People on the Move: Laura Grams; Dominic DiBrito and Winston Simmonds

HDR promoted Laura Grams, AICP, to transit planning practice leader. Grams is based in Houston, Texas, and will work closely with transportation planning and transit leadership to expand and diversify HDR’s transit planning offerings.

HDR says she will build on her experience and knowledge of the matrix to elevate the firm’s practice and develop staff involved with policy, systems planning, corridor planning and development, funding and operations and safety. Her work will span all transit modes, from paratransit and intercity passenger rail to bus rapid transit, commuter rail and more. Grams will help clients future-proof their investments while taking advantage of emerging transportation trends such as automated, connected, electric and shared vehicles, micro-transit, micro-mobility and big data.

Hatch named Dominic DiBrito as managing director of the firm’s global transit business. Hatch says DiBrito has multifaceted transportation engineering experience that will help the firm’s clients actively integrate safe, sustainable, accessible and affordable mobility systems. DiBrito was previously president of LTK, which integrated with Hatch in November 2020. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in 10 states with background in design, development, test and delivery of transportation systems and equipment ranging from automated people movers to high-speed passenger trains to freight vehicles.

With DiBrito’s new role, Hatch selected Winston Simmonds to take on the role of regional director, infrastructure, USA. Simmonds will lead Hatch’s USA infrastructure group. He has more than 30 years of progressive project, engineering and construction management experience in the transportation and public transit industry.

Hatch describes him as a proven leader who has successfully delivered large, complex projects. Most recently, Simmonds was project manager for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s 7000 Series Railcar Program, which included the procurement of 748 railcars. Prior to that, he held positions in the public sector with Toronto Transit Commission, Sound Transit and the Port Authority of Allegheny County. He has served on the board of directors for the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh since 2008 and is currently serving as the board secretary.