WTS Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Chapter

Are you excited for our 2025 Annual Awards Gala? So are we! We are now accepting RSVP's to the 2025 Annual Awards Gala! Join us for "A Night With The Stars", where we will come together as a community to honor our awards and scholarship recipients, listen to our amazing keynote speaker, and enjoy some great food and company. Reserve your spot now and receive our early bird special pricing! This deal only lasts until November 22nd, so scan that QR code now to make sure you don't miss out on this incredible night. We can't wait to see you there!

WTS Spokane/CDA is seeking awards nominations! Winners will be invited to be honored at our 2025 Annual Awards Gala. We recognize outstanding professionals, organizations, and projects that support this group’s mission of advancing women in the transportation industry and in our community. See below for our nomination categories, and submit nominations for those that you know deserve to be recognized! Member of the Year: Recognizes a WTS member who has made extraordinary contributions to the success of the organization. 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. Honorable Ray LaHood Award (Man of the Year): Named for former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, this award honors a man who has been key to WTS' efforts to attract, retain, and advance women in transportation. Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award: An individual exhibiting extraordinary efforts or initiatives in facilitating professional opportunities for women and minorities. Employer of the Year: Recognizes a Spokane-Coeur d'Alene region business, agency, or organization for its support of the goals and purpose of WTS. Innovative Transportation Solutions: Honors a recent transportation project or service led by a woman that improves the quality of life for its users and the community. Scan the QR code to get to our online nominations forms and fill a few out today!

WTS's August Member of the Month is Carole Richardson from Plangineering, LLC! Carole grew up in Seattle and studied Civil Engineering at the University of Washington, graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 1987! In school, she focused on water resources engineering, hoping that she would work in ocean engineering. She moved to the Inland Northwest and instead went to work for the City of Spokane, then the Idaho Transportation Department. She mostly kept a transportation focus after that, through a job at the Oregon DOT and later into consulting. Since 2013, Carole has had her own small company, Plangineering LLC, working mostly in transportation planning. She states, "There are so many things I like about being my own boss. Control over who I work with and how I spend my time is probably at the top of the list. I really like being able to choose clients with missions I believe in, and to choose projects that are interesting to me personally. The ability to shift focus as my interests change is another favorite aspect, because it keeps me from getting into too much of a rut." Carole has been a WTS member Since the chapter’s inception in 2016! She was on the original team that incorporated the new Spokane/Coeur d’Alene chapter, along with Eve McMenamy, Katy Allen, Kathleen Weinand, Suzanne Holm, Roxanne Grimm, and Melissa Cleveland. She states, "It’s been gratifying to see the chapter take off and provide leadership opportunities for the next generation of transportation professionals here. There've been several waves of new officers and committee chairs since the chapter was launched, and with each new wave I’ve been impressed with the dedication and professionalism of those who've stepped up. One thing I especially value about WTS is its inclusiveness. Other industry associations I've belonged to had members who were mostly engineers or mostly planners, and some required a professional license to belong. I like the broader variety of people that WTS represents. During the pandemic when we were all struggling with confinement at home our chapter did a session on “how to avoid burnout”, which I thought was really super. Social get-togethers are helpful for growing professional connections, and WTS does a great job of providing those networking opportunities. The chapter’s annual awards gala and scholarship program have become big deals for our region too. There are so many beneficial things that WTS does." Carole, it is such an honor to have you as part of this chapter and helping us begin back in 2016! We have loved having you through every step of our growth, and are so appreciative of your continued support and belief in our mission.

We are so excited for this event! Can't wait to see you all there!

Our next Board Member Highlight is our sponsorship committee chair, Mark Brower! Mark was born and raised in Spokane, Washington and attended North Central Highschool. After graduating, he moved on to the University of Washington where he received his Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering and found his wife, Cindy. They started a family, and moved back to Spokane in 2006 with their 2 boys. The family loves spending time at the lake, boating, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and huckleberry picking. Mark states, "Aside from creating so many fantastic family memories - it is my happy place." Mark has been a transportation engineer since graduating from college, and has had the opportunity to work in a variety of sectors including port/maine waterfront, aviation, transit, roadway/highway and bridge! " I love learning, stepping out of my comfort zone and the diversity of projects and amazing clients has kept my career fresh and fun. Now, as a Principal at KPFF Consulting Engineers here in Spokane, I am in the latter part of my career now. So, in addition to being excited about every project I work on, I love growing our practice here in Spokane and have surrounded myself with the best people to work with and for." When asked how he knew he wanted to be a transportation engineer, Mark responded, "My bachelor's degree focused on Limnology and lake/stream restoration. But when there's no jobs available when you graduate - you take what comes along. I am so happy I did. I started doing roadway widening and bridge replacement projects in growing King and Snohomish counties and never looked back. As soon as I saw that first roadway widening constructed with fish-passable culverts and improved safety for all modes of transportation, I was so hooked! There is no better feeling than working on projects that improve our community." Mark's involvement with WTS began with a "quick question" email asking if he could help score the WTS Recognition awards in 2017. He states that after that, attending the first gala made him recognize "what a great group of people this is." In addition, "I am fortunate to have a spouse who is a fantastic engineer and project manager! She has provided me with the understanding, perspective and motivation to actively support and grow a much-needed diversity in our industry. The growth and impact of our local WTS Chapter has been so fun to witness and be a part of. And as I have always said, we throw the absolute BEST industry events in the region." Fun Facts: One of Mark's other hobbies is restoring old cars! He loves the mix of manual labor and problem solving. We are so fortunate to have you are a part of this group and board, Mark! Your support and care in helping us achieve our mission is recognized and appreciated, and we could not do it without you!

Today we celebrate the WTS Members and professionals leading the aviation industry! From running airports and managing cargo to protecting our airspace, we thank you for your critical work connecting people, cultures, and businesses around the world. #AviationDay #wtsinternational

We are continuing our series of Board Member Highlights with our Past President and NW Regional Liaison, Robyn Lashbrook! Robyn became a WTS member in 2013 while she was in Boise starting her career. The SW Idaho Chapter reached out to her company, and as she was the only female engineer at the small firm, she was the top choice to represent. She has been a WTS member for 11 years, and has been involved as a board member for the last 10 years. Robyn states, "I love the networking opportunities. When beginning my career, it helped me get to know the other firms, engineers, and projects in the area. I then moved to the Spokane/CDA area after 4 years [in Boise], and the local chapter helped me rebuild my network here. I'm so grateful for WTS in helping me feel welcome and connected to the Engineering community." Robyn was born and raised in Spokane, Washington where she attended Riverside for all K-12. After gradating, she moved to Moscow, Idaho to receive her degree from "THE University of Idaho". When trying to decide on a career path, she knew she excelled in math, and she wanted to do something that would both interest and challenge her. "I looked up careers in math and tried out accounting 101 and engineering 101 at Spokane Falls Community College. The accounting class was really easy, and the engineering class was more of a challenge, so I picked engineering and didn't look back. Transportation engineering classes were my favorite, but that could be because I had some amazing transportation professors." Her and her husband now have two boys, ages 3 and 5, and they love spending time together in church, with friends, and playing with the boys. She is also looking forward to all the future family vacations! Robyn is the Assistant Project Engineer in the North Spokane Corridor office of the Washington State Department of Transportation. She states, "It's unreal to get to help deliver this once in a lifetime mega project in my hometown." Fun Facts: Robyn loves being silly and making people laugh. Her mission is always to make people feel comfortable so they can be themselves around her; they are welcome and loved no matter what! Thank you Robyn for all you do! We love your bubbly personality and the light hearted fun you share with all of us. Our chapter would not be the same without you!

As students around the country return to school this month, it is important to consider their safety and ease of the journey to and from school. Ensuring children have #SafeRoutes to School, and incorporating active travel is critical for their health and success. Learn more about the impact of Safe Routes to School and how they can impact safety for all residents: https://bit.ly/3Vwk7I0 #BackToSchool #WTSInternational

Our next program is coming up quick! Don't miss out and RSVP now by sending us an email at [email protected]! Deadline to RSVP is 5pm on Friday, August 16th. Please join us for a Spokane Transit Leadership Panel: “Careers in Transit: How Did We Get Here?” When: Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 11:30am - 1:00pm 11:30am – 12:00pm: Networking 12:00pm – 1:00pm: Program Location: Spokane Transit Authority (STA) Southside Conference Room 1230 W Boone Avenue Spokane, WA 99201 Parking: STA Visitor Lot Bus Routes: #22 and #23 have stops in front of STA’s main building Panelists include: E. Susan Meyer – STA Chief Executive Officer Nancy Williams – STA Chief Human Resources Officer Carly Cortright – STA Chief Communications & Customer Service Officer Emily Poole – STA Principal Planner Lunch will be provided! WTS Members – FREE Non-Members – $10 Please use this payment link (https://lnkd.in/gcYZs8m4) or pay at the door! Can't wait to see you there!

Congratulations to our membership raffle winner, Kaela M.! At this year's Summer Kickoff Social, Kaela won a free, year long WTS membership. Kaela grew up in Spokane and received her Bachelor's in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington. She met her husband while at school in Seattle, and in 2019 they decided to move back to Spokane to start a family. She states, "We just started growing our flock (last year with a human instead of more chickens) and have been enjoying making new memories doing activities we've always loved together." The family enjoys camping, gardening, and Nordic skiing! Kaela is also an avid reader, loves lifting weights at her local FarmGirlFit gym, and has biked the Crater Lake Rim Ride three times! Kaela is a project manager at Evergreen StormH2O in Spokane, and she loves the leadership opportunities at the women-owned, small business she helped to start two years ago. When asked what excites her about being a WTS member, Kaela replied, "I'm looking forward to developing and making new friendships with other WTS ladies in the area!" We can't wait to get to know you more, Kaela, and look forward to supporting you in both your career and personal growth.