Advancing Women, Advancing Transportation:
2021-2022 Honorary Member Panel Discussion
The mission of WTS is to attract, sustain, connect, and advance women's careers to strengthen the transportation industry in every capacity.
Please join us for a panel discussion on June 21st beginning at 4:30pm at HDR's St. Louis Park office with our 2021 and 2022 Honorary Members and moderated by Brian Funk, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at Metro Transit.
HDR West End Reception Space
The panel will discuss current issues in workforce development, programs in our state to attract women into diverse transportation fields including manufacturing, maintenance, construction management, and rail safety and what we as WTS can do to further our mission in Minnesota. There will be a member appreciation social hour after the discussion.
- Program: 4:30 - 5:30
- Social Hour: 5:30 - 6:30 (light food and beverages provided)
Honorary Member Panelists:
Dr. Nerita Hughes - Dean, School of Business, Careers, Education & Workforce Innovation at North Hennepin community College
Dr. Nerita is the Dean for the School of Business, Careers, Education & Workforce Innovation at North Hennepin Community College and the President/Chief Executive Officer of JG Consulting, LLC. She has a variety of expertise which ranges from Public and Private sector to Higher Education displaying exceptional leadership, organizational development, time management skills, enhanced knowledge of implementing and identifying training needs, and succession planning. She has acquired knowledge in the areas of training & staff development, leadership development, racial equity and other multi-faceted activities in the business and governmental realm.
Margaret Lewis - Senior VP Manufacturing and Facilities at New Flyer Facilities
Margaret Lewis is a seasoned manufacturing professional with over thirty years of progressive plant management and operational, quality, and manufacturing leadership experience around the globe. Margaret joined New Flyer in 2009 as Senior Vice President, Quality and Continuous Improvement, and assumed the Senior Vice President, Manufacturing & Facilities role in 2018. Margaret is responsible for all New Flyer transit bus and motor coach manufacturing and facilities operations across the U.S. and Canada, working closely with engineering, quality, safety, and supply chain functions.
Julie Whitcher - Minnesota State Rail Safety Engineer at MnDOT
Julie has two decades of experience at the Minnesota Department of Transportation where she is currently the State Rail Safety Engineer and the Weigh Station Program Manager. She is responsible for programming grade crossing safety improvements and determining the proper level of warning at the approximately 4000 at-grade freight railroad crossings in the state. Additionally, she is responsible for program development and delivery of advances in the weight enforcement programs.