2025 WTS Metro Phoenix Award Nominations
NEW MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognizes the initiatives taken by a member who joined as a member of the Metropolitan Phoenix Chapter in the current calendar year. By doing so, please describe how they have successfully achieved one or more of the following:
- Reinforced the goals of the association by actively participating in Chapter activities that help to assist advancing women in transportation.
- Supported the local Chapter through involvement in serving as a committee member or being active in various events sponsored by the Chapter.
- Encourages others to join or support the Chapter through sponsorship, membership or participating as a volunteer.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
This category is designed to reach out beyond our membership to honor a woman who is an outstanding role model in transportation. Through our choice we can raise WTS visibility internationally and in our local community. It is not a reward for service to our organization. Selection criteria is based upon a woman who:
- Is a leader in transportation and has made an outstanding contribution to the transportation industry.
- Has directly contributed toward the advancement of women and people of color through programs or opportunities in the transportation field.
- Through her career achievements and support of women in the industry has advanced the reputation and credibility of women in transportation.
MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award is our opportunity to acknowledge a WTS member who has made extraordinary contributions to the success of the organization. Selection criteria is based upon a member who has:
- Shown an extraordinary commitment to the goals and growth of WTS.
- Promoted the reputation of WTS within the transportation industry.
- Worked effectively to strengthen communication within the chapter.
- Done an outstanding job of revitalizing or expanding a chapter or any of its functions.
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
This award is designed to honor businesses for their support of the goals and purpose of WTS. It is not a reward for monetary contributions. Selection criteria is based upon an employer who:
- Has enhanced the transportation industry through its commitment to excellence and quality in the services it provides or products it produces.
- Has an outstanding record of affirmative action in hiring and promoting at all employment levels.
- Supports continuing education of its employees through:
- Professional education
- Professional organizations
- Professional development opportunities
- Encourages women students to enter the transportation field by providing internship opportunities.
- Has supported WTS.
HONORABLE RAY LAHOOD AWARD
This award, essentially a “man of the year” award, has been created to recognize the men that have been key to WTS International’s effort to attract, retain, and advance women in transportation. WTS has long called for men to take an active role in bringing more women to the industry and to help women achieve the highest levels of leadership. It is not a reward for service to our organization. Selection criteria is based upon a man who:
- Has led by example, seeks out opportunities to advance and advocate for women in his own organization, and actively ensures that women are able to compete for key positions of authority within that organization.
- Has directly contributed toward the advancement of women and people of color through programs or opportunities in the transportation field.
- Has made an outstanding contribution to the transportation industry.
ROSA PARKS DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP
The WTS Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award was named for an African American woman who changed the course of history on December 5, 1955, after refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama and was arrested. Her action sparked a year-long transit boycott and led to new public transit laws, launched the modern American civil rights movement and other freedom movements throughout the world.
The WTS Diversity Award recognizes astute organizations, companies and innovative individuals that are broadening their multi-cultural initiatives, changing corporate cultures and philosophies. In doing so, it showcases - like Rosa Parks - that one person or one organization can make a difference. This award was conceived to honor those individuals and organizations for being bold in their support and promotion of diversity, inclusiveness, and multi-cultural awareness within their organization, the transportation industry or in a project or activity that supports the WTS Diversity goals and mission.
Selection criteria is based on an individual or organization that has:
- Exhibited extraordinary efforts or initiatives in facilitating professional opportunities for women and people of color.
- Contributed significantly to promoting diversity, inclusion and multi-cultural awareness within their organization, the transportation industry, or in a project or activity that supports the goals and mission of WTS
INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
WTS members across the globe share a common commitment to advancing women in transportation – the core mission that guides our organization. We also recognize that transportation has a tremendous impact on advancing people’s lives each and every day.
As women in transportation, we are mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, caregivers, community volunteers, mentors, and more. We recognize the role of transportation in supporting our communities. Transportation transforms lives and ties communities together through mobility. Mobility supports core community values such as healthy children and families, better opportunities for advancement and peaceful safer neighborhoods.
Whether it is a van trip to the doctor’s office for dialysis, a shared ride to third-shift jobs, senior citizen day trips or safe refugee transport, transportation organizations in our community work each day to improve the lives of citizens through better transportation. Through the Innovative Transportation Solutions Award, WTS annually salutes the creative work of an organization whose outstanding and innovative transportation project or service has improved the quality of life for its users and the community.
Selection criteria is based on an individual, organization or program that has exemplified:
- How the transportation element of the program has contributed to the success of the initiative.
- How the project supports one or more key community values, such as improved accessibility to key services, employment, or other opportunities.
- What obstacles, if any, were overcome to provide this service or build this project.
- How it has made a difference in the lives of its users.