President's Message - Summer 2026
Dear WTS-DC Chapter Members and Friends,
It has been a busy spring for our Chapter! On April 21st, WTS-DC hosted a coffee chat with Kate Mattice, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and WTS-DC 2025 Woman of the Year. The event brought together professionals from across the transportation sector for networking over coffee followed by a lively discussion on current challenges and opportunities facing our industry in the Northern Virginia Region. Also on April 21st, the WTS-DC Chapter Mentoring Committee held their first event for the 2026 Mentoring Program, a Happy Hour at Scarlet Oak Restaurant & Bar. On May 12th, the WTS-DC Chapter Professional Development Committee held a 60-minute guided restorative sound bath session using breathwork, mindfulness, and sound healing to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and restore focus. On May 14th, WTS-DC held a panel event with women leaders who are shaping the industry through major projects, leadership, and resilience. The panel included Sharon Kershbaum, Director of the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT), Melinda Peters, Partner at RK&K, Teaera Strum, CEO Strum Contracting Company Inc., and Ni/qui Clark, Deputy Chief Engineer at MDOT MAA. The panel event was moderated by Michael Sakata, President & CEO at MTBMA and planned by May ElKhattab, WTS-DC Chapter Treasurer.
A large delegation from the WTS-DC Chapter attended the 2026 WTS International Annual Conference, in May in Los Angeles, California. Several WTS-DC Chapter members including Neela Babu, Circe Torruellas, Roxanne Feige, and Kendall Myers (to name a few!) spoke during panel events and presented during WTS Talks. The WTS-DC Chapter was very excited that Kelly Lige, Howard University, won the Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship and Lidya Woldeyesus, Georgetown University, won WSP Strategic Partner Scholarship, both awarded by WTS International. Kelly and Lidya are previous 2025 WTS-DC Chapter Scholarship winners. In addition to Scholarship winners, WTS International selected Randy Clarke, GM and CEO of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and past 2025 WTS-DC Recognition Award winner, for the Honorable Ray LaHood Award. The WTS-DC Chapter was also awarded the 2026 Gold Chapter Circle of Excellence. The WTS International Chapter Circle of Excellence Awards, awarded since 2014, recognize the outstanding achievements of WTS Chapters throughout North America.
The WTS-DC Chapter also announced the located of the 2027 WTS International Annual Conference and 50th Anniversary in the heart of the nation’s capital and birthplace of WTS. The 2027 WTS International Annual Conference will take place in Washington, DC the week of May 3rd! We welcome you to a monumental 50th to celebrate 50 years of transformation, innovation, and advancement.
We have many more events planned for the summer including our Annual Spring Bike Tour in Reston (with COMTO DC) on May 30th and the WTS-DC Chapter Membership Happy Hour on June 11th. Registration is open for both of these events and we hope to see you there!
I am always happy to talk about WTS and how we can improve what we do as a chapter, so please feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any feedback or thoughts to share or if you would like to volunteer for the 2027 WTS International Annual Conference in DC. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe start to the summer!
Sincerely,
Shelley Wynne
WTS-DC Chapter President