Executive Overview
In a strategic move signaling a major evolution in the infrastructure advisory landscape, the Paslay Group has officially partnered with renowned transportation and infrastructure executive Michael Schneider. This high-profile collaboration marks a pivotal milestone for the firm as it aggressively expands its elite advisory and program management services beyond its traditional, highly successful stronghold in the aviation sector and into the broader, complex multi-modal transportation market.
As the newly appointed Transportation Sector Lead, Schneider will play a catalytic role in shaping, developing, and scaling Paslay Group’s burgeoning transportation and infrastructure practice. Operating at the intersection of public policy, complex finance, and mega-project delivery, the newly formed practice will collaborate directly with project owners across the road, highway, bridge, and public transportation sectors. The core mandate of this specialized team will be to conceptualize, structure, and successfully deliver some of the nation’s most intricate and challenging public infrastructure programs.
A key focal point of this national expansion will be the establishment of a specialized practice dedicated to supporting local infrastructure ballot initiatives. These critical measures serve as the financial lifeblood for modern transit, highway, and active transportation projects across communities nationwide. By combining Paslay Group’s proven project delivery methodology with Schneider’s four decades of leadership in transit and infrastructure strategy, the firm is positioning itself to be a preeminent national force in helping municipalities secure and execute vital capital improvement funding.
Detailed Chronology: A Legacy of Leadership Meets a Proven Paradigm
To fully understand the gravity of this appointment, one must examine the institutional trajectories of both Paslay Group and Michael Schneider, two entities that have independently shaped the modern parameters of American infrastructure delivery.
The Evolution of Paslay Group’s Executive Program Management Model
Founded on the principles of integrity, owner advocacy, and rigorous program governance, the Paslay Group has spent the last two decades building an unblemished reputation within the aviation industry. The firm’s signature offering—the Executive Program Management (EPM) model—was forged in the crucible of real-world airport development.
Reflecting on the origins of the firm’s guiding philosophy, Clay Paslay, President and CEO of Paslay Group, noted:
"Our Executive Program Management model came from my experience as an airport executive leading a capital program. Aviation provided us 20 years to refine this model, and I’m grateful to an industry that trusted us with its most complex programs."
For two decades, major airports turned to Paslay Group to navigate the labyrinth of federal regulations, multi-million-dollar funding streams, terminal expansions, and stakeholder management. By acting strictly as an extension of the owner’s staff, Paslay Group eliminated the traditional conflicts of interest inherent in design-build or agency construction management structures. Now, that same rigorous framework is being translated for surface transportation and public transit systems.
Michael Schneider’s Four-Decade Industry Trajectory
Michael Schneider’s entry into the Paslay Group ecosystem represents the convergence of decades of high-level project delivery, strategic planning, and infrastructure finance. Schneider’s career spans more than 40 years, during which he has left an indelible mark on the American public transportation and highway landscape.
- Early Career and Parsons Brinckerhoff (Now WSP): Schneider spent nearly three decades ascending through the ranks of Parsons Brinckerhoff. His leadership footprint during this era included directing the firm’s comprehensive transportation business across the Western United States. Furthermore, he founded and chaired the firm’s global strategic advisory practice and served as Executive Vice President for Corporate Development and Professional Practice, cementing his reputation as a visionary thinker in global infrastructure.
- HDR Leadership: Following his tenure at WSP, Schneider joined HDR as Senior Vice President. In this capacity, he successfully led the company’s strategic consulting practice while also fulfilling duties as the international director of professional services, guiding multi-disciplinary teams across global markets.
- InfraStrategies LLC: Most recently, Schneider co-founded and served as Managing Partner of InfraStrategies LLC, a boutique infrastructure advisory firm where he specialized in alternative delivery models, public-private partnerships (P3s), and strategic financial planning. He maintains his connection to the firm in the capacity of Senior Advisor.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Mechanics of Modern Infrastructure Delivery
The timing of Paslay Group’s expansion into the broader transportation market is underscored by unprecedented macroeconomic and legislative conditions. With the historic passage and ongoing rollout of federal investments via legislation such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and regional transit authorities are currently swimming in capital—yet starving for specialized human capital and executive-level program management.
Navigating Complexity in Surface Transportation
Unlike vertical infrastructure or greenfield aviation projects, surface transportation programs—such as light rail extensions, bus rapid transit (BRT) networks, and highway widening schemes—are inherently political, geographically sprawling, and disruptive to the surrounding urban fabric. They require sophisticated stakeholder engagement, multi-jurisdictional alignment, and nuanced financing strategies that blend federal grants, state transportation funds, local sales tax revenues, and private-sector capital.
Paslay Group’s expansion targets these exact pain points. By offering an owner-centric program management approach, the firm intends to bridge the gap between ambitious municipal transit visions and the harsh realities of on-time, on-budget delivery.
The Critical Role of Local Ballot Initiatives
One of the most innovative dimensions of Schneider’s new mandate at Paslay Group is the creation of a national practice dedicated to supporting local infrastructure ballot initiatives.
In many U.S. metropolitan regions, federal and state funding alone is insufficient to cover the capital costs of transformative transit and highway projects. Consequently, regional transit agencies and local governments increasingly rely on voter-approved ballot measures—such as dedicated sales taxes, property tax bonds, or transient occupancy taxes—to fund their long-range transportation plans.
These ballot campaigns require a rare blend of technical infrastructure credibility, financial transparency, and sophisticated public communication strategies. Schneider’s profound understanding of transit funding mechanisms uniquely positions Paslay Group to guide regional leaders through the treacherous waters of public referendum campaigns, ensuring that communities can successfully finance and deliver the mobility networks of tomorrow.
Official Statements and Industry Perspectives
The partnership has generated significant enthusiasm across the executive suites of the American transportation sector, highlighting the shared values of integrity, owner advocacy, and structural innovation.
Clay Paslay on Strategic Expansion
Articulating the strategic rationale behind the firm’s evolutionary leap, Clay Paslay emphasized that while the aviation practice remains a core pillar of the business, the time is ripe to apply their proven philosophy to new horizons:
"Our Executive Program Management model came from my experience as an airport executive leading a capital program. Aviation provided us 20 years to refine this model, and I’m grateful to an industry that trusted us with its most complex programs. This expansion will bring our program management approach to owners in other infrastructure sectors while maintaining our existing aviation practice."
Michael Schneider on Joining Paslay Group
Speaking on his decision to align with Paslay Group and guide its transportation sector endeavors, Michael Schneider expressed deep admiration for the firm’s corporate ethos and operational integrity:
"Paslay Group’s acclaimed program management approach and integrity in serving owners in the aviation industry made supporting and advising this team in the broader infrastructure and transportation arena a positive decision. I look forward to helping the firm in its growth within the industry and expanding its purview and portfolio in the transportation and infrastructure marketplace."
Industry Recognition and Leadership Accolades
Schneider’s standing as a preeminent titan of the public transportation industry was underscored in 2024 when he was officially inducted into the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor reflects a career defined by unflagging service to public mobility.
Beyond his Hall of Fame induction, Schneider’s leadership footprint across national industry organizations is vast:
- He has served with distinction on APTA’s Board of Directors.
- He founded and chaired APTA’s influential Committee on Public-Private Partnerships (P3s).
- He currently serves as Vice Chair of the American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF), where he actively mentors the next generation of transportation professionals and workforce leaders.
Future Outlook: Looking Ahead to APTA TRANSform and Beyond
As Michael Schneider steps into his new role as Transportation Sector Lead, all eyes in the infrastructure community will be turned toward the upcoming APTA TRANSform Conference & EXPO, scheduled to take place in Chicago from October 4–7.
As one of the premier global gatherings for public transit leaders, policymakers, operators, and industry suppliers, the Chicago conference will serve as the ideal backdrop for Schneider and the Paslay Group leadership team to unveil their expanded strategic vision to the market. Attendees can expect rigorous discussions surrounding innovative project delivery, alternative infrastructure finance, public-private partnerships, and the future of multi-modal program management.
The Road Ahead
The expansion of Paslay Group into the broader transportation market is more than just a corporate diversification strategy; it is a direct response to a changing American landscape that desperately requires better stewardship of public funds and more reliable execution of mega-projects.
By marrying Clay Paslay’s pioneering owner-advocate model with Michael Schneider’s unmatched pedigree in public transit, highway finance, and project delivery, Paslay Group is uniquely equipped to tackle the most daunting engineering and political challenges facing modern cities.
As cities densify, transit demands evolve, and automated, sustainable mobility solutions reshape our roadways, the need for uncompromised, expert-led program management has never been greater. With Michael Schneider at the helm of its new transportation sector practice, Paslay Group is poised to guide public owners safely through the next era of infrastructure development—ensuring that the billions of dollars currently flowing into America’s transit and highway systems translate into tangible, generational assets for the communities they serve.
