Transportation, Growth & Opportunity
Join DART President and CEO Nathaniel “Nat” P. Ford Sr. and TxDOT Civil Rights Division Director Michael D. Bryant for a conversation about the transportation priorities shaping North Texas and what they mean for our construction community.
Hear their perspectives on regional mobility, agency leadership, and the relationships that connect transportation investment with business and community needs. Through an interactive discussion and audience Q&A, explore how A/E/C firms, contractors, and community partners can engage with these agencies and contribute to the region’s future.
Bring your questions and gain a clearer understanding of the leaders, priorities, and partnerships shaping what comes next.
Meet the Speakers
DART
Nathaniel “Nat” P. Ford Sr.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Nathaniel “Nat” P. Ford Sr. brings decades of public transportation leadership to North Texas. Before joining DART in October 2026, he led the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and Atlanta’s MARTA. His career began as a train conductor with New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Ford received the American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager award in 2020. He holds an MBA from Jacksonville University and a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Mercer University.
Read DART’s leadership announcement
TxDOT
Michael D. Bryant
Director, Civil Rights Division
Texas Department of Transportation
Michael D. Bryant leads TxDOT’s Civil Rights Division, which promotes opportunity and access across the agency’s operations and programs. He coordinates civil rights programs covering accessibility, equal employment opportunity, Title VI, and disadvantaged business liaison responsibilities. Bryant joined TxDOT in 2012 as an attorney advising on civil rights and programs for historically underutilized and disadvantaged businesses. He previously served as counsel in the Texas Governor’s Office, including work with Economic Development and Tourism. He is an alumnus of Morehouse College and The University of Texas School of Law.
Read Michael Bryant’s TxDOT biography
What You’ll Take Away
- A closer look at DART’s leadership priorities and the work of TxDOT’s Civil Rights Division.
- Perspectives on how transportation connects business growth, regional mobility, and community needs.
- An opportunity to ask questions and take part in the conversation.
