From industry newcomer to orchestrating agency-wide system deployments

What happens when you dive headfirst into a completely new, fast-paced industry? Since joining TransCore as a Project Manager, Amanda Ambrogi has combined a proactive leadership style with collaboration to deliver successful project milestones. Her journey with TransCore has been full of challenges met head-on, opportunities for growth, and rewarding wins along the way.  

Q: What originally drew you to TransCore, and how has your role evolved since you first joined? 

It was the opportunity to work in an industry that was completely new to me. I had never worked in the tolling industry before, but I was really interested in innovative technology, the scale of the projects, and the level of collaboration we have with our customers. Since joining in 2024, I’ve become much more involved directly with the agencies we support, which has given me the opportunity to build stronger relationships, better understand customer needs, and play a larger role in delivering successful projects.  

Q: What does a typical day look like for you as a Manager of Operations? 

My day often starts with a tag-up meeting with the project team to discuss weekly goals, priorities, and upcoming meetings for the project I’m supporting. From there, I might meet with the agency to talk through project requirements, key decisions, timelines, or other important updates. When I’m not meeting with the team or the customer, I’m focusing on keeping the project moving forward by turning around deliverables, coordinating tasks, and helping answer project questions as they come up.

Q: How would you describe the way you lead teams and support your colleagues?  

Being proactive and detail-oriented, I try to anticipate questions or issues before they come up and ensure we already have answers or a plan in place. Since I work closely with the lead project manager and I’m still fairly new at TransCore, I focus a lot on the smaller details that can sometimes get overlooked when everyone is busy. I try to be someone the team can rely on to stay organized, communicate clearly, and help keep things moving.  

Q: Which accomplishment or milestone at TransCore are you most proud of? 

The Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) we had last August is probably the accomplishment I’m most proud of! It is a formal test conducted before the tolling system is delivered to confirm that it functions as designed and meets the project’s contractual and technical requirements. The team spent months preparing for it and put in a lot of long hours leading up to the event. There were a lot of moving parts and people involved, so it was definitely stressful at times, but everything came together really well in the end.   

 Q: What advice would you give to someone who is early in their career or looking for new opportunities?

Be open to learning new things and have a lifelong learner mindset. I wasn’t very familiar with the tolling industry when I joined TransCore, but I approached it like a student, and I’ve been fortunate to work with people who are great teachers. Being open to that kind of learning makes a big difference early in your career. 

 Q: How do you like to recharge outside of work?  

I love spending time with my family and friends, and I have two dogs that keep me busy! I also enjoy running and going to the gym, which is a great way for me to clear my head and recharge outside of work.