RTD welcomes seven new members to Citizens Advisory Committee, reappoints three
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors has appointed seven new members and reappointed three members to its Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), bringing a range of professional experience, community involvement, and public transit perspectives to the group.
The CAC provides feedback to the RTD Board of Directors and the agency on general matters related to the public transit system, while also encouraging input from local communities. Since being established in 2004, the committee has evolved over the years to reflect RTD’s changing needs and priorities. Its current charter, approved by the Board in May 2024, guides the committee’s role and membership.
The committee can include up to 17 members who represent a broad cross-section of the region’s residents and serve staggered terms. Members are selected based on criteria including demonstrated interest in transit, civic involvement, and community service. Of the 34 applications RTD received during the 2026 appointment cycle, seven new members were chosen. Three current CAC members were recommended for reappointment by the Board in recognition of their engagement and service to the committee.
The appointments and reappointments support RTD’s strategic priorities of Customer Excellence and Community Value by strengthening the agency’s connection to the customers and communities it serves. The seven new and three returning members will begin their terms Jan. 1, 2027 through Dec. 31, 2029.
New members
Mikayla Bravo works for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) on the Way to Go team, which organizes Bike to Work Day and helps employers and commuters find sustainable ways to travel. She has a degree in Public Service with a focus in nonprofit management from the University of Colorado Denver. Transit has played an important role in her life as she uses transit to travel to work, the grocery store, and special events. Her current commute on Route 0 is the highlight of her day thanks to uninterrupted reading time. Mikayla grew up in Aurora, lived in Boulder previously, and is now a Denver resident in RTD District D.
Wulf Grote is a civil engineer with more than 40 years of experience working in public transportation, mostly for the public sector, first with RTD in Denver and then in an executive leadership role with the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro in Phoenix, AZ. He has led planning, design, and construction of major rail and bus transit facilities, transit service planning, and directed Valley Metro’s paratransit program. He currently works part time as a Senior Transit Engineering Advisor with HDR, Inc. in Denver. He regularly used rail and bus transit throughout his working career. Wulf is a resident of District N.
Joe Kilbourn graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and spent 52 years working as an airframe and power plant technician, maintenance instructor, and lead maintenance technician. Before retiring in 2019, he was a frequent commuter to Denver International Airport on the AT. He is a member of the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Firearm Dealer Division Rulemaking Working Group. He regularly uses light rail and buses to travel into Denver. Joe lives in Highlands Ranch and is a resident of RTD District H.
Ian Milby is an accomplished operations leader, data analyst, and community advocate with deep expertise in regional logistics, public infrastructure, and stakeholder governance. He serves as the co-chair of the Colorado Access Regional Health Community Advisory Committee (RHCAC). He holds a Bachelor of Science in hotel & lodging management (cum laude) from Johnson & Wales University, alongside specialized professional certifications in hospitality analytics, emergency response, and strategic data governance. Ian lives in Aurora and is a resident of RTD District F.
Jeannette Riggans is a lifelong Colorado resident who now lives in Thornton. She recently retired after a 35-year career in the transportation industry, where she specialized in trucking and worked in nearly every role except driving. Before retiring, she worked for the Colorado Motor Carrier Association at 40th and Elati and traveled to work by commuter rail, riding the N and G lines. She is passionate about improving transit safety and efficiency, particularly along the I-25 corridor. Jeannette is a resident of RTD District K.
Coleen Samuels is the Executive Director of the Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council (DRMAC), where she works to improve transportation access and mobility for people throughout the region. She understands the important role public transportation plays in helping people connect to jobs, healthcare, education, and their communities. Her work has given her a firsthand perspective on the transportation challenges faced by older adults, people with disabilities, and others who rely on accessible and affordable mobility options. Coleen lives in Denver and is a resident of RTD District B.
Mirna Lizet Smith is a community engagement professional, former educator, and transportation advocate. As the former community engagement coordinator for Jefferson County Elections, she spearheaded countywide nonpartisan outreach initiatives to connect voters with election information and resources. She previously taught English at Alameda International High School, a Title I school in Lakewood. She has been a consistent advocate for safer, quieter streets along Mississippi Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, engaging the City of Lakewood on speeding, traffic noise, and pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Mirna is a resident of Lakewood and lives in RTD District M.
Reappointed members
Aaron Futrell is a lifelong Aurora resident who uses public transit to get to and from work as a postal employee. Aaron attended Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) from 2012 to 2018 where he served in Student Government from 2013 to 2017. While at MSU Denver, Aaron worked with RTD to make fares affordable for students. In 2016, Aaron was awarded the MLK Peace Award for Students for his work on campus. This helped translate into his work in the community where he served on the Human Relations Commission 2018-2022 for the City of Aurora. He is a recent graduate of the Urban Leadership Foundation 2026 cohort. He is a resident of RTD District E.
Mary Jo Highland is an Immigration Attorney with The Meyer Law Office on Colfax Avenue, where she enjoys working with immigrant communities and strives to keep families together. She commutes to work via LD1 and Route 15. Her eldest child has opted not to own a car at all and relies exclusively on public transit. Prior to her work as an immigration attorney, Mary Jo was an elementary school teacher. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of San Diego, a master’s degree in second language acquisition and a law degree from the University of Denver. Mary Jo lives in Lafayette and is a resident of RTD District I.
Mikhail Kaminer is a transportation planner with Fehr & Peers, a firm focused on improving communities through innovative transportation solutions. He is passionate about expanding access to people’s daily lives by enhancing mobility options. Most of Mikhail’s work is focused on transit planning and implementation projects across Colorado. He received his Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in geography and urban studies from the University of Colorado Denver. Mikhail is a 25-year resident of the Denver metro and a daily transit user. Mikhail lives in south Denver in RTD District D.