Dj joined the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission in the spring of 2023 after working in varied roles in government in politics at the state and federal levels. As the Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives, Dj is responsible for SPC’s internal and external messaging and for communicating our work to Commissioners, Elected Officials, stakeholders, and the general public. Dj also monitors legislative and regulatory changes that could affect SPC or our members, and ensures that our priorities are considered by government officials. He oversees a team of six staff in varied roles including communications and media, external relations, public participation, compliance, freight planning, and funding and development. Additionally, he represents our organization with government officials and helps them advocate for the region’s transportation, infrastructure, and economic development needs. Dj was appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro to serve as a Commissioner for the Port of Pittsburgh and was the region’s appointee to the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority’s technical subcommittee. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Communication from Penn State University.