President's Column

As we enter November it is time to start thinking about the WTS MN Holiday party! This year's event is scheduled for December 11 at 514 Studios in Minneapolis. The annual holiday party is not only the premier social event of the season, it is also a fundraiser for our scholarship program and Transportation You program through participation in the silent auction and raffle. If you are interested in volunteering to help with the silent auction or have items to donate please contact HunWen Westman. The holiday party will be a great night of celebration and fun with colleagues, and I hope to see you there!

Best wishes,

Molly Stewart

President, WTS Minnesota

WTS Minnesota would like to thank HR Green for being a 2014 Advocate-Level Partner. Giving at WTS MN's highest partnership level, HR Green has contributed to the success of WTS programs, scholarships, and educational opportunities in 2014. Please take a minute to learn more about HR Green in Minnesota and why they support WTS MN.

MN Office Locations: HR Green has one Minnesota office, located in St. Paul conveniently on the Green Line at 2550 University Avenue West. HR Green also has several other Midwest offices, with headquarters located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Transportation Services Offered: HR Green offers full-service transportation expertise. In Minnesota, HR Green is recognized for their capabilities in preliminary and final highway design, environmental planning, wetland/permitting services, highway drainage and roundabout design.

Website: http://www.hrgreen.com/   

Why HR Green Supports WTS MN: "HR Green values the role WTS MN serves in creating meaningful connections and leadership opportunities in the transportation community. Through the WTS program of engaging, fun, and inspirational events, our entire industry benefits from the advancement of women and young professionals in Minnesota." --Tim Thoreen, HR Green Senior Project Manager

Corporate Partner Spotlight: Kimley-Horn

WTS Minnesota would like to thank Kimley-Horn for being a 2014 Advocate-Level Partner. Giving at WTS MN's highest partnership level, Kimley-Horn has contributed to the success of WTS programs, scholarships, and educational opportunities in 2014. Please take a minute to learn more about Kimley-Horn in Minnesota and why they support WTS MN.  

September Program Recap: Brown Bag Book Club

WTS Minnesota's September program was a reprise of the successful book discussion format launched in 2013. Over 40 WTS members and supporters convened at Metro Transit's headquarters to discuss Katty Kay and Claire Shipman's book, The Confidence Code.

The book posits that a gap in confidence is a critical reason why women, while better educated and more prepared than ever, still face a working world where men predominate. In a wide-ranging discussion led by Mary Karlsson and Kristin Thompson, participants shared their experiences with confidence in the workplace (and outside of it!) and debated the book's points.

Some key themes of the discussion included the distinction between competence and confidence, and how to balance personal authenticity with the need to present ourselves as confident ("faking it") in certain contexts when we feel nervous.

As the discussion wrapped up, participants drew from the book to generate a list of helpful takeaways for boosting confidence:

• Act!

• Fail & analyze; learn & move on

• Focus on the team

• Accept compliments and own your accomplishments

• Practice mastery, not perfectionism

• Speak up & say it like you mean it

These habits can be useful for any professional who wants to feel and be perceived as confident as well as competent in the workplace.

Know of another thought-provoking read that would be great for a WTS book discussion? Contact Rose Ryan or Katie Roth with your suggestions for next year! 

Kicking off Rail~Volution with WTS MN

Transportation YOU 2014-2015 Program Begins

Seeking Holiday Party Silent Auction Donations

We are currently accepting silent auction donations for the WTS MN 2014 holiday party. Auction donations are tax deductible and proceeds go toward funding our education programs. If you're interested in contributing something to this year's holiday party silent auction, please contact HunWen Westman. 

Congratulations to Kristin Thompson, who was recently promoted to Assistant Director of Scheduling, Analysis, and Data Collection at Metro Transit!

********************************************************** 

Have member news to share? Send in snippets about job changes, life milestones, and other accomplishments to Bre Grand so we can keep track of and recognize our colleagues!