It was not an easy path, but Gloria Roberts has a telling illustration for how she traversed the challenges and  opportunities to become Chief Deputy Director of Caltrans District 7. “Alex Honnold was the first person to free climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. And he said, ‘My comfort zone is like a little bubble around me, and I’ve pushed it in different directions, and made it bigger and bigger until these objectives that seemed totally crazy eventually fall within the realm of the possible.’” And that’s exactly how she continues to blaze trails for Caltrans and the transportation industry today.

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District 7, comprised of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, is the second largest Caltrans district. So, as the number two ranking officer behind District 7 Director Tony Tavares, Roberts has her work cut out for her. But she understands her role and the value she brings to the table. 

“The district director is primarily external facing, meeting with all of the local, county, and state elected officials to make sure we’re meeting the needs of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Internally, I have all of the division directors, all of our functional areas, reporting to me. So, I make sure that the necessary things happen internally to facilitate Tony’s and Caltrans' overall vision. Essentially, the district’s day-to-day functioning is pretty much my wheelhouse.” 

Working closely with Tavares, Roberts also brings history; she began her nearly 14-year Caltrans career in District 12. In fact, when Tavares became director, he said to her, “We’re going to be joined at the hip.” And that’s proven true, as Roberts believes that every Caltrans director and chief deputy must be in sync to succeed. She’s also come to realize another key element for success in transportation—WTS. But her experience with WTS was initially colored by a certain misperception. 

“I’m not an engineer. And when I first learned about WTS, I thought you had to be one to join. My perception was that it was only for technical people and I come from administration. Through my interaction with WTS (in Orange County) and here in District 7, I realized that WTS really encompasses everyone in transportation. 

“Then, when our previous district director, John Bulinski, who was a WTS-LA Director at Large, retired, he asked me to replace him on the WTS-LA board. Now I feel so fortunate to be in the role for a number of reasons, but this one in particular. I’ve met many women at Caltrans who are also working moms. And they feel that they can only advance so far with a family. I’m a working mom and I want them to feel they have support so that they can determine how far they can go. They don’t have to ‘have it all,’ but they should be able to have what they want.” 

So, what does she look to accomplish as a WTS-LA Director at Large? 

“I want to serve and influence transportation policy and be a mentor to other women. I also want to broaden the awareness that WTS-LA is for everyone, including non-engineers. And I want District 7 to be a more active participant in the chapter. I also want people to learn that the public sector and Caltrans are a great place to work. Civil service is extremely rewarding and important.” 

Roberts believes strongly in the public sector’s role in advancing WTS-LA’s mission. She also feels that WTS-LA provides a unique forum in that regard. 

“Everyone has been so welcoming. They’ve really folded me into their embrace and seem so appreciative for whatever I can contribute. The networking aspect has also been extremely positive. I’m thrilled to be a part of WTS-LA, as it’s usually hard as an introvert to go out and feel comfortable meeting people. But they make it easy. And the programs have been wonderful so far. I can really see how it will be of value to Caltrans as well.”