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Edgardo Aponte, P.E.
- Director
- 770.822.7400
- Edgardo.Aponte@GwinnettCounty.com
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Edgardo Aponte was named Director of the Gwinnett Department of Transportation in 2025 after serving as Assistant Director. He joined the department in 2016 as the Preconstruction Division Director, bringing more than 16 years of private-sector experience in transportation consulting, including working with the Georgia Department of Transportation and various cities and counties. Edgardo’s commitment to public service is further demonstrated by his five years with the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority. He holds a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Marquette University. Edgardo is a registered professional engineer in Georgia and is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of excellence in his work.

Erica Brizzee was named assistant director of Preconstruction, Construction, Traffic Management, and Infrastructure Services in 2026 after serving as deputy director of Capital Improvement Design and Construction. With nearly 15 years of experience, she specializes in the design of land development, transportation, and water resources projects and has extensive expertise in construction and project management.
Prior to joining Gwinnett Transportation, Erica successfully managed a transportation sales tax program in South Carolina. She holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master’s in building construction from the Georgia Institute of Technology, focusing on integrated project delivery. As a registered professional engineer, Erica is actively involved in professional organizations, serving on the Membership Committee of the Southeastern Stormwater Association and as a member of the Georgia Chapter of the American Public Works Association.

Natasha Tyler was named assistant director of Traffic Operations, Roadway Maintenance, Traffic Safety, Transit, Aviation, and Strategic Finance in 2026 after serving as deputy director of Safety, Operations, Mobility, and Business Services. She also served as Transit division director and general manager for Gwinnett Transportation. She has more than 15 years of experience in administration, safety, and operations within the transit industry.
Natasha holds an associate degree in business management and is an active member of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, the leading national advocate for diversity and inclusion in the transportation sector. She is committed to fostering innovation and advancing diversity in the industry.

Britton Lockhart was named deputy director of Preconstruction, Construction, Traffic Management, and Infrastructure Services in 2026 after serving as deputy director of the Office of Roadways, Signals, and Aviation. He previously served as director of Operations and Maintenance.
Britton joined Gwinnett Transportation in 2016 as a construction manager, overseeing numerous SPLOST projects, and later became a resurfacing manager, managing a $25 million annual budget. With more than 16 years of experience in the private sector, Britton has expertise in construction management, customer service, pre-construction estimation, and logistics.
Britton holds a bachelor's degree in construction from Southern Polytechnic State University (now part of Kennesaw State University) and a Master of Business Administration from Mercer University.

Sylvia Goalen was named deputy director of Traffic Operations, Roadway Maintenance, and Traffic Safety in 2026 after serving as division director of Traffic Safety and Operations. She joined Gwinnett Transportation in 2019 as a program delivery project coordinator and was promoted to section manager of the Traffic Safety and Support Division in 2021.
With more than 13 years of service to Gwinnett County, Sylvia previously worked as a lieutenant for Community Risk Reduction with Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services and as a community outreach coordinator for the County Administrator’s Office. She holds a bachelor's degree in business marketing and a Master of Business Administration.
Sylvia is actively involved in community service, mentoring middle school girls through the Hispanic Mentoring Priority program and serving on various local boards. In 2016, she was honored with the Personajes Destacados award by Mundo Hispanico for her contributions to local government.

China Thomas was named deputy director of Transit, Aviation, and Strategic Finance in 2026 after serving as director of Strategic Transportation Planning and Innovations. With more than 20 years of experience in public sector operations, she has led teams, developed business systems and organizational structures, and improved operational efficiency, safety, and service quality.
China has been a key leader in connecting communities and enhancing mobility through her transit management work. One of her most notable accomplishments was expanding the transit system from 27 to 35 routes in Long Beach, California. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Redlands and is an alumna of the Eno Center for Transportation Emerging Leaders Program.
China is also an active member of the Women’s Transportation Seminar Los Angeles Chapter and the California Transit Association.

Matt Smith was named Division Director of Airport Operations, bringing extensive experience in both air-carrier and general aviation airports. His aviation career includes key roles at San Jose International Airport, Reno Air Airlines, and three general aviation airports operated by Santa Clara County. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Operations with a minor in Business. Actively involved in the aviation community, Matt is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and a member of the Southeast Chapter of AAAE and the Georgia Airports Association. He is also a licensed private pilot and is widely recognized for his industry expertise.

Brittney Woodside was named Division Director of Construction in 2019. She joined Gwinnett Transportation in 2014 as a Construction Manager and was promoted to Program Coordinator for the Capital Program Delivery Preconstruction Division in 2016. Brittney began her career in the public sector as a Construction Inspector with the City of Roswell Public Works Department. Throughout her career, she has honed her expertise in construction management, with a focus on stormwater and roadway construction, permitting, and contract management. Brittney holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy from Eckerd College and brings a wealth of knowledge to her role, contributing significantly to the success of Gwinnett Transportation.

Michelle Arnold was named Division Director of Pre-Construction in 2023. She joined Gwinnett Transportation in 2022 as Senior Engineer for the Transportation Planning Section. During her tenure, Michelle made significant contributions by reviewing traffic impact studies, managing grant pursuits, and supporting various planning efforts. With dual bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Science and Civil Engineering from Calvin University and Florida State University, respectively, and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University, Michelle’s educational background is highly impressive. Additionally, her affiliations with the American Institute of Certified Planners and her licensure as a Professional Engineer in both Florida and Georgia highlight her commitment to excellence in her field.

Jeffery Charlton was named division director of Roadway Maintenance in 2026 after serving as division director of Roadways Maintenance and Construction. Prior to this, he served as a construction manager in the Department of Water Resources.
Jeffery joined Gwinnett County in 2019 as the development inspections coordinator for Planning and Development. With 25 years of experience in site development and the building industry, he has made significant contributions to the department.
Jeffery’s diverse background also includes military service as an active-duty field artillery surveyor in the United States Army, followed by service as a chaplain in the Georgia National Guard. He holds a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Additionally, Jeffery is a registered landscape architect and a certified arborist.

Kristin Phillips was named division director of Traffic Management in 2026 after serving as division director of Traffic Operations. She joined Gwinnett Transportation in 2018 as the chief engineer of Traffic Signals and was promoted to section manager of Traffic Signals in 2021.
Prior to her tenure at Gwinnett, Kristin spent more than 15 years in the private sector, providing transportation consulting services to local and state agencies in Georgia and Wisconsin. She holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University and a Master of Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Kristin is a registered professional engineer in both Georgia and Michigan and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Georgia Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the Intelligent Transportation Society of Georgia.
Joshua Washington was named Division Director of Traffic Safety in 2026 after serving as civil engineer IV and traffic safety engineer. He joined Gwinnett Transportation in 2022 as a civil engineer III and traffic signals engineer.
Prior to joining Gwinnett County, Joshua served with the Georgia Department of Transportation, where he worked as a civil engineer II and construction project manager in the Construction Division, and later as a civil engineer III and state access management engineer in the Traffic Operations Division.
Joshua holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Georgia Southern University. He is an active member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Margo Moore was named Transit Division Director in 2024, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the transit industry. She began her career managing national call center projects before advancing into leadership roles with First Transit in Seattle and Portland, where she oversaw paratransit operations, commuter trains, light rail, and fixed-route services. At TriMet, she served as Director of Accessible Transportation Programs, leading initiatives in paratransit facility development, microtransit expansion, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) implementation. Margo is actively involved with several industry organizations and holds White, Yellow, Green, and Black Sigma Belts, demonstrating her commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Jerry Oberholtzer was named Division Director of Transportation Planning in 2023. He first joined Gwinnett Transportation in 2021 as the Section Manager of Transportation Planning. With over 15 years of experience, Jerry has held various roles in land use, zoning, and development across Forsyth County, Gwinnett County, and the city of Dunwoody. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Clemson University and a certificate in Local Government Leadership from the University of Georgia. Jerry is a certified planner, recognized by the American Institute of Certified Planners, and is an active member of the American Planning Association.