Gresham Smith is proud to announce the addition of Pam Kordenbrock as a technical advisor in the firm’s Transportation market. A seasoned transportation leader with more than three decades of experience at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Pam brings deep expertise in federal, state, and local funding processes and technical oversight of surface transportation programs, including highways and bridges.
As the former Division Administrator for the Tennessee division of the FHWA, Kordenbrock oversaw the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $1.2 billion annual Federal-aid Highway Program across the state for 14 years. Her collaborative approach and proven leadership helped advance critical infrastructure projects through strategic partnerships with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), metropolitan planning organizations, rural planning organizations, as well as academic and private-sector partners.
“Pam’s technical expertise, particularly in federal-aid program implementation and intergovernmental coordination, will be a tremendous resource for our clients navigating increasingly complex transportation programs,” said Kent Black, P.E., executive vice president of Gresham Smith’s Transportation market. “We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
Throughout her FHWA tenure, Pam led initiatives to streamline reviews, improve stewardship, and align federal regulations with on-the-ground project delivery needs. An expert on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she has delivered training on the law to local and state agencies.
Prior to her time in Tennessee, Kordenbrock also served in FHWA leadership roles in New Mexico, Washington, D.C., California, Maryland, and across various technical programs, giving her a broad perspective on national infrastructure policies and practices. She has also served as a mentor of future agency leaders through FHWA’s Leadership Academy.
“After decades of working alongside states and local agencies to implement federal transportation programs, I’m excited to bring that perspective to Gresham Smith,” Kordenbrock said. “I look forward to helping clients navigate funding opportunities and deliver infrastructure solutions that truly serve their communities.”
With her deep understanding of funding mechanisms, regulatory frameworks and agency coordination, she will support Gresham Smith’s transportation clients in identifying opportunities, aligning projects with funding streams, and helping deliver impactful infrastructure investments.
Kordenbrock holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Virginia. She lives in Lebanon, Tennessee.
