2026-2027 Board Spotlight: Kathryn Hagerman Medina
Kathryn Hagerman Medina is a Southern California Chapter member, the Director of Customer Success and Marketing at RideAmigos, and an incoming 2026-2027 At-Large Director on ACT's Board. Get to know Kathryn in our December board spotlight!
Kathryn Hagerman Medina first took an interest in TDM while she was working at Esri, the company behind ArcGIS, a popular platform for mapping, spatial analysis, and location intelligence. During her time there, she met the founders of RideAmigos when it was identified by Esri’s leadership as one of a handful of highly innovative startups in geospatial technology. Before that, she held roles in human resources, with focuses spanning recruitment, business partnerships, labor relations, and compliance. She also served as chief of staff at a boutique Chicago law firm supporting real estate developers and professional sports clients, including the predecessor to today’s National Women’s Soccer League.
After seeing the RideAmigos pitch, she began thinking about how location intelligence and behavioral science could be applied to improving transportation on a large scale. In 2017, she officially joined the TDM world and the RideAmigos team, where she quickly leaned into the momentum of a fast-moving startup. As head of marketing and customer success there, she found a chance to actively shape product strategy and work directly with users turning big ideas into real change in their communities.
Kathryn, now Director of Success and Marketing, says, "The bottom line is that I get to work with an awesome group of people at RideAmigos. Their passion and brilliance never cease to amaze and inspire me. We motivate each other to keep pushing the edge of what's possible. And I can say the same about our customers and partners. I am so grateful for the opportunity to rub shoulders literally and metaphorically with so many smart and caring people! I have my dream job working at the intersection of people and technology, empowering people and organizations to realize their greatest potential impact."
She credits a memorable 2017 presentation by Aaron Gaul, TDM-CP hosted by ACT's Southern California Chapter for giving her the crash course in the history of TDM and inspiring her to join ACT. TDM. Later, it was the work that chapter leaders, like Devon Deming of LA Metro, did in support of California’s funding measure for transportation infrastructure including for transit and active modes that inspired her to volunteer leadership.
Kathryn says, "The TDM world is a full ecosystem of people who all share the goal of helping people and regions move more efficiently. At an ACT conference, you can meet everyone from urban planners and HR experts to bike enthusiasts to technologists and marketers, and the organizations they represent are from every industry -- all working together to change the way the world commutes."
Within ACT, Kathryn has engaged with various roles and programs. She has held leadership roles on the Southern California board and was a member of ACT's first-ever international delegation to the UK. She credits the organization and her regional chapter as the keys to her understanding of the field and all who work in it.
Kathryn says, "ACT has played a transformative role in my professional journey and in shaping how my organization, RideAmigos, contributes to the TDM movement. After six years on the board of the Southern California chapter, I’m excited to help steer ACT into its next chapter: one that embraces our role in shaping the future, expands our reach, and amplifies our collective impact on commuters and communities across the country."
She loves how ACT events bring people together, creating space to share ideas and inspire one another. What she looks forward to most, though, is the way each conference spotlights the host region and lifts up local challenges and success stories.
Outside of work, Kathryn spends much of her time with her kindergartener, staying active with school events, birthday celebrations, and related activities. She and her family also enjoy traveling and exploring new experiences together whenever possible.
Congratulations, Kathryn, on your upcoming leadership term. Please join us in welcoming Kathryn to the 2026-2027 Board of Directors!