Emerging Leaders Feature 

Emerging Leaders is a forum for early career women and gender-diverse professionals to come together as the next generation of transportation leaders in Philadelphia. As an Emerging Leader, you gain access to a network of peers, exclusive speakers, personalized development events, and a front-row seat to all that WTS Philadelphia has to offer! 

Emerging Leaders typically have between two to eight years of experience, exclusive of internships and co-ops, and are employed by all types of organizations (private, public, or agency). All job titles are welcome, and you do not need to be a WTS Philadelphia member to apply. However, Emerging Leaders are encouraged to become WTS Philadelphia members throughout the cohort. There is no fee associated with the Emerging Leaders program.

Applications for the 2027-2028 Emerging Leaders cohort are expected to open in February 2027, so sign up for the WTS Philadelphia chapter emails to stay up to date on the application period!

Meet the committee! 

Lauren Wicker, Director 

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Lauren is a 2018 graduate of Drexel University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a B.S. in Architectural Engineering. Since 2018, Lauren has served as a Highway Design Specialist at TPD. Her responsibilities include utility coordination triggered through PA One Calls; ADA design; As-Built ADA inspections; roadway design and roadway/off-site grading; driveway design; drainage design; pavement marking design; and preparation of HOP, MPT, ADA, and ROW Plans for submission to applicable agencies. Lauren has always assisted in training new employees, and since 2023, Lauren has been a manager and has started to grow her team. 

Lauren has been a member of WTS Philadelphia since 2018 and was an Emerging Leaders cohort member from 2021-2022. From 2023-2024, Lauren served as a co-chair on the Emerging Leaders Board, and in 2025, she took over as the Director of Emerging Leaders.  Outside of work, Lauren is an avid baker and recently took up Pilates. She also enjoys walks around Philadelphia and trying new coffee shops and restaurants. 

Katie Markowitz, Chair 

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Katie is a Senior Environmental Project Manager at Urban Engineers, where she oversees and manages environmental projects and tasks supporting a diverse range of infrastructure, transportation, and development initiatives. With 13 years of environmental consulting experience, she has developed expertise in NEPA compliance, wetland delineation, hazardous waste investigations and remediation, environmental permitting, and biological and habitat surveys. Her experience supports the successful advancement of projects for clients including PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, SEPTA, and the City of Philadelphia Streets Department.

Katie has been a member of WTS Philadelphia since 2023, following her active involvement with WTS Central Pennsylvania beginning in 2020. After participating in the 2023–2024 Emerging Leaders cohort, she assumed the role of Chair of the WTS Philadelphia Emerging Leaders program in 2025, where she continues to support the professional development and advancement of emerging leaders in the transportation industry. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to new places to hike and spending time with her nieces and nephews.