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Save the Date for the WTS MN November Program: Innovative Asset Management at MnDOT
Monday, November 17
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MnDOT Central Office
(happy hour to follow at Red Cow)
MnDOT is responsible for a broad portfolio of transportation assets. Learn about the innovative practices the agency is using to better manage these assets and keep Minnesota moving. Afterward, join WTS for a networking happy hour at nearby Red Cow. More information and registration.
Additional information about WTS MN events can be found on our Events page.
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Coming Soon:
2015 WTS MN Recognition Award Nomination Details
It's time to start thinking about the people, groups, employers and projects you may wish to nominate for WTS MN's 2015 Recognition Awards! Keep an eye out for upcoming nomination information on our Recognition Awards website page.
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Job Postings
Help us spread the word about available positions by sending new posting information to Bre Grand.
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Corporate Partners
Thank you to our 2014 corporate partners:
Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.
HR Green
HDR, Inc.
URS Corp.
AECOM
TKDA
Bolton & Menk, Inc.
SRF Consulting
SEH, Inc.
Parsons Brinckerhoff
WSB & Associates, Inc.
J&L Steel & Electrical Services
Professional Engineering Services, Ltd.
See your name here, and support the advancement of women in transportation! For more information about becoming a corporate partner, visit our website.
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Has your email address changed?
Please email Kathleen Mayell with your new address and don't forget to update your email address with WTS International as well.
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Past President
Programs Co-Director
Development Director
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2013 WTS Minnesota
Advisory Board
Donna Allan
WTS Past President
Laura Amundson
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Kristin Asher
City of Richfield
Gina Baas
Center for Transportation Studies
Debra Brisk
Hennepin County
Biz Colburn
WTS Past President
Sandy Cullen
University of Minnesota
Margaret Donahoe
Minnesota Transportation Alliance
Mary Gute
CH2M HILL
Judy Hollander
Hennepin County
Ann Johnson
P.E. Services
Wanda Kirkpatrick
Metropolitan Council
Connie Kozlak
Metropolitan Council
Jessica Laabs
Kimley-Horn & Associates
Stephanie Malinoff
Center for Transportation Studies
Scott McBride
MnDOT
Laurie McGinnis
Center for Transportation Studies
Dan Meyers
URS
Amber Nord
Isthmus Engineering
Lisa Raduenz
Past President
Dawn Spanhake
Center for Transportation Studies
Amy Vennewitz
Metropolitan Council
Charleen Zimmer
Zan Associates
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President's Column
Greetings WTS Members and Friends!
WTS Minnesota kicked off the fall with the start of our 2015 Corporate Partnership campaign, led by Chapter Development Director Ashley Ver Burg. A special thanks to SEH, WSB & Associates, and Braun Intertec for being the first firms to sign on as 2015 corporate partners. If your firm is interested in becoming a part of WTS Minnesota's corporate partnership program or learning more about it please visit our website or contact Ashley. In conjunction with our Corporate Partnership program, our chapter board recently completed a financial planning exercise which established a financial plan and a decision-making process for spending that are in line with our strategic plan and goals. If you are interested in hearing more about the outcome please feel free to reach out to me.
Each year, WTS Minnesota honors the achievements of members of the Minnesota Transportation community through our recognition awards. WTS Minnesota is currently accepting applications for our 2015 recognition awards, which include: Member of the Year, Woman of the Year, Employer of the Year, Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award, and Innovative Transportation Solutions Award. To learn more about these awards or to submit a nomination for an award, please visit our website or contact Sara Pflaum, this year's Scholarships and Recognition Director.
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
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Corporate Partner Spotlight: HR Green
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
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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.
MN Office Locations: Twin Cities (along the Green Line) and Rochester
Transportation Services Offered: Planning, environmental, roadway, municipal, traffic, transit, structures, aviation, landscape architecture, and more!
Website: www.kimley-horn.com
Why Kimley-Horn Supports WTS MN: "Kimley-Horn has proudly supported WTS Minnesota since 2012 for the outstanding professional development, leadership, and educational opportunities afforded to our employees and this region by our local chapter. Over the past few years, we have seen our investment in WTS MN return high-quality programs, premier leadership training, and growing tomorrow's transportation leaders through programs like Transportation YOU." - Chris Leverett, Kimley-Horn Twin Cities
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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:
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Act!
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Fail & analyze; learn & move on
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Focus on the team
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Accept compliments and own your accomplishments
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Practice mastery, not perfectionism
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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!
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Kicking off Rail~Volution with WTS MN
On September 20, WTS MN hosted a welcome reception for the Rail~Volution conference. Local and national WTS members and friends had a chance to meet and mingle before the conference began. Thanks to all who joined us at this event!
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Transportation YOU 2014-2015 Program Begins
This year's Transportation YOU program started with several events in October. We had our first program on October 1, a construction tour of the University Avenue reconstruction project located near Blaine High School. On October 10, Natalie McGrath (Blaine High School student) and Katie Ellis (Kimley-Horn) presented to a group of about 15 people to share their experience at the DC Summit this past June. The DC Summit is an annual Transportation YOU program in Washington DC which brings together Transportation YOU participants from around the country. One of our chapter board's key initiatives this year was to send a mentor/mentee pair to the Transportation YOU summit, and we were so proud to be able to do that with the help of our corporate partners. On October 22, the girls learned how to design a road, utilizing an online program called Streetmix! Our next program is on November 18 - bridge design. Please contact Lisa Rasmussen if you are interested in the program or have questions!
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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.
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Congratulations to Kristin Thompson, who was recently promoted to Assistant Director of Scheduling, Analysis, and Data Collection at Metro Transit!
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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!
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