Understanding LGBTQIA+ History, Workplace Experiences, and Allyship in the Transportation Industry
Understanding LGBTQIA+ History, Workplace Experiences, and Allyship in the Transportation Industry
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
11:30 EST, Virtual
Philadelphia holds a rich and vibrant place in LGBTQIA+ history, with landmark sites and stories that have shaped the movement for over a century. Just a short Amtrak ride from New York City’s Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the LGBTQIA+ Civil Rights Movement, Philadelphia offers a unique lens into the past and present of LGBTQIA+ advocacy.
Read on for a sneak peek from our event panel on their experiences of identifying as LGBTQIA+ experiences in the transportation workplace here in Philadelphia. Then, in honor of LGBTQIA+ History Month, join us on Tuesday, October 7th, at 11:30 AM for an engaging session with LGBTQIA+ professionals in the transportation industry as they share personal experiences of being out in the workplace—past and present.
Learn More about the event here: https://lnkd.in/ewaUFZ_j
Register for the event here: https://lnkd.in/e-Y32PyG
Sneak Peek Questions
Can you share a story when your LGBTQIA+ identity became a strength in your work?
Steven: Being queer provides one with unique life experiences and perspectives. From hiding who you are, to masking, to code switching, we all have tools that allow us to be more comfortable in the world in which we exist. For me, there’s a level of empathy that comes with being part of a marginalized community—more so, when you belong to more than one of those communities. This directly feeds into our work as our clients are so varied and being able to put yourself in their shoes to understand their needs, both spoken and withheld, is so important to client relations and business development.
Eileen: One moment that stands out is when I first joined Brinckerhoff Environmental more than 25 years ago. I was open about my identity, and instead of hesitation, I was met with support. My employer even amended the personnel manual to ensure my family had health insurance coverage, well before state law required it. That experience affirmed that authenticity could foster change—not just for me, but for others as well. Over time, being open about who I am has allowed me to serve as a resource for colleagues navigating LGBTQ+ issues in their own families. My openness has also helped create space in professional organizations like WTS Philadelphia, where I’ve seen how living authentically encourages others to show up as their true selves. That ripple effect of inclusion is one of the greatest strengths my identity has brought to my work.
Jason: I work across departments with people from different fields and backgrounds. My understanding of identity has taught me to see things as less of a binary. People are complex, and honoring that complexity strengthens collaboration, especially in design. It allows me to step back from an ego-driven “this or that” mindset and instead embrace working “beside” another person, place, or thing. In a larger company, it can be easy to become subservient to the perceived limitations of tools or prescribed roles. But designers know that these roles/tools aren’t always a one-to-one match with the challenges that emerge throughout the process. My identity enables me to navigate evolving challenges with flexibility and embrace different roles/tasks to see things through, even if they may not fit within an initial “definition.”
Mia: My identity as a lesbian is a strength every day. As an Airport Planner, I am passionate about the value of airports as a public good that should be open, accessible, sustainable, and beneficial to their communities; whether neurotypical or neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+-identified or straight-identified, able-bodied or differently-abled, transgender or cisgender, a seasoned traveler or new to the world of travel and aviation. My work is people-first. Who would I be and how could I come to this work as anything less than my full and true self? It means everything to me to ensure we all have agency in processes that impact us, and I have a role in making that a reality.
Speaker(s) Name/Company:
Eileen Della Volle, KS Engineers
Eileen Della Volle is a recognized business executive and community leader with more than 20 years of experience in community development and the design and construction industry. As Vice President of Business Development at KS Engineers, she combines technical expertise with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. A native New Jersey resident with a regional perspective, Eileen maintains an extensive network of business leaders, government officials, diversity advocates, and trade organizations across NJ, NY, and PA.
Her career highlights include advancing LGBTQ+ recruitment and representation in a traditionally male-dominated industry, serving as President of the County Democrats LGBTQ+ Caucus, and representing New Jersey as a delegate to the 2012 & 2024 Democratic National Convention. She is also a Democratic State Committee member. She contributes her leadership to COMTO’s policy committee, ACEC American Civil Engineering companies NY & NJ policy committee and Women in Transportation Seminars chapters across several states, where she mentors women and organizes events fostering equity and inclusion.
Steven Alvarez, Stantec
Steven is a Marketing Specialist at Stantec and co-chair for the Pride at Stantec Quad State ERG. With ten years of experience, he is an AI-powered Proposal Expert (APPE) certified through the Proposal Industry Experts (PIE). After an 8-year career in the arts, Steven made the jump to marketing for the AEC industry, first getting experience with a WBE landscape architecture firm before expanding to include architecture and engineering. Steven volunteers his time with the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Philadelphia, where he serves as the Director of Chapter Relations. In this role, he leads the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, including their DEI Membership Grant, and creates partnerships with other professional organizations to develop co-hosted events. Steven exists at the intersection of multiple marginalized communities: gay (queer), mixed-race Latina, and a certified weirdo—all of which inform his creative and professional endeavors.
Jason T. Garwood, Ballinger
Jason is a marketing professional and transdisciplinary designer with a background in architecture, computer science, and visual arts. After earning a Bachelor of Architecture and a major in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University, Jason has focused on amplifying creative voices and translating design into impact. Their work ranges from designs for higher education institutions to collaborations with viral art creators. Now exploring licensure and project work, Jason is reconnecting with their architectural roots, driven by a belief in experiential, human-centered environments.
Moderator: Mia Held, C&S Companies
Mia Held is a proud graduate of the University of New Mexico with a background in community and regional planning, education, and theater. Mia specializes in aviation planning with a focus on centering energy resilience, equity, and community engagement in airport and Master planning efforts. She is a skilled communicator, presenter, and technical writer. Mia believes in the value of airports as a public good that should be open, accessible, and beneficial to their communities. First and foremost, Mia’s work serves people. Mia marched for marriage equality in New York, served proudly as the first President of her University Gay-Straight Alliance, and now lives with her wife in Philadelphia, PA proudly advocating for everyone to bring their whole self to work.
Special Guest: Heather Coyne, Principal Architect, Amtrak Stations Design and Delivery
Heather Coyne has extensive work experience in architecture and construction. Heather currently works as a Principal Architect at Amtrak. Prior to this, she managed design and construction projects at the University of Pennsylvania's Facilities and Real Estate Services. Before joining Penn, Heather practiced architecture in multiple firms, with a focus on institutional buildings.
A born connector, from 2014-2020, Heather led her own networking group, entitled philafad - Philadelphia Fabricators, Architects, and Designers to bring small design and construction practices together. She has been a stalwart member of the Facilities Committee for the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (a welcoming congregation) since coming to Philly in 2006. Heather holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rice University.