Emily Tapia-Lopez

Senior Account Executive

Emily has diverse experience in urban planning, community development and transportation in the public-, private-, and not-for-profit sectors and manages Resolute’s public private partnership (PPP) and infrastructure practice.

She provides clients with in-depth expertise on national and international best practices, models, and guidance on the legislative and public process. Emily develops strategic communication tools that help assess the political risk of infrastructure investments and guides the public process and stakeholder outreach for clients. 

Emily recently worked with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) on message development for a variety of legislative items in both Springfield and Washington DC, and provided issue advocacy on projects that affected the transit agencies in northeast Illinois. She is currently working with engineering and construction firms as well as trade and labor groups on developing communications strategies and brand positioning.

Emily previously served as a manager at the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), where she focused on transportation policies at the federal-, state- and local levels.  She conducted the research, strategic communications, and advocacy for the Public-Private Partnership for Illinois Act in Springfield.  A Chicago native, Emily managed all operations for the Chicago division of LA-based Edaburi Group, which recruited international talent to design and develop a LEED-certified community in Chicago. While at CTA, she managed the agency’s community outreach program and assisted with the Regional Transportation Authority’s Moving Beyond Congestion initiative in the Government and Community Relations division. Emily also worked in Washington, D.C., for U.S. Rep. Bill Lipinski (D-Ill.), then-Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee.

Emily has traveled all over the world – extensively throughout Europe and South America. After Hurricane Katrina, Emily joined colleagues in the rebuilding effort in New Orleans. She was Graduate of the Year at the University of Illinois and received the Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) graduate scholarship for excellence in transportation. She is currently president of Transport Chicago.