Woman of the Year - Becca Gallas

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Becca Gallas leads NCDOT Division 5 as the Division Engineer since December 2024. Division 5 manages the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operations for highway and transportation infrastructure in the 7 counties around the Triangle. Prior to transitioning to her role in Division 5, she was the Director of NCDOT’s Division of Aviation, managing a robust and safe air system across North Carolina’s 72 public use airports. The highlight of her aviation tenure was coordinating the state’s aviation response to Helene that resulted in millions of pounds of supplies moved via aircraft, hundreds of lives saved through aerial search and rescue operations and thousands of images captured through manned aircraft and drones.

In addition to her new role in Division 5, Becca is a founding member and president of WomenConnect, NCDOT’s women-focused employee resource group; one of her greatest passions is recruiting and retaining a vibrant workforce to support the Department’s role in delivering mobility solutions to North Carolinians.

Becca graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. She lives in Downtown Raleigh with her preschooler Elliott and husband Casey.

 

Member of the Year - Ines Nizeye

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Ines Nizeye is a Planner and Project Manager at Mead & Hunt. She graduated from the University of Memphis, with a Master’s in City and Regional Planning and has over a decade of experience in the transportation industry. Her passion lies in planning and building inclusive and accessible communities, that incorporate the locational context and voices of those that live in it.

Through past mentorship programs, Ines has been molded and nurtured by the experiences of a multitude of people who have graciously shared their knowledge and wisdom. These experiences led to her creating the WTS NC chapter Mentorship Program in 2024 with the support of the committee. The mentorship committee designed a program that combines professional development with valuable networking opportunities for women in the transportation field. The goal was for them to grow in at least one aspect of their career and build meaningful connections with others in the industry.

Ines is passionate about sharing her joy and love. Her joy for food, music, books and tea (in no particular order). Her love for nature, plants, traveling, and learning what makes people who they are. If you get a chance to truly know her, you find wit and her ability to find a sunnier perspective. Ines has an extensive support system spanning from her Native country of Rwanda to the many friends that she has gained along the way. We leave you with one of her favorite quotes, “May we all find light, joy and knowledge in our journeys. Celebrate and be kind to one another.”

 

Rookie of the Year - Lily Cloud

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Lily Cloud serves as an Engineer III in the Roadway Design Research, Standards, and Innovation unit at the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), where she focuses on developing and maintaining statewide guidance. She brings over five years of experience in roadway design and currently assists with leading efforts to advance innovation in the transportation industry.

In addition to her role at NCDOT, Lily recently became the chair for the North Carolina Local Users Group (NCLUG), an organization that is a part of the global Bentley User Groups. NCLUG is dedicated to supporting MicroStation related initiatives and creating a collaborative community for transportation design professionals to share knowledge and advance technical skills.

Lily earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University in 2018 and obtained her Professional Engineering license in 2024. She lives in Wendell with her fiancé Mark and dog Poe.

 

Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award - Wannetta Mallette

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Wannetta Mallette PTP, RSP1, is a native of North Charleston, South Carolina with over 30-years’ experience in transportation planning gained while having worked in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina.  Throughout her career, she always promoted the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the decision-making process to create data-driven equitable outcomes.  While at the City of North Charleston, she developed a Social Impact Assessment in response to a State Ports Authority terminal expansion project EIS that led to a $4.08 million Community Mitigation Plan, the first in the state and nation. She also led the development of the first regional Safety Action Plan in North Carolina as the Burlington-Graham MPO Administrator. She is the recipient of the 2023 NC Vison Zero Hit the Ground Running safety award.

Wannetta is considered an ITE and EPA Subject Matter Expert and has presented at numerous state and national conferences. She is a full member of the American Society of Civil Engineers - Members of Society Advancing an Inclusive Culture (MOSAIC). She recently retired and hopes to leverage her extensive experience in her Mallette Consulting, LLC business startup.

 

Innovative Transportation Solutions Award - Warren County Paved Trails Study

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The Warren County Paved Trails Feasibility Study was funded by NCDOT and led by Charla Duncan, Warren County’s community and economic development director, with support from Rose Ponton, the community development manager. A dedicated community steering committee supported the design process of a 17-mile paved trail network connecting three municipalities in rural Warren County. In a community with no paved trail network to date, this first-of-its-kind transportation facility plans to link key destinations, services, and economic opportunities by designing a safe greenway to be accessible to residents and visitors with diverse mobility needs and from varied financial backgrounds.

Vision Statement: Warren County’s paved trail safely links residents, families, and visitors to each other while fostering a deeper connection to the outdoors and natural landscape of the community. Through activities on the trail, new relationships are forged, old connections are restored, and economic opportunities are vibrant and accessible. The community is more health-conscious; they are environmental stewards and value public spaces, transportation, and art. 

 

Honorable Ray LaHood Award - Terry Snow 

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Terry Snow, PE has over 36 years of experience in the transportation industry all with private engineering firms. His technical expertise has primarily focused on traffic engineering, environmental planning, and transportation planning where he delivered traffic signal design/studies, environmental documentations, multimodal feasibility/corridor studies, traffic impact analyses, traffic control/pavement marking plans, functional roadway/interchange design, parking lot design, and led public involvement programs.   Terry's clients include state departments of transportation including NCDOT and SCDOT, local governments, transit agencies, contractors, and private clients. 

As STV Vice President and Carolinas District Leader, Terry is responsible for developing and implementing an aggressive strategic planning and growth strategy; overall management; business development; client service; financial performance, and project oversight for STV's North Carolina and South Carolina operations.

Terry is passionate about civic, community, and professional service and is an active member in many organizations including American Society of Highway Engineers, Institute of Transportation Engineers, North Carolina Economic Development Association, South Carolina Economic Development Association, Raleigh Engineers Club, Civil Engineers Club of Charleston, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Regional Transportation Alliance,  Special Olympics of North Carolina, and Rotary Club of Raleigh to name a few. 

Terry is a proud 1988 graduate of NC State University with a BS in Civil Engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina and South Carolina. Terry and his lovely wife Millicent reside in Hillsborough and Cherry Grove Beach, SC and enjoys spending quality time and outdoor activities with sons Cameron and Jordan and grand dog Rambo.

  

Employer of the Year - STV

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STV Inc. is a leading engineering, architectural, and construction management firm with a rich history spanning over 100 years. With 60 offices across North America and over 2,800 professionals, STV is dedicated to enhancing communities through innovative solutions that connect people, places, to the present and the future. Renowned for delivering sustainable and cutting-edge solutions across various sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, and buildings, STV is a trusted partner in shaping the built environment and driving industry progress.

Integrity is a core value at STV, guiding our commitment to doing what is right and fostering collaboration for success. Our success is powered by the contributions of our dedicated workforce. Driven by optimism and the belief in opportunity, STV consistently ranks among the nation's top companies in transportation infrastructure, including rail, mass transit, highways, and bridges.

 

Community Activist/Organizer - Allison Anolik

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Allison Anolik is the Funding Services Practice Lead at McAdams, bringing 19 years of experience in environmental and transportation planning, as well as expertise in geographic information systems (GIS). In her role, she supports clients through critical decision-making processes and ensures regulatory compliance, consistently demonstrating strong leadership and technical proficiency. Allison regularly assists communities in aligning projects to available funding opportunities and securing state, federal, and private grants. Her proven ability to obtain funding is vital to helping communities implement impactful and lasting projects.

Allison’s leadership extends beyond her professional responsibilities. As Chair of the McAdams SHARES Executive Committee, she spearheads initiatives aimed at combating hunger, addressing homelessness, and improving early childhood education and environmental stewardship. She excels in building partnerships with local organizations and mobilizing financial and volunteer support for meaningful causes.

In addition to her role at McAdams, Allison is deeply involved in advancing transportation initiatives. She serves as a member of the ACEC Multimodal Subcommittee, advocating for improved funding and project delivery across diverse transportation modes including bicycle, pedestrian, aviation, ferry, and rail. She also co-chairs the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI’s) Triangle Transportation and Land Use Action Committee, where she leads the development of programming that bridges sustainable transportation practices with land use policy.

Further exemplifying her community commitment, Allison serves as Steering Committee Co-Chair for Band Together NC’s Might Giveback annual benefit concert. In this role, she focuses on fundraising and advocacy for Triangle-area nonprofits, helping to raise more than $3 million to support housing accessibility and mental health services since 2021. This work complements her broader dedication to community engagement, reflecting a holistic and passionate approach to activism and advocacy.