In 2017, James Corless began his appointment as Chief Executive Officer for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.  At its September 2016 meeting, the Board of Directors unanimously selected him to lead the agency into its next phase.  Corless is the founding director of Transportation for America, where he built an impressive national network of civic, elected, and business leaders who understand that strategic investments in infrastructure are crucial for attracting economic development.  During his tenure, Corless implemented a series of Transportation Leadership Academies for local leaders across the nation, helped launch the national Smart Cities Collaborative for municipalities looking to use technology to improve mobility options, and has worked with dozens of regional planning agencies across the United States to implement data-driven decision making.  Prior to joining Transportation for America, he held senior positions at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Corless is married to Diana Williams and together they have three children.