Public Transit Leadership Discussed at WTS Annual Conference

CIRCE TORRUELLAS
COMTO DC Scholarship Committee Chair

From May 5-7, transportation leaders gathered at the 2026 WTS International Annual Conference in Los Angeles, CA. Women across transportation, engineering, planning, construction, aviation, and infrastructure discussed innovation and the future of mobility, as well as the future of leadership, all under the theme “Leading the Way: Accelerating Innovation in Transportation.” Across executive roundtables, technical sessions, and candid conversations among peers, one theme became clear in the lessons shared: leadership is not about perfection or position, is about navigating uncertainty but with purpose, resilience, and creating pathways for others to rise.

A panel on “Lessons in Excellence, Legacy, and Leadership from WTS Women of the Year” featured panelists including Laurie Matkowski (GFT Infrastructure, Inc.), Marsha Anderson Bomar, Nadine Lee (formerly Dallas Area Rapid Transit), and Nuria Fernandez, led by Leslie S. Richards (Lumenor Consulting Group). The panel addressed resilient leadership and the pressures that come with it, such as often feeling the need to appear strong while carrying personal and professional challenges. The conference emphasized that resilient leadership requires self-care, optimism, asking for and accepting help, and recognizing when it is time to move away from situations that no longer support growth.

During the Plenary Session Voices of Vision-AASHTO Panel, Bridgette Beato, Chair of WTS International, interviewed women leaders of several DOTs, Shante Hasting (Secretary, Delaware DOT), Gia Biagin (Secretary, Illinois DOT), Marie-Therese Dominguez, (Commissioner of New York State DOT), and Dina El-Tawansy (Director, California DOT). The panel leaders emphasized confidence, self-awareness, and embracing the experiences that shape us. They reminded attendees that growth often begins with “wobbling knees” by stepping outside comfort zones and facing challenges head-on. As Commissioner Dominguez shared, leaders should “be like a buffalo,” moving through storms rather than away from them.

A “Men Supporting Women in Transportation” panel composed of leaders Russel McMurry (Commissioner, Georgia DOT), Randy Clarke (CEO, WMATA; APTA Board and Executive Committee member), Gene Seroka (Executive Director, Port of LA) and Ricky Smith (General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport) emphasized the importance of amplifying women’s voices in rooms where decisions are made, along with the importance of sponsorship, mentorship, and community-centered leadership. Clarke was presented with the WTS International National Ray LaHood Man of the Year Award in part for his commitment to ongoing sponsorship of women leadership throughout his career. 

The conference reinforced that transportation leadership is deeply connected to people and purpose. Whether discussing funding gaps, innovation, congestion, workforce development, or emerging technologies, speakers consistently returned to the idea that transportation exists to connect people to opportunities.