PRT Board

State Representative Aerion A. Abney, was elected to the House in 2022 to represent the 19th Legislative District, and was appointed to the board by Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Joanna E. McClinton.

Along with being a member of the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board, Representative Abney serves on the  Hill District Federal Credit Union Board, the Human Services Center Corporation Board, and the Advisory Board of the African American Achievement Trust Collective Focus. Representative Abney is also a member of the My Brother’s Keeper taskforce in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Representative Abney is a member of the Planning & Stakeholder Relations Committee.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Leader Jesse Topper appointed Dr. Chris W. Brussalis to a four-year term on the PRT Board in May 2025.

Dr. Brussalis is the current President of Point Park University and an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Brussalis holds board positions with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, American Society for Competitiveness, Leadership Pittsburgh, and the Live Like Lou Foundation, where he serves as chair.

Dr. Brussalis is a member of the Planning & Stakeholder Relations Committee and the Technology Committee.

Tom Burgunder is a PRT rider and an advocate of accessibility within public transportation, serving as president of the Golden Triangle Council of the Blind, and a member of the Committee for Accessible Transit (CAT). Mr. Burgunder graduated from Dickinson School of Law.

Mr. Burgunder is Chair of the Technology Committee and a member of the Governance Committee, Planning and Stakeholder Relations Committee, and Performance Oversight and Monitoring Committee.

Bobbie Fan is a PRT rider who advocates for accessible and better public transportation. Mx. Fan attended Carnegie Mellon University's Human Computer Interaction Institute where they earned their PhD, and is now the Data Justice Project Director for Urbankind's Black Equity Coalition (BEC), and the research committee chair for Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT).

Mx. Fan is a member of the Financial Audit Committee, Finance Committee, and the Planning and Stakeholder Relations Committee.

Board Chair Jennifer Liptak began her career in county government in 1998 when she accepted a position with the Office of District Attorney, where she ultimately ascended to the position of Finance Manager. In March of 2004, Ms. Liptak joined the Office of County Council as Budget Director and was later appointed Chief of Staff while serving as County Manager from February 2023 until June 2024. Ms. Liptak joined the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) as Vice-President/Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer in June 2024.

Ms. Liptak is chair of the Governance Committee.

Tia McClenney was appointed to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board in June 2024 by County Executive Sara Innamorato. Ms. McClenney is Senior Litigation Counsel at a global cloud communications company, leading global disputes and building the company’s litigation function. She previously practiced law at a AmLaw40 firm and later served as a public affairs executive at a Fortune 35 media and technology company. A first‑generation attorney, Ms. McClenney earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and her B.A. from Old Dominion University. She serves as Chair of the Performance Oversight and Monitoring Committee and as a member of the Governance Committee.

Laura Sohinki was appointed to the PRT Board in November 2025 by Governor Josh Shapiro. Ms. Sohinki is the current Southwest Regional Director for the Office of Governor Josh Shapiro. She brings extensive experience in government affairs, advocacy, and community development, having previously served as Senior Director of Government Affairs at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, among other leadership positions. 

Ms. Sohinki holds a Master’s in Community Planning from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Art in Political Science, History, Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. 

President Pro Tempore of the Senate of Pennsylvania Kim Ward appointed Joseph C. Totten III to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board in August 2023.

Mr. Totten is the chief revenue officer of The Reschini Group of Indiana, PA, where he is responsible for overseeing the management and growth of client relationships and supports the firm’s long-term growth initiatives. Mr. Totten is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and earned his Bachelor's degree in Science, Finance & Investment Management from Duquesne University. His term expires on November 30, 2028.

Mr. Totten is a member of the Technology Committee and Finance Committee.

Stephanie Turman is president of Pittsburgh-based Always Busy Consulting, which works to help companies hire more women and minorities for construction jobs and contracts.

Ms. Turman previously worked as a principal liaison for the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and now serves on the Allegheny County Industrial Development Authority, the Allegheny County Hospital Development Authority, the Allegheny County Higher Education Building Authority and the Residential Finance Authority.

Ms. Turman is chair of both the Nominating Committee and the Planning and Stakeholder Relations Committee, and is a member of the Financial Audit Committee and Governance Committee.

Senator Lindsey M. Williams represents the 38th Senatorial District in Allegheny County, which encompasses the 10th, 11th and 12th Wards of the City of Pittsburgh, the North Hills suburbs, and many of the communities along the Allegheny River Valley.

Prior to her election to the state Senate in 2018, Senator Williams was the Director of Advocacy at the National Whistleblowers Center, then went on to work for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers. As a State Senator, Senator Williams now offers one-on-one assistance in her District Office, hosts community events to connect residents with area services, and supports local organizations and projects.

Senator Williams is chair of the Financial Audit Committee and a member of the Finance and Performance Oversight Committees.