Connector
News from WTS-DC
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A Message from the President
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Dear WTS-DC Chapter Members and Friends,
I hope everyone is staying cool and surviving through the extreme heat waves the Washington, D.C. metro area recently experienced. In the past few months, the WTS-DC chapter hosted numerous events bringing together a multitude of young professionals and senior executives that have been part of the transportation industry for over 30 years.
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Resiliency and Creativity Within Your Career
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On April 17,
Deepti Gudipati
led a hands-on workshop for the WTS-DC chapter focused on “Career Development with Creativity and Resiliency.”
Career development, Deepti told attendees, is a process that must take place on both the personal and professional level. As professionals thinking about leadership as part of our career development, establishing goals for the next 3-5 years is the first step.
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WTS-DC's Fifth Annual Bike Tour
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The wave of changes in the transportation industry includes pedestrian and bicycling facilities. The District of Columbia, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and other jurisdictions and municipalities have ample programs to maintain existing, create new, and connect pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The WTS-DC annual bike tour provides relevant information and education for all participants, and the proceeds from the event support the WTS-DC Scholarship Fund.
On May 5, WTS-DC and APA joined forces to organize this year's bike tour preceded by conversation with a panel of planning professionals.
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WTS International Annual Conference: The Hub of Ingenuity
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In support of chapter members’ continued professional development, each year WTS-DC provides an opportunity for board members to apply for funding to attend the WTS International Annual Conference. This year the conference was held from May 15-18 in Boston, MA and board members below were selected to receive chapter funding to support their attendance.
- Jasmy Methipara (Transportation YOU Chair)
- Margaret Avis Akofio-Sowah (Transportation YOU Deputy Chair)
- Khatereh Vaghefi (Professional Development Committee Deputy Chair)
- Rachel Roberts (Treasurer)
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Update from the Chapter Leadership Meeting
On May 15, WTS-DC board members attended the Chapter Leadership meeting during the annual WTS International Conference in Boston, MA.
During the breakfast some exciting developments from this year were highlighted including signing Memoranda of Understanding with APTA, AASHTO, TRB, and ARTBA. One of the goals for these MOUs is to look at sustaining a long term workforce for women in the transportation industry.
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What Does Life Look Like from the CEO Position?
This year’s WTS International Annual Conference's theme was the “The Hub of ingenuity” as it attracted professionals with known records of ingenuity, with all levels of experience, and from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Our opening plenary sessions, "A View from the Top: Female DOT CEOs Take the Stage,” featured strong panel members who engaged in relevant, eye opening, and important questions and topics for women in the transportation industry.
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Putting Dedicated Funding to Work:
WTS-DC's Conversation with WMATA's Paul Wiedefeld
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On June 21, WTS-DC welcomed WMATA General Manager/CEO, Paul Wiedefeld, to update 120 WTS-DC members and friends on how the newly available dedicated funding from the region’s local governments is making a difference for WMATA, its customers, and the region.
His comments touched on specific capital projects being planned; the challenge of juggling the need for both operating and capital funding; and the shift in perspective underway within WMATA regarding how the system can effectively serve the region’s needs.
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Corporate Member Highlight: FOURSQUARE ITP
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One of the goals of the Corporate Relations & Program Sponsorship Committee for WTS-DC is to strengthen relationships with our corporate members and longtime supporters of WTS. In appreciation of the continued support, WTS-DC will feature a corporate member in each of its upcoming newsletters. This inaugural edition features Foursquare ITP. We hope everyone enjoys learning more about Foursquare ITP and looks forward to our next corporate member highlight. Please see their
website
for additional information.
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An Invitation to Corporate Membership
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Through the generous support of our Corporate Members, program sponsors, and the active participation of our members, WTS-DC continues to build a strong future for transportation through the advancement of women. We are proud of our role as a premier professional organization in the D.C. transportation community and are now actively extending the invitation to Corporate Membership.
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Congratulations to WTS-DC's Immediate Past President, Avital Barnea, on her appointment by Governor Gavin Newsom to the role of Deputy Secretary for Transportation Planning at the California State Transportation Agency!
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A Trip of a Lifetime: A Safari in Tanzania!
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In February, I joined a couple friends, formerly with the HDR Richmond office, on a safari in Tanzania. Without a doubt, the fabulous game, great migration, amazing vistas, striking animal interactions, and cultural traits of the people highlighted the trip. As a transportation planner, however, I enjoyed observing some of the country’s transportation protocols.
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WTS-DC's job postings are periodically updated with opportunities in the area. It is also free to post a job.
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