2026 Award Winners
Past President Award
Erin Jordan (SEH)
Erin Jordan is an Associate and Traffic Engineer at SEH, where she manages traffic studies, safety studies, and multimodal transportation planning and design projects across the Upper Midwest, with a focus on Safe System approaches and community-centered design. Erin is the Past President of WTS–Minnesota, where she oversaw efforts to strengthen member engagement, advance professional development, and promote inclusive leadership within our transportation industry.
Member of the Year Award
Elizabeth Powell (KLJ)
Elizabeth Powell is a non-automotive transportation planner at KLJ. They joined WTS in 2024 and have served on the Programs Committee since January 2025. Their work within the organization has focused on advancing the LGBTQIA+ community, both through increasing awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues in the workplace and through promoting LGBTQIA+ programs and events.
At the 2026 WTS International Conference in Los Angeles, they will be featured as one of five members on the panel From Understanding to Action in the Workplace: LGBTQIA+ Identities and Allyship, based on a 2025 WTS Minnesota event of the same name, which they co-organized.
Woman of the Year Award
Heather Kienitz, PE (SEH)
Heather Kienitz serves as a Principal and Multimodal Transportation Market Leader at SEH, bringing nearly three decades of expertise in creating inclusive and context-sensitive transportation solutions. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1998, she began her career at SEH as a traffic engineer and has been leading their central region's traffic engineering group since 2019. In her role, Heather strives to provide guidance, leadership, and opportunities that foster professional growth and success for her team members. Heather routinely leads projects and contributes to guidance focused on the development of multimodal facilities and enhancements, often within constrained built environments. She values working closely with stakeholders and colleagues to improve safety, comfort, and accessibility for all travelers, especially the most vulnerable roadway users. Heather is enjoying empty nesting with her husband Keith while their kids, Tate and Sydney, pursue their interests and passions in college. She is grateful for her supportive and fun family and cherishes every opportunity they have to spend time together.
Woman to Watch Award
Andrea Rehm, AICP (Washington County)
Andrea Rehm, AICP, is a transportation planner at Washington County. She attended the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for Urban Studies and Political Science, and later earned her Master's in International Planning and Sustainable Development from the University of Westminster (London, UK). In her role at Washington County, she works on a range of project types, from grant writing to long range planning, and appreciates the opportunity to support other public works functions including parks, trails, and other county facilities. Andrea serves as a co-chair for APA Minnesota's Women in Planning Committee.
Employer of the Year Award
HNTB Corporation
HNTB is an employee‑owned infrastructure solutions firm committed to empowering people and strengthening communities through meaningful work and an inclusive culture. With more than a century of service, HNTB fosters an environment where employees are supported through mentorship, leadership development, flexible work practices and opportunities to advance at every stage of their careers. The firm places a strong emphasis on attracting, retaining and advancing women and diverse talent, encouraging engagement through professional organizations, community involvement and internal leadership programs. United by shared values of integrity, respect and technical excellence, HNTB’s employee‑owners are inspired to shape the future of transportation while building a workplace where people feel valued, heard and empowered to succeed.
Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award
Policy Planning Unit | Office of Transportation System Management (MnDOT)
The Policy Planning Unit leads MnDOT’s Advancing Transportation Equity Initiative, which incorporates equity in transportation decision-making. We aim to improve access and opportunities for underserved communities in Minnesota. The initiative is rooted in community voices and feedback from the 2017 Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan. The plan identified reducing transportation disparities and incorporating equity into decision-making processes as high-priority needs.
Innovative Transportation Solutions Award
MnDOT Automated Vehicle Policy Team
As Director of MnDOT’s Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Office, Tara Olds led a proactive and forward-thinking team (Thomas Johnson-Kaiser, Micaela Kranz, Laura Roads, Jennifer Witt, and Sam Richie) who redefined how transportation policy can be developed—through an inclusive, research-driven, and community-centered approach. MnDOT's automated vehicle policy team's approach to AV laws exemplifies innovation in public service, advancing a policy framework that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and economic opportunity and is serving as a model and resource to other states exploring new or refined AV legislation, or any new transportation legislation.
Honorable Ray LaHood Award
Craig Vaughn (TC2)
Craig Vaughn exemplifies leadership, advocacy, and service in the Civil, Transportation industry. As Founder and Principal of TC2, Craig oversees all aspects of the firm while prioritizing mentorship, transparency, and professional growth. Under his leadership, TC2 has cultivated a woman‑forward and inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are valued, and individuals are supported in their advancement. Beyond TC2, Craig is actively engaged in the transportation community through organizations such as WTS, MSES, NCITE, and APA, and is a strong advocate for collaboration, equity, and small business advancement. Known for his humility and gratitude, Craig views the Honorable Ray LaHood Award as an unexpected and deeply meaningful honor.