Pedro’s Take on What Milligan Partners Brings to Tolling
We sat down with Director of Toll Systems & Business Development Pedro Bento to talk about his role at Milligan Partners and what the company has in store for 2025. Pedro came to Milligan Partners in 2022 after over a decade in senior leadership positions in the tolling industry.
You’ve been in the tolling industry for decades. What makes Milligan Partners different from other organizations you’ve worked with?
At Milligan Partners, we’re more than just a consulting firm. We’re a team dedicated to helping our clients shape the future of tolling and transportation. I like the focus on the future. We are definitely a forward-thinking company. We have incredibly bright and talented people working here who bring a great mix of real-world experience and out-of-the-box thinking. [Founders] Matt and Tyler [Milligan] have done a great job of creating a culture that embraces new ideas and taking a holistic approach to problem-solving.
Milligan Partners enjoys positive working relationships with dozens of concessionaires, vendors, toll road operators, and others in the industry. Why do you think that is?
Our team is our greatest strength and this team really delivers. We’re proud to have individuals with a wealth of experience and respected names in the industry. Just look at our leadership– Matt Milligan and Tyler Milligan have built reputations as thought leaders and innovators in the tolling industry, trusted for their strategic vision and expertise.
This depth of expertise extends throughout our organization. From strategic or technical consultants to operational experts and researchers, our team’s diverse knowledge allows us to tackle complex challenges from every angle. It’s this combination of experience, innovation, and a passion for problem-solving that truly sets us apart.
And what about you? What’s your role in shaping Milligan Partners’ success?
Honestly, I’m just one more member of this incredible team. Every individual here contributes uniquely, and together, we create the kind of impact that Milligan Partners is known for.
That said, one of the things I bring to the table is international experience in the tolling Industry. I’ve had the privilege of working on tolling and transportation projects around the world, and this global perspective has been invaluable to our work. Understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in different markets and cultures allows me to help bridge the gap between diverse client needs and innovative solutions. Whether it’s collaborating on strategy, technology, or operations, I’m passionate about tolling and I love leveraging these global insights to benefit our clients and the industry as a whole.
Lee Roche has also been able to contribute to Milligan Partners in this way. He has dedicated his career to product development and management tolling and IT industries. Bringing this experience to Milligan delivers exceptional value to our clients.
What are Milligan Partners’ core services, and how do they benefit your clients?
We are fully focused on the tolling industry. Our expertise lies in delivering specialized tolling advisory services through a team of highly skilled tolling consultants who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of this sector.
We do a lot but consider most of our work falls into six buckets: strategy, technology, operations, market analysis, staff augmentation, and research.
Tell me more about the strategy offering. What are some examples of how you help clients with strategy and why is that important?
We are considered experts in tolling so clients look to us to help prepare them to make big decisions. For example, we are assisting one customer in the strategy to break into the US tolling market, we are helping a large tolling agency in their decision to go to open-road tolling, and we did a lot of research and scenario planning for a big nationwide tolling organization that wanted to know how to best prepare for future technology.
In the tolling sector specifically, agencies are being challenged to do more with less, embrace interoperability, and align with customer centric goals. We see these challenges as opportunities to innovate and lead. This year, we’re focused on helping our clients navigate these changes with strategies and technologies designed to future-proof their operations. We’re also excited to continue building partnerships that push the boundaries of what’s possible in tolling and transportation.
What’s next for Milligan Partners as we begin 2025?
2025 marks the start of an exciting chapter for us. Globally, we’re seeing a strong push for efficiency and sustainable transportation and a growing emphasis on seamless, digital-first customer experiences.
Even though Milligan Partners has been working outside of the US for years, it’s wonderful to see us growing more on a global scale. The more diversity of experiences our team members can have under their belts, the better we’ll all be.
Any final thoughts you want to share?
The whole company takes pride in our reputation and we all strive to be our best every day. It’s really nice to see. We all work well together and cheer each other on. One thing I especially appreciate is that collaboration is at the heart of everything we do–collaboration amongst ourselves, with other consultants, with vendors, and with our customers. We love working as a team.
If you’re looking for a partner to help you navigate the complexities of the tolling industry, we’d love to work with you. Let’s drive tolling innovation together!