For nearly 14 years, Shashank Patil has served as a senior planner in the Port of Long Beach’s Transportation Planning Division, which conducts transportation and goods movement studies. During his time with the port, he has contributed to California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act reports, as well as assisted with state and federal funding applications for large-scale projects such as the Gerald Desmond Bridge, Middle Harbor redevelopment and the Pier B on-dock rail support facility. “It’s very gratifying when something that you were a part of is now coming to fruition,” Patil said. “It gives me a sense of pride that I am involved in [projects] this large and iconic.” Currently, Patil is a project manager for the San Pedro Bay Portwide Rail study, a collaborative effort with the Port of Los Angeles. Prior to his work at the port, Patil was a transportation consultant in the private sector and conducted traffic studies for projects such as the Panther’s football stadium in North Carolina and the temporary closure of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. He noted that with the port, he follows projects from inception to completion and beyond, whereas in the private sector, he only participated in the study. “[Working for the port] has been a satisfying experience,” Patil said. “It’s a perfect work-life balance, which was important to me as my son was growing up – something I was not able to do in the private sector.” (Photograph by Brandon Richardson)