Mission
The mission of the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation is to enhance quality of life by facilitating the mobility of people and goods safely and efficiently. This mission is accomplished by planning, constructing, operating, and maintaining the aviation, transit and surface transportation systems.
Vision
The Gwinnett County Department of Transportation will, in a fiscally responsible manner, provide for the mobility and accessibility needs of the wide variety of citizens. To meet these needs, the Department will rely upon established, proven methods, while continuously considering innovative techniques and solutions. Whether traveling by private automobile, aircraft, as a passenger in a transit vehicle, or as a pedestrian, Gwinnett County citizens will be able to reach any desired destination in a safe and timely manner. Gwinnett County will be bold in its actions by pursuing alternative funding sources and technological advances. Gwinnett County will be known as the place with smooth roads, synchronized traffic signals, maintained shoulders, safe and well-designed intersections, accessible pedestrian facilities, live interactive traffic information, and a clean, efficient transit system.
Values
Integrity: We believe in treating each other and the public in an honest and ethical manner.
Stewardship: We take our duties of safety and fiscal management to be two of our prime responsibilities.
Teamwork: While we recognize our individual strengths, we believe our strength comes from working in unified efforts with a number of partners, whether local, regional or national.
Quality: We promote safety, cost-efficiency, innovation, and service excellence.
Management Profiles
Director:
Alan Chapman, P.E.
alan.chapman@gwinnettcounty.com
Alan was named director of the Department of Transportation in July 2015. He holds a master's degree in business administration from Georgia State University and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Georgia Tech. He is also a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia. Alan has experience in both the transportation and environmental engineering fields, and his job assignments have included work with the Georgia Department of Transportation and as an engineering and construction consultant. He has worked for Gwinnett County since 1997. He first served as a project manager on capital road improvements for Program Delivery, and in 2004 was promoted to deputy director of Program Delivery. As deputy director, he oversaw both the Preconstruction and Construction Divisions. Alan lives with his wife, Anne, and two daughters in Lawrenceville.
Assistant Director:
R. Lewis Cooksey, P.E.
lewis.cooksey@gwinnettcounty.com
Lewis is a registered professional engineer and has more than 24 years of experience in civil engineering. He completed the Masters of Business Administration degree program at the University of Georgia and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering technology from the Southern College of Technology. Lewis has worked for Gwinnett County since 2008, serving as project manager, engineering coordinator, deputy director, and in his current position as assistant director. Before joining the Department of Transportation, he served as the president of a local engineering firm and designed numerous projects in and around Gwinnett County.
Deputy Director, Intermodal Operations:
David Tucker, ASLA
david.tucker@gwinnettcounty.com
David holds a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia and is a registered landscape architect in the state of Georgia. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a certified arborist. David has many years of experience in planning and land development in both the public and private sector. He came to work for Gwinnett County in 1986, serving as the development review manager in Planning and Development. In 2000, he was hired as the senior construction manager of road improvements for Capital Program Delivery. He was appointed as Preconstruction Division director for Program Delivery in 2004. In 2007, David was promoted to his current position of deputy director.
Deputy Director, Program Delivery:
Andrew Thompson, P.E.
Andrew.thompson@gwinnettcounty.com
Andrew joined Gwinnett County Department of Transportation in 2018 and serves as the Deputy Director of Program Delivery. Andrew grew up in Gwinnett County and is a graduate of Duluth High School. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Kennesaw State University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the Southern Polytechnic State University (Southern Tech). Andrew began his engineering career with the Georgia Department of Transportation in 2001 and his experience includes work in the private sector as an engineering consultant, as well as work in local government. Andrew has directed the successful completion of numerous projects and programs around the north metro area and is licensed as a Professional Engineer and Real Estate Broker. Andrew and his wife, Jen, have three children, Kennedy, Kerrigan, and Sullivan.
Deputy Director, Traffic Engineering, Operations and Maintenance:
Tom Sever, P.E.
Tom serves as the deputy director for the Traffic Engineering, Operations and Maintenance section. He was previously the director of the Traffic Engineering Division and chief engineer of the Traffic Signal and ITS Section. Tom came to work for Gwinnett County in 2000 after several years of experience in the private sector.
Tom graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1993. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia and a member of several professional organizations, including the Georgia Section ITE and ITS Georgia. Tom and his wife, Tracy, have two boys, Austin and Wesley.
Division Director, Aviation:
Matt Smith
Matt holds a bachelor's degree in aviation operations and a minor in business. He is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives, the Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Georgia Airports Association. He holds a Certified Member status with the American Association of Airport Executives and is also a certified private pilot. Matt has experience at both air-carrier and general aviation airports, and his job assignments have included work with San Jose International Airport, Reno Air Airlines, and the three general aviation airports operated by Santa Clara County. He has worked for Gwinnett County since 2000. He lives in Dacula with his two sons, Aiden and Nathan.
Division Director, Finance and Performance Management:
John Ray, P.E.
A 1989 graduate of Coffee County High School in Douglas, Georgia, John graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. In 2001, he received his master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University. John has more than 20 years of experience in engineering, construction, and program management. John joined the Department of Transportation in 2007 as a project manager. He was promoted to division director of the Preconstruction Division in 2008 and then appointed the director of the newly created Finance and Performance Management Division in late 2016. John lives in Braselton with his wife, Ami, and their four children: Ainsley, Drew, Adam, and Ella.
Division Director, Operations and Maintenance:
Mark Stonecypher
mark.stonecypher@gwinnettcounty.com
Mark is a native of Gwinnett County, graduating from Central Gwinnett High School. Mark began working for the county in 1988, working his way up from a motor equipment operator I. He was promoted to motor equipment operator II, then foreman, then maintenance superintendent – where he served for several years. Mark was appointed as director of the Operations and Maintenance Division in 2015. He has two grown children and lives with his wife in Dacula.
Division Director, Preconstruction:
Edgardo Aponte, P.E.
edgardo.aponte@gwinnettcounty.com
Edgardo holds a master’s degree in engineering management from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico and a bachelor’s degree of science in civil engineering from Marquette University. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia. Edgardo began working for Gwinnett County as the division director for the Preconstruction Division in early 2016. Prior to joining Gwinnett County, Edgardo worked in the private sector for more than 16 years for local firms performing transportation consulting work for local agencies including the state of Georgia, Gwinnett County, and other counties and cities. His experience also includes working in the public sector for five years at the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority.
Division Director, Traffic Engineering:
Alex Hofelich, P.E., P.T.O.E.
Alex.Hofelich@gwinnettcounty.com
Alex graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1998, and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia. He is a certified professional traffic operations engineer with nearly 20 years of experience in and around Gwinnett in a variety of settings, including municipal and county agencies, public-private government solutions and private consulting.
Division Director, Transit:
Karen Winger, AICP
karen.winger@gwinnettcounty.com
Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. While at the university, she took a job as a student bus driver and so began her transit career. She comes to Gwinnett County with more than 20 years of experience with systems all over the country, including work in Massachusetts, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Her experience includes both public and private-sector positions relating to operations, planning, compliance, business development and contract management. In 2014 she was selected as one of Mass Transit's Top 40 under 40, which is a national recognition of young talent in the transit industry. In 2017 she was recognized as Georgia Transit Associations Manager of the year. Karen has been an active member of the Women's Transportation Seminar for over 10 years and is a member of the American Planning Association.
