Erika Kemp is a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of experience driving results-oriented initiatives and providing strategic direction across various industries. Currently serving as director of the Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Division at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Erika oversees a wide array of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing transportation systems. She is instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation through the Innovative Transportation in Texas program, which includes initiatives such as an innovation academy, awards, and transformative leadership. Additionally, Erika leads enterprise-wide programs focusing on data science, performance management, risk management, continuity of operations, policy development, and governance. She also sponsors collaborative consortia, such as the Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Task Force, Texas Transportation Technology Task Force, and the Texas Innovation Alliance, which bring together stakeholders from diverse sectors to facilitate the exchange of best practices and drive the implementation of innovative initiatives. Prior to her current role, Erika held leadership positions within the Transportation Programs Division, where she led the Modernize Portfolio and Project Management initiative. In this role, she successfully planned and implemented a complex technological initiative, significantly enhancing the agency’s core function to develop capital infrastructure projects.