2014 Newsletter Volume 4

NEWS
A n U p d a t e From t he Hear t of Texas Chap t er of W TS
2014 Vol.4
IN THIS ISSUE
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Message from the President
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Chapter Announcements
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Thank You
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Member Update
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Men’s Membership Drive
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Making the Most Out of a WTS Scholarship
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WTS Leadership Conference
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WTS Student Chapter
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Looking Back at Transportation YOU
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Meetings at Maggiano’s
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Corporate Partners
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WTS Board Contact Information
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Upcoming Events
Heart of Texas
Board of Directors
Lisa Loftus-Otway, UT Austin,
President
Odette Tan, Travis County
Vice President
Lindsay Wood, HNTB, Secretary
Jennifer Bennett-Reumuth, City of
Austin, Co-Treasurer
Lin Zhou, CDM Smith,
Co-Treasurer
Heart of Texas
Committee Chairs
Ashley Williams, UT Austin
Communications
Haley Norman, Burns & McDonnell
Corporate Partnership
Renee Hurtado, DKS Associates
Membership
Jackie Sartor, Alliance Transportation
Group, and
Cheryl Goodgame, Aguirre & Fields
Gala
Nicola Gheno, Bury
Transportation YOU
Tonia Norman, TxDOT
Professional Development
Vicki McEvoy, K. Friese &
Associates,
Programs
Erin Grushon, HNTB
Recognitions
Laura M. Friello, Klotz Associates
Scholarship
Blanca Gamez, UT Austin
Student Liaison
Comments? Questions?
Want to Contribute?
Tell our Editor!
[email protected]
512-232-3085
A Message from the President...
As I write my last president insert for the newsletter, I took a look back over the past
two years and am extremely proud of the initiatives, events, and fundraising that we
have accomplished together. I also want to thank all those board members who have
served over this time and who were the catalyst for much of our successes, including
shifting us to a new membership record: 154 members as of December 11. Kammy
Horne and Liz Smith also just became our first Executive Level Members when they
renewed their membership. Liz Smith recently wrote to me noting how far we had
come over the past eleven years, and she reminisced on how she, Tina Walker, Wendy
Travis, Michelle Dippel, and Susan Charles got together at PF Changs to reinvigorate
the chapter. Fatboy Slim sang ‘we’ve come a long way baby’, and I absolutely echo those
sentiments today. So thank you to everyone who has given time, talent, collaborative
support, and most importantly to our Corporate Partners and donors who give much needed funds to support all our
work and our healthy scholarship funds. Scholarship Fund Balance as of September 2014 is $102,224.41, and we are third
out of 52 chapters.
Just so you know, the 52nd chapter of WTS is our very own UT Austin Student Chapter, who was just ratified by the
WTS International Board in November. They worked hard on their bylaws, obtaining the signatures required for this, and
Dr. Talia McCray crafted a letter of support as their faculty advisor. Congratulations to Jody Trendler, Carine Choubassi,
Adriana Torcat, Ashley Richardson, and Christopher Sassine for their hard work and leadership. The student chapter also
put on a great Professional Development Event on November 19th with a panel of ladies who were involved in Project
Connect: Kammy Horne of URS and Jessica McHarg and Jenn Golech of CapMetro. Tonia Norman, our PDS Chair, was
moderator for this event; which everyone noted was a huge success and was attended by students from planning and
transportation engineering.
This quarter – October through December, isn’t our busiest, but we had 2 fabulous lunches with Wes Burford updating
us on all things CTRMA and Laurie Moyer from the City of San Marcos letting us know how ‘special’ San Marcos was as
the fastest growing region in the U.S. In addition, we also hosted our first men’s membership drive, which generated
2 new gentlemen members, and saw John Engelke, Mark Tomlinson and Wendy Travis spoke about the benefits of WTS
membership.
On the TY front, Nicola set up our annual TY mentoring program with the Ann Richards School—we have 7 mentees
from the 10th grade engineering pathway—and she’s already working on her team input for UT’s Introduce a Girl To
Engineering Day in February and Girl Start’s Spring Camp. In addition, she is planning with our first Agency Partner, CapMetro, to host our inaugural Cookies and T mentoring program with Girl Scouts of Central Texas in March 2015.
Wrapping up at quarter 4 of 2014—our chapter continues to grow and host great events, and we learned in late
November that we will be the ‘hosts’ of the 2016 WTS International conference. You should also be seeing information
about four new high school senior scholarships that we will be rolling out in early 2015. Thank you to Brad Gorrondona
for his donation to start up this new set of scholarships which will be needs based and focused on minority girls.
It has been a pleasure and a joy to be president of the HOT chapter these past 2 years. I can faithfully assure you that in
your incoming President and VP, Odette Tan and Lindsay Wood, you are in excellent hands who will continue to steer our
HOT chapter to new levels of achievement and fundraising success.
With my best wishes to you all for this holiday season.
Lisa Loftus-Otway
President, WTS Heart of Texas Chapter
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From all of us at
May the joys of the
Holiday Season
be with you now
and throughout
the New Year!
ANNOUNCEMENTS...
Dust off your Stetsons and Tiaras
and Mark Your Calendar for our
11th Annual Gala and Scholarship Fundraiser
DespErados
and Divas
April 10th, 2015
6:00pm at Hilton Austin Downtown
More info coming soon!
We Want YOU to Join the WTS-HOT Chapter Professional Development
Committee in 2015!
The Professional Development Committee is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing
existing and new professional development activities for the chapter’s membership and others in
the Heart of Texas transportation community. Existing professional development activities include
the annual Professional Development Seminar (typically scheduled for September), Lattes and
Leadership presentations in June, July, and August, and a Professional Icebreaker event in the spring.
The committee welcomes new members to contribute their time and talents and bring forward ideas
for needed professional development opportunities for consideration and development. If you would
like more information or are interested in joining the Professional Development Committee, which
will begin meeting again in January, please contact committee chair Tonia Norman
at [email protected] or at 512-463-8649.
Watch for email updates and check our website:
http://www.wtsinternational.org/heartoftexas/
Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! @WTSHOTChapter.
Link to us on Linked in!
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Thank You!
At this time of year, we pause to give thanks to all those who have supported the WTS Foundation this year–and
specifically the HOT Chapter Foundation–through charitable contributions in support of our WTS Scholarships
and Transportation YOU activities. These contributions, which are strictly dedicated to the Scholarships and
Transportation YOU activities, help to fund and engage our next generation of transportation leaders.
The WTS HOT Chapter Foundation is a great candidate for that end-of-year charitable giving, and it’s not too late
to show your support for the work that the HOT Chapter does. Simply click here to be redirected to an online form
where you can indicate your willingness to make a contribution to the Heart of Texas Chapter Foundation.
Additionally, we want to thank those who have given generously to the WTS HOT Chapter in memory of someone. Memorial
gifts to the WTS HOT Chapter are a wonderful way to honor and remember those in the industry who have passed on.
The WTS Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization, providing tax deductibility for contributions made. For more
information about the WTS HOT Chapter and the WTS Foundation please visit us online at
http://www.wtsinternational.org/heartoftexas/ and https://www.wtsinternational.org/wts-foundation-2/
or contact the HOT President or Vice President at [email protected] or
[email protected] if you need assistance or further information.
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360 Press Solutions
Adelbert’s Brewery
AECOM
Alamo Drafthouse
Alex Roszko
Alliance Transportation Group
AmaTerra Environmental, Inc.
Amy’s Ice Cream
Antonelli’s Cheese Shop
Apothecary Cafe & Wine Bar
April Sandoval
Ashley Williams
Atkins
Austin Duck Adventures
Austin Eats Food Tours
Austin GP Events
Austin Steam Train Association
Austin Subaru
Austin Toros
Austin Zoo
B2Z Engineering, LLC
Baker-Aicklen & Associates, Inc.
Ballet Austin
Ballistic Sweater Girl Designs
Ben Hurwitz
Blackfinn Ameripub
Blanton Museum of Art
Blo Blow Dry Bar
Bone Spirits
Brass Ovaries
Brown & Gay
Burns & McDonnell
Bury, Inc.
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Cambridge Systematics
Campus Art Prints
Cap City Comedy Club
Capital Cruises
Cap Metro
Capitol City Trap & Skeet Club
Car 2 Go
Casa Brasil Coffees Up & Down Tour
CDM Smith
Cedar Park Jewelry
Cheryl Goodgame
Cinde Weatherby
Circuit of the Americas
Cox McLain Environment Consulting
Inc
CP&Y, Inc.
Csilla Wear
David Atkin
Debbie Kern
DesignScapes
Dessau Veterinary Clinic
DKS
Embellish Nails & Boutique
Erin Perkins-Watry
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine
Bar
Friends of WTS
Girl Start
Gorrondona & Associates, Inc.
Brad Gorrondona
Halff Associates, Inc.
HDR
HEB
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Hey Cupcake!
HNTB
Hotel ICON
Ideal Saddle Modification
Jackie Sartor
Jacobs Engineering
Jeff Curren
Jennifer Bennett-Reumuth
John D. Savage
Jon Engelke
K. Friese & Associates, Inc.
Kenny & Sharon Goodgame
Kleinfelder
Klotz Associates Inc.
Kyle Suarez
La Madeleine
Lick Ice Creams
Lindsay Liggett
Lisa Loftus-Otway
Lone Star Riverboat
Luxe Apothetique
Maggiano’s Little Italy
Megan McNeese
Meredith Cebelak
Miller Blueprint
Mister Car Wash
Moonshine Grill
Nancy Ledbetter & Associates
Nothing Bundt Cakes Westlake
Odette Tan
Organics Salon - Aveda Concept Salon
• Pape Dawson Engineers
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Paramount & Stateside Theater
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Pinot’s Palette
Prime Strategies, Inc.
R&R Limousine & Bus
Raba Kistner Consultants
Renee Hurtado
Rogue Running
Round Rock Express
Saatva Luxury Mattress
SAM, Inc.
Sandra Thornhill
Snap Kitchen
South Austin Gallery
SouthPoint Hyundai
Spa Reveil at The Domain
Spring Frost
Stone House Vineyard
Terracon
Texas Carpet Baggers
Texas Hills Vineyard
Texas Performing Arts: UT Austin
The Pet Gal
The Rios Group
The Thinkery
Thundercloud Subs
Tiff’s Treats
URS
Vanishing Texas River Cruise
Vicki McEvoy
Water 2 Wine
Whole Foods
Wyatt Field Service Company
Member Update
We are still growing! We currently have 152 members, which includes 138 Heart of Texas chapter members and
14 affiliated members from other chapters. Please join us in welcoming our new and renewing members.
David Atkin, Parsons Brinckerhoff
Stephanie Messerli, Jacobs
Nadia Barrera, City of Austin
Kelly Morelli, Williamson County
Nair Barrios Perez, Jacobs
Tonia Norman, TxDOT
Jennifer Bennett-Reumuth, City of Austin
Barbara Price, Capital Metro Transportation Authority
Keri Burchard-Juarez, City of Austin
Ashley Richardson, University of Texas at Austin
Anna Burroughs, McGray & McGray Land Surveyors
Jessica Rodriguez, Freese & Nichols
Meredith Cebelak, University of Texas at Austin
Christopher Sassine, University of Texas at Austin
Ignacio de Sande Palma, University of Texas at Austin Ipek Sener, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Lisa Garner, Cobb, Fendley & Associates
Lauren Seyda
TOTrendler,
ATTRACT,
RETAIN,
AND
Ann Koby JOIN US ON OUR MISSION Jody
University
of Texas at Austin
Jill Madden,
AmaTerra Environmental
Elizabeth Welch, University ofINDUSTRY.
Texas at Austin
ADVANCE
WOMEN IN THE TRANSPORTATION
Colin McGahey, Poznecki-Camarillo
Lin Zhou,
WTS IS PROUD TO HAVE
YOUCDM
ASSmith
A MEMBER.
EXECUTIVE LEADER
MEMBERSHIP
WTS INTERNATIONAL OFFERS EXECUTIVE
LEADERS OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW
THEIR BUSINESS WHILE SUPPORTING
THE INDUSTRY.
In addition to the full benefits enjoyed by all WTS
members, Executive Leader membership includes:
• A listing in the annual Directory of Executive Leader
Members.
• An invitation to a private Executive Leader reception at the
WTS Annual Conference.
• An invitation to attend a special breakout session for
Executive Leader members at the WTS Annual Conference.
• Recognition as an Executive Leader at WTS events.
• The opportunity to submit an industry- or WTS-missionrelated article for the WTS web site, with photo and bio.
• Access to WTS scholarship winners and student members.
• Invitations to VIP events throughout the year.
• International recognition in the WTS Annual Report.
WTS International is dedicated to
workforce development in transportation
through the global advancement of
women. One of the greatest assets of
WTS is its spirit of diversity, community,
and inclusion, and this is why so many
transportation executives are following
the lead of their teams. Becoming a
member of WTS at the Executive Leader
level illustrates a commitment to the
professional development of staff and the
growth of the transportation workforce
to the benefit of the industry at large. In
fact, we offer Executive Leaders unique
opportunities to express interest and
commitment to the WTS mission with
unique benefits and programs.
For information on how to join, visit: http://www.wtsinternational.org/heartoftexas//membership/
BUILDING
THE FUTURE OF
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Men’s Membership Drive
Renee Hurtado
Did you know that men can join WTS? WTS offers both men and women opportunities to grow their careers while
supporting its mission. One of the greatest assets of WTS is the spirit of community, inclusiveness, and mutual support
for both women and men. Since men currently represent just under 10 percent of the Heart of Texas chapter’s membership, we held a membership drive this fall targeted at recruiting men.
On November 13 we held a Men’s Membership Drive Event at The Park at the Domain. There were approximately 20
attendees including potential new members and current members. Representatives from our Platinum Corporate Partners spoke about how WTS involvement has benefited them:
• Jon Engelke (AECOM): Jon finds that design teams work better when women are part of the team and WTS events
are good ways for men on the team to learn more about the
issues facing women. Jon travels extensively and has taken advantage of the networking opportunities at WTS events (Heart
of Texas chapter and other chapters). Jon hired a female student nearing graduation shortly after sitting across from her at
a Heart of Texas chapter luncheon. Incidentally, she has been a
great addition to the AECOM Houston office.
• Mark Tomlinson (Atkins Global): Mark thinks WTS involvement is a great way for finding professional development perspective outside your organization, especially early in your
career. As your career continues to develop Mark finds WTS
provides insight to future opportunities.
• Wendy Travis (HNTB Corporation): Wendy helped found
the North Carolina chapter and the Heart of Texas chapter. She
found this to be incredibly rewarding and a great way to grow
her professional network, particularly since she was new to
both regions when she helped set up the chapters.
Congratulations to our Visa gift card winners:
• Jane Schroter (Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority) won the raffle for bringing male non-members to the Membership Drive event.
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Colin McGahey (Poznecki-Camarillo, Inc.) won
the raffle for becoming a new male WTS Heart of
Texas chapter member.
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Making the Most of a
WTS HOT Scholarship
Meredith Cebelak
This past summer, thanks
to the WTS Helene M. Overly
Memorial Scholarship, I was
able to travel to and present
my work at the ITS Europe
Conference
in
Helsinki,
Finland. Since traveling
alone is never as much fun, I invited my good friend,
Dr. Katherine Kortum (TRB, past WTS HOT Legacy
Leadership Scholarship Winner), to travel with me.
Since we would be traveling half way around the world,
Katherine suggested we make this a Nordic tour. So
after we met up in Washington DC, we hopped on a
plane headed to Iceland!
After what should have been a relatively short flight that was delayed due to
weather, we finally arrived in Iceland and had the privilege of experiencing one
of the most optimized airports in the world. Iceland is one of the easiest places
to visit and the Icelandic people know how to do tourism! After collecting our
luggage, we jumped on a tour bus, which operates similar to a group shuttle
service with door to door service, and headed to Reykjavik. We would have
just under 48 hours in the country and wanted to capitalize on it. We walked
around the city for the first day enjoying many of the country’s delicious dishes
including skyr, a diary product similar to yogurt, and herring. While in Iceland
we visited Hallgrímskirkja (right), a beautiful church that is the tallest and most
recognizable building in the city, saw the original geysers, Geysir, explored
the Þingvellir where the European and American contents are separating
and where the Icelandic parliament that founded the nation took place, and
visited the Gullfoss, golden falls, waterfall. As a last treat in Iceland we enjoyed
a hotdog—which are not like the ones in the US and are incredibly popular in
Iceland—from the place the former President Bill Clinton enjoyed one.
Our next destination was Stockholm Sweden and after a quick ride from the
airport to the city via high speed rail, we took a quick walk around the city
and had a nice dinner, which included reindeer. We had a bit more time in
Sweden than we had in Iceland, but still our days were quite busy. We visited
Vasamuseet (Vasa Museum), which contains the warship Vasa who’s maiden
voyage was cut short after 20 minutes when the ship sank, we walked through
the Gamla stan area, viewed the Royal Palace and Nordiska Museet, wandered
through Södermalm (an up and coming area in Stockholm), and enjoyed a tour
of the Nobel Museum and got to have a taste of what it may be like attend a
Nobel prize dinner as we enjoyed the dessert (lower right) served only at those
events. Before leaving the US, I had arranged for us to visit VTI, the Swedish
transportation institute, in Linköping. We spent a day at the institute, were
given a personal tour of their facilities, and had one-on-one conversations with
researchers.
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Our next stop was to Helsinki, Finland for the ITS Europe
Conference and after a quick flight, I was on my way to present
my research, “Location-based Social Networking: Moving
Towards Mode Choice.” Helsinki has an extensive trolley system,
and movement around the city was easy enough. We were
nearing the summer solstice and the days were getting longer,
so after I presented my work, there was still time to take a walk
around the city and enjoy another amazing dinner! Since it
was only a boat ride away, a trip to Talin, Estonia was on the
agenda. Russian influences were everywhere since this was
the location for the Czar’s summer home and current president
of Estonia’s home (picture above). The Medieval Old Town area
was a unique experience with hidden courtyards, cafes, and
an interesting juxtaposition between Baptist and orthodox
churches (pictures top right). For our last full day on this Nordic
tour, we visited Suomenlinna, the “fortress of Finland”, visited
the 1952 summer Olympic stadium where we watched a quick
soccer game, went to the Helsinki Tram Museum, viewed the
Sibelium Monument, and had an amazing final dinner which
was made even better by the need for the kitchen to use up
all of their food since they would be closing for Midsummers!
We had one last morning in Helsinki, which we spent visiting
the Temppeliaukio church that is built into a rock, the Hotel
Katajanooka (a former prison!), and the Helsinki Cathedral.
Sibelium Monument
Hotel Katajanooka
It was an amazing trip that would not have been so without
the WTS scholarship, nor without the accompaniment of my
good friend who I met through WTS, Katherine. Thank you to
everyone at WTS who makes these scholarships happen!
Helsinki Cathedral
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WTS Leadership Conference 2014
San Diego
Odette Tan and Laura Friello
HOT chapter members Laura Friello and Odette Tan along with WTS Foundation
Board of Directors Secretary Cinde Weatherby attended the 2014 WTS Chapter
Leadership Training held by WTS International in San Diego, California on
November 14th and 15th. The timing was perfect, as we were able to escape the
November arctic outbreak and bask ourselves in the warm California sun.
We attended leadership sessions on:
✧✧ WTS Transformative Leadership Programs – a preview of middle- and executive-level leadership programs WTS is rolling
out next year
✧✧ Transportation YOU Panel Discussion
✧✧ Starting Your Chapter Glass Ceiling Task Force—identifying programs that support the recruitment, retention, and
advancement of women in transportation
✧✧ WTS Chapter Leader Empowerment – how to empower your board, leaders, and volunteers
✧✧ Mastering the Art of Digital Communication – how to use internet based digital media as tools
✧✧ Could Your Chapter Survive Being Hit by a Bus? – how to prepare and share chapter knowledge
✧✧ Language of Leadership – how to be heard and memorable
✧✧ WTS Chapter Presidents and In-coming Presidents Special Town Hall Session
✧✧ Ignite Presentations – each were five minute brief presentations
• The Paycheck Fairness Act
• How to Get Your Chapter to Act Locally and Think Globally
• Reach Up and Reach Down, How to Pay it Forward
• Becoming THE Professional Organization of Choice
• Political Savvy: Why You Want It. How to Get It.
• Why I love Traffic!
• How to Start the Pipeline for Future Leaders
• Mass Mobility Abroad: Sustainable Management in European Countries
• The Birth of a New Region
• 20 Things You Need to Know That No One Told You
✧✧ Become an Infotuitive Leader Now and Change Your Association, Career, and
Life – how to make decisions and handle difficult situations and use practical
leadership skills
Presentations and sessions were led by professional development consultants
working with WTS, WTS international leadership (Marcia Ferranto, Beverly Swaim
Staley, Cinde Weatherby, Tiffany Jackson and Dana Hook) as well as chapter leaders
from varying backgrounds around the nation. With an attendance of 120 chapter
leaders from around the country, many ideas were exchanged. We were able to walk
away with ideas such as having a Man of the Year and Mentor of the Year awards,
how to incorporate an Emerging Leaders Program, and promoting Executive Leaders
members.
Exploring the area on our own, we also got the chance to see some of the downtown
San Diego transit systems, including the Santa Fe train and light rail Depots. During
our last day there, we were notified that our student chapter was officially ratified as
the WTS University of Texas Austin Chapter!
In addition, the Heart of Texas Chapter was officially given hosting duties for the
2016 WTS Annual Conference! The WTS Annual Conference attracts more than 500 corporate and governmental industry
leaders worldwide; where every transportation mode is represented. We are completely thrilled (and floored) to be bringing
these transportation leaders into Austin, Texas.
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WTS Student Chapter
Carine Choubassi
The WTS-HOT UT Student Chapter is proud to announce that they are officially a ratified student chapter
within WTS! With the hard work of their advisor, Dr. Talia McCray, leadership team, including Jody Trendler,
Carine Choubassi, Ashley Richardson, Adriana Torcat, and Christopher Sassine, and dedicated members, the
WTS-HOT Student Chapter is looking forward to expanding their professional network to help provide their
members with information about the exciting opportunities for women in the field of transportation.
The WTS-HOT UT Student Chapter hosted several social and networking events this year, culminating with
their successful transportation panel, “Transportation in Austin: Challenges and Opportunities.” Panelist
speakers included Jessica McHarg, a designer at CapMetro, Jenn Golech, senior planner at CapMetro, and
Kammy Horne, a planner at URS. The panel addressed how transportation engineers, planners and policymakers have collaborated to create Austin’s transportation projects, while also providing insight into future
opportunities and trends within transportation design and planning and advice on how best to excel as a
woman in the field of transportation.
The speakers shared their views on various topics including the challenges in communication faced in
everyday planning between planners and engineers. The speakers stressed on the importance of listening
and accepting different views as well as trying to adopt a more well-rounded vision as a planner, engineer,
and/or policy maker. The speakers referred to this new task as “being a plangineer.” Other topics that were
addressed included updates on CapMetros’ future projects such as the installation of bike locks at specific
transit stops and real-time scheduling of buses. The audience engaged in various discussions with the speakers to explore specific issues such as possible reasons for the rejection of Project Connect and the different
incentives that public agencies can provide to encourage drivers in Austin to shift to public transportation.
Suggestions such as solving the last-mile problem and providing better marketing for the buses were suggested.
The WTS-HOT Student Chapter looks forward to another exciting year of helping women feel encouraged
and empowered within the field of transportation! The chapter has already started planning its Spring Professional Development event which will offer students tips on networking and preparing for job interviews.
More details will be provided soon.
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Looking Back at
Transportation YOU
Nicola Gheno
The Heart of Texas Chapter had another busy year and following our tradition of giving
back to the community, many of our members participated in our STEM volunteer events
held though-out the year. Glancing back, our program was created in 2012 with a pilot
mentorship group at Ann Richards. Our program since inception has mentored 14
ambitious females ages 15 through 17 to promote their interest in transportation and
other STEM focused fields and grown to touch over a thousand students’ lives.
In addition to our ongoing mentorship program, on chapter has given back to the
community though several outreach events including: UT Austin’s Introduce a Girl to
Engineering Day, Girls in STEM Conference hosted by GirlStart, Round Rock Youth in STEM
Conference, and Shell TRC STEM Career Fair hosted by Texas Regional Collaborative. Before
we move on to 2015, I’d like to take a moment and reflect on our member’s hard work this
year with Transportation YOU.
Over 2,700 students gathered at the University of Texas campus for the annual
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day and participate in workshops across the
engineering campus. Heart of Texas Chapter’s workshop kept the girls excited and
interested to learn more about building bridges with WTS.
WTS members volunteered and participated in the Girls in STEM Conference
hosted by GirlStart. The Heart of Texas’
workshop provided an interactive
hand-on challenge to the 60 female
participants ranging from fourth to
eight grade. Our activity opened a
window to young girls who may have
previously not considered STEM fields
or better yet, transportation as a future
career path.
We also sent a mentor/mentee
pair to the Annual D.C. TY Summit in
June 2014. This was the third annual
Transportation YOU DC Youth Summit,
held in Washington, DC. The summit is a
conference geared to inspire, introduce,
and guide young women into a future
in STEM studies (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math) and a career in
the transportation industry.
If you would like to learn more about
Transportation YOU and how you can
help please contact Nicola Gheno, at
[email protected].
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Meetings@
Maggianos
October Lunch Program 2014
We were honored to have Mr. Wes Burford with the Central Texas Regional Mo- November Lunch Program 2014
bility Authority as our featured speaker
for October. Mr. Burford provided an up- In November Laurie Moyer was our
date on the CTRMA.
featured luncheon speaker. Ms. Moyer
Wes oversees all engineering functions provide insight into the challenges
for the Mobility Authority including and tools San Marcos is using to meet
project development, construction, and community expectations in a growing
and changing small town with a BIG
maintenance of completed facilities.
university. Laurie let everyone know that
Building on a 34 year career in the trans- the City of San Marcos is not only ‘special’
portation industry, Wes has held ev- it is currently the fastest growing city in
ery conceivable job from Maintenance the U.S. In addition, she noted that they
Technician, where he patched pot holes, have the largest outlet mall center in
picked up litter and mowed grass along the U.S. at 1.2 million square feet. The
central Texas highways, to the Director of city is also very young with a median
Planning and Project Development for age of 23.1 years, and in 2010, 47% of
the Austin District of TxDOT, overseeing the city’s population was in the age
a project development program that fed bracket of 15-24. This is partially from
an annual construction letting schedule the university community, but is also
of $200 million to $400 million. He also inherent in its demographic makeup.
served in TxDOT’s Automation Division, The city has many multi-family units that
managing the Engineering and Survey have driven the economy. Currently,
Systems section that provided support Texas State has 36,700 students, but
to all statewide users of TxDOT engineer- they expect to grow by a further 35,000
ing design computer programs.
students over the next 20 years. In
A lifelong Austinite, Wes is a graduate terms of transportation 33% of the city’s
of the University of Texas with a Bach- roads are TxDOT roads, i.e. on-system.
This provides many challenges for the
elor’s of Science in Civil Engineering.
13
City, including determining whether
to take over control of the system in
the future. The city has just completed
comprehensive plans with six key areas
of mission; they are utilizing this to align
infrastructure improvements at the city
level, and to update the infrastructure
plan, wastewater master plan, water
master plan, drainage comprehensive
water master plan, the transportation
master plan, and the strategic master
plan. Clearly San Marcos is ‘planning’.
The City has conducted a few innovative
transportation
activities
including
‘rhythm of the street’, a one day workshop
with stakeholders, and they also in the
city center held ‘2-way for a day’ where
one way streets were converted 2 way
streets – which according to Laurie was
a great success. Currently, the city is
doing a code rewrite and is reviewing its
small urban transit service with a view
to transform from rural service to service
with CARTS.
Laurie Moyer, P.E. is the Director of
Engineering and Capital Improvements
for the City of San Marcos. She has
worked for the City for over 25 years in
a variety of positions including Utility
Engineer, Senior Engineer, Director of
Environment & Engineering, Assistant
City Manager and Managing Director
of Transit, Airport and Solid Waste. She
is a graduate of the University of Texas
with a Degree in Civil Engineering and
the Certified Public Manager program at
Texas State. She is married and has two
stepsons, graduates of UTSA and Texas
State, and has a son currently at Texas
A&M.
2014 Corporate Partners
If you are interested in learning more about the Corporate Partners program,
please contact Haley Norman at [email protected].
Engineering
Construction
Environmental
Architecture
www.atkinsglobal.com/northamerica
800.477.7275
CREATING A BETTER TOMORROW
Parsons Brinckerhoff
is a proud sponsor
of the WTS Heart
of Texas Chapter
Ranked #1 in Transportation by Engineering
News-Record, we consistently deliver innovative,
sustainable, reliable and visionary projects.
www.aecom.com
For career opportunities or more information
about Parsons Brinckerhoff, please visit
w w w. p b w o r l d . c o m
15
Commitment to Diversity
Environmental and Cultural Resources Consulting
Burns & McDonnell provides comprehensive
transportation services from planning through
design-build, but we don’t do it alone.
Through our relationships and commitment to working with
small, woman-owned and minority-owned businesses
we build strong, diverse teams that deliver important projects.
And from our office along Mopac Expressway we’re positioned
to continue that commitment — right here in Austin and throughout
the great state of Texas, where we’re proud to live, work and serve.
AmaTerra —

NEPA

Archaeology

Historic Structures

Wetlands

Phase I ESAs
901 S. Mopac Expressway
Barton Oaks Plaza One
Suite 300
Austin, TX 78746
Phone: 512-329-1981
www.burnsmcd.com/austin
Engineering, Architecture, Construction, Environmental and Consulting Solutions
512-329-0031
www.amaterra.com
GORRONDONA &
ASSOCIATES SUPPORTS
WTS
AND THE
HEART OF TEXAS
CHAPTER
TrusT, reliabiliTy,
and qualiTy.
since 1968.
Gorrondona & Associates, Inc.
Land Surveying
Subsurface Utility Engineering
Utility Coordination
Geotechnical Engineering
Construction Material Testing
From small projects to large, simple solutions to complex,
Raba Kistner is the foremost resource in Central Texas
for Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Materials
Engineering and Testing Services, plus:
Infrastructure Consulting
Environmental Engineering
Facilities Engineering
Engineering Consulting
San Antonio Austin Brownsville
Corpus Christi El Paso Houston
McAllen Salt Lake City Mexico
512-339-1745
[email protected]
www.rkci.com
Dallas
1701 North Market St.
Suite 450, LB 5
Dallas, TX 75202
Office: 214.712.0600
FAX: 214.712.0604
Houston (Geotechnical)
8815 Solon Rd
Suite F5
Houston, TX 77064
Office: 281.469.3347
FAX: 281.469.3594
Houston
110 Cypress Station Dr.
Suite 157
Houston, TX 77090
Office: 281.419.2453
FAX: 281.419.2506
Austin
4201 W. Parmer Ln.
Bldg. B., Suite 100
Austin, TX 78727
Office: 512.719.9933
FAX: 512.719.9944
Fort Worth
7524 Jack Newell Blvd S.
Fort Worth, TX 76118
Office:817.496.1424
FAX: 817.496.1768
Lubbock
2732 82nd St.
Suite B
Lubbock, TX 79423
Office: 806.748.4027
FAX: 806.748.3934
www.ga-inc.net
Get Involved!
Want to know more about WTS? Have suggestions for our membership, or
just want to help out?
Contact
Email
Phone
[email protected]
512.232.3072
[email protected]
512.854.7587
[email protected]
512.691.2213
Jennifer Bennett-Reumuth, City of Austin, and
Lin Zhou, CDM Smith, Co-Treasurers
[email protected]
[email protected]
512.479.1628
512-592-3874
Melinda Jensen, Immediate Past President
URS
[email protected]
512.419.5822
Ashley Williams, Communications Chair
Center for Transportation Research, UT Austin
[email protected]
512.232.3085
Haley Norman, Corporate Partner Program
Burns & McDonnell
[email protected]
Jackie Sartor, Alliance Transportation Group,
and Cheryl Goodgame, Aguirre & Fields, Gala
Co-Chairs
[email protected]
[email protected]
512.821.2081
512.609.1513
[email protected]
512.329.2723
[email protected]
512.328.0011
Lisa Loftus-Otway, President
Center for Transportation Research, UT Austin
Odette Tan, Vice President
Travis County Transportation & Natural
Resources
Lindsay Wood, Secretary
HNTB
Renee Hurtado, Membership Chair
DKS Associates
Nicola Gheno, Transportation YOU Chair
Bury
Tonia Norman, Professional Development Chair
TxDOT
[email protected]
Vicki McEvoy, Program Chair
K. Friese & Associates
[email protected]
512.338.1704
Erin Grushon, Recognitions Chair
HNTB
[email protected]
512.691.2225
Laura M. Friello, Scholarship Chair
Klotz Associates
[email protected]
512.328.5771
[email protected]
512.471.6214
Blanca Gamez, Student Liaison Chair
UT Austin
17
Sunday
January 2015
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Board Meeting
Friday
Saturday
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2
3
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9
10
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5
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Annual
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Business Meeting
Lunch
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Sunday
February 2015
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
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2
3
4
8
9
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Sunday
Tuesday
Saturday
5
6
7
12
13
14
Programs
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Lunch, Ashby
Johnson, CAMPO
19
20
21
25
26
27
28
Board Meeting
March 2015
Monday
Friday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
2
3
4
8
9
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11
15
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22
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24
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Friday
Saturday
5
6
7
12
13
14
Programs
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Lunch, Mike Heiligenstein, CTRMA
19
20
21
25
26
27
28
Board Meeting
http://www.wtsinternational.org/heartoftexas//events/
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