WtsNews
ACeCNews
To view the entire ACEC/G Strategic Plan with detailed action items please visit the ACEC/G Web site at www.acecga.org.
Tom Gambino, PE President ACEC/G
Greetings, is is my last article as ACEC/G president, and I would like to thank ACEC’s members for giving me the privilege of serving as president of this fine organization. I hope that the accomplishments of our team of officers, board members, committee chairs, volunteers, and staff have advanced the ACEC/G cause this year. As Jim Hamilton assumes ACEC/G’s presidency July 1, 2011, I am hopeful that our industry will soon pull out of the Great Recession. I believe that over the past three years, ACEC/G has provided our member firms with information and counseling that has helped them to weather the downsizing. I know that the ACEC/G leadership has worked tirelessly to convey our message to the state and national capitals. And no matter how small our individual voices, I know that our collective voices have been heard. Many are predicting that the economy, after having reached its lowest point, has begun to improve, and I hope that these predictions are true. However, I challenge our business owners to remain focused on managing the inevitable changes to our industry. By getting involved with ACEC/G, you will have a say in the future of our industry. I also challenge our business owners to ensure your young leaders get involved with ACEC/G. Each year, more than 50 committees have vacancies in need of filling. ACEC/G is looking for participants for each of these positions. If your young employees are like my young employees, they want to make a difference. Give them a no-cost chance to make a difference, by nominating them to the ACEC/G office for an assignment. 38
To our young leaders I have only one message—get involved. ere are no roadblocks in your way; just call the ACEC/G office and volunteer. Leaders are self-driven, not appointed by others. To our associate members, I would like to thank you for your support. e ACEC/G member firms and associates have a mutually supportive relationship. Our association is better because of our associate members, and you should know that you are appreciated. Lastly, I would like to thank my ACEC/G team. First, to the officers: rough your years of service you have proven your commitment to our industry and your willingness to give back. You should be proud of your accomplishments. ank you so much for your support. I would also like to thank the veteran and new board members for your time in serving on the board and for your honest feedback. To the committee chairs, who are the hardestworking group of industry leaders, I com-
mend you for your leadership, creativity, and time. To our volunteers and young leaders, thank you for getting involved. I hope you will continue to stay involved in ACEC/G, because the more you give, the more you get back. Finally I would like to say thank you to the ACEC/G staff. You guys are the best! ank you for your guidance, patience, prodding, and kindness. As all the presidents before me have come to know, the ACEC/G staff is the best staff in the ACEC nation. ank you! Best regards,
omas D. Gambino President ACEC/G v
Jennifer King, PE, President Women in Transportation Seminar Accomplishing Our Mission As I am sure many professional organizations do, WTS often struggles in finding ways to serve all of our members to the best of our ability. In our quest to increase membership and grow the presence of our organization within the transportation community, we often lose sight of our true mission of “advancing women in transportation.” During our Strategic Planning Session earlier this year, we identified the goal of providing benefits that help achieve this mission as a top priority. To achieve this goal, we are continuing to place emphasis on some of our successful past programs as well as implementing some new ones that we believe will strengthen our chapter by continuing to prove the benefit of being a WTS member. Mentor-Protégé Program In April, we wrapped up our fifth bi-annual Mentor-Protégé Program. Through this program, seven women new to the transportation industry were paired with members with more than ten years of experience. Lunch events were held monthly with speakers who presented on Career Advancement, the Importance of Giving Back, Transportation Financing, Networking, Politics, and Business Development. We want to thank all of our mentors and protégés who participated in the program and encourage them to continue the spirit of mentorship throughout their career. Protégé Crystal Banks Stacy Blakely Stephanie Carter Yi Lin Pei Eva Pruitt Jing Xu Lyuba Zuyeva
The GeorGia enGineer
JUNE | JULY 2011
Mentors Helen McSwain Margie Pozin Claudia Bilotto Nicole Hall Jo Ann Tuttle Beth Ann Schwartz Angie Malta
Leadership Roundtable One of our greatest challenges in accomplishing our mission of “advancing women in transportation” comes in trying to do this for our members who are high level professionals and industry leaders. How do we go beyond the networking opportunities and technical programs to truly provide benefit to these busy individuals who have attended and presented countless technical programs over their careers? In an effort to give back to these key women, WTS is in the process of establishing a Leadership Roundtable. This group will be comprised of 15 to 20 of Atlanta’s leading women in transportation. Our chapter will organize quarterly meetings to provide a forum for these leaders to get together and discuss key issues in transportation. We will bring in speakers of regional and national significance to share information and moderate discussions with this group. We look forward to kicking this program off in the coming months and hope that it will become an ongoing effort for the WTS Chapter. Breakfast with the GDOT Commissioner and Board One way in which we have always benefited our members and Corporate Sponsors is by providing networking opportunities with public and private sector leaders. We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a breakfast with Commissioner Vance Smith and the GDOT board on June 16, before the monthly GODT board meeting. This event will be open to members and Corporate Sponsors only, as space is limited. Please visit our Web site at www.wtsinternational.org/atlanta for more information about this event. v
President Jennifer King, PE Jennifer.King@jacobs.com Jacobs Vice President-Programs lreed@hntb.com
Laurie Reed, PE HNTB
Vice President-Membership tsaxon@itsmarta.com
Tonya Saxon MARTA
Secretary Angela Snyder, PE angela.snyder@wolverton-assoc.com Wolverton and Assoc Treasurer Marissa Martin, PE marissa_martin@gspnet.com Gresham Smith Partners Director at Large Beth Ann Marks, PE bmarks@lpagroup.com The LPA Group Director at Large Heather Alhadeff, AICP heather.alhadeff@perkinswill.com Perkins + Will Director at Large Jennifer Harper, PE Jennifer_harper@urscorp.com URS Corporation Director at Large Helen McSwain, PE hmcswain@matcjv.com PBS&J Immediate Past President Emily Swearingen, PE URS Corporation Emily_swearingen@urscorp.com Thanks to our 2011 Corporate Sponsors: Platinum Level
Bronze Level
Gold Level
Atkins
Cubic
CH2MHill
Edwards-Pittman
Kimley Horn
Environmental
KYS Communication
HNTB
McGee Partners
JAT Consulting
Reynolds, Smith &
Thompson Engineering
Hill Southeastern Engineering, Inc. (SEI)
Silver Level
Stantec
Croy
STV/RalphWhitehead
PSI URS
Associates Wolverton & Associates
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