WTS Pittsburgh Chapter

See all the details for the event tonight here!!

https://conta.cc/3SFoO2t

Recognition Awards Here are the details!   See you all tomorrow!! Check out some of the details below for the event. Nov 09 Annual WTS Pittsburgh Recognition Awards & Hard Hat Auction Thank you for signing up to join WT

LAST CHANCE!!! IT'S THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH FOR REGISTRATION!!!

DID YOU SIGN UP? IF NOT - TODAY IS THE DAY!!

JOIN US ON NOVEMBER 9TH AT THE ANNUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS AND HARD HAT AUCTION! PNC PARK LEFT FIELD LOUNGE

REGISTER HERE: lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/shgbg27?source_id=69c96f64-d25b-41db-8713-3917aeff5377&source_type=em&c=0ke7Ox_-QYT-mMpsMv47ty17FFu3-lbS00-jXHVyUjAyyPKU1nHWjA==

Check out this sneak peek of a couple of the hard hats painted by local artists that will be available to bid on at the Recognition Awards event on November 9th! Make sure you register by October 31!

Register here! : lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/shgbg27?source_id=9028e149-c487-489c-b0d9-7dc26ab6b26f&source_type=em&c=TEgEfPACU9o7lWZloy5zWrbRbIWti99ECqJDtMuTPZ0hSvhPb8Kz0g==

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023 RECOGNITION AWARD WINNERS! Join us on November 9, 2023 at the PNC Park Left Field Lounge to celebrate these awardees, participate in our hard hat auction, and hear keynote speaker Cheryl Moon-Sirianni, Executive Deputy Secretary for PennDOT.

Award Winners are:
WTS Member of the Year - Katie Colella, PE - AECOM
WTS Woman of the Year - Rania Asbahan, PhD, PMP, PE - CDR Maguire
WTS Honorable Ray Lahood Award - John Tricini, PE - Michael Baker International
WTS Rosa Park Diversity Award - Michelle Hinds, PE - SAI Consulting Engineers
WTS Employer of the Year - Benesch
WTS Innovative Transportation Solutions - South Busway, Pittsburgh Regional Transit
WTS President's Appreciation Award - Barb Sloan

You can register for this event here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/shgbg27?source_id=121e49d7-ba40-4412-b445-c9b718a6cdf4&source_type=em&c=63jVHoQ-AnqvnuzJMOIo2ryj5LKOnr4VmufDVz8GuphGnahhN-YCuw==

Scholarship applications for WTS Pittsburgh are now open! Applications are due by November 22, 2023.

Documents and additional information can be found here: https://www.wtsinternational.org/chapters/pittsburgh/chapter-documents

Don’t forget to sign up for the Penn Brewery luncheon!! Registration closes THIS WEEK!

Penn Brewery Luncheon Registration - Reminder! Not seeing anything? Click download pictures at the top of this email.   Don't miss this event! Registration closes this week, October 20th. Round and Round The True Story of the McLaughlin Run Rounda

Join us on November 9th at the PNC Park Left Field Lounge for our WTS Pittsburgh Chapter Recognition Awards and Hard Hat Auction!

Key Note Speaker will be Executive Deputy Secretary of PennDOT, Cheryl Moon-Sirianni, PE.

More Information can be found HERE: https://lnkd.in/eqG-iCD6
Register Here: https://lnkd.in/eZ7C5jRi

Calling creative minds ages 13-18! We want to see your designs for a new WTS Transportation YOU brand. Show us your talents and submit your artwork by November 6th for a chance to win! Full contest details can be found here: https://www.wtsinternational.org/tyou-rebrand-contest

Join us for a Luncheon at Penn Brewery on October 25th (corrected date!) to learn about the McLaughlin Run Roundabout. One PDH will be offered for the presentation. https://conta.cc/3LJH7iI

Registration is now open for the Fall Women's Forum at ESWP on Wednesday, November 8th, 2023!

2023 Fall Women's Forum You're Invited! Register Here ‌ ‌ ‌

This Summer our TransportationYOU Committee Chair went to the WTS Capital Summit with two mentees. Check out the full update at the link. https://conta.cc/3LraF4b

TransportationYOU Capital Summit Update Not seeing anything? Click download pictures at the top of this email. Interested in joining our committee? or partnering with us for future student programming? contact Katie Colella at katie.colella

Nominations for our Annual Recognition Awards is open!
Get your Nominations in by October 6th!
Save the Date for the Awards and we Will See you on November 9th at PNC Park!
https://conta.cc/3sPwqnX

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - 2023 Recognition Awards Save the Date Nominations Due 10/06/2023 by 5PM! Not seeing anything? Click download pictures at the top of this email. Link to Nomination Forms Danielle's Email Contact Danielle List with any questions. WTS Pitt

Please take a few minutes to take our first ED&I Survey. Thank you in advance. https://conta.cc/3EE792V

WTS Pittsburgh ID&E Survey Take the Survey Now Not seeing anything? Click download photos at the top of this email. Take the Survey Now! Thank You to our WTS Pittsburgh 2023 Corporate Sponsors...   WTS Pittsburgh Chapter | 33

Back in 1971, Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.

This day was selected to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment, which finally assured that women would have the right to vote. It can served as a reminder of the struggles that women had to overcome to be able to vote. Many women faced violence and incarceration for seeking to be able to vote.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon issued a formal Proclamation to designate August 26, 1972, as "Women's Rights Day". Later, in 1973, Congress approved a Resolution which stated that August 26 would be designated as Women's Equality Day, in commemoration of that day in 1920 on which the women in America were first guaranteed the right to vote.

However, while this date may primarily be to serve as a reminder of the efforts to assure that women could vote, the day means so much more, because women, over the years, have had to struggle for true equality in matters such as pay and equal opportunities in employment.

WTS Pittsburgh at the Washington Wild Things - Slide into the long Labor Day weekend with a night watching the Washington Wild Things! Bring friends and family along to enjoy one of the last summer evenings at the ballfield. https://conta.cc/3OwbQ3b

WTS Pittsburgh - Washington Wild Things Outing   Come on Out to the Ball Game WTS Pittsburgh Chapter invites you to join us as the Washington Wild Things take on the Joliet Slammers on Thursday, August 31, 2023. Ease into the long Labor Day weeken

Read about this years WTS Pittsburgh Honorary Members Jennifer Lasser and Felicity Williams, and the first ever I&D Committee Sponsored Member, Fred Buckner. https://conta.cc/3OwmqbA

2023 Honorary Member and I&D Sponsored Member Announcement Check out our Honorary Members and I&D Sponsored Member   Check out our 2023 Honorary Member and I&D Committee Sponsored Member Biographies! Every year WTS Pittsburgh selects two leaders in our transp

Join WTS Pittsburgh and ASCE Pittsburgh for a family mini golf outing on July 25th. $10.00 a person and children under 5 are free.

The latest news for you You don't want to miss this. Join WTS Pittsburgh and ASCE Pittsburgh for a Family Mini Golf Outing Register Here! Thank you to the WTS Pittsburgh 2023 Corporate Sponsors...   WTS Pittsburgh Chapter

Back in May, we had a great time collaborating with the Pittsburgh Regional Transit and several WBE firms to generate awareness of WTS and PRT opportunities. We heard from Katherine Kellerman about the PRT and their involvement and support of WTS and DBE firms. Sue Broadus talked about her passion for DBE support, and Kathy Lucas discussed her experience with WTS as a PRT employee. Tammi Halapin and Sharmon Winters both discussed their experiences owning their own DBE firms, and WTS Pittsburgh Chapter President and Vice President Jennie McCracken and Jenn King spoke about WTS opportunities they've had and that we offer as a chapter. It was an awesome networking opportunity, and we're looking forward to partnering on more events in the future!

Join us for Happy Hour and a tour with DOMI on June 28th, 2023! Limited space available for the tours!
https://conta.cc/3IXVT3O

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our members who are Mothers! We see you, and we think you are inspiring!

WTS Pittsburgh was well represented at WTS International !! Congratulations to Tara Ardalan for winning the WTS International Helene Overley Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship! And our Chapter was once again recognized as a Circle of Excellence Gold Chapter!

Kelly Rigot-Gargan Jennie McCracken Lenz Linda Zug

Thank you to all who attended the Scholarship Gala. Click the link to read on about this years Helene Overly Scholarship Winner, Taraneh Ardalen, and her scholarship award at the International Conference.

Also in this article:
- TransportationYOU PennDOT Field Trip Highlights
- Last Chance to Register for the 2nd Annual Golf Outing
- Register for "A Conversation Among Women"
https://conta.cc/3LH3Drr

Gala Thank You - Scholarship Winner Updates - Golf Outing - TransportationYOU PennDOT Career Field Trip Gala Thank You - Golf Outing Registration - Chapter Updates   Chapter Updates! Gala Thank You and Scholarship Winner Update Transportation You PennDOT Field Trip Highlights Golf Outing - Last Chance t

Please join us for a Conversation Among Women on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 from 1:30-3:30 PM at ESWP!

Register Here: https://eswp.com/event/05232023/

Don't forget to sign up for Breakfast with PRT & WTS next Wednesday May 3rd!
https://conta.cc/41VG6JI

Registration Open - PRT + WTS Pittsburgh Breakfast Reminder - Join WTS + PRT May 3rd Register Here!   Thank You to our WTS Pittsburgh 2023 Corporate Sponsors... WTS Pittsburgh Chapter | 337 4th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Unsubscribe wtspittsburghcha

Do you know a young woman in middle school or high school interested in attending a STEM summer camp this summer? We have an opportunity for them to apply for a scholarship to attend a camp of their choice for free! Are they interested, but don't know what opportunities are out there? We have a list of options, too!

Application deadline is April 28, 2023!

Find information here:
https://www.wtsinternational.org/chapters/pittsburgh/transportation-you/scholarship-opportunities

Registration is open for the WTS + PRT Breakfast!

Registration Open - PRT + WTS Pittsburgh Breakfast Register Here!   Thank You to our WTS Pittsburgh 2023 Corporate Sponsors... WTS Pittsburgh Chapter | 337 4th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Co

Registration is now open for the Second Annual WTS Pittsburgh Golf Outing! Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

Second Annual WTS Pittsburgh Golf Outing - Registration and Sponsorship Whether your golf game is above average, just average, or below average (or really below average), please join us for nine holes of golf at the picturesque Birdsfoot Golf Club at 10:00am on May 18th,

WTS member Jessica Saleh, shares her thoughts and feelings on being human in our last feature.

"This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked to share my experience or views for Women’s History Month. In the past, I’ve been quick to write my thoughts on what it means to be a woman in STEAM and in the world in general. This time didn’t feel as easy for me as it had in the past. I struggled to think of something to say that felt relevant or even worth saying, so I decided to just be honest.

This week my coworkers, my friends, the Pittsburgh Transportation Sector, and so many more lost a beloved member of the community. Alex Yerkey was taken from us on Sunday, March, 26th and though I did not know him well, I did have the pleasure of working with him and meeting him, and in that brief period I could see how bright of a human being he was.

This may not be exactly about being a woman, but it’s about being human and seeking to make our world a better place for everyone in it. I think too often we forget to recognize the humanness in the people we work with and do business with. It can be easy at times to lose sight of the meaningful parts of life when we’re constantly inundated with deadlines, expectations, and responsibilities. What I find myself thinking about the most this week is how valuable our relationships are and how important it is to create and maintain connections with the people we surround ourselves with.

In the past, I’ve had jobs where I went into work, put my head down, headphones in, worked long hours, and felt guilty for not feeling fulfilled by the paycheck alone. What I’ve come to realize, is that I was missing out on the human-to-human connection that should and could come along with connecting with my coworkers. Creating a work environment where people care about one another is the goal. I’m lucky that I have that and feel that at my current job and feel so fortunate to be surrounded by people who share those values.

This was also true in my personal life. I found myself going through the motions, hitting the major life milestones that everyone expects. On paper everything should have added up to happiness, but I didn’t feel it. Eventually, I got to a point where I couldn’t avoid it and I needed to look inward. I took time and put in effort to take care of my mental health and learned that the most important relationship in my life was my relationship with myself. Something I had never done before and never even considered. In order to give back to the world and to others in a way that I wanted to, I needed to take care of myself first.

From what I have heard and what I could tell Alex brought joy, compassion and empathy to the people he spent time with. I hope we all can take a pause and encourage each other to do the same in our every day.

Life is fragile and so precious, take the time to love yourself and to love those around you."

https://www.gofundme.com/f/alex-yerkey

For Women's History Month we are sharing Wendy Varga Berrill 's perspective of work/life balance how she manages to do it all! There are so many women out there who can relate to this!

Work-life balance is challenging. Some might even say impossible. If you want to get everything you can get out of your career and out of your personal life, I just don’t see a way to make it all work perfectly. But there is a balance, a sort of swing, from one way to the other at certain times throughout your life and career.

At Michael Baker International, I currently manage a department of 24 people (with the help of excellent staff managers, too), while managing some very demanding projects, growing my team, and focusing on client relationships. At home, I am the mom of 3 boys, ages 9, 6, and 4, and the stepmom of a 16-year-old girl who lives full-time with me and my husband.

Having four children and a successful career is very challenging, but it can be done with the right tools, the right help, and the right attitude. My children bring so much joy into my life, and my career brings so much pride. It’s all about balance. I try my hardest to be present for my family when I’m home and present with work when I’m working. There are many ways to balance a career and home life and I am learning and growing with each step I take. I’ve learned to use tools like list-making and schedules. I’ve learned to make more comprehensive lists, make schedules and stick to them, remember to schedule time for myself, and most importantly ask for help when I need it.

I’m very lucky to have found a supportive company, a supportive boss, and an amazing team at Michael Baker. They’ve given me the opportunities I’ve asked for (and haven’t asked for but needed to push myself and grow in my career). My team is the best and I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without each of them. I rely on them every day and I can always count on them to help when needed. I’ve learned over the past several years how to delegate and how to ask for help rather than try to do everything myself. I’ve found mentors and coworkers who have become great friends and who are there to support, guide, and push me in my career.

I’m also extremely fortunate to have a supportive husband and close family. My husband knows how demanding my career can be, he understands that I won’t always be home every night and that I need to travel every now and then, and he takes on the full home responsibilities with no complaint and a great amount of support. My parents live nearby and watch the kids while we work, when they’re not in school, while also providing support in whatever way we need whenever they can.

I don’t believe that one person can create a real work-life balance all on their own. It’s so important to find a good support system, a reliable team, and a supportive and flexible company. Oh, and of course a cleaning service, grocery delivery, lawn service, and an Amazon subscription… 😊

Help PennDOT reach their goal of 10,000 respondents in their Public Outreach Campaign for the Update of the Statewide 12-Year Transportation Program. Take the survey until April 1st and sign up for the Public Forum on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM https://conta.cc/3njoyZ3

PennDOT Public Outreach Campaign   PennDOT has launched a public outreach campaign to update the 12-Year Transportation Program (TYP). As members and friends of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), you are a vital part of the tr

Do you know a young women in middle school or high school interested in attending a STEM summer camp this summer? We have an opportunity for them to apply for a scholarship to attend a camp of their choice for free! Are they interested, but don't know what opportunities are out there? We have a list of options, too!

Application deadline is April 28, 2023!

https://www.wtsinternational.org/chapters/pittsburgh/transportation-you/scholarship-opportunities

For Women’s History month, Katie is sharing a piece of her story in hopes of bringing awareness, helping others feel seen, and sharing some of her professional accomplishments along the way. The piece of her story – returning to work after becoming a mother.

Becoming a mother and returning to work is complex and challenging for so many reasons, many of which are highly personal and out of our control. Katie returned to work from an exhausting 12 weeks of maternity leave. Her husband, Tony, started 12 weeks of FMLA to bond with Wyatt (the first at his company to do so) as she transitioned back. Adjusting to their new normal seemed to be going well, difficult of course but manageable. From her direct managers to upper management, Katie received nothing but unequivocal, resounding support. She knew she could have open conversations and they would meet her where she was. Never questioning her needs. Co-workers were flexible in scheduling meetings to accommodate her pumping schedule. Time in the office was flexible. She worked a reduced 32 hours the first year and was still a key-contributor to the same types of projects she worked on pre-maternity leave.

Approaching Tony's return to work, they followed up with the daycare they had lined up. They called, emailed, talked to other parents, and even showed up at the daycare. No response. They exhausted their backup daycares with the same outcome. Panicked, they contacted every possible childcare solution in a 30-minute radius and were met with 1-2 year long waitlists. Available, affordable childcare was nonexistent. Miraculously, Tony found an opening at a wonderful daycare through a co-worker. The only catch - location. Initially a stop-gap solution, Tony still drives Wyatt to daycare 20 minutes past his work. That’s an extra 80 minutes every day since May 2, 2022, approximately 300 hours to date! His sacrifice to take on that commute allowed Katie to maintain her career. As a nursing mother, it would have naturally fallen to her to step back and stay home.

Despite these hurdles, Katie still played an integral role in delivering projects. She was heavily relied on for her technical expertise and ability to quickly adapt to demands of large design build projects. She was promoted to Structural Engineer III and received a raise. She was accepted and fully supported by AECOM to attend the WTS Signature Leadership Training in DC. All while working 32 hours, pumping, and working hybrid. Katie is a valuable member of the team, but her talent can only be leveraged with personal and professional support at this time in her life.

Katie hopes sharing her personal experience brings a sense of community to those going through something similar. She also hopes it gives pause to those who may be asking employees to show up in a way that isn’t practical for them at a given moment in time. Reflecting on her own experience, she can’t help but wonder what talent is being restricted by withholding support.

Get ready for the outing with our members only golf tune up event at Scally's on the Pitch & Put Course. https://conta.cc/40hvODb

WTS Pittsburgh Golf Tune up Brush Up on Your Pitch & Put Skills     Register for the Scally's Golf Tune-up "By taking golf lessons at Scally's Golf & Training Center, you are tapping into nearly 100 years of combined golf teachi

We had a fantastic time at our WTS Awards Luncheon on March 2nd! Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to Kim Lucas of the City of Pittsburgh DOMI for speaking at our event. We are going to be moving some of our events around this year, so we will be hosting our next Awards Luncheon this fall. We hope to see you there!

Last Chance to Register and Silent Auction is open for bids online!
Be sure to register by Wednesday March 16th!
https://conta.cc/3mEQPJg

Scholarship Gala - Last Chance - Silent Auction Bidding Open! Registration Closes WEDNESDAY Member/Government Rate: $135 (includes 1 drink ticket) Non-Member Rate: $175 (includes 1 drink ticket) Student Rate: $80 (does not include drink tickets) Reservations for

Save the date for the second annual WTS Pittsburgh Chapter Golf outing on May 18th, 2023, at Birdsfoot! This is a casual 9 hole event for everyone to enjoy. See you all in May! https://conta.cc/3kX5eQy

Save the Date - Second Annual WTS Pittsburgh Golf Outing Save the Date! Whether your golf game is above average, just average, or below average (or really below average), please join us for nine holes of golf at the picturesque Birdsfoot Golf Club at 10:00a