Chapter Awards
WTS Columbus Annual Recognition Awards
Nominations for the WTS Columbus 2024 Recognition Awards are OPEN! Each year the Columbus Chapter honors professionals in our industry with six awards. Refer to the descriptions below for additional details about each award.
Applications are due Friday, August 30, 2024!
Member of the Year
Acknowledges a WTS Columbus member who has made extraordinary contributions to the success of the organization.
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Woman of the Year
Honors a woman who is an outstanding role model and has contributed to the advancement of women and minorities in transportation.
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Honorable Ray Lahood (Man of the Year)
Recognizes a male WTS Columbus member who is a leader in the transportation industry and has contributed to the advancement of women in transportation.
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Employer of the Year
Honors an organization (company, non-profit association, or government agency) for recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in transportation.
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Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award
Honors an individual, group, or organization that has made significant contributions in promoting diversity and cultural awareness within their organization, the transportation industry, project, or activity that supports the goals and mission of WTS.
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Innovative Transportation Solutions Award
Salutes the creative work of an innovative transportation project or service led by a woman.
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For questions, please contact Natalie Sakian at [email protected]
Congratulations to our 2023 award winners!
Member of the Year - Megan Valentine, Mead and Hunt
Megan Valentine exemplifies the traits of a leader. She is proactive and always willing to go the extra mile. Megan not only serves as the WTS Columbus Chapter’s Director at Large AND our Scholarship Chair, she is also involved in other transportation related organizations, and participated in the 2022-2023 ACEC Rising Leader Program. Outside of her multiple roles within the Columbus Chapter of WTS, her involvement with other organizations, and her job as a traffic engineer at Mead and Hunt, she is a mother of two young children – she truly does it all! Congratulations Megan!
Woman of the Year - Gail Massie, TranSystems
Gail Massie is Assistant Vice President and Ohio Roadway Team Lead at TranSystems. She also serves as one of the leaders of TranSystems’ national Roadway Practice Community, serving as the Roundabout Subcommittee Chair. Gail has earned the respect of her peers and team due to her hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to her trade, industry, office, and team members. She leads by example as a supervisor and project manager, encouraging her team to break down the walls around them to gain the experience needed for professional advancement while supporting them along the way. In addition, Gail is an invaluable asset to the WTS Columbus Chapter, currently serving a board member and corporate sponsor chair. Congratulations Gail Massie!
Employer of the Year - City of Columbus Department of Public Service's (DPS)
The City of Columbus Department of Public Service's (DPS) commitment to promoting and building the careers of their female employees is exhibited through their multiple female leaders in supervisory positions. DPS also reaches outside their organization to support women by partnering with the Ohio Reformatory for Women in their vocational training program where women can learn front-line maintenance jobs, providing a second chance for formerly incarcerated women.
Honorable Ray LaHood - Cornell Robertson, Franklin County
Cornell Robertson is the County Engineer for everyone in Franklin County. He has shattered glass ceilings and paved the way for female leaders to excel. The female workforce has increased to thirty percent under his administration, almost double of the national average. His high level of professionalism not only receives respect from his colleagues, but he also sets an example for others in the community to aspire to.
2023 Innovative Transportation Solutions Award
Despite numerous obstacles facing the industry, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s passenger air service experienced both pre-pandemic growth and post-pandemic regrowth under the guidance of Betsy Taylor. Since March 2020, CRAA has added two new airlines to CMH’s offerings and brought multiple new and valuable routes to Columbus that serve both business and leisure travelers. CRAA supports over 57,000 jobs in Ohio and has an annual economic impact of $12.9 billion. There are now over 50 nonstop flight destination, a total of 11 airlines offering passenger commercial service out of Columbus, and passenger traffic has recovered to 93% of pre-pandemic levels. Betsy has positioned CRAA and our region to face future air service strategy with strength and confidence.