WTS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Officers Team
• Associate Vice President and Senior Project Manager at HNTB
• Treasurer / Associate Vice President and Senior Project Manager, HNTB

Associate Vice President and Senior Project Manager, HNTB Alexa Gangemi is Associate Vice President and Senior Project Manager at HNTB, where she works with different teams to deliver critical transportation infrastructure projects. Her expertise is focused on helping organizations identify, select, and implement technology to improve their operations and processes, with a particular focus on fare payment systems. Alexa has experience ranging from initial planning and strategy development through systems implementation, project management, and operations for transportation agencies around the country. Alexa has a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Cornell University and a master's in Engineering from MIT. Alexa has been an active member of WTS for more than 15 years, serving in various committee and board roles for the Greater New York Chapter, including President from 2018-2019. She has also served in roles supporting WTS national conferences. Alexa is looking forward to working with the WTS International Board as Treasurer to continue to forward the mission and vision of WTS.

Job Titles:

• Director / Senior Executive Officer, Multimodal Integrated Planning, Los Angeles Metro
• Senior Executive Officer for Multimodal Integrated Planning at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Senior Executive Officer, Multimodal Integrated Planning, Los Angeles Metro Avital Barnea is Senior Executive Officer for Multimodal Integrated Planning at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro). She leads a staff of 50 transportation professionals in complete streets & highways, active transportation, regional rail, goods movement, long-range planning, transportation demand management, and parking. Her previous experience includes roles at the federal, state, and local levels, including the governor-appointed position of Deputy Secretary for Transportation Planning at the California State Transportation Agency. Avital received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, both from the University of Minnesota. She is an active WTS member, currently serving on the WTS Foundation Board of Directors and previously serving as President of the WTS Washington, DC Chapter.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Officers Team
• Founder and CEO of Lumenor Consulting Group
• Vice Chair / Founder and CEO, Lumenor Consulting Group

Bridgette Beato is the founder and CEO of Lumenor Consulting Group.  She started the business in 2007 and has been providing consulting services to the transportation industry for 15 years.  She has provided management consulting to public transit agencies around the country in technology, change management, asset management, and business process transformation.  She is active in various industry organizations including APTA, COMTO, WTS and others. She serves on the WTS International Board of Directors, is Co-Chair of the APTA Systems Engineering Committee, and is an Officer of the Research and Technology Committee. 

Job Titles:

• Executive
• Senior Administrator
• Senior Administrator, Executive Office, Board, and Operations

As the Senior Administrator Executive Office, Board and Operations for WTSI, Carolyn is an integral part of the WTS team. Carolyn supports all aspects of the organization through support of the President and CEO and Board of Directors. Carolyn brings over 20 years of extensive prior experience in the administration, creation and implementation of programs that impact people, and a history of working with nonprofit organizations, within the transportation industry with a focus on human resource management. Carolyn's last position was as Director, Customer Programs for the Rail Passengers Association where she oversaw the Amtrak Customer Advisory Committee (ACAC) and worked with members and volunteers in establishing station volunteer programs across the country. Previously, Carolyn worked for Amtrak as an employee Engagement and Recognition Program manager where her duties included developing recognition strategies and managing all corporate employee recognition programs. Carolyn lives in Maryland with her husband, is an accomplished photographer, and enjoys traveling, classic movies, crossword puzzles, consuming good food and spending time with her family. Carolyn can be reached at ccokley@wtsinternational.org.

Christi Skinner served as Senior Vice President and the Transportation Client Development Director for HDR, an ENR Top 5 design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. Based out of Bellevue, WA, she has 30 years of experience in the A/E/C industry in all phases of project work, from project identification and pursuit through execution. Christi helps set the vision for the transportation practice, creates and applies programs and processes across all geographies and provides tactical leadership of the team of individuals focused on securing the firm's most complex, game-changing projects across all modes of transportation. Christi is a long-time member of WTS and this is her second term on the WTS Foundation board where she serves as the WTSF Treasurer.

Job Titles:

• Treasurer / Senior Vice President and Transportation Client Development Director ( Retired ), HDR

Senior Vice President and Transportation Client Development Director (Retired), HDR

Job Titles:

• Secretary
• Vice President, Atlanta

Daveitta Knight is Vice President, Atlanta Area Leader for RS&H, a national provider of architecture, engineering, and consulting services. In this role she supports the development and implementation of marketing, business development, and project delivery in support of market growth across the geography. She has 28 years of broad transportation experience. Prior to joining RS&H, Ms. Knight worked with other global consulting firms. She has served as Vice President/Georgia Transportation Operations Manager, Program Manager, Technology & Quality Manager and the Staffing Resource Manager for the United States, Canada, and Latin America, supporting Transportation Programs and Major Projects. She also served as the Georgia Area Manager responsible for branding and the integration of services in the geography.

Job Titles:

• Director General Manager and CEO, Denver Regional Transportation District

General Manager and CEO, Denver Regional Transportation District Debra A. Johnson is a person in the people business, a transit executive focused on making lives better through connections. Johnson was selected as General Manager and CEO of Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD) by the agency's Board of Directors on Aug. 25, 2020. She is the first woman to lead the agency in its more than half-century history. Johnson joined RTD from Long Beach Transit, where she served as Deputy CEO of the Southern California agency from May 2014 to October 2020. Prior to that, Johnson held executive positions at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Johnson serves on the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) Board of Directors, as well as APTA's Commuter Rail CEO's Committee and Emerging Leaders Committee. She is a board member of the American Public Transportation Foundation and is deeply involved with the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO). In 2014, Johnson's vast transportation experience led to her appointment by former U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx as a member of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Advisory Committee. She also serves as a member of the Visit Denver Community Board and the Metropolitan State University of Denver Community Cabinet. Johnson's leadership and work have been recognized with several recent honors. In 2019, she received a Women in Action Award from the Los Angeles African American Women's Public Policy Institute and a Women Who Move the Nation award from the COMTO. The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce honored Johnson with a community service award in 2017. In 2016, she was given a Women Leading the Way Leadership Award from Upgrade LA and an Outstanding Transportation Executive Leadership Award from COMTO's Southern California chapter. Johnson holds master's degree in public administration from California State University Hayward (now CSU East Bay), and a bachelor of arts degree in international relations from the University of California Davis and is an alumna of the Eno Transit Senior Executive program.

Job Titles:

• Manager of Communications and Programs

Ebony works as the Manager of Communications and Programs for WTS International, where she helps advance learning, engagement, and education for WTS members, prospective members, and transportation stakeholders. She also contributes to the development and implementation of WTS International's external communication strategy and content. Before joining WTS, Ebony worked with Smart Growth America's Thriving Communities team, assisting communities in planning and building safe, equitable, and accessible streets, as well as collaborating on creative placemaking work at the intersection of art and transportation. She also worked with the City of Chattanooga, helping local municipalities and community organizations expand economic mobility opportunities in communities of color and supporting minority business development. Ebony earned her bachelor's degree in political science from the College of Charleston and a master's in public administration from the University of Charleston in South Carolina. Outside of the 9-5, Ebony spends her time eating her way around D.C., singing, and exploring local art museums. Ebony can be reached at evenson@wtsinternational.org

Job Titles:

• Director / Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer, SEPTA

Emmanuella is the Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer · Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and the former Diversity Division Director for HNTB's Southeast Division. In this role, she worked to engage, empower and elevate historically underutilized businesses seeking to do business with local and state government partners. She utilizes creative and engaging strategies to impact inclusion of minority businesses and diversify small business participation in transportation projects throughout the Southeast. She creates connections with clients and stakeholders across cultural differences to address community and business needs. Emmanuella began her transportation career more than 15 years ago with Georgia Department of Transportation where she worked as a Public Relations/Communications Specialist, a NEPA specialist and a Program Manager at the Transportation Management Center. Today Emmanuella works to change business as usual practices to remove barriers and expand access for minority businesses. She leverages both internal and external resources to ensure creative business solutions that achieve multiple advantages for all involved. She is the Chair of ACEC Georgia's Inclusion & Diversity Task Force and has facilitated dynamic learning experiences for ACEC GA's Future Leaders' Program. Emmanuella holds a degree in Journalism from the State University of New York at New Paltz and is a two-time author and workshop creator of Journey of the Journal.

Job Titles:

• Director
• HDR 's Transportation Program Management Director
• Member of the Women 's Transportation Seminar

As HDR's Transportation Program Management Director, Erin N. Slayton, Vice President, has extensive experience in alternative delivery, business development and cross-sector engagement. Her 21-year tenure in the industry has given her the opportunity to establish trust and respect that creates healthy professional environments among her client and project teams. Erin leverages HDR's wide range of services, coordinating staffing and service excellence. Her experience working on complex, multi-billion-dollar programs across North America allows her to guide teams on the delivery of holistic, value-added services throughout the project lifecycle. A licensed Professional Engineer in California, Washington, Arizona and South Carolina, Erin is also a Designated Design-Build Professional®, an Envision™ Sustainability Professional and Vice Chair of the Civil Engineering Advisory Board at The Citadel. Erin is often sought out by leaders across the industry for her insight, knowledge and participation in areas around inclusion, diversity and equity. She chairs HDR's Transportation Inclusion Diversity and Equity Committee and recently held regional leadership positions in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Erin is an active member of the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), most recently serving as a Director-At-Large for the WTS-SC chapter, where she is a proud chartering member.

Job Titles:

• Director / Senior Vice President and National Transit Director, Rohadfox Construction Control Services Corporation
• Senior Vice President and National Transit Director at Rohadfox Construction Control Services Corporation

Senior Vice President and National Transit Director, Rohadfox Construction Control Services Corporation Helen Tift McSwain is Senior Vice President and National Transit Director at Rohadfox Construction Control Services Corporation where she directs the national strategy and transit operations for the 45-year-old minority and woman-owned firm. Ms. McSwain's transit career spans across public and private sectors. Prior to joining Rohadfox, she served as Vice President and Regional Director at Atkins North America for over a decade. Her public agency career includes executive leadership at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (Atlanta) and METRA Commuter Railroad (Chicago). Her commitment to mentoring is exemplified through her legacy of volunteer leadership to WTS International Transportation You Program, National Chair; COMTO City Internship and Youth Symposium; APTA Emerging Leaders Program, Georgia Supplier Diversity Corporate Mentor Protégé Program, FIRST Robotics; Dr. Lonnie Johnson STEM Activity Center; and Atkins Global STEM Outreach. She is a recipient of the ATKINS Global Achievement Award for her efforts promoting STEM awareness for girls in underserved communities. Ms. McSwain civic leadership engagement includes the Board of Trustees for Clayton State University (Atlanta, Ga), Clayton Economic Development Board of Directors; Atlanta Regional Commission LINK Delegate, Atlanta Executive Women's Build Habitat for Humanity, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Throughout her career she has served in local and national leadership roles supporting the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), American Public Transit Association (APTA), and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

Job Titles:

• Director / Senior Vice President, National Bus Practice, WSP USA

Senior Vice President, National Bus Practice, WSP USA A recognized trailblazer in public transit, Inez Evans leads the WSP National Bus Practice with a focus on building strong, resilient communities through the planning and delivery of equitable, FutureReady transit solutions. Prior to joining WSP, Evans served as the first Black woman President and CEO of IndyGo, the largest transit agency in Indiana, with 800 employees, a fleet of more than 200 vehicles and an annual budget of more than $210 million. She is a champion for bus rapid transit (BRT) and Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) and ushered in IndyGo's first all-electric line, the Red Line. Her efforts on the agency's 2nd BRT route, the Purple Line project, brought increased transit service and infrastructure to provide new opportunities and growth for an entire community. Beginning her 30-year career in transit as a customer service representative in a transit agency call center, Evans held positions of increasing scope and responsibility with Austin-based Star Tran, San Jose-based Veolia Transportation and MV Transportation in Fairfield, California before becoming Director of Transportation for the Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transportation Authority (MARTA) and Chief Operations Officer for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). She earned advanced degrees culminating in a doctorate degree in business management and leadership while working full-time. Ms. Evans has a deep and thorough understanding of transit agency missions and goals to meet critical needs of unique communities. Her decades of experience at all levels of transit agencies informs her work at WSP where she leads a national practice of experts in all aspects of transit bus planning, implementation, operations, program management and strategy. She serves as a strategic advisor on innovation, operations, capital improvements, equity and sustainability to WSP transit clients throughout the country and around the globe. Known for her commitment to developing the next generation of transit leaders, she recruited emerging leaders to the IndyGo executive team and is committed to supporting the growth of WSP professionals as well as mentoring and supporting emerging leaders in public transit. She serves as an American Public Transportation Association (APTA) board member and a committee member for Leadership APTA, a program that grooms transit professionals aspiring to become leaders within their organizations. In addition, Ms. Evans serves on the WTS International Executive Board and was recognized as 2022 WTS International Woman of the Year and the 2021 WTS Indianapolis Woman of the Year. She is a Director for the Indianapolis Arts Council Board of Directors, serving on its diversity and inclusion committee, a board member of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and Chair for the American Heart Association's Circle for Red Committee and was appoint. In 2019, she was appointed by Mayor Hogsett to the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee Board of Directors.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Officers Team
• Chairman / Senior Vice President & Principal Director - National Transit & Rail Business Line Leader, WSP USA
• Immediate past Chair / Senior Vice President & Principal Director - National Transit & Rail Business Line Leader, WSP USA
• Transportation Industry Executive With WSP USA

Senior Vice President & Principal Director - National Transit & Rail Business Line Leader, WSP USA Jannet Walker-Ford is a nationally recognized transportation industry executive with WSP USA, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy. Walker-Ford has more than two decades of diverse experience in technology, mobility and transportation systems. In her role with WSP, she serves as the senior vice president & national transit and rail leader and is responsible for leading and growing the firm's business in the national transit and rail markets and establishing strategies that will position WSP for major advisory, planning, design, program management and construction management assignments. Prior to this appointment, Walker-Ford served as a senior vice president for the Americas transit market sector at an international engineering services firm where she was responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of the transit market in North and South America, and previously as a vice president of government relations for a technology firm where she provided transportation focused, executive-level bi-partisan collaboration with elected officials at all levels of government, as well as trade industry associations and non-profit organizations. She has served in an executive leadership capacity on programs and projects for large transit and transportation agencies across the U.S., including a public-private partnership for the Massachusetts Bay Area Transportation Agency and a multi-billion-dollar capacity enhancement program for the Philadelphia International Airport. During her tenure with the public sector, Walker-Ford served as the Deputy General Manager/Deputy CEO as well as the Chief Information Officer at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, where she led the implementation of the regional smart card fare collection system, the first of its kind in north America. Walker Ford is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in management information systems, Central Michigan University with a master's degree in business administration. She has completed significant coursework towards her doctorate in information systems from Nova Southeastern University. She serves on numerous diverse boards including as board chair of the American Public Transportation Foundation, is a board member of the American Public Transportation Association, chair of the WTS International Board, ENO Transportation Advisory Board, a member of the Jacksonville University Board of Trustees, and is chair of the Greater Jacksonville Cultural Council Board. Additionally, Walker-Ford serves as the Vice Chair of ITS America's Sustainability & Resiliency Committee and is also a member of the IT Senior Management Forum and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials and is an Alumnus of Leadership APTA and the ENO Executive Leadership program. Walker-Ford has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the 2019 Women of Color STEM Technology All-Star Award, the 2019 Miami Women Who Rock's National Business Achievement Award, the 2019 Transportation Diversity Council/Massachusetts Institute of Technology honoree for Services to the Transportation Industry, and a 2019 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials' Women Who Move the Nation honoree.

Job Titles:

• Chairman

Specialty Services Supervisor, City & County of Denver

Job Titles:

• Director / Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute
• Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute

Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute Karen Philbrick is the executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San José State University, a position she has held since 2014. MTI leads two competitively selected multi-university consortia: the California State University Transportation Consortium (CSUTC) which unifies the surface transportation research and workforce development efforts of the 23-campus California State University system and the Mineta Consortium for Transportation Mobility (MCTM). MCTM includes four outstanding institutions that represent and support the geographical, cultural, racial, and socioeconomic diversity that makes our nation strong: Howard University; Navajo Technical University; San José State University; and the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Prior to joining MTI, Dr. Philbrick shaped the field of transportation in a variety of roles, including as assistant director of the National Center for Intermodal Transportation at the University of Denver. She has been appointed three times by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (Secretaries LaHood, Foxx, and Chao, respectively) to sit on the USDOT Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) where she chaired the FTA Administrator's Tasking 14-02 which identified key elements of a safety management system approach to fatigue management. Long committed to the USDOT University Transportation Center program, she was elected to serve the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) in several roles, including President in 2018-19. Dr. Philbrick also has the privilege of serving as the President of the Research and Education Division (RED) of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), where she also sits on the ARTBA Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Dr. Phillbrick is part of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on "Transit Safety and Security" (AP080) and "Passenger Rail Transportation" (AR010), where she also serves as the research task force lead. She currently co-chairs the TCRP F-29 panel "Mental Health, Wellness, and Resilience for Transit System Workers". With an eye toward seamless and equitable transportation for all, Karen also serves the industry through the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Elected to the APTA board in November 2021, she also serves as a Director for the APTA High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Committee and recently served as an appointed research advisor to the APTA Mobility Recovery and Restoration Task Force. Committed to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in the transportation industry, Dr. Philbrick also serves on the Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) Foundation Board as Secretary after having served two terms as a Director. She contributes to her community through the Rotary Club of San José, where she has served as a board member, and where she will be elevated to President July 1, 2023. A frequently invited keynote speaker, Dr. Philbrick has also delivered federal congressional briefings and invited testimony to the California Senate Transportation Committee and the Assembly Transportation Committee. Her other intellectual contributions include a bimonthly column on transportation in the San Jose Spotlight, the recipient of the national Publisher of the Year award for independent online news, invited articles for the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and peer-reviewed journal articles focused on models of accident risk and fatigue in railroad operations, psychological trauma and transportation accidents -including grade crossing and trespasser incidents -and cross cultural differences in helping behavior. Dr. Philbrick has received many prestigious awards for her leadership excellence and outstanding contributions to her field. She received the CUTC Administrative Leadership award, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) named Dr. Philbrick a "Woman Who Moves the Nation," the Silicon Valley Business Journal named Dr. Philbrick 1 of the 100 Women of Influence in Silicon Valley, and most recently, she was recognized by the YWCA Silicon Valley with a Tribute to Women Award for her contributions to the field of transportation. Dr. Philbrick holds a PhD from the University of Denver and an MA and EdM from Columbia University. She earned her undergraduate degree from California State University, Fresno.

Job Titles:

• Director / CEO, Port Authority of Allegheny County

Job Titles:

• Director Marketing Director and Associate Vice President, AZTEC Engineering Group, Inc
• Marketing Director and Associate Vice President at AZTEC Engineering Group, Inc

Marketing Director and Associate Vice President, AZTEC Engineering Group, Inc. Kelly Kaysonepheth is the Marketing Director and Associate Vice President at AZTEC Engineering Group, Inc., a subsidiary of TYPSA Group. She brings 15 years of experience leading marketing and proposal pursuits through client outreach and creative capture planning and has secured more than $350M in design work for the transportation industry to date. A dedicated community volunteer, Kelly has served on the boards for several nonprofit organizations, including chapter president of WTS Metropolitan Phoenix (2018/19). The core of her community service has been concentrated on advancing women's leadership development opportunities, STEM programming and mentoring first-generation and low-income students to reach their fullest potential. Kelly is recognized within the industry and the community. She has been nominated for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce's ATHENA Award, recognized as 40 Under 40 by the Phoenix Business-Journal and named to Engineering News-Record in its 2019 Top 20 Under 40 Outstanding Young Professionals in the Southwest Region. Kelly is a graduate of Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. degree in English.

Job Titles:

• Manager, Systems & Data Analytics

A Washington, DC native, Kim R. Williams has a professional background in membership, resource development, and governance positions with advocacy associations such as the Rail Passengers Association and National Health Council. Through these roles, Kim has gained substantial knowledge of customer relationship management systems like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Neon, and more. Kim is a dedicated volunteer for charitable organizations, including full-time service work for years through the AmeriCorps programs City Year and Teach for America. Kim received her teaching certification at The Johns Hopkins University and earned a Bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in Elementary Education, and is currently studying for a Microsoft database administrator certification.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Officers Team
• Executive Director of the Regional
• Secretary / Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority

Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority Leanne Redden is Executive Director of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The agency manages an annual regional transit operating budget of approximately $3 billion with assets of approximately $160 billion and a more than $8.3 billion five-year capital program. Under Redden's leadership, the RTA created Invest in Transit, the regional transit strategic plan covering 2018-2023 that makes the case for the region's capital funding needs. Redden was pivotal in regional advocacy efforts that culminated with the 2019 passage of Rebuild Illinois, the largest capital bill in Illinois history. Before joining the RTA, Redden was Chief of Planning for the Illinois Tollway and Director of Transportation for the Village of Schaumburg. She was a key player in Illinois' 2008 Transit Funding and Governance Reform Legislation. Redden was named 2015 "Woman of the Year" by the Chicago chapter of Women in Transportation and is a Conference of Minority Transportation Officials 2016 "Woman Who Moves the Nation." In 2021, she was appointed as one of two "U.S. Ambassadors" to the Policy Board that governs UITP (Union Internationale des Transports Publics, or the International Association of Public Transport), founded in 1885 to advocate for sustainable urban mobility. Redden can be followed on Twitter @LReddenRTA.

Job Titles:

• Vice President, External Relations & Strategic Initiatives

Lindsay leads External Relations and Strategic Initiatives for WTS International, focusing on all things external affairs: marketing, communications, public appearances and speaking opportunities, legislative and policy initiatives, and industry partnerships. She helps to define, develop, and implement new relationships and programs that deliver benefits for members, partners, and stakeholders, and that fulfill the WTS mission and vision. Additionally, Lindsay supports the Legislative, Workforce Development, and Educational Programming Standing Committees, and annual giving and programming with the WTS Foundation. Prior to joining WTS, Lindsay was the Vice President of Marketing and Membership at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA). At ITSA, she led member engagement and non-technical business development for the association, representing the entirety of the transportation ecosystem: automotive manufacturers and OEMs, state and local departments of transportation, MPOs, transit authorities, architecture and engineering firms, telecoms, infrastructure professionals, nonprofit associations, and academic and research institutions to develop, deploy, and promote technologies for a safer, greener, and smarter future of mobility. In this role, Lindsay led corporate branding, member communications and programs and oversaw digital platforms and event marketing. She also supported the ITSA policy, regulatory, and legislative affairs team in their advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, the technical programs department with contracts for the federal government and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and served as the staff liaison for the organization's state and regional chapters. Prior to entering the transportation sector, Lindsay held various marketing and communications roles in standards development and technical associations, including serving as the Director of Communications for the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and the Director for Membership Engagement with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). Before her roles in associations, she worked in government consulting and corporate communications for the Department of Defense. Lindsay earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from James Madison University. She lives in Arlington, VA with her husband, two sons, and Lab mutt. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with the Remote Area Medical organization, lurking around art museums, rooting for the Washington Nationals, and traveling with her family. Lindsay can be reached at lsheltongross@wtsinternational.org.

Job Titles:

• Senior Engagement Specialist, Membership & Chapter Relations

MeKayla serves as Senior Engagement Specialist, Membership & Chapter Relations for WTSI. MeKayla provides exceptional customer service to our members, while having an active role in membership recruitment and retention activities and being a forward-facing representative to chapter leaders during WTS-led trainings. She provides high-level services to members and chapter leaders through systems, program, and operational support. MeKayla works to provide excellent customer service to members and chapter leaders, maintain accurate records through WTSI's AMS system, and maintain reports for the Chapter Circle of Excellence program. Previously, MeKayla served as the engagement specialist with WTSI. MeKayla enjoys mastering new systems and improving internal and external processes. MeKayla is an avid bullet journalist and enjoys snuggling up with her two cats, West and Noah. MeKayla can be reached at mwashington@wtsinternational.org.

Job Titles:

• Director / CEO, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada ( RTC )

As Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), M.J. Maynard leads the only agency nationwide that is responsible for a region's public transit system, traffic management, roadway and construction funding, and transportation and overall planning efforts - all under one roof. M.J. joined the RTC in February 2007 and served as Assistant General Manager of Administrative Services and later as Deputy Chief Executive Officer prior to leading the agency. During her 14-year history with agency, she has launched several groundbreaking initiatives including on-demand mobility options; the rideRTC smartphone app; and a massive transit safety expansion project encompassing the replacement of more than 3,000 bus shelters and amenities. M.J. worked in Las Vegas' hospitality industry for more than 25 years prior to joining the RTC, where she served as Vice President for Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for more than a decade. In this role, she oversaw a culturally diverse staff of more than 750 employees and was responsible for managing a multi-million-dollar annual budget that included capital expansion projects. Considered a national leader in public transit management, M.J. was recently appointed to serve on the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) 25-member executive committee; has served on its Board of Directors since 2018; and is a member of its CEO Coordinating Council. APTA leads efforts to ensure public transportation is available and accessible in communities around the country. M.J. is also a board member of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council, an organization that works to protect the HFC bus market via legislation and regulation.

Job Titles:

• Director / Acting Secretary, Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Acting Secretary, Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Job Titles:

• Director / President and CEO, Assedo Consulting, LLC
• President and CEO of Assedo Consulting

Odessa L. Phillip, PE, President and CEO of Assedo Consulting, is a structural engineer, transportation planner, and public engagement professional with over 20 years of experience working with local, state, and federal public and private organizations. She has provided design, engineering, environmental management and public outreach and education services to clients in the on a wide range of infrastructure projects. Her work guides and educates stakeholders, appointed and elected government officials, and communities on the impacts of engineering, transportation, and construction projects. Odessa secured a BSCE from Howard University (Structures/Transportation) and a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Maryland, College Park (Construction Project Management). In 2012, Ms. Phillip founded Assedo Consulting, LLC, a certified African-American, woman-owned business enterprise (MBE/WBE). Assedo Consulting provides planning and public outreach services for projects in the planning, design, and construction phases of development. A longtime supporter of her alma mater, Howard University, Ms. Phillip has worked as an adjunct professor in the Civil Engineering Department and sits on the Advisory Board for the Department. Her goal is to work diligently to introduce more women and minorities to the engineering field.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Officers Team
• Immediate past Chair / Senior Vice President, National Transportation Market Leader, WSP USA
• National Transportation Market Leader for WSP USA

Senior Vice President, National Transportation Market Leader, WSP USA Paula Hammond is the National Transportation Market Leader for WSP USA, in Seattle, WA. Paula is responsible for representing the company as an industry leader in the emerging transportation practice areas of: funding and finance, organizational leadership, transportation resilience, performance management and asset management, pricing and managed lanes, and transportation system operations. Paula dedicated her 34-year public service career to improving transportation systems in Washington state, and served as WA Secretary of Transportation from 2007-2013. She has been a national figure on transportation issues, with leadership on numerous AASHTO committees, TRB Executive Board, ARTBA Board of Trustees and WTS International Board of Directors. Ms. Hammond is a graduate of Oregon State University (OSU) with a B.S. degree in civil engineering. She is a registered professional engineer in the State of Washington. Paula has been a member of the WTS Puget Sound Chapter for over 20 years. While at WSDOT, she was instrumental in supporting the Chapter's technical programs on state DOT services and projects, and participates in the mentorship of WTS members and students. She has been a member of the WTS International Board since 2014, and was inducted as Board Vice-Chair in May, 2018. As a Board member, Paula has led the Region Council Liaison committee, and served as the Northwest Region Council Board Liaison. She has actively supported the Board's work to establish an updated strategic direction for the organization, and looks forward to successful efforts to grow WTS membership and partnerships within the industry to continue to advance women in transportation leadership.

Job Titles:

• Senior Engagement Specialist, Meetings & Events

Job Titles:

• Director of Meetings & Events
• Senior Director, Meetings & Events

As Director of Meetings & Events, Renita is essential in leading the overall logistics of the WTS International annual conference (an annual gathering of approximately 800-1200 industry professionals), as well as WTS International and WTS Foundation meetings and events, including chapter event activities. Renita brings extensive experience in meetings as well as a background within associations and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining WTSI, Renita supervised the logistics for seminars and conventions within the port authority industry as well as conferences and training in the liquid terminal industry. Renita graduated from The George Washington University and is an accomplished meeting professional with over 25 years in the industry. Renita enjoys travelling, cooking, and spending time with her family. Renita can be reached at rgross@wtsinternational.org.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• President
• CAE

Sara Stickler is President & CEO of WTS International. Joining the organization in 2018, Sara works to set and execute WTS International's organizational strategic priorities, working closely with the WTS International Board of Directors to continuously assess and develop the WTS brand and the association's programs. Sara implements growth and retention strategies, and she fosters meaningful relationships with WTS chapters, members, key industry stakeholders and other professionals to elevate the organization. Sara also works with the WTS Foundation and its Board of Directors to realize its mission of supporting the next generation of transportation professionals and advancing the principles of WTS. Prior to joining WTS, Sara was the Executive Director of the Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation of the Household and Commercial Products Association (HCPA), where she advanced consumer knowledge on the correct use, storage and disposal of household and commercial products. Her work included developing transportation safety campaigns around drugged driving. Stickler led the foundation through an organizational rebrand to position the foundation for long-term growth. She oversaw fundraising and donor relationship building initiatives. Stickler also served as the Vice President of Research and Education at HCPA. As Vice President, Stickler oversaw over 25 active joint ventures and LLC's through the Ignite Solutions program where she implemented a project management approach to the program; overseeing long-term and short-term industry research projects and initiatives. Previously, Stickler taught second grade at Indian Hill Exempted Village School District in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she also coached basketball and softball. She has extensive experience working in education and with educational programs through schools, nonprofits, and outside organizations. Stickler serves on numerous Boards and committees including the Board of the Association Foundation Group (AFG), the Board of Advisors for the ENO Center for Transportation, and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Women and Gender in Transportation Committee. She has previously served on the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) Board of Directors and the Hyattsville, Maryland Health, Wellness, Recreation Advisory Committee. She is also a member of Chief, a private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders. Sara earned her Master of Public Policy degree from University of Maryland where she specialized in Nonprofit Policy. Through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Sara has earned her CAE (Certified Association Executive). She also holds a Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Management from Michigan State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology from Xavier University in Ohio. Sara lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her wife, Rebecca, and their twins- Ruth & Rhys, and small zoo of dogs and cats. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, home DIY projects, and reading non-fiction. Sara can be reached at sstickler@wtsinternational.org.

Job Titles:

• Controller
• Controller ( Contract )

Tim Edwin is the WTS International Controller where he manages the monthly production of financials for WTS International and the WTS Foundation. Tim also supports WTS Chapters and Chapter Treasurers with trainings and support, processes scholarship check requests, and chapter rebates. General accounting or billing questions can be sent to accounting@wtsinternational.org. You can email Tim directly at tedwin@wtsinternational.org.

Job Titles:

• Vice Chair / Vice President, National Workforce Strategist, HNTB
• Vice President at HNTB Corporation

Vice President, National Workforce Strategist, HNTB Yvonne Lopez-Diaz is a vice president at HNTB Corporation, an employee-ow ned infrastructure solutions firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With HNTB for more than 20 years, she currently serves as the firm's National Workforce Strategist where she collaborates with leadership in shaping workforce requirements on major projects and pursuits. Prior to joining HNTB, Yvonne spent 16 years at Bayer Corporation, a world leader and innovator in the field of pharmaceutical and medical products, where she served in successive HR leadership roles that included Benefits and Compensation Analyst, Immigration and Foreign Service Personnel Specialist, and International HR Manager for the Caribbean region including Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Trinidad. Yvonne holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix. She is also active in activities that benefit the community and the engineering industry. She has served as a board member of the Central Florida Zoological Society, the Central Florida Community Foundation, and the Walt Disney World Dreamers & Doers Organization. In addition, she has served as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the Ronald McDonald House, Children's Home Society, Adopt-a-Road, MathCounts, Seminole County Teach-In, and the Citrus Bowl Community Clean-up program. For more than 15 years, Yvonne has been actively engaged with WTS International, where she currently serves as a Vice Chair on the WTS Foundation Board. She also serves as a member of the WTS Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Committee, and WTS Scholarship Committee. For more than a decade, Yvonne chaired the WTS Central Florida Scholarship Committee and in 2016 she was named Chair of the WTS Greater NY Chapter Glass Ceiling Committee where she led the research and development of a study that benchmarked the leadership roles of women in the metropolitan New York and New Jersey regions and identify whether the glass ceiling is a barrier to their growth and success. The results of this study identified potential policies or programs to support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in transportation. Yvonne was featured in the "Hispanic Executive" Magazine, a leading international print publication profiling Latino leaders around the world. In addition to focusing on growing women leaders, she has made it her priority to grow HNTB's young professionals to assume future leadership positions within HNTB. She was also named an ENO Center for Transportation's "Top 10 Women to Watch in Transportation" for implementing innovative ideas and having a positive impact on the transportation industry. In recognition of her contributions at HNTB, Yvonne was nominated by her HNTB peers for the firm's coveted "Living the Vision" award. Recipients of this award are employees who have elegantly woven into their daily work the values articulated in the firm's doctrine, philosophy and culture.