WTS-Boston Professional Development Committee Presents: "Generations in the Workplace: Understanding, Communicating, and Succeeding"
Join WTS-Boston on Thursday, June 11 as the Professional Development Committee hosts a panel discussion focused on how different generations can work together in the workplace. This interactive panel will explore how different generations show up at work, how expectations and communication styles vary, and practical strategies for building stronger, more inclusive teams. Moderated by Rica Ueda and featuring panelists Lillie Porter, Jen Capistano, Lisa Juan, and Anna Barry, the session will highlight real-world experiences, tools for navigating inter-generational dynamics, and tips you can apply immediately in your own organization.
Please register by June 5, 2026. Space is limited so register now!
Moderator - Rica Ueda
Rica Ueda is a Structural Designer at VHB’s Structural Department with five years of experience delivering transportation infrastructure projects. In her role, she collaborates closely with multidisciplinary and multi-generational teams to provide safe and resilient bridge solutions that improve mobility for communities.
Beyond her technical work, Rica is actively engaged in strengthening workplace culture and advancing her profession. At VHB, she is involved in multiple employee-led initiatives like the emerging professionals' group and helped establish an internal mentoring program that connects staff across different stages in their careers. She believes in the importance of cross-generational collaboration, especially when it comes to passing down industry knowledge. Externally, she contributes to WTS, where she currently co-chairs the Mentoring Committee dedicated to supporting and elevating professionals across all career stages in the transportation industry. Rica has been able to gain extensive experience working across diverse groups through the above roles by bringing together early-career professionals, mid-level staff, and senior leaders to share perspectives, collaborate, and learn from one another. She enjoys team-based environments and believes that successful multi-generational workplaces are built on open communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to inclusive decision-making.
Panelist - Elysabeth (Lillie) Porter
Lillie is a third-year civil engineering student at Northeastern University and is set to graduate in the spring of 2027. She is currently co-oping on the stormwater and utilities team at HNTB, and she previously co-oped at VHB with their land development group. She has been involved in WTS at Northeastern her entire college career, resulting in her role as current Northeastern WTS President. In her role, she has been a part of planning Northeastern WTS events such as the yearly W-Tea-S Mixer, WTS alumni panel, and site tours, where participants can make connections and exchange ideas.
In the Fall, she will also be the President of ASCE at Northeastern, where she will work to expose Northeastern students to professional development and career explorations opportunities through interactions with faculty and industry professionals. Through all of her experiences, she strives to create an inclusive, collaborative environment.
Panelist - Jennifer Capistano
Jennifer Capistano, PE is a track engineer at STV Inc in Boston, where she works on federal and state-level transit, commuter rail, and freight railroad track infrastructure projects for agencies including the MBTA and MassDOT Rail.
Her path into rail was built on mentorship at every turn. A former professor invited her to assist on a MassDOT research project during her junior year, opening the door to her first industry internship. The following year, during the height of the COVID pandemic, a seasoned track engineer took her under his wing and introduced her to the craft of track design, and she has not looked back since.
Those relationships taught her that connection in this industry is a two-way street: the more you show up, the more people show up for you. In a field facing a real engineering pipeline gap, Jenny believes that curiosity across generational lines and the willingness to both teach and learn, is how the industry sustains itself.
Panelist - Lisa Juan
Lisa Juan is a Transportation Engineer at Kimley-Horn with over 11 years of experience. Her work centers on developing connected, multimodal transportation systems that prioritize safety, accessibility, and a people-first approach. She is passionate about creating infrastructure that not only moves people efficiently but also enhances the communities it serves.
Throughout her career, Lisa has collaborated with colleagues and clients across a wide range of generational backgrounds. These experiences have shaped her perspective on workplace dynamics, reinforcing her belief that adaptability is a shared responsibility. She recognizes that while teams evolve, individuals have control over how they show up, communicate, and contribute. Lisa brings a blend of qualities to her work, including loyalty, flexibility, resourcefulness, and a strong sense of autonomy. She values timely, direct feedback as a tool for growth and continuous improvement. Working in a diverse, multigenerational environment at Kimley-Horn has allowed her to refine her approach, strengthen her communication skills, and remain open to new ways of thinking. She sees herself as a work in progress, committed to learning, adapting, and building stronger connections across generations in the workplace.
Panelist - Anna Barry
Anna M. Barry is a transportation leader whose career spans front line jobs in operations to senior positions. She is vice president and program manager with HNTB Corporation, managing rail and transit programs in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Anna also has leadership roles with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the American Council of Engineering Companies. A founding member of the WTS-Boston Chapter, she has served on the Boston Board of Directors several times and currently sits on the Boston Advisory Board. Anna also is a member of the boards of COMTO Boston and TransitMatters. She is co-founder of the COMTO Connecticut Chapter. Anna rose from train dispatcher on the Boston and Maine Railroad and MBTA carhouse superintendent to senior MBTA positions including director of railroad operations and of subway operations. Prior to HNTB, she served for seven years as the deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, overseeing the Bureaus of Public Transportation, Highway Operations and Maintenance and Engineering and Construction. Anna holds an A.B. in English from Boston College and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. She was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1980. Anna takes a strong interest in the multicultural aspects of transportation both in her work and her workplace. She frequently collaborates on inclusion strategies particularly among the generations, since she was very young once too.
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