Infra Insight Blog

On December 9, the DC Chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) held its annual holiday party and awards ceremony at the Goethe-Institut in Washington, DC.  Attending the event was U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx who received the Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award for his advocacy of the White House’s Ladders of Opportunity initiative.  In accepting the award, Secretary Foxx emphasized the importance of infrastructure to connect communities together and improve the quality of life for all Americans.

Receiving the first Man of the Year Award presented by the WTS-DC Chapter was Richard Sarles, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.  Mr. Sarles recognized and thanked the WTS-DC Chapter for giving him the opportunity and forum to exchange ideas and thoughts with respect to transportation issues affecting the DC area.  Other individuals receiving awards were Avital Barnea (Member of the Year) who is a Policy Analyst with the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation and Patricia Hendren (Woman of the Year) who is a consultant specializing in transportation performance management.

The WTS-DC Chapter also awarded four scholarships to assist DC-area graduate and undergraduate students in the transportation field.  Presenting the scholarship awards was Beverley Swaim-Staley, President and CEO of the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation and former Secretary of Transportation for the State of Maryland.

WTS is an international organization with a mission to build the future of transportation through the global advancement of women.  Nossaman is one of 11 corporate members supporting the WTS-DC Chapter.