Spotlight: 2023 Employer of the Year
Congratulations to WTS Metropolitan Phoenix Chapter 2023 Employer of the Year Award Recipient, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). MAG was formed in 1967 when elected officials recognized the need for long-range planning and policy development on a regional scale. They realized that issues such as transportation and air quality affected residents beyond the borders of their jurisdictions. To that end, MAG provides a forum for local governments working together on issues that affect the lives of everyone in the greater Phoenix region. Our members include 27 cities and towns, 3 Native nations, Maricopa County, portions of Pinal County with a planning area encompassing about 10,600 square miles.
We asked MAG leaders to answer some quick questions about what the award means to them and why involvement with WTS is important to their organization.
Why is it important to both support and create career development paths for women in your organization?
It once was rare to find women in the transportation field, an industry that was dominated by men, and especially, among engineering professionals. Supporting women in becoming transportation professionals is so important not only to balance perspectives within the industry, but ultimately, in delivering holistic solutions.
What benefits have you seen in having your team members participate in WTS programs?
WTS provides a great forum for mentoring young professionals and providing career development support for transportation professionals. MAG is proud of its support for team members serving in leadership roles on the Board. For MAG’s new hires, WTS’s mentorship program is typically the first-stop, providing a tremendous introduction to the field and the value of building powerful relationships within the industry.
What words of wisdom do you have for young women who are entering or are interested in entering the transportation industry?
The transportation network has been a transformative element for our region. Phoenix would not be the fifth biggest city in the United States nor would we have the thriving economy we have today without our multimodal transportation system. That system was planned and built by years of hard work, creativity, and ingenuity from transportation professionals in our region. We are at a critical time, one where technology will allow our creativity and ingenuity to go even further. It’s important to keep pushing, keep asking questions, think critically, and drive ideas forward. Don’t wait to be invited to the table – bring your own chair.