Sara Stickler, CAE

Sara Stickler is President & CEO of WTS International.  Joining the organization in 2018, Sara works to set and execute WTS International’s organizational strategic priorities, working closely with the WTS International Board of Directors to continuously assess and develop the WTS brand and the association’s programs. Sara implements growth and retention strategies, and she fosters meaningful relationships with WTS chapters, members, key industry stakeholders and other professionals to elevate the organization.  Sara also works with the WTS Foundation and its Board of Directors to realize its mission of supporting the next generation of transportation professionals and advancing the principles of WTS.

Prior to joining WTS, Sara was the Executive Director of the Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation of the Household and Commercial Products Association (HCPA), where she advanced consumer knowledge on the correct use, storage and disposal of household and commercial products.  Her work included developing transportation safety campaigns around drugged driving. Stickler led the foundation through an organizational rebrand to position the foundation for long-term growth. She oversaw fundraising and donor relationship building initiatives. Stickler also served as the Vice President of Research and Education at HCPA. As Vice President, Stickler oversaw over 25 active joint ventures and LLC’s through the Ignite Solutions program where she implemented a project management approach to the program; overseeing long-term and short-term industry research projects and initiatives.

Previously, Stickler taught second grade at Indian Hill Exempted Village School District in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she also coached basketball and softball. She has extensive experience working in education and with educational programs through schools, nonprofits, and outside organizations.

Stickler serves on numerous Boards and committees including the Board of the Association Foundation Group (AFG), the Board of Advisors for the ENO Center for Transportation, and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Women and Gender in Transportation Committee.  She has previously served on the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) Board of Directors and the Hyattsville, Maryland Health, Wellness, Recreation Advisory Committee. She is also a member of Chief, a private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders. 

Sara earned her Master of Public Policy degree from University of Maryland where she specialized in Nonprofit Policy.  Through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Sara has earned her CAE (Certified Association Executive). She also holds a Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Management from Michigan State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology from Xavier University in Ohio.

Sara lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her wife, Rebecca, and their twins- Ruth & Rhys, and small zoo of dogs and cats. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, home DIY projects, and reading non-fiction. 

Sara can be reached at sstickler@wtsinternational.org.

Carolyn Stagger Cokley

As the Administrator Executive Office, Board and Operations for WTSI, Carolyn is an integral part of the WTS team. Carolyn supports all aspects of the organization through support of the President and CEO and Board of Directors. Carolyn brings over 20 years of extensive prior experience in the administration, creation and implementation of programs that impact people, and a history of working with nonprofit organizations, within the transportation industry with a focus on human resource management.

Carolyn’s last position was as Director, Customer Programs for the Rail Passengers Association where she oversaw the Amtrak Customer Advisory Committee (ACAC) and worked with members and volunteers in establishing station volunteer programs across the country.  Previously, Carolyn worked for Amtrak as an employee Engagement and Recognition Program manager where her duties included developing recognition strategies and managing all corporate employee recognition programs. 

Carolyn lives in Maryland with her husband, is an accomplished photographer, and enjoys traveling, classic movies, crossword puzzles, consuming good food and spending time with her family.  

Carolyn can be reached at ccokley@wtsinternational.org. 

Kia Davis

Kia Davis is the Director of Membership & Chapter Relations for WTS International and oversees a membership base of 8,500 global members which includes 67 chapters collectively promoting the elevation of women in the transportation industry. Under the leadership of Ms. Davis, the Membership & Chapter Relations team delivers top notch member services to meet the expanding needs of the WTS membership community. In this role, Davis also identifies new areas for chapter expansion and driving the overall membership growth for WTS.

Ms. Davis brings a wealth of knowledge to WTS with a background that includes working for several global travel organizations fulfilling a wide array of areas including Membership, Sponsorship, and Program Development. Ms. Davis is a graduate of Hampton University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Media Communications as well as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certification from the University of South Florida, and currently serves as the Lead Staff Liaison for the ED&I Committee for WTS International. She was also recently selected to serve on the ASAE Membership Professionals Advisory Council and is a highly sought-after speaker in the industry.

Ms. Davis is highly active in her community and lends her time to several charity organizations. She enjoys international travelling and spending time with her family.

Kia can be reached at kdavis@wtsinternational.org. 

Renita Gross

As Director of Meetings & Events, Renita is essential in leading the overall logistics of the WTS International annual conference (an annual gathering of approximately 800-1200 industry professionals), as well as WTS International and WTS Foundation meetings and events, including chapter event activities. 

Renita brings extensive experience in meetings as well as a background within associations and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining WTSI, Renita supervised the logistics for seminars and conventions within the port authority industry as well as conferences and training in the liquid terminal industry. 

Renita graduated from The George Washington University and is an accomplished meeting professional with over 25 years in the industry. Renita enjoys travelling, cooking, and spending time with her family.  

Renita can be reached at rgross@wtsinternational.org.

Alma Hundiak

Alma Hundiak is the Director of Finance & Administration for WTS International, where she is a strategic thought-partner in the areas of finance, business, budgeting, and administration. Alma is responsible for the production of the financial statements, the annual financial audit, the overall financial health of WTS, and provides WTS Chapter Treasurers best practices.  

Her experience within finance, accounting, operations, and administration in both the for-profit and the not-for profit sectors allows her opportunities to identify efficiencies and revenue streams. 

She received her BSB in Accountancy from DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business, and her Master of Psychology in Leadership from Penn State University.  

Alma lives in the southwest suburbs of Chicago with her husband, two sons, and their Yorkshire Terrier “Yorkie.” 

Alma can be reached at ahundiak@wtsinternational.org.  

Lindsay Shelton-Gross

Lindsay leads external relations and strategic initiatives for WTS International, focusing on business relations and planning, brand elevation and media relations, communications, and industry partnerships. She helps to define, develop, and implement strategic initiatives and new relationships that deliver benefits for members, partners, and stakeholders, and that fulfill the WTS mission and vision. Additionally, Lindsay supports the Legislative, Workforce Development, and Educational Programming Standing Committees, and annual giving initiatives with the WTS Foundation.

Prior to joining WTS, Lindsay was the Vice President of Marketing and Membership at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA). At ITSA, she led engagement and programming for association membership, representing the entirety of the transportation ecosystem: automotive manufacturers and OEMs, state and local departments of transportation, MPOs, transit authorities, architecture and engineering firms, telecoms, infrastructure professionals, nonprofit associations, and academic and research institutions to develop, deploy, and promote technologies for a safer, greener, and smarter future of mobility. In this role, Lindsay led corporate branding, member communications and programs and oversaw digital platforms and event marketing. She also supported the ITSA policy, regulatory, and legislative affairs team in their advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, the technical programs department with contracts for the federal government and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and served as the staff liaison for the organization's state and regional chapters. 

Prior to entering the transportation sector, Lindsay held various marketing and communications roles in standards development and technical associations, including serving as the Director of Communications for the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and the Director for Membership Engagement with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP).  Before her roles in associations, she worked in government consulting and corporate communications for the Department of Defense. 

Lindsay earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from James Madison University. She lives in Arlington, VA with her husband, two sons, and Lab mutt. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with the Remote Area Medical organization, lurking around art museums, rooting for the Washington Nationals, and traveling with her family.

Lindsay can be reached at lsheltongross@wtsinternational.org.

Varsha Ravichandran

Varsha serves as Associate of Marketing & Communications for WTS International. Varsha manages communications as it relates to members and chapter leaders, as well as marketing of WTS benefits and events. She works closely with Lindsay Shelton-Gross to develop and implement the WTS communications strategy, and she is a first point of contact for chapter leaders on communications and website inquiries. Varsha is passionate about the development of creatives and digital content for use on multimedia platforms and print to maintain a consistent brand presence for WTS across all channels.

Varsha began her career at WTS International as an Engagement Specialist. Prior to joining WTS, Varsha assisted in managing social media and marketing for major retail operations while simultaneously working to attain her bachelor's degree in Communications with a focus in Public Relations from the University of Maryland. 

Varsha loves to travel, read, visit museums, exercise, and spend time with friends and family, including her two young nephews.

Varsha can be reached at vravichandran@wtsinternational.org.

Kim Williams

A Washington, DC native, Kim R. Williams has a professional background in membership, resource development, and governance positions with advocacy associations such as the Rail Passengers Association and National Health Council. Through these roles, Kim has gained substantial knowledge of customer relationship management systems like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Neon, and more.  Kim is a dedicated volunteer for charitable organizations, including full-time service work for years through the AmeriCorps programs City Year and Teach for America. Kim received her teaching certification at The Johns Hopkins University and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in Elementary Education, and is currently studying for a Microsoft database administrator certification.

MeKayla Washington

MeKayla serves as Senior Engagement Specialist, Membership & Chapter Relations for WTSI. MeKayla provides exceptional customer service to our members, while having an active role in membership recruitment and retention activities and being a forward-facing representative to chapter leaders during WTS-led trainings. She provides high-level services to members and chapter leaders through systems, program, and operational support. MeKayla works to provide excellent customer service to members and chapter leaders, maintain accurate records through WTSI's AMS system, and maintain reports for the Chapter Circle of Excellence program.

Previously, MeKayla served as the engagement specialist with WTSI. MeKayla enjoys mastering new systems and improving internal and external processes.

MeKayla is an avid bullet journalist and enjoys snuggling up with her two cats, West and Noah.

MeKayla can be reached at mwashington@wtsinternational.org.