The Go Gala is only one week away! The Gala will feature a silent auction, cocktail reception, dinner, awards, and the famous Wine Raffle. All members attending are encouraged to bring a bottle of wine to contribute to the raffle! Raffle tickets can be purchased during the event.

If you haven't yet registered for the Gala, do so HERE. Registration closes tomorrow, May 9.

The evening will be hosted by the emcee of the night and honored guest, Julie White, NCDOT Deputy Secretary of Multi-Modal Transportation. All money raised will go towards the Chapter's Foundation, which supports scholarships and Transportation YOU.

WTS International recently announced the 2025 Recognition Award Recipients, which included Sarah Searcy, Emerging Technologies and Innovation Manager for NCDOT, who received the Innovative Transportation Solutions Award. She is being recognized at the WTSI Annual Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this week.

The NC Triangle Chapter submitted Sarah as a nominee for her work with NCDOT's Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation (CASSI) program. CASSI is the state's leading pilot program for connected and automated vehicles. It offers the public free shared rides to introduce them to automated vehicle technology, and demonstrates how this technology can currently enhance public transportation. Congratulations to Sarah!

Registration is open for the June luncheon focusing on the NC 147 Study in Durham. It will be held June 25 at the Durham Armory. NC 147, also called the Durham Freeway, cut through several neighborhoods when it was built in the 1970s. The study was initiated by the City of Durham in January 2024 to look at ways to reconnect these neighborhoods. The study is now entering the concept phase. The project managers from the city's Transportation Department will provide an update on the study, the engagement, and the next steps.

Name: Sierra Browder

Hometown: Naples, FL

When did you join WTS? March 2024

Why did you join WTS? To connect with other women in the transportation industry.

Where do you work/How long? GFT / 3.5 years

What is your title? Environmental Planner/Noise Analyst

What do you like best about your job? I like being out in the field! I enjoy getting a feel for where our projects are located and collecting data to bring back and analyze in the office.

What is your favorite project you've worked on? Why? We recently had a project in South Carolina I really enjoyed. I was involved with the traffic noise analysis of the project from beginning to end and liked working on all the different components of our report. 

What do you like to do in your free time? In my free time, I love to get moving! I enjoy yoga, tennis, and walks with my husband and our two dogs. We live near a greenway that we try to get out on almost every day!

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself: My great grandparents built a cottage in Ontario, Canada. I have spent time there every summer starting when I was 3 weeks old!

The chapter's EDIBA committee has put together some information about the celebrations of diversity happening in May. These include:

• Older Americans Month
• Asian American-Native Hawaiian-Pacific Islander Month
• Jewish American Heritage Month
• The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

Read about these observances and the trailblazers who personify them in the committee's newsletter here.

The NC Triangle Chapter has been awarded the Gold Chapter Circle of Excellene Award for 2025 by WTS International. These annual awards recognize the outstanding achievements of WTS Chapters throughout North America. The Gold designation is the highest possible and based on criteria such as membership growth, programming, scholarships and more. Thanks to all our volunteers for their contributions in helping the chapter achieve this honor! (See the announcement on LinkedIn.)

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