Erin Slayton

As HDR’s Transportation Program Management Director, Erin N. Slayton, Vice President, has extensive experience in alternative delivery, business development and cross-sector engagement. Her 21-year tenure in the industry has given her the opportunity to establish trust and respect that creates healthy professional environments among her client and project teams. Erin leverages HDR’s wide range of services, coordinating staffing and service excellence. Her experience working on complex, multi-billion-dollar programs across North America allows her to guide teams on the delivery of holistic, value-added services throughout the project lifecycle.

A licensed Professional Engineer in California, Washington, Arizona and South Carolina, Erin is also a Designated Design-Build Professional®, an Envision™ Sustainability Professional and Vice Chair of the Civil Engineering Advisory Board at The Citadel. Erin is often sought out by leaders across the industry for her insight, knowledge and participation in areas around inclusion, diversity and equity. She chairs HDR’s Transportation Inclusion Diversity and Equity Committee and recently held regional leadership positions in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

Erin is an active member of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), most recently serving as a Director-At-Large for the WTS-SC chapter, where she is a proud chartering member. 

Alexa Gangemi

Alexa Gangemi is Vice President and Senior Project Manager at HNTB where she works with different teams to deliver critical transportation infrastructure projects.  Her expertise is focused on helping organizations identify, select and implement technology to improve their operations and processes, with a particular focus on fare payment systems.  Alexa has experience ranging from initial planning and strategy development through systems implementation, project management and operations for transportation agencies around the country.  Alexa has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Cornell University and a master’s in Engineering from MIT. 

Alexa has been an active member of WTS for more than 17 years, most recently serving as Treasurer for the WTS International Board from 2022-2024.  She has also served in various committee and board roles for the Greater New York Chapter, including President from 2018-2019, as well as in roles supporting multiple WTS national conferences.  Alexa is looking forward to continuing her work with the WTS International Board to advance the mission and vision of WTS.  

Monica Backmon

Monica Backmon is the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and has led NVTA since May 2014. Bringing more than 25 years of public and private sector transportation experience, Ms. Backmon oversees the region’s long-range planning, prioritization, and funding of regionally significant projects bringing multimodal transportation solutions to Northern Virginia. Managing an annual revenue stream provided through House Bill 2313 that is trending at $425 million per year, Ms. Backmon led the NVTA through the adoption of all six funding programs, the most recent occurring in July of 2022. With the implementation of NVTA’s funding programs, NVTA is advancing 122 regional multimodal transportation projects totaling nearly $3.12 billion for congestion reduction throughout the region. Ms. Backmon also oversees the distribution of $110 million annually to the Authority’s nine member localities for their local transportation priorities, which surpassed a total of $1 billion in September 2023.

Ms. Backmon holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Bridgette Beato

Bridgette Beato is an accomplished entrepreneur and leader, known for her contributions to the transportation industry. As the Founder and CEO of Lumenor Consulting Group, she has established a reputable firm specializing in various aspects of transportation, such as Program Management/Project Control, Environmental and Transportation Planning, GIS, and Asset Management. Since its inception in 2007, Lumenor has demonstrated expertise in serving the largest transit and transportation agencies across the United States, as well as Fortune 500 companies.

In addition to her role at Lumenor, Bridgette has been actively involved in fostering diversity and empowering women in the transportation sector. Her leadership extends beyond her business ventures to her involvement with organizations like WTS International, where she has served on the Board of Directors since 2018 and held the position of WTS Foundation Board Treasurer from 2020 to 2022. Through these roles, she has advocated for women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, while also dedicating time to mentorship initiatives.

Bridgette's impact transcends her professional endeavors; she has contributed her expertise to academia as well. Her role as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University/The National Transit Institute underscores her commitment to knowledge dissemination and educational advancement within the transportation field. Through her authored and delivered courses, she has shared insights and best practices with future industry professionals.

Bridgette's dedication and excellence have been recognized through various awards and accolades. Notably, she was honored with the 2020 Railway Age Women in Rail Awards, highlighting her leadership within the rail sector. Additionally, her commitment to creating exceptional workplace environments was acknowledged with the 2020 Exceptional Companies to Work For award. Furthermore, her inclusion in the 100 Women of Influence in Georgia from 2019 to 2024 is a testament to her enduring impact and leadership within the state.

Overall, Bridgette Beato's professional journey is characterized by a steadfast commitment to excellence, advocacy for women, and a passion for advancing the transportation industry. Her multifaceted contributions as a business leader, mentor, educator, and advocate are aimed to inspire others.