Forrest Jones, systems safety manager, and Doreen Zhao, AICP, associate/planning manager, have been named to Mass Transit magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026, recognizing emerging leaders who are advancing how transit systems are delivered, operated and experienced.

Jones and Zhao are part of a national cohort of professionals shaping the next generation of public transportation. Together, their recognition reflects STV’s depth of talent across transit safety, planning, environmental documentation, design coordination and community engagement.

Jones partners with transit clients to advise on safety and security certification across major capital and operations programs nationwide, including bus rapid transit systems, commuter rail infrastructure and complex, multi-agency initiatives such as the Gateway Program Hudson River Tunnel.

With more than a decade of experience, Jones began his career as a bus operator in Birmingham, Alabama, before advancing into training and safety leadership roles. He has led agency-wide safety programs, workforce training initiatives and the implementation of Safety Management System (SMS) processes, building a foundation that bridges operational insight with technical delivery.

“Forrest understands how safety works in the day-to-day realities of transit operations,” said Tom Lentz, vice president, security development director at STV. “He brings an operator’s perspective to complex systems, translating technical requirements into decisions that directly
improve how those systems perform in the field. This recognition reflects the impact of that
approach.”

Zhao leads STV’s Southern California planning group, overseeing multidisciplinary planning efforts, supporting design coordination and environmental documentation, and mentoring a growing team of planners. Her experience includes serving as planning lead for environmental documents on the California High-Speed Rail program, including the Burbank to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Anaheim sections, as well as supporting alternatives analysis and environmental coordination for Los Angeles Metro’s C Line Extension.

Zhao has spent more than 11 years at STV building a career in transportation and environmental planning. After earning her Master of Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA, she joined STV and has since contributed to some of the most complex and visible transit programs in California and the western United States. She is also active in the broader transit industry, serving on the national steering committee for the Mpact Transit + Community conference and participating in WTS-Los Angeles. At STV, she has supported early-career professionals and employee engagement efforts across Southern California offices.

“Doreen is the leader and colleague everyone wants on their team,” said Tyler Bonstead, vice president and planning director at STV. “She brings expertise in transit and environmental planning to every project while creating teams centered on collaboration, transparency and mentorship. I’m incredibly proud of her growth as a leader and excited to see her recognized among the industry’s rising professionals.”