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Thu, May 7
Full Schedule
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Thursday, May 7, 2026
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
PST
Breakfast
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
PST
Breakfast
Location: California Ballroom - 2nd Floor
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
PST
Registration
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
PST
Registration
Location: California Foyer - 2nd Floor
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
PST
Plenary Session
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
PST
Plenary Session: The New Mobility Blueprint: Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Transportation Innovations
Moderator:
Karen Kitsis
– Hampton Roads Transit
Panelist:
Stephanie Wiggins
Panelist:
Jennifer Mitchell
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
PST
Plenary Session
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
PST
Plenary Session: WTS International Leadership of the Future
Moderator:
Malika Reed-Wilkins, PhD
Panelist:
Erin Slayton
Panelist:
Alexa Gangemi
Panelist:
Monica Backmon
Panelist:
Monica Tibbits Nutt
Panelist:
Bridgette Beato
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
PST
BREAK
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
PST
BREAK
Location: California Foyer - 2nd Floor
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Lab to Lane: Scaling University Innovation for Multimodal Operations
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Lab to Lane: Scaling University Innovation for Multimodal Operations
Location: California Ballroom - 2nd Floor
Moderator:
Hannah Gildar, PMP (she/her/hers)
– Lumenor Consulting Group
Panelist:
Stephen Dilts (he/him/his)
– New Jersey Turnpike Authority
Panelist:
Megan Ryerson
Panelist:
Valerie Santos, Master in Business Administration and Master in Public Policy
– World Bank
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Navigating the Mid-Career Journey
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Navigating the Mid-Career Journey
Location: Beaudry A - Lobby Level
Panelist:
Lindsey Sousa, MURP
– AECOM
Panelist:
Karla Avis-Birch, Bachelor of Engineering, P Eng.
– Arup
Panelist:
Jessica Myklebust, Masters in Environmental Policy and Management & Undergratudate Environmental Science/Geography
– Colorado Department of Transportation
Panelist:
Helga E. Sommer, BA in Civil Eng, BA in Architectural Eng, Master in Civil (structural), PE, PPM
– PortMiami
Moderator:
Ece F. Koch, PE, ENV SP (she/her/hers)
– AECOM
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Not all pathways to the C Suite in Transportation are Linear, a discussion with women in the industry from various career backgrounds.
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Not all pathways to the C Suite in Transportation are Linear, a discussion with women in the industry from various career backgrounds.
Location: Beaudry B - Lobby Level
Panelist:
Melissa Figueroa
– California Transit Association
Panelist:
Avital Barnea
– LA Metro
Panelist:
Maria Guadalupe Meleandez (she/her/hers)
– Denver International Airport - Denver, CO
Panelist:
Margaret Cederoth
– Sound Transit
Moderator:
Karen Philbrick, MA, EDM, PhD (she/her/hers)
– Mineta Transportation Institute
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Reframing Roadway Safety Through Human Behavior
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Reframing Roadway Safety Through Human Behavior
Location: Santa Anita - Lobby Level
Moderator:
Shea Saladee
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Soft Skills, Strong Impact: Transforming Fundamentals to Career Superpowers
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Soft Skills, Strong Impact: Transforming Fundamentals to Career Superpowers
Location: Santa Barbara - Lobby Level
Panelist:
Falyn Coleman-Wright (she/her/hers)
– API
Panelist:
Rachel Yazawa-Taylor, P.E. (she/her/hers)
– Mark Thomas
Panelist:
Van Le, AICP, Professional Planner
– R&M Consultants, Inc
Panelist:
Diana Giraldo, P.E., Civil Engineering, Professional Engineer
– HNTB
Moderator:
Faye Majekodunmi, P.E.
– Amtrak
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Transforming Recruitment with a Skills-Based Approach
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
Transforming Recruitment with a Skills-Based Approach
Location: Palos Verdes - Lobby Level
Panelist:
Cory Phillips
– Siemens Mobility North America
Panelist:
Steve Amsden
– Orion Talent
Panelist:
Jenny Ferguson
– Davidson-Davie Community College
Panelist:
Tami Wolownik
– Siemens Mobility North America
Moderator:
Melanie Wallace
– Siemens Mobility North America
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Autonomous technology - a new way to look at transportation!
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Autonomous technology - a new way to look at transportation!
Location: Wilshire E - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Marie-France Laurin, n/a
– MFL Consulting
Technology at the Speed of Change
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Champions Not Cheerleaders: How to Build a Sponsorship Network for a Pathway to Success
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Champions Not Cheerleaders: How to Build a Sponsorship Network for a Pathway to Success
Location: Santa Monica A - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Circe Torruellas, JD, MPP, ENV SP (she/her/hers)
– WTS DC Chapter
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Driving Innovation: AI and Digital Twin Across the Infrastructure Lifecycle
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Driving Innovation: AI and Digital Twin Across the Infrastructure Lifecycle
Location: Wilshire E - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Lindsay English, n/a
– Arup
Technology at the Speed of Change
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Elevating Your Leadership Story on LinkedIn
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Elevating Your Leadership Story on LinkedIn
Location: Santa Monica A - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Madelene Skinner, APR
– RS&H
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: First-of-Its-Kind: Scaling the Center of Equity & Excellence in Aviation Model for Transportation Workforce Excellence
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: First-of-Its-Kind: Scaling the Center of Equity & Excellence in Aviation Model for Transportation Workforce Excellence
Location: Santa Monica B - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Stephanie A. Burke, PMP
– Denver International Airport
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: From Vision to Implementation: Inside the Mobility Action Plan LA
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: From Vision to Implementation: Inside the Mobility Action Plan LA
Location: Santa Monica D - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Nataly Rios Gutierrez, MURP (she/her/hers)
– City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation
Infrastructure Reinvented- Designing for a New Era
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: I-405 South Multi-Asset Design/Build - Saving Time and Money Through Collaboration and Partnership
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: I-405 South Multi-Asset Design/Build - Saving Time and Money Through Collaboration and Partnership
Location: Santa Monica D - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Scott Lawson, PE, GE
– Terracon
Infrastructure Reinvented- Designing for a New Era
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Igniting Rail Careers: From Classroom Curiosity to Industry Opportunity
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Igniting Rail Careers: From Classroom Curiosity to Industry Opportunity
Location: Santa Monica B - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
JODI A. GODFREY, MSCE (she/her/hers)
– Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Managing the passions of a multi-generational workforce
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Managing the passions of a multi-generational workforce
Location: Santa Monica B - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Ann Conway
– Zan Associates
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Progressive contactless upgrades for an equitable Los Angeles
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Progressive contactless upgrades for an equitable Los Angeles
Location: Wilshire E - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Cynthia Eng (she/her/hers)
– Cubic Transportation Systems
Technology at the Speed of Change
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Purple Line - Maryland's Design-Build Light Rail Leading the Way to Connect Communities Despite Unforeseen Setbacks.
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Purple Line - Maryland's Design-Build Light Rail Leading the Way to Connect Communities Despite Unforeseen Setbacks.
Location: Santa Monica D - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Roxanne Feige (she/her/hers)
– AtkinsRealis
Infrastructure Reinvented- Designing for a New Era
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Small Business Strategies for Transit Agencies
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Small Business Strategies for Transit Agencies
Location: Wilshire A - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Elizabeth Solís-Campana, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative
– The Solis Group
Small Business Strategies for the Future of Transportation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Small but Mighty: How Diverse Firms Drive Innovation and Equity in Transportation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Small but Mighty: How Diverse Firms Drive Innovation and Equity in Transportation
Location: Wilshire A - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Cantrece V. Jones, Bachelors
– Acuity Design Group, Inc.
Small Business Strategies for the Future of Transportation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Three Decades of Small Business Impact, From Adaptability to Authenticity in Building a Small Business That Lasts
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Three Decades of Small Business Impact, From Adaptability to Authenticity in Building a Small Business That Lasts
Location: Wilshire A - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Genoveva L. Arellano
– Arellano Associates
Small Business Strategies for the Future of Transportation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: University Champion Program to Recruit and Retain Talent in Transportation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: University Champion Program to Recruit and Retain Talent in Transportation
Location: Santa Monica C - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Heidi Eilers (she/her/hers)
– HNTB
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Voices of Calm: Women Leading Transportation Operation Centers
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
PST
WTS Talk: Voices of Calm: Women Leading Transportation Operation Centers
Location: Santa Monica C - 3rd Floor
Speaker:
Janice Clea (she/her/hers)
– PA Turnpike Commission
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
PST
Mentoring Mistakes and Makeovers
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
PST
Mentoring Mistakes and Makeovers
Location: San Gabriel - Lobby Level
Panelist:
Mary Jane O'Meara, n/a
– HNTB
Panelist:
Leslie S. Richards (she/her/hers)
– Lumenor Consulting Group
Panelist:
Deborah Wathen, n/a
– The Wathen Group
Panelist:
Tanya Adams, MPA
– WSP USA
Moderator:
Elizabeth McConaghy, MPH (she/her/hers)
– HNTB
Workforce of the Future: Leadership, Talent, and Transformation
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
PST
Luncheon - State of the Association, Chapter Recognition, Conference Hand-Off
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
PST
Luncheon - State of the Association, Chapter Recognition, Conference Hand-Off
Location: California Ballroom - 2nd Floor
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
PST
Closing Reception
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
PST
Closing Reception
Location: Catalina Ballroom - 3rd Floor
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
PST
Tour - Downtown LA Bike Lane Experience
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
PST
Tour - Downtown LA Bike Lane Experience
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
PST
Tour - Long Beach Transit (LBT) Water Taxi Tour
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
PST
Tour - Long Beach Transit (LBT) Water Taxi Tour
