Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Program Book 2023

The time is now to strengthen mobility for generations to come. We must leverage this moment and the historic resources available to co-create projects with stakeholders across the country that result in thriving communities. Create a brighter future where everyone has access to opportunities to advance in life and realize their potential.

Contents

2023

Welcome Awards Program

It is our great privilege to welcome you to the annual Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation (CWWMN) awards ceremony, hosted by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery .

In observance of Women’s History Month, COMTO has recognized and honored over 130 remarkable women making outstanding contributions to the transportation industry across modes, who carve a path forward for the next generation and shatter glass ceilings.

The phenomenal 2023 CWWMN honorees are an inspirational group of women who represent the very best across a wide variety of transportation modes and professions. While their areas of influence and affiliations are diverse, their unequivocal commitment to advancing and strengthening our nation’s infrastructure is unparalleled. These trailblazers embody all that COMTO stands for, a representation of leadership in transportation reflecting the complex mosaic of those served.

Please join us in celebrating 10 amazing women, leading, advancing, and transforming transportation, moving the Nation and beyond!

Sincerely,

OPENING REMARKS

April Rai, President and CEO

Tanya Adams, National Board Chair

INTRODUCTION OF EMCEE

Doris McMillan

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

BREAKFAST IS SERVED

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

CLOSING REMARKS

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY

The Storm Project 3 0

EMCEE

Doris McMillan

VOICE OF COMTO

Frank Oglesby, Jr #CWWMN2023

Tanya Adams Board Chair, COMTO Senior Vice President Diversity & Inclusion, WSP, USA

April Rai

President & CEO, COMTO

NATIONAL CHAIR

Tanya Adams

Senior Vice President, Inclusion & Diversity WSP USA

FIRST VICE CHAIR

Dr Lester Woods

Chief Administrative Officer Missouri Department of Transportation (Modot)

SECOND VICE CHAIR

Gwendolen Gray

COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS REPRESENTATIVE

Quincy Howard

Assistant Chief, Minority Business Development

Ohio Department of Development

Demauris Terry

National Leadership Council of Presidents

Executive Vice President/COO

BA Inc.

Bianca Graves

Director, Business Services

Leading Edge Business Solutions, LLC

Project Controls Director & Vice President HNTB

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Michelle Hiett

Revenue Systems IT Consultant

Hatch LTK

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Freddie Fuller

Vice President, Geographic Sales Manager Mid-Atlantic Jacobs

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Regine Beauboeuf

Yvette Janniere-Houlder

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, State Of New York (MTA)

Ruben Landa

BOARD ADVISORS

Renee Banks

President & Chief Communications Officer

G. W. Peoples Contracting Co., Inc. (GWP)

Christian Kent Principal Transit Management Consulting, LLC

CELEBRATING WOMEN WHO MOVE THE NATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Tanya Adams: WSP USA

CHAPTER PRESIDENT

Alabama . Brenda Perryman

Senior Vice President, Director, Infrastructure & Mobility Equity HNTB

Lead Program Management, Enterprise Applications

Assistant Vice President / Texas Business LeaderCommunications & Public Involvement

WSP USA

Melissa Rolle-Scott

Transit Section Chief, Office Of Safety & Security

Keisha Campbell

Chief Diversity & Culture Officer

Toronto Transit Commission

Rhonda Briggins: Jacobs

Carmen Garcia: ABRAC, LLC

Greer Gillis: Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)

Ivoire Lloyd: EXP

Emille Williams: Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)

Frédéric Bana: SYSTRA

Miami-Dade Department Of Transportation & Public Works (DTPW )

Arizona . . . . . . . . . Gary Flunoy

Atlanta . . . . . . . . . Aaron Davis

Austin . . . . . . . . . Yannis Banks

Boston . . . . . . . . . Aboubacar Konate

Central Florida . . . . . . . . Iranetta Dennis

Chicago . . . . . . . . . Rovaughn Graham

Cincinnati . . . . . . . . . Adriene Hariston

Cleveland . . . . . . . . . Jarrett Davis

Colorado . . . . . . . . . Marsha Nelson

Columbus . . . . . . . . . Quincy Howard

Connecticut . . . . . . . . Sharon Okoye

District of Columbia . . . . . . . Robyn Jackson

Ft Lauderdale . . . . . . . . Rogelio Hendricks

Hampton Roads . . . . . . . Keisha Branch

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . Tracy Adams

Houston . . . . . . . . . Steve Granson

Jacksonville . . . . . . . . . Donovan Calicker

Kansas City . . . . . . . . . Maurice Gay

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . Joshua Harrouch

Maryland . . . . . . . . . Enyinna Anthony

Miami . . . . . . . . . Gregory Robinson

Michigan . . . . . . . . . Bianca Graves

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . Tekia Jefferson

Nashville . . . . . . . . . Kia Lewis

New York . . . . . . . . . Rich Watson

North Texas . . . . . . . . Marvin Jackson

Northern California . . . . . . . Jesus Vargas

Oregon/SW Washington . . . . . . Mario Alexander

Palm Beach County . . . . . . . Bruce Guyton

Philadelphia . . . . . . . . Daniel Villanueva

Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . . Charles Reeves

Richmond . . . . . . . . . Lamar Bates

San Antonio . . . . . . . . Maurice Bridges

Southern California . . . . . . . Demarius Terry

Toronto & Region . . . . . . . Annette Salfarlie

Washington State Grantley Martelly

PRESENTING SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

FRIENDS OF COMTO About

Our vision

Our vision is to ensure full access for minorities in transportation while preparing and positioning leaders for rapidly evolving global opportunities

Our mission

as of 2/27/23

The voice for equity in transportation

Our mission is to ensure opportunities and maximum participation in the transportation industry for minority individuals, veterans, people with disabilities and certified MWDBE businesses through leadership training, professional development, scholarship and internship funding, political advocacy, partnership building and networking opportunities

National Practice Consultant & Vice President, HNTB

As a transportation executive, Henrika uses her expertise to help HNTB’s clients across the country make connections possible. She helps shape the future of mobility by co-creating solutions for equitable transportation projects that build thriving communities. She’s passionate about connecting people to larger transportation networks, good paying jobs and more opportunities.

For more than 23 years, Henrika has served the transportation industry, including more than 20 years of experience at the Federal Transit Administration. She provides strategic advice to clients using her federal expertise in major capital project oversight, transit safety regulations, federal transportation policy, and federal transportation funding programs. She also represents the firm on the corporate business councils of both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the African American Mayors Association.

Henrika served as the associate administrator of Safety and Oversight at FTA. There she led the development and implementation of the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Regulation, which established the regulatory framework for implementing safety management systems and revolutionized how transit safety is managed. Henrika also served as the associate administrator of Program Management where she was responsible for administering a $12 billion dollar annual formula and competitive funding program and the federal oversight of more than $117 billion in Capital Investment Grant program agreements with transit agencies across the nation.

Henrika Buchanan Veronica Castro de Barrera

Chair, Board of Directors, Austin Transit Partnership

Veronica Castro de Barrera is a visionary architect who has devoted her career designing and managing public investments for more walkable, equitable urban environments that foster complete transit-friendly communities. As the founding principal of VCdB Architecture & Art, an Austin-based design consulting firm, Veronica has earned recognition for her compassionate and innovative approach to architecture and community development. Her work spans over 25 years and includes an extensive portfolio of civic projects with a specific focus on the architecture of mobility. She has led the transit studio teams for a national designbuild firm and partnered with engineers and artists to design, document, and implement transit programs and active mobility investments in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, and St. Louis, among others.

Veronica is a licensed architect and accredited LEED professional, and a member of the American Institute of Architects and Texas Society of Architects. Her commitment to sustainable transportation and social equity is reflected in her volunteer work with several community organizations and initiatives, such as AIA Austin and the Congress for the New Urbanism. She was appointed to serve as the board chair of the Austin Transit Partnership which is responsible for implementing the voter-approved $7.1 billion investment for a comprehensive public transit program.

Henrika has frequently been recognized for her work. For her sustained career achievements, Henrika received the Presidential Rank Award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the President of the United States upon senior executives. Henrika also received the Gold Medal from the U.S. Department of Transportation for her leadership and support of transit systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic. She also has been recognized for her philanthropy toward her alma mater. She is currently Alabama A&M University’s, Alumna of the Year, and Chairperson of the President’s Alumni Advisory Council.

Henrika resides in Alexandria, Virginia. Her hero is her father, Henry Buchanan. She received her bachelor’s in political science and master’s in urban planning from Alabama A&M University. She received her law degree from Georgetown University.

Veronica’s love for her family and her community has inspired her to champion environmental stewardship, leading her family to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy research conducted by the Pecan Street Research Laboratory since 2011. Her family was featured in the book “Footprint,” which showcased environmental initiatives in ten cities worldwide, including Austin, and was presented by the French government at the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in 2015. The book highlighted Veronica’s family as a positive example of individual efforts to address the effects of climate change.

Veronica’s dedication to creating more walkable and inclusive communities is an inspiration to others. She speaks regularly on the topic and has served as a panelist throughout the United States and Mexico. Her compassion, innovation, and expertise continue to shape public investments towards more humanizing cities and providing access to opportunities that benefit vulnerable communities.

Director, Long Beach Airport

Nicely nestled in Southern California as an award-winning airport with a unique open-air concourse, LGB is served by a handful of commercial carriers and is also one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country. LGB prides itself on providing fresh, new facilities and amenities, bringing the ease of travel to its customers. Ms. Guidry and her team will lead the next phase of improvements, adding to the respected legacy of LGB.

Ms. Guidry is a Professional Engineer licensed from the State of California and has 30 years of planning, engineering, and professional experience working for the City of Los Angeles, 18 years with Los Angeles World Airports, with several years as Deputy Executive Director of Planning and Development Group.

She also serves on the Board of Directors for the California Transportation Foundation (CTF), and the Los Angeles Chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), and member of the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Airport Leadership Collective. Ms. Guidry holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Irvine (UCI).

Commander, U.S. Coast Guard

Cynthia Guidry Captain Zeita Merchant

Captain Zeita Merchant assumed command in May 2021 and directs all Coast Guard missions in the Port of New York and New Jersey. She is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of one of the Nation’s busiest and most economically important port complexes. Sector New York’s area of responsibility spans over 6,000 square miles from 200 miles offshore and inland to Albany, NY, and includes facilities and waterways moving hundreds of billions of dollars in cargo and tens of millions of passengers annually. Prior to joining Sector New York as Deputy Sector Commander in 2020, Captain Merchant was a National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Enjoying over 25 years of active-duty service, Captain Merchant is a recognized authority in maritime safety and security, and crisis management. She has served in a variety of assignments at the operational and executive levels and has been certified as one of the Coast Guard’s top Emergency Managers leading large-scale, multi-jurisdictional incident responses across the Nation.

Captain Merchant holds a Doctorate of Business Administration and Master of Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate School at New England Institute of Business, as well as a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tougaloo College. In addition, she is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Education Leadership in Homeland Security Course and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI National Security and Foreign Affairs Fellow.

In addition to her military service, she is a devoted civil leader, lecturer and board executive who has been honored with numerous professional, academic, and community service awards including the 2023 BEYA Stars and Stripes STEM Award, the 2022 Sailing for Scholars Founders Award, the New York City’s 2021 Women in Service Award, 2019 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration Outstanding Achievement in Public Service and a host of others.

Raquel Olivier

President/CEO, Olivier, Inc., Link Transportation Corporation

HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS HONOREE

Raquel Olivier, a native Houstonian, is the Founder and President/CEO of Olivier, Inc. (MWSDBE), a professional consulting firm supporting the construction and operational sectors in the public transit, aviation, and educational industries. Ms. Olivier received her dual undergraduate degree from the University of Houston with a BBA in Accounting and Management (Cum Laude), and obtained her CPA license in 1997 from the State of Texas. She also holds an MBA from Texas A&M University’s Executive program.  Her career that spans over three decades, began while working in high school at Exxon (now ExxonMobil), Controller’s department in downtown Houston, where she earned two internships and scholarships. She then interned at Price Waterhouse LLP, and worked in the International Tax Services and Audit departments where she traveled abroad and throughout the US. The experience fueled her ambition and drive, but her passion to positively impact her community led her to found a value-added, solution-focused firm that provides career opportunities to individuals who may not have been given the option.

Ms. Olivier started her CPA practice in 2002, and in 2009 she incorporated Olivier, Inc. with a vision of building an organization with workforce development, customer experience, and quality assurance delivery as its core focus. As her transit industry knowledge, relationships, and experience expanded, she founded Link Transportation Corporation in 2020. Link is a microtransit operations company currently serving Dallas Area Rapid Transit where her team touts a 4.9/5.0 customer service rating since its inception.

Ms. Olivier serves on the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Board, APTA’s Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG) as 2nd Vice Chair, and was recently appointed to the APTA Foundation (APTF) as Vice Chair. She also serves in the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) North Texas Chapter as Vice President of Programs. In 2021, she was appointed to the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. She is also a member of Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC), Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA), Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA).

Joanna M. Pinkerton P.E

President/CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority

Joanna M. Pinkerton is the President/CEO of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), the regional mobility organization providing services to Columbus and Central Ohio. With a service area covering 562 square miles across five counties serving 1.4 million residents, COTA employs more than 1,000 team members and provided more than 19 million passenger trips in 2019. Since joining COTA in April 2018, Joanna has focused on organizational transformation— delivering innovative mobility solutions in response to a rapidly growing community and changing customer preferences, as well as addressing equity issues with both the physical and digital mobility needs of many residents.

Joanna joined COTA with more than 20 years in the engineering and transportation industries. Prior to COTA, she served as the Chief Operations Officer at the Transportation Research Center Inc., the nation’s largest independent automotive proving ground and vehicle development and testing center—and home to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Research Test Center. Her previous experience also includes leadership roles with The Ohio State University, as the Senior Associate Director of The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research as well as the Co-Director of the Honda-Ohio State Partnership, the nation’s largest industry academic-based partnership. She also served at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), where she was responsible for targeting transportation investments to support economic growth in the manufacturing and tech sectors in Ohio.

Joanna holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and is a professionally licensed engineer in the state of Ohio.

Congratulations to the 2023 Women Who Move the Nation Honorees, including COTA’s own President/CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton.

Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)

Congratulations

2023 COMTO CELEBRATING WOMEN WHO MOVE THE NATION AWARD RECIPIENTS

Thank you for your outstanding contributions to advancing America’s transportation industry.

Lynda Tran

Director of Public Engagement & Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Transportation

Lynda Tran is a longtime organizer and communicator. Over more than two decades of experience across politics, policy, and communications, Lynda has helped launch national and international initiatives, shaped the narrative around historic moments, and built and scaled groundbreaking organizations.

An Obama Administration political appointee and DOT veteran, she co-founded consulting firm 270 Strategies, where she developed public engagement strategies for clients across the globe – including the Environmental Defense Fund, Oxfam America, United Way Worldwide, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), the Black Economic Alliance, the Economic Security Project, Ready for Hillary, OneVoice, D.C. Public Schools, and some of the country’s most-watched congressional and gubernatorial races. Until her return to public service, she served on the Board of Advisors for political tech incubator Higher Ground Labs and for Battleground Texas, and was most recently a senior strategist for Breakthrough Energy, Bill Gates’ network of climate-focused funds and campaigns.

A CBS News Political Contributor and columnist during the 2016, 2018, and 2020 cycles and frequent commentator, Lynda has regularly appeared in major national and international media.

Congratulations DENISE TURNER ROTH

Advisory National Business Line Executive at WSP for being honored by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) for the outstanding contributions she’s made to the transportation industry and all the other Women Who Move the Nation honorees.

WSP is proud to work with leaders in the industry to advance the mission of COMTO and drive America’s transportation towards equitable access for all communities. Find out what we can do for you.

Denise Turner Roth

Advisory National Business Line Executive, WSP, USA

Denise Turner Roth is the first woman, and the first African American woman, to lead a business line at WSP USA. She directs the firm’s strategic advisory services across all market sectors. Denise is responsible for integrating the firm’s technical expertise in planning, engineering, program/construction management and operations with the strategic thinking needed by owners, developers and operators to successfully deliver infrastructure programs and projects.

Beyond this work, Denise has supported the creation of WSP’s Diversity and Inclusion strategic plan; created an Equity Center of Excellence, where she serves as the director growing to infuse equity principals in WSP’s marque work and projects; and served as executive sponsor for the creation of gold standard playbook on labor workforce— a joint effort with Accelerator for America—providing practical guide for putting an increasing presence of BIPOC in infrastructure and transportation roles.

Throughout her 20+ years of public service, Denise has held leadership positions at the federal and local government levels championing strong community development. Prior to joining WSP, Denise led the General Services Administration (GSA) from March 2015 to January 2017 as an appointee of former President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate. Denise led a workforce of 12,000 full-time employees with responsibility for a $27 billion budget that supported the agency’s public buildings, federal acquisition and technology services programs.

Denise’s career in public service began on Capitol Hill serving two Congresspeople. She also served as public space manager for the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, and then served as the City Manager for the City of Greensboro, NC, where her leadership helped pave the way for investments in multi-modal transportation, including sidewalks and local transit.

Committed to infrastructure not being developed in isolation, throughout her career, Denise has created opportunities for infrastructure to be designed and planned in coordination with creating improved access and quality of life investments. She is a bold leader strengthening all modes of transportation while leveraging her extensive public and private experience to support public transportation development and solutions.

Deputy Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

Veronica Vanterpool was appointed Deputy Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in May 2022 after serving as Senior Advisor to the Administrator since August 2021. She works directly with FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez to advance the goals of the Biden-Harris Administration and policy objectives of U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

President and CEO, IndyGo

Veronica Vanterpool Inez Evans

Deputy Administrator Vanterpool coordinates and provides executive and strategic direction on FTA’s areas of focus including safety, equity, workforce development, climate change and innovation. She represents FTA in a number of forums and working groups including serving as the agency’s representative for the White House Interagency Policy Council on Puerto Rico, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and the USDOT Sustainability Officer’s Council.

Vanterpool joined the FTA from Delaware Transit Corporation where she served as its first Chief Innovation Officer. During her tenure, she launched the state’s first on-demand microtransit service in a rural community and also launched and managed Delaware’s first autonomous transit shuttle demonstration program.

Deputy Administrator Vanterpool draws upon 16 years of experience in advocacy, policy, media communications, public outreach, coalition building and issue campaigns.

She is the former Deputy Director of the national Vision Zero Network and Executive Director of the New York City-based Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Deputy Administrator Vanterpool also served on the board of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority by nomination of former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

In December 2022, Deputy Administrator Vanterpool completed the inaugural Presidential Leadership Workshop of the Biden-Harris Administration, a five-month leadership development program for senior level political appointees serving in the Administration.

She co-founded the Delaware WTS Chapter, in which she remains an active member, and served as the chapter’s first president. She is a member of Latinos in Transit, the DC Chapter of COMTO and Board Member Emeritus of the Bronx River Alliance, which serves to protect and preserve the Bronx River, NYC’s only freshwater river.

She is a native New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent born and raised in the Bronx. She is a proud mom of a 2022 Rutgers University graduate working in the supply chain/logistics sector.

Inez Evans was selected as IndyGo’s President and CEO in summer 2019, becoming the first black woman President and CEO for the transit agency. Evans manages an agency of more than 800 employees and a fleet of more than 280 vehicles, averaging five million trips annually (nine million pre-COVID).

In 2022, Evans was named the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) International Woman of the Year. Following that honor, she was named to the WTS International Board where she also sits on various committees. Evans also serves as a board member for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and is a committee member for Leadership APTA, a program that grooms transit professionals aspiring to become leaders within their organizations.

In 2021 Evans was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Miz CEO, a local institution focused on uplifting women in the community. Inez is dedicated to the IndyGo mission to connect our community to critical opportunities through safe, reliable and accessible mobility experiences and is a true trailblazer here in Indianapolis. She serves on the Indianapolis Arts Council Board of Directors and on its Diversity and Inclusion, Start for Art, and Governance committees. As the co-chair for the American Heart Association’s Circle for Red Committee, she champions heart health to her community and also sits on their Executive Leadership Committee. She also serves on the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) Board. Finally, Evans was appointed by Mayor Hogsett to the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee Board of Directors in 2019.

Evans is a wife and mother of four boys and calls Texas her home. In her free time, she enjoys working side by side with her husband at their Texas ranch, singing, gardening, and DIY projects.

2023 COMTO HONOREE

The Olivier Team

WE ARE MV MNT

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROUDLY SUPPORTS

Celebrating women who move the nation

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2023 HONOREES!

mdot.maryland.gov

Move the Nation.

Transportation was a male-dominated industry until educated and talented women who move the nation proved beyond equivocation that they belong in this industry as engineers, architects, CEOs, leaders, planners, builders, contractors, visionaries, and more. Embracing women in transportation is not something JTA does only during Women’s History Month. It’s a standard operating procedure at the JTA to hire the best and the brightest in the industry. JTA is proud to support COMTO in Celebrating Women Who

Wes Moore Governor Aruna Miller Lt. Governor Paul J. Wiedefeld Acting Transportation Secretary

Creating oppor tunit y.

Transurban believes in the power of opportunity for all, especially women.

Opportunity drives change, sparks nnovation, and creates tomorrow’s leaders. Opportunity embraces new ideas, ideas that save commuters time and help taxpayer dollars go farther.

Transurban is proud to join COMTO to inspire the women leading transportation today and tomorrow.

To learn more about how we continue to keep cities moving, visit transurban.com

Celebrating Honorees ings to fly?" lo

NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER congratulates Raquel Olivier and all of 2023

Women Who Move the Nation Honorees

RAQUEL OLIVIER PRESIDENT / CEO OLIVIER INCORPORATED