The Whatcom Council of Governments, a regional council that coordinates transportation planning and other initiatives, has made several staff promotions.

Ron Cubellis has been promoted to deputy executive director and chief financial officer. He is a certified public accountant in Washington and has attained the nationally-recognized Certified Government Finance Manager designation. Cubellis is a graduate of Western Washington University and has been a member of WCOG’s staff since 1995.

Hugh Conroy has been promoted to director of planning. Conroy manages WCOG’s metropolitan and regional transportation planning program and the International Mobility and Trade Corridor Program. He holds a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University and has been with WCOG since 1997.

Susan Horst has been promoted to director of mobility programs. She manages the Whatcom Smart Trips program, which works with individuals, schools and businesses throughout Whatcom County to facilitate more trips by walking, bicycling, sharing rides and riding the bus. Horst holds a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and has been with WCOG since 1996.

Leslye O’Shaughnessy has been promoted to manager of administration, responsible for human resources, employee benefits, accounts payable and other administrative functions. O’Shaughnessy also serves as clerk to the full council, the executive board and the Whatcom Transportation Policy Board. She is a graduate of Cascade Business College and Bellingham Technical College, and is the longest-serving member of WCOG’s staff, having joined in 1989.

Andrés Gomez has been promoted to principal planner. He has direct responsibility for WCOG’s regional travel-demand model, serves as coordinator of the Transportation Technical Advisory Group, and is lead planner for various other elements of the metropolitan and regional transportation planning program. Gomez holds master’s degrees from the University of Iowa and the Colorado School of Mines. He joined WCOG in 2007.