2025 Board of Directors
Saloni Deodhar
Chair
Saloni Deodhar is a Transportation Engineer with a master’s degree from Purdue University. She currently works at AECOM, focusing on transportation technology projects across Texas. Saloni joined the YPT Houston board in 2024 and is passionate about advancing the organization and supporting the next generation of transportation professionals.
Sandip Acharya
Deputy Chair
Sandip Acharya is a Traffic Engineer with a master’s degree from Texas Southern University. He currently works at WSP, where he focuses on traffic engineering and operations-related projects across Texas, Arizona, and Virginia. He has been a member of Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT) since 2023, and in 2025, he joined the YPT Houston board as Deputy Chair. In his free time, Sandip enjoys playing soccer, ping pong, hiking, and traveling.
Julfiker Hossain
Director of Finance
Julfiker is a Transportation Engineer with a Ph.D. degree from UCONN. He currently works at CDM Smith in Houston and focuses on traffic safety and projections. He is working on projects in Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, and South Carolina. He joined YPT in 2022 and become the Director of Administration in 2023. After serving as a Director of Administration for two years, he switched his role to Director of Finance in 2025, and managing all the financial affairs.
James Wilson-Schutter
Director of Administration
James Wilson-Schutter is a Transportation Planner with a masters degree from NYU. He currently works at CDM Smith in Houston and focuses on corridor planning and resiliency planning, working on projects in Texas, Connecticut, the Carolinas, Doha and Jakarta. He joined YPT in 2024 and become the Director of Administration in 2025, within his role he hopes to advance YPT and ensure all members have the best experience possible.
Mariela Ceja
Director of Membership
Mariela Ceja is a Transportation Engineer with a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston. She has been with HNTB since 2022, specializing in roadway design. In addition, Mariela actively contributes to the transportation community as the Director of Membership for YPT, helping to build connections and support professional growth.
Sai kalakuntla
Director of Sponsorship
Sai Kalakuntla is a Transportation Planner at CDM Smith with a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. After graduating, Sai joined CDM Smith and relocated to Houston. In 2022, he became the Director of Communications for YPT Houston, and in 2024, he transitioned to the role of Director of Sponsorships.
Chhun Hong
Co-Director of Programs
Chhun Hong is a Transportation Engineer at Kimley-Horn in Houston and focuses on traffic engineering/operation designs. He’s a Houston native and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UT Austin. He has been a member of YPT since 2022 and in 2025 he joined the YPT Houston board as Co-Director of Programs. During his free time, Chhun enjoys rock climbing, pickleball, hiking, and traveling.
Arianna Rambaram
Co-Director of Programs
Arianna is a Transportation Analyst with Alliance Transportation Group (ATG|DCCM). She grew up in Orlando, FL, received her B.S.C.E. degree from Florida A&M and then transitioned to Indiana where she received her M.S.C.E. from Purdue University. She has been a member of YPT since 2022 and in 2025 she joined the YPT Houston board as Co-Director of Programs where she helps strategize and coordinate both technical and social events for the Houston chapter’s members.
Abigail matheny
Director of Communications
Abigail is a Transportation Engineer at Kimley-Horn in Houston, specializing in traffic operations and safety. Originally from California, Abigail earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She has been an active member of YPT Houston since 2023 and took on the role of Director of Communications on the YPT board in 2025.
Sairah Samma
Director of Social Media
Sairah Samma is currently a transportation engineer at AECOM in Houston and focuses on roadway design. She graduated from University of Houston in 2020 with her Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering. She has been involved in YPT for several years and she transitioned to a role on the board in 2025 as Director of Social Media to keep our members and engineering community up to date on our events.