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New Members
WTS Minnesota welcomes the following new and returning members:
Carly Divine
HDR
Ann Fanger
Alliant Engineering
Sarah Fitch
Alliant Engineering
Lynn Iaquinta
Kimley-Horn & Associates
Molly McCartney
MnDOT
Veronica Richfield
CH2M
Sierra Saunders
Hennepin County
Jon Solberg
MnDOT
Yingchao Sun
Michael Baker International
Katherine Toghramadijan
Isthmus Engineering, Inc.
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Save the Dates for Upcoming Programs!
METRO Blue Line Extension Bicycle Tour
Saturday, June 11th
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Minneapolis
Metro Transit A Line Tour
July 28th in the afternoon
St. Paul
Visit our Events page for more information including registration soon.
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Job Postings
Help us spread the word about available positions by sending new posting information to Laura Eash.
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Corporate Partners
Thank you to our 2016 corporate partners:
AECOM
HDR, Inc.
Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.
 Stantec
WSB & Associates, Inc.
American Engineering Testing, Inc.
Bolton & Menk, Inc.
Braun Intertec
HR Green
KLJ
SEH, Inc.
SRF Consulting Group
TKDA
WSP-Parsons Brinckerhoff
Isthmus Engineering
Pierce Pini & Associates, Inc.
Professional Engineering Services, Ltd.
Rani Engineering
Stonebrooke
The MN Transportation Alliance
Zan Associates
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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2016 WTS MinnesotaBoard of DirectorsPresident
Vice President
Secretary
Past President
Programs Co-Director
Co-Director
Development Director
Special Events Director
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2016 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
Ann Johnson
University of MN
Wanda Kirkpatrick
Metropolitan Council
Connie Kozlak
Metropolitan Council
Jessica Laabs
Kimley-Horn & Associates
Scott McBride
MnDOT
Dan Meyers
AECOM
Amber Nord Isthmus Engineering
Lisa Raduenz
University of MN Parking and Transportation Services
Katie Roth
Metro Transit
Dawn Spanhake
Center for Transportation Studies
Kristin Thompson
Metro Transit
Amy Vennewitz
Metropolitan Council
Charleen Zimmer
Zan Associates
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President's Column
Greetings and happy spring to WTS members and friends!
As I write this, I'm still feeling aglow from the 2016 WTS Minnesota Scholarships and Recognitions Luncheon. I find it to be the chapter's most inspiring event of the year, as we celebrate the accomplishments of women, men, and organizations and acknowledge the ways that we are all making a difference in the industry and the community. If you missed the luncheon, read below to find a recap of the awards.
The luncheon is our biggest event of the year, and that says a lot about the transportation industry in Minnesota. We lucky to have such talented people in the industry and lucky that so many of us are willing to take the time to support each other and recognize the achievements of our colleagues and friends.
A special thanks must go out to WTS Minnesota board members Adele Hall, Scholarships & Recognitions Director, and Hannah Pritchard, Special Events Director. They worked tirelessly to put on a wonderful celebration for our award winners. We are lucky to have them on the board!
If the luncheon left you energized and ready to further engage with WTS Minnesota, allow me to suggest a few ways to get more involved with the chapter. The chapter is moving forward with our 2016 initiatives and could use your input and support:
- Transportation YOU mentoring program expansion: The Transportation YOU program has been a success at Blaine High School and we are looking to expand. Join us for a brainstorming session on May 1, or contact Tara McBride to share your ideas and/or volunteer to help with the expansion.
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Corporate Partnership funding task force: WTS Minnesota has been fortunate to have strong support from our corporate partners (thank you!). This year, we plan to convene a task force for 1-2 meetings to review past corporate partnership spending and set priorities for the future. Contact Michelle Julius if you are interested in being a part of the task force.
- Public Sector Partnership: Past President HunWen Westman is leading an effort to encourage a stronger partnership between public agencies and WTS Minnesota. If you're interested in helping shape the program, contact HunWen.
And of course, we would love to see you at an upcoming program or event. To take advantage of the warmer weather, we have a bike tour of the Blue Line Extension planned for Saturday, June 11. Stay tuned for more details. We hope you can join us to envision the future of transit and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air!
Enjoy the spring!
Rose Ryan
President, WTS Minnesota
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Corporate Partner Spotlight: HDR
WTS Minnesota would like to thank HDR for being a 2016 Advocate-Level Partner. Giving at WTS MN's highest partnership level, HDR has contributed to the success of WTS programs, scholarships, and educational opportunities in 2016. Please take a minute to learn more about HDR in Minnesota and why they support WTS MN.
MN Office Locations
Minneapolis (two), Rochester and Thief River Falls
Transportation Services Offered
Planning, design, traffic, transit, bridges, design-build, rail, environmental, and strategic communications.
Website
HDR is proud to partner with WTS at multiple levels. Our very own Mike Schneider and Maggie Walsh serve on the WTS International Board of Directors, and Dorri Raposa serves as the WTS International Foundation Board Chair. This spirit of involvement in the WTS mission is present in HDR offices across the company. In Minnesota, we're honored to support our local chapter. Our company culture embraces the strengths and differences of the communities we support. This includes the many talented women engineers, planners, and professionals solving Minnesota's most complex transportation challenges. Together, we make great things possible.
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Recap: Scholarships and Recognitions Luncheon
Thank you to the 150 WTS members and friends who joined us at the annual Scholarships and Recognitions Luncheon at the Walker Art Center! This year we celebrated the accomplishments of:
- HunWen Westman, WTS-Minnesota 2015 Chapter President
- Denise Engen, Karen Nikolai, Larry Hiscock, and the Health Equity Engagement Cohort, Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award
- Connie Kozlak, Woman of the Year Award
- Short Elliott Hendrickson, Employer of the Year Award
- Paul Danielson, Honorable Ray LaHood Award
- Amber Nord, Member of the Year Award
- Mackenzie Turner Bargen and Lacy Shelby, Parklets Program, Innovative Transportation Solutions Award
- Yingling Fan and Jessica Treat, 2016 WTS Honorary Members
- Kathryn Jurenka, Allison Pickup, and Tara Osendorf, Scholarship winners
Visit us on Facebook for more photos!
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Recap: March Program on Ethics
On Thursday, March 24th, WTS MN partnered with NCITE to host a joint program, "Ethics for Transportation Planners and Engineers". Nearly 90 planners, engineers, landscape architects, and other professionals gathered at WSB and Associates for a presentation from Kristine Kubes of Kubes Law, LLC on everyday ethics and an update on the respective AEGSLID and AICP ethics codes. The 2-hour session wrapped up with a case study and small group discussion of transportation ethics and equity in highway and transit planning.
Many thanks go out to Molly Stewart (2014 WTS Minnesota Chapter President), Nik Costello of NCITE, WSB and Associates, and our esteemed speaker, Kristine Kubes, for their generous contributions to make this event a success!  
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Recap: March Program on Community Organizing
On Tuesday, March 15th, WTS MN had the privilege of hearing from several community organizers and engagement specialists representing multiple projects throughout North Minneapolis. The event was held at EMERGE, and those presenting included C Terrence Anderson, Shaina Brassard, Kelly Hoffman-Orth, Sarah Kretman Stewart, Kristel Porter, Kristen Murray, Dara Crawford, Roxxanne O'Brien, and Denetrick Powers. These passionate and engaging speakers shared their perspective on outreach and engagement and challenged those attending the program to start approaching it in a different manner.
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TYOU
The TYOU Program is off to a strong start in 2016. In February, the girls visited MnDOT's Regional Transportation Management Center (RTMC) and had a discussion with a panel of "Women in Alternative Transportation Careers". Thank you to Ashley Ver Berg, Lyssa Leitner, and Karyssa Jackson for providing some wisdom to our students! In March, the girls were tasked with researching and giving presentations international transportation. Despite the warmer weather, they willingly rose to the occasion. Their presentations were very interesting and started a great discussion with their mentors.
The end of the year scavenger hunt celebration in downtown Minneapolis happened on April 26th. Thank you to Jill Hentges and Hannah Pritchard for organizing our stops at Metro Transit and Toole Design Group!
Interested in becoming a mentor next year? We're always looking for help! Email Anna
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Congratulations to Bev Farraher, who is now Operations Manager for the City of St. Paul!
Congratulations to Ann Johnson, who was featured on page 20 of the magazine Minnesota Business!
Congratulations to Kathleen Mayell, who has joined the City of Minneapolis as a Transportation Planning Manager!
Congratulations to Kristina Nesse, who is now at Metro Transit's TOD office as a Transit Oriented Development Planner!
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Have member news to share? Send in snippets about job changes, life milestones, and other accomplishments to Laura Eash so we can keep track of and recognize our colleagues! |
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