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Each month we are featuring one of our 2021 WTS Metropolitan Phoenix Awards recipients. This month we are spotlighting our Honorable Ray Lahood Award Recipient John Bullen with the Maricopa Association of Governments. 

John is the Transportation Economic and Finance Program Manager at the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). In this role, he oversees transportation funding policy and implementation for the region, including the Proposition 400 arterial and freeway programs, federal funding distribution, and financial activities related to the extension of Proposition 400.  John first joined MAG in 2012. Prior to that, he served as a transportation planner for the City of Glendale. John holds both a bachelor’s degree and Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

We asked John to share a little more about herself and his work.

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?

I wouldn’t say that my approach to work has been influenced by a single person so as much as a group of people during an internship. While in college, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be a congressional intern. Expectations of the staff were extremely high; the experience really taught me the importance of critical thinking, self-initiative, and accountability. It has served as a terrific foundation from which I’ve built my career upon.

Why do you feel it’s important to support the advancement of women in the transportation industry?

There is no shortage of challenges facing the transportation industry. These challenges are going to grow and become more complex over time. To that end, we need to make sure we have the best and brightest people in the industry. We can ill-afford not to advance women in transportation because they will be critical to the solutions we need now and into the future.

\What is something most people don’t know about you?

While I’m not a native Arizonan, I’ve been traveling to the Valley since I was a little kid and had always known I wanted to live here. Traveling to Arizona every year gave me the opportunity to really see the Valley mature – especially the transportation network. I can remember when there was little development north of Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale and Pima Road was the main north-south corridor.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would you choose?

I’m going to channel my inner-nerd and go with Tyler Cowen, who is an economics blogger, professor, and columnist. He has an interesting approach to things, frequently travels to a number of different places across the globe, and routinely talks to some of the most fascinating people in the world.