIS Specialist, Chickasaw Nation Roads Department
Presentation: Using ArcGIS for Asset Management, Map Location, and RIFDS
Mrs. Williams graduated from East Central University with a degree in Cartography (Geo-techniques). She began her career in 2009 with the Chickasaw Nation GeoSpatial Information Department but soon transferred to the Chickasaw Nation Roads Department. With the use of GIS, she has implemented a web map that shows important information of past, present, and future road projects.
Sharon Ray
Director, Seneca Nation Department of Transportation
Presentation: Intergovernmental Fund Transfer Agreements: 202 (a)(9) Transfers
Lexi Freeman
Environmental Coordinator, Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Presentation: NEPA 101
Lexi Freeman is an Environmental Coordinator at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) where she assists in the completion of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, NEPA compliance, air quality, and performs technical direction for major projects including investigations of groundwater in accordance with Clean Water Act Section 106 and 319 grants. Prior to her position at CPN, Lexi conducted her graduate research at Oklahoma State University studying the endangered American burying beetle, earning her Master of Science in Environmental Science in 2018. Lexi also holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Oklahoma State University. Currently, she is the Secretary of CPN’s American Indians in Science and Technology (AISES) Chapter, a certified Floodplains Manager through the Oklahoma Floodplains Managers Association, and a CPN tribal member.
(405) 878-4829
David Cremer
Environmental Coordinator Tribal Transportation Program, FHWA
Presentation: How to NEPA the TTP Way
David Cremer been with FHWA for 7 years, and 5 years with the Office of Tribal Transportation. As an Environmental Coordinator with the Office of Tribal Transportation, he works with 36 Tribes across the United States. Prior to joining FHWA, David worked for the National Park Service and in the private sector as a consultant. He is responsible for consultation with tribes in the Rocky Mountain, Great Plains, Western, Southwest, Southern Plains, and E. Oklahoma Regions. David is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists and has an MA in Archaeology/Anthropology from Florida State University.
(202) 236-7613
John Edwards, Ph.D.
Natural Resources Scientist, Cross Timbers Consulting
Presentation: Environmental Planning in Long Range Transportation Plans
Mr. Edwards has been working in the tribal transportation field since 2004. Mr. Edwards received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, a master’s degree in Natural Resource Management and doctorate in Wildlife Science. He has completed environmental and biological assessments in multiple states including Oklahoma, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, as well as wetland delineations in both Utah and Oklahoma. As part of CTC, Mr. Edwards is currently involved in conducting biological evaluations, wetland delineations, hydraulic analyses, bridge design, and planning.
john.edwards@crosstimbersconsulting.com
(405) 246-6540
