WTS International, the association for the professional advancement of women in transportation, recently announced the selection of Denver for the location of its 2012 Annual Conference, set for May 9-11.
“Each year we try to find a city that epitomizes success in transportation programs, infrastructure projects and stand-out efforts to advance women through the professional ranks of the industry,” says Marcia Ferranto, WTS International president and chief executive officer. “Denver was an obvious choice, and the Denver chapter of WTS has put together an incredible conference.”
The Annual Conference, WTS’ annual flagship event, attracts more than 500 corporate and governmental industry leaders worldwide, including executives, CEOs, government administrators and leading engineering authorities. Attendees at the conference gather to network, discuss the state of the world’s transportation infrastructure, strategize on advancing professionally through glass ceilings and explore the local city’s successful municipal and private transportation and traffic projects. For the full duration of the conference, private corporations, public agencies and government officials invested in every transportation mode will exhibit, present, learn and network.
“We are honored and excited to be able to show off our city to WTS’s international membership,” says Carrie Wallis, senior project manager at Atkins Global in Denver and WTS 2012 Annual Conference chair. “We have more than 30 sessions slated, including tours of standout city projects, technical sessions and professional development workshops, as well as our awards banquet that will be hosted by Amelia Earhart – the relative of her famous namesake and News9 traffic reporter – unique social events and a bike ride that our out-of town guests will consider a great experience.”
Other consecutive programming will include a gift auction and exhibition of the WTS Transportation YOU program, the joint initiative of WTS International and the U.S. Department of Transportation that launched with the 2010 signing of a memorandum of understanding by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. WTS Denver’s Transportation YOU program is a source of scholarship, internship and networking opportunities that links young women with professionals in the field and inspires them to pursue STEM-related coursework and expose them to career possibilities in fields of the transportation industry not typically pursued by women.
