About YPT-DC

Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT) is an international 501(c)(6) nonprofit coalition of organizations, which helps professional development, fellowship, and networking for young professionals in the transportation field.

Since 2008, YPT-DC has been the local chapter for Northern Virginia, DC, and Southern Maryland transportation practitioners, students, and partners. This chapter aims to put into practice YPT's mission.

• To foster professional development, YPT-DC hosts regular lectures, panel discussions, and on-site tours with local experts. Because this chapter is located in the seat of the Federal government, members are also able to learn from national lawmakers and thought leaders. This feature is unique to YPT-DC.

• To promote fellowship, YPT-DC sponsors casual outings and fun events for members and friends, including a monthly "Beers with Peers" and group outings to sporting events and recreational activities. 

• To build its network, YPT-DC's 2,000 members and friends work together to sustain an environment that will usher in the next generation of thought leaders and experts who are prepared to lead.

YPT-DC Board

Each year, candidates submit qualifications and are selected by YPT's members to carry the mission forward. Elections are held each autumn and terms are for one year. For 2025, YPT's Board is as follows:

Mehul Gupta, Chair, is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). He graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s in business economics from Indiana University.

Mehul’s interest in transportation began when he worked at Guidehouse with their USDOT team, helping support projects on transit safety and civil rights. During graduate school, he worked as a research assistant at the Indian Institute of Technology’s Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Centre on electric bicycle adoption in India.

In his free time, Mehul enjoys playing tennis, exploring DC’s restaurant scene, and watching Indiana Hoosiers basketball with friends.

Mary Kate Kesler, Deputy Chair, is a Consultant at Guidehouse, where she delivers strategic communications solutions for USDOT clients. She graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in international relations with minors in urban planning and public management.

Mary Kate is enthusiastic about providing opportunities for young people in the transportation field to connect, learn, grow, and be advocates for one another. Mary Kate moved to D.C. in September 2022 and in her free time, she enjoys coaching field hockey, perfecting her bread recipe, and checking off her long list of restaurants to try in the DMV.

Banks Stamp, Director of Administration, is a Policy Analyst at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). He holds an MSc in International City Planning from University College London and both a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Banks’s commitment to public transit began in the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office, where he worked on initiatives spanning urban climate resilience, parking policy reform, and community engagement. He played a key role in the launch of the city’s new bus rapid transit system, using data and community feedback from the 2022 World Games to shape rollout strategies and expand access.

As a Marshall Scholar at UCL, he examined how technology and urban development intersect across advanced economies and how policy design influences economic growth, governance, and spatial equity.

Banks also enjoys film, local music venues, and art galleries.

Michelle Imarah, Director of Communications, is a Transportation Engineer at Gorove Slade Associates where she supports traffic analysis and planning for new development and conversions for a variety of land uses within the DMV region.

Michelle, who was born and raised in Nigeria, came to the US to obtain a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Kentucky. It was during her time in grad school that she found her love for transportation especially urban planning and design in cities. In grad school, she worked as a research assistant to support her thesis titled, 'Estimating the Effectiveness of Incentives on the Adoption of Electric Vehicles', where she combined data science tools with transportation policy. 

Outside of work, Michelle loves swimming and reading books especially African fiction. She also loves watching documentaries and rewatching old nostalgic shows.

Mitch Asante, Director of Finance, is a Consultant at Guidehouse, where he works for USDOT and its Operating Administrations. Originally from Accra, Ghana, Mitch holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island and he furthered his education in the Master’s in Legislative Affairs program at George Washington University.

His passion for transportation, equity, and civil rights stems from his experience at the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Civil Rights and the USDOT’s Departmental Office of Civil Rights. He’s has had the opportunity to work on FAA’s first-ever Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Plan and DOCR’s Organizational Strategic Plan.

In his free time, Mitch enjoys stand-up comedy, watching soccer, and serves as Co-Founder/CEO of a fast growing hospitality and event management company based in DC.

Sanskrit Singh, Director of Programming, is a Consultant with WSP. He holds a Master of Science degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Previously, Sanskrit worked at Brookfield Asset Management, a global investment banking company, where he oversaw their infrastructure portfolio in the India region.

Outside of work, Sanskrit enjoys engaging in outdoor activities such as tennis, soccer, and hiking. He is also a big fan of the Capital Bikeshare service in DC.

Sanskrit is also passionate about sustainability and climate change, advocating for emission reductions at his work and encouraging his friends to make the small changes in their lives that contribute to a greener environment.

Maggie Harger, Director of Membership, is a Policy Analyst with the U.S. Department of Transportation. In this role she works primarily with FTA on federal transit policy initiatives. She holds a Master of Science degree in Public Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Previously, Maggie worked as a Mobility Coordinator for North King County in the greater Seattle region. She was also a Transportation Fellow with Carnegie Mellon's Traffic21 research institute during her time in grad school.

Outside of work, Maggie can be found exploring DC via bus or Capital Bikeshare. She is also an avid hiker, and like many others has recently taken up the competitive sport of Pickleball.

Natan Gervais, Director of Sponsorships, is a Consultant at Guidehouse, supporting the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He has also supported the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) with civil rights initiatives and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) with its discretionary grant program, Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A).

Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Natan holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University.

Passionate about the intersection of technology and transportation, Natan sees a unique opportunity for YPT-DC to partner with tech-forward organizations, in an era of rapid change.

In his free time, Natan enjoys running, exploring Washington, D.C.’s restaurant scene, watching movies, and traveling with friends across the U.S. and internationally.

Thank You To Our Sponsors!

Our sponsors support YPT-DC with resources that allow us to plan and execute panels and talks, happy hours, and other events to connect our members and friends with one another. Click on a logo below to learn more about our sponsors.