WTS-Boston Announces 2024 Emerging Professionals and Emerging Leaders
WTS-Boston welcomes this year’s Emerging Professionals and inaugural class of Emerging Leaders, furthering our mission to attract, sustain, connect, and advance women’s careers to strengthen the transportation industry.
WTS-Boston recognizes the importance of continuous support to women in the transportation world and is announcing the creation of the Emerging Leaders Program.
The Emerging Leaders (EL) Program aims to provide a platform for women in the transportation industry with up to 10 years of experience to continue enhancing their leadership skills, expand their knowledge of the industry, and build a strong network of professional connections. This program will run in parallel with the Emerging Professionals Program.
The Emerging Professionals (EP) Program will continue to be tailored to women with 5 or less years of experience in the transportation industry.
We believe that supporting and empowering women in transportation is not only essential to the success of our organization, but also for the advancement of the industry as a whole. Through mentorship, speakers learning series, networking events, and career enrichment opportunities, both programs (EP and EL) will equip participants with the tools and resources they need to thrive in their careers and create connections in the transportation sector.
The WTS-Boston Emerging Leaders and Emerging Professionals provides annual awards to the WTS-Boston community. Eligible applicants must work in a transportation-related career and not be eligible to receive reimbursement from their employer for WTS membership expenses.
Selected participants of each program receive:
- Paid membership dues from January through December 2024.
- Opportunity to attend any virtual events and paid attendance to a variety of in-person events in 2024.
- Advisor commitment from a senior WTS-Boston board member or industry leader through December 2024.
For questions, please contact Mentoring Committee Co-Chairs Francisca Heming or Estey Masten at [email protected] or [email protected].
2024 Emerging Leaders
Tara Kamal-Ahmadi is thrilled to join the WTS 2024 Emerging Leader Program. With a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University at Buffalo and another master’s degree in geography and data analysis from the University of Toronto, her expertise lies in transportation planning, transit data analysis, and data visualization. Currently, she is working at MBTA, where she leverages planning and data analysis skills to enhance equitable and safe public transportation services around the Boston area. Outside of work, you’ll find her outdoors, hiking, and unwinding by playing the piano. She is excited for this opportunity to join WTS and looks forward to learning from professionals in this field, collaborating on finding meaningful solutions that benefit our communities.
Anastasia Stevens is a data visualization analyst at the MBTA, with a focus on sustainable, streamlined reporting processes. She recently graduated from Northeastern University with her M.S. in Information Design + Data Visualization where her favorite graduate achievement was winning 2023 Club Fencing Nationals. Prior to joining the MBTA, she managed data and reporting at BNY Mellon and worked as a data analyst at Boston Private Bank. She looks forward to joining WTS and welcomes any conversation about data!
Carmen Melendez, a Senior Project Coordinator at the MBTA's Engineering, Planning, & Asset Management Office, is dedicated to optimizing project workflows and ensuring seamless coordination. Holding a business management degree from the University of Massachusetts. In her current role, she not only supports the development of SOPs and Capital Programs procedures but also takes a proactive approach in initiatives to streamline project processes. Carmen also holds two certifications from the Project Management Institute (PMI): Certified Associate Project Management (CAPM) and Project Management Professional (PMP). Before joining MBTA, Carmen made significant contributions in the private sector, specializing in Data Center design and construction across multiple states. This transition has uniquely positioned her to bring a distinctive perspective to her current role, where she is dedicated to delivering impactful results.
2024 Emerging Professionals
Billie Li is the District Environmental Engineer in District 2. Billie has been working for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) since March 2023. Billie is passionate about incorporating environmentally sound practices and demystifying the environmental permitting process for transportation projects across District 2. Prior to working with MassDOT, Billie worked as a consultant engineer designing water resources projects, as a soil conservationist for USDA, and as a stream restoration coordinator for a non-profit. She graduated from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental resources engineering. In her spare time, Billie enjoys making ceramics, fly-fishing, and skiing.
Sarah Kasanovich is a Utilities Review Engineer who has worked for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in Boston since December 2022. She demonstrates her passion and commitment to excellence in evaluating and improving utility infrastructure systems within her current role. Her work in the public sector did not start here, as she worked for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation as a traffic engineer prior to working for MassDOT. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Sarah’s hobbies outside of work include skiing, reading, and gardening.
Alexandria (Ali) Hiller is an Assistant Resident Engineer in construction at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for District 1, where she has been working since July 2023. This is her first position after graduating from Syracuse University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in civil engineering this past May. Ali is looking forward to giving back to her community by making the means of travel easier for the daily user. In her free time she enjoys artistic hobbies such as painting, crafts and baking, as well as playing volleyball and skiing.