WTS Iowa Annual Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony
WTS Iowa held the Annual Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony on November 4, 2020. Board members shared information about the purpose of WTS, progress towards meeting the organization's goals, the current financial standing, and the ongoing work of the committees to provide informative and engaging opportunities for members. In addition, WTS Iowa held it's very first awards ceremony to recognize the Member of the Year, Employer of the Year, and Woman of the Year.
View a recording of the meeting and presentation
Award Recipients:
Member of the Year: Angie Poole, Transportation Safety Data Analyst, Iowa Department of Transportation
As a child, Angie had dreams of being a broadcast journalist and anchoring the nightly news. But, like most dreams, life gets in the way and pathways change. After completing a few semesters at Drake’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Angie took to the open skies in the United States Air Force. Angie has worked in the public-sector for most of her adult life; working for both local and state governments. She has an undergraduate degree in biology and a masters in civil engineering from Iowa State University and works as a traffic safety analyst at the Iowa Department of Transportation. Angie hopes to help make the future brighter and the choices more abundant for future generations of women in the transportation workplace.
Employer of the year: Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC
Founded in 1938, Foth’s more than 600 members offer personalized, technical excellence to a variety of government, industrial, and commercial clients. Committed to being a trusted resource, we strive to improve the safety and quality of life by delivering unique solutions that solve our clients’ toughest challenges. Through developed and fostered relationships, success is found within our people. Externally, more than 95 percent of annual business stems from repeat clients. Internally, members are encouraged and supported to thrive and advance both personally as well as professionally. In the end, the passion and hard work invested into each project is matched by the dedication and care poured into our relationships and communities.
From Corporate Directors, to Professional Engineers, Field Engineers and Construction Administrators and Observers, women represent Foth to our internal and external clients. Each of our members extend the enrichment, growth, and success they have experienced first-hand to both clients and surrounding communities. Foth values the opportunity of hosting an annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering event, where youth are welcomed to partake in a series of STEM related projects in order to generate excitement and knowledge of future possibilities.
Woman of the Year: Tammy Nicholson, Director, Location & Environment Bureau, Iowa Department of Transportation
Tammy Nicholson has an extensive career with Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), joining the team in 1990. She is the Director of the Location and Environment Bureau, serving in that capacity since 2016. Bureau responsibilities include; highway planning studies, public involvement, environmental documentation and NEPA, and environmental resources including water, air, wetlands, noise, cultural resources, endangered species, and regulated materials. Tammy is co-leading sustainability and resiliency efforts for Iowa DOT and a member of the asset management implementation team.
Tammy has held positions in the Office of Rail Transportation and the Office of Bridges and Structures in addition to the Location and Environment Bureau. Tammy has in-depth experience in leadership, engineering, planning, multi-modal and freight transportation. She is on the steering committee for the AASHTO Committee on the Environment and Sustainability and is active on several Transportation Research Board committees. In 2020, Tammy was appointed to the World Road Association (PIARC) and is a member of the Environmental Sustainability in Road Infrastructure and Transport Committee for the 2020-2023 session.
Tammy holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University. She received her Professional Engineer’s license in 1994 for Civil Engineering and completed the Certified Public Manager Program at Drake University in 2009. For fun, Tammy enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering with the Scouts BSA, gardening and kayaking.