Fortunately, Theresa M. Dau-Ngo speaks both planning and engineering…

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Theresa M. Dau-Ngo’s job at the Port of Long Beach (POLB) is really complex. For the past eight years she served as Manager of Transportation Development, and was recently appointed to the position of Acting Director of Transportation Planning. She oversees a number of different functions, including planning and transportation studies, the port’s Traffic Management Program, grant applications and reporting, and agency/stakeholder collaboration on freight-related issues. But that doesn’t quite capture the element that makes her job so complex. When it comes to the port, everything takes on quite another scale. And Dau-Ngo wouldn’t have it any other way.

“One of the things that’s really exciting is that I get to work on these huge projects,” explains Dau-Ngo. “The Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment Project is massive, and it’s touted as the greenest, most advanced terminal in the world. We’ve got another big project in development, the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility. And then there’s the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement project. We’re always working on something grand to improve the port.”

Though each project presents its own unique challenges, the bridge replacement project stands out. Dubbed Portmagedden by a local newspaper, the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement project required replacing the bridge without interrupting port vehicle traffic, an incredible challenge. But Dau-Ngo knew that she and her team could make it work.  

“Someone likened replacing the bridge with trying to change the tire on a moving car. I think of it as renovating your home while you’re living in it. In the end, though, it came down to clear and extensive communication and ensuring that all stakeholders understood every aspect of the project and how it would affect them. And it worked. A number of port tenants came to me and my team at the end and simply said, ‘Thank you. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.’ That was very gratifying, as it’s hard to celebrate avoidance of the negative, celebrate something that does not happen.” There’s another reason why her approach was successful.

“The transportation industry tends to be very engineering focused. But I’m a planner with an engineering degree. So, I understand and translate technical information into plain language for senior executives, elected officials, and port stakeholders. Unless things are explained clearly, important messages can get lost. So, I try to bridge the gap between parties and I think that helps us build success together.”

In addition, Dau-Ngo sees another critical reason for her professional success.

“I’ve been a part of WTS for a long time, since I was at USC and working part time in a consulting firm. When I was applying for grad school, I won a scholarship with WTS Orange County. I continued to stay engaged with WTS while I was getting my two master’s degrees and it was through a WTS event at Berkeley where I connected to my first full-time job. So, WTS has been very important to my career. I was on the board in the Bay Area and a committee co-chair. Now, I’m very happy to join the WTS-LA board and become even more involved.”

“I want to give back to WTS and the industry. I know there are women professionals coming along and building their careers, as I once did. I want to serve as a role model to them and provide pathways that can open up their careers. I want to help them contribute to the transportation industry in ways that will be meaningful and important. And that benefits the industry as well, as the next generation of women may have the revolutionary solutions we need to solve tomorrow’s transportation challenges. This also fits perfectly with my work at the port, as we’re focusing intently on environmental justice and equity issues. In fact, I’m the equity and inclusion champion for my division. I also know the literal value of role models. I wasn’t aware transportation was a career until someone from the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission visited my high school drafting class and invited me to participate in the Transportation Occupations Program. So, serving on the WTS-LA board is part of a very personal mission for me, to advance women and the transportation industry.”