On August 18, 2026, WTS Los Angeles welcomed members, partners, students, and transportation professionals for a special reception honoring Crystal Lee, Los Angeles City Engineer. Hosted at Perch LA and sponsored by Arcadis, the sold-out event brought together approximately 100 attendees from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, for an evening of networking and discussion focused on the future of transportation and infrastructure in Los Angeles.

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Leadership and Vision for Los Angeles Infrastructure

The program opened with welcome remarks from Mahsa Pan, President of WTS-LA, followed by introductory remarks from Leila Talebi, Western Region Resilience Market Growth Lead at Arcadis, who recognized the significant contributions of Crystal Lee and her leadership within the City of Los Angeles. 

During her remarks and audience Q&A session, Crystal Lee discussed her involvement with WTS-LA, shared priorities and initiatives shaping the future of the City’s infrastructure programs, and highlighted opportunities for collaboration between public agencies and industry partners. She emphasized the importance of strong partnerships, innovation, and a shared commitment to delivering projects that improve quality of life for Los Angeles communities. 

Attendees also had the opportunity to engage directly with Crystal Lee through an interactive question-and-answer session, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing one of the nation’s largest municipal public works organizations. The conversation underscored the critical role that collaboration between government, consultants, contractors, and emerging professionals plays in advancing transportation and infrastructure solutions across the region. 

Following the formal program, guests continued networking and connecting with colleagues, industry leaders, and students while exchanging ideas about the future of transportation, infrastructure delivery, and workforce development in Los Angeles.

WTS Los Angeles extends its sincere appreciation to our event sponsors: Arcadis, DR Consultants & Designers, Ardurra, HDR, Kimley-Horn, PBS Engineers, and the Hawkins Company.

See more photos of the event HERE.