Brendan Kaplan is an interdisciplinary leader with backgrounds in technology, operations, government , and transportation.

Brendan is currently a National Subject Matter expert for the Eastern Transportation Coalition, where he represents 17 states and their DOT commissioners in engaging with big tech to improve roadway operations.

Most recently, Brendan worked for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey where he led partnerships between the Agency and Apple, Google, Waze, Uber, Lyft, Here, TomTom, and Inrix. Brendan integrated these partners' data with agency systems to increase visibility into operational conditions, deliver just-in-time insights to drivers, collect longitudinal/ spatial information for traffic engineers, and created new practices to support delivery of a historic $32bn capital plan. Brendan led teams that built technologies, leveraged them to craft new SOPs and trained dozens of staff across 3 facilities and 5 functions in their use, as well as represented the Agency’s TMC for design, implementation, and UAT of the Agency’s award winning $15 Million ATMS software.

Prior projects include IEEE’s 2020/2030 governance plan, Macmillan Publishing’s 2015 web strategy, Atlassian ecosystem management, and founding then later selling the startup GrantGrabber. Brendan was also founder and Executive Director of the New Brunswick Office of Innovation, Vice-Chair of the New Brunswick’s Rent Control Board, and a member of the NJ Supreme Court Fee Arbitration Committee. He is an accomplished public speaker, singer, and dancer, having performed and taught dance and music throughout the US, including in NYC, LA, Boston, and the Berkshires.

In his spare time, Brendan enjoys sketching urban systems and architectural ideas, long bike rides, composing/ recording music, reading, fundraising for various causes, and serving on helpful boards and committees.