NMITE Elections

I am honored to be a candidate for the position of Vice President for the Institute of Transportation Engineers New Mexico Section. I resonate greatly with the mission of ITE, which is to bring together transportation professionals who work to improve mobility and safety for all transportation system users and help build smart and livable communities. I would love to contribute my time and effort to the continued success of the local section. 

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of New Mexico. From 2019 to 2020, I served as the UNM ITE Student Chapter President. I happily joined the professional NMITE chapter in January of 2021. This year (2025), I served on the NMITE board as the Secretary-Treasurer which included assisting in the conference coordination for the ITE Mountain District Annual Meeting in June. 

I am currently a professional engineer at WSP, with experience in both traffic operations/analysis and transportation design. As I assume many of you can relate, I began to view our transportation system differently after entering the engineering industry. Each time I leave my house, I not only observe how our streets operate and how all users enter and exit the space, but I often brainstorm how we can improve the experience for all. It is our duty to make sure these travel spaces are safe for all while moving people efficiently to their desired destination. I am motivated by everyday challenges and hope to leave this world a better place for all the generations that have yet to come. 

I have enjoyed my time as a professional member of NMITE for five years and serving as a board member for one year. I would love for your support to serve as the 2026 Vice President of NMITE.

I am deeply honored to be considered for the Vice President position of ITE New Mexico. I am currently the Secretary-Treasurer, and I’ve greatly enjoyed learning the ins and outs of our section. I’ve also participating in the Local Arrangement Committee and had a blast planning the 2025 Mountain District Annual Meeting. Events like these truly connect our chapters and are critical to ITE’s continuous growth. My primary goal in the years to come, whether I am elected or not, will be to ensure our chapter continues to expand in both size and knowledge. 

Estela Salinas is a Senior Engineering Designer at Lee Engineering. Her internship experience with Lee Engineering ignited her passion for connecting people through transportation systems. She enjoys all aspects of traffic analysis and design. Estela graduated from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) in May 2022 and has since been working with Lee Engineering on both privately and federally funded projects. In her free time, she enjoys bodybuilding, painting, gaming, hiking, and traveling.

Tyler is appreciative and excited about the opportunity to be a candidate for the position of Secretary Treasurer for the Institute of Transportation Engineers New Mexico Section. ITE provides a great opportunity for transportation professionals of all experience levels to collaborate and learn from each other on how to build transportation systems that are efficient, safe, and tailored to communities. Serving as the ITE Secretary Treasurer is a privilege that provides the elected candidate a responsibility to not only maintain, but to continue to grow the New Mexico ITE community.
 
Tyler is a Transportation Planner with 7 years of experience working in the transportation field across New Mexico. A lifelong resident of Albuquerque, he attended and graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While not schooled in the practice of transportation planning/engineering, he was raised around it his entire life. He felt compelled to enter the field shortly after graduating, citing the unique opportunity transportation improvement projects offer in combining engineering, community engagement, and environmental considerations to develop solutions that are safer and efficient for all users.
 
He currently works at Parametrix, where he has obtained experience across a wide variety of transportation projects across the state. His experience ranges from alternative analysis studies for significant lengths of state highways, to conducting comprehensive transit studies, to developing long range security plans for the City of Albuquerque Transit. As a Transportation Planner, Tyler believes that effective transportation projects extend beyond engineering, requiring effective elements of work from the planning phase through the construction phase. If elected to the ITE Board, a goal of Tyler’s would be to promote the growth of the ITE community to include Planners and other transportation professionals. Tyler would view it as an absolute privilege and honor to serve on the ITE Board for the New Mexico Section, using the opportunity to promote the continued growth success of all transportation in New Mexico.

Abigail is very grateful for the opportunity to be a candidate for the position of Secretary Treasurer for the Institute of Transportation Engineers New Mexico Section. She believes that community is fundamental to professional success and innovation, and she would be honored to contribute to the ITE community here in New Mexico.

 Abigail is an EIT and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of New Mexico. She has been working in the traffic engineering field for 5 years, starting as an intern at Lee Engineering her senior year at UNM and currently working in the traffic group at NV5. What first captured her interest in this field was its immediate and pervasive impact on the community. Everyone has different needs, preferences, and destinations, but we are all trying to get somewhere most of the time. Traffic engineering also has a unique intersection with public health: through engineering decisions, we have the opportunity to make public spaces safer for people, to promote a cleaner environment, and to improve people’s quality of life through their daily commutes. It has been a privilege to be part of this work in New Mexico and around the country, and Abigail would love to serve on the ITE board to promote the continued success of this community. 

I am excited and honored to be considered for the position of Section Representative for the New Mexico Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (NMITE).

I have been involved with NMITE since my time at the University of New Mexico, where I served on the student board. Since then, I have continued my involvement with NMITE, most recently serving as Section President in 2025.

I am currently a Principal Engineer with Parametrix in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and have over 13 years of experience working on municipal roadway and street design projects throughout New Mexico. My experience includes roadway design, bicycle and trail planning and design, and pedestrian safety.

I believe ITE is a unique organization that brings together professionals who share a passion for transportation and a commitment to improving the way people move through their communities. Transportation is an integral part of everyone’s daily life, whether traveling by car, bicycle, public transit, or other means. I find all aspects of transportation fascinating, particularly the opportunity to bring together different perspectives, research, and innovative ideas to address everyday challenges.

What I value most about ITE is the opportunity to collaborate with transportation professionals who approach problems from different perspectives and work together to develop creative solutions. ITE provides an important platform for sharing knowledge, learning from one another, and advancing ideas that make a meaningful difference in people’s daily lives.

I have greatly enjoyed my time with ITE and the opportunity to serve NMITE. I am excited about the opportunity to continue contributing to the organization as Section Representative.

Dominic Chavez

I am honored to be a candidate for New Mexico Section Representative to the ITE Mountain District Board. ITE has been part of my professional life since my days as a student at the University of New Mexico, and I would welcome the chance to serve our section at the District level.

From 2021 to 2023, I served on the ITE New Mexico Section Board as Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, and President. Those three years taught me how our section runs, what our members value, and where we need support. As President, I saw firsthand how much a strong connection to the District can do for a smaller section like ours.

Today I am a Professional Engineer at Horrocks with 12 years of experience in traffic and ITS design. My project work in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah has shown me how much our states can learn from one another. I want to bring that perspective to the District Board.

If elected, I will:

• Be a clear, two-way voice: bring New Mexico's concerns, ideas, and initiatives to the District Board, and report District updates and goals back to our Section Board.
• Represent our members with a vote: attend District Board meetings and planning calls prepared, and vote with New Mexico's interests in mind.
• Align our section with the District and ITE: connect New Mexico activities to regional and international programs, resources, and opportunities.
• Keep investing in the next generation: continue outreach to student chapters and young professionals, who keep our profession moving forward.

I would be grateful for your support and the opportunity to represent ITE New Mexico on the Mountain District Board.