Season's greetings WTS!

It was so great to see so many of you at the WTS Holiday Party a few weeks ago. The party was a huge success with nearly 100 people in attendance who helped raise over $2,000 for our scholarships and educational programs. Thanks again to everyone who donated a silent auction item and thanks to all you generous bidders. If you have a minute, please check out the photos from the event in our photo gallery.

It's hard to believe we have approached the end of 2014 which means the end of my term as President. The past year has been such a great year to serve as Chapter President, and I'd like to highlight some of our successes in 2014:

• We delivered eleven multimodal and interdisciplinary programs, including a behind-the-scenes airport tour at the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport, an inside tour of the newly opened Metro Green Line and an insightful discussion on transportation funding.  We had record setting attendance at our annual Scholarships and Recognitions luncheon in April, and raised over $2,000 for scholarships in June at a joint fundraising event with NC-ITE and ITS MN at the Summit Brewery.
• Our chapter board completed a financial planning exercise which established a comprehensive financial plan and a decision-making process for spending that are in line with our strategic plan and goals.
• Our Transportation YOU mentorship program continues to grow and is in its third year at Blaine High School. In June we once again sent a mentor-mentee pair to the Transportation YOU Summit in DC, thanks to support from our corporate partners.
  

WTS Minnesota has had many accomplishments in the past year which could not have been possible without the dedication of the many volunteers who gave their time. I would especially like to thank the 2014 Chapter Board. This is a dedicated and energetic group of women who have worked hard this past year to support the WTS Minnesota mission of transforming the Minnesota transportation industry through the advancement of women. It has been a pleasure to serve as your Chapter President in 2014 and I look forward to seeing many of you at programs and networking opportunities in 2015!

Corporate Partner Spotlight: AECOM

MN Office Locations: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Thief River Falls

Transportation Services Offered: Planning, roads, bridges, traffic, design-build, tunnels, transit, rail, value engineering and risk assessment/management, noise and vibration analyses, NEPA, etc. 

Website: www.hdrinc.com    

Why HDR Supports WTS MN: "HDR employs 8,500 people in more than 200 locations worldwide, of which 32% are women and 18% minorities. We believe strongly in WTS' mission." -- Matt Kocourek, Marketing Coordinator, HDR
 

WTS Minnesota was fortunate to have a great showing this year at WTS' annual Chapter Leadership Training. HunWen Westman, Chelsey Armstrong, Rose Ryan, Kathleen Mayell, Lyssa Leitner and Amber Nord attended the several-day conference, held in San Diego on November 13-15. The WTS Minnesota representatives got a chance to meet and mingle with other chapter leaders at a waterfront reception, and spend several days gaining organization insight and having discussions through attending sessions such as:

• Transportation YOU panel discussion
• Updates on WTS International and WTS Foundation
• Roundtable discussions with leaders from other chapters
• The language of leadership
• Chapter fundraising
• Empowering chapter leaders
• Central Region breakout session
• "Ignite" sessions - fast paced 5 minute presentations on variety of topics from building a WTS chapter to the Paycheck Fairness Act

Chapter leaders also shared thoughts on the future of the organization as a whole and on local initiatives, such as various program and mentoring ideas, methods for enlisting volunteers and day-to-day business operations. 

Thank you to all who attended and contributed time and silent auction donations (and participated in our auction and raffle) to make WTS Minnesota's annual holiday party another success! It was a great evening of mingling and networking with close to 100 friends and members, and will further WTS Minnesota in our continued efforts to support our important educational programs and scholarships. Make sure to check out our party photo album on our website, in addition to the photos below.