Save the date for the NC Women in Engineering Conference, to be held March 19, 2026 in High Point, NC. This one-day conference aims to bring engineers together for a day of networking, professional development, and fun. Programming is centered around issues that women, minorities, and diverse groups face in the engineering industry. Held every other year, this event is a collaborative effort between PENC, the SWE-Charlotte Metrolina Chapter, and WTS chapters NC Triangle and Charlotte Metro.

The chapter's mentorship program officially kicked off Aug. 27.

The NC Triangle Chapter will have a booth staffed by members at the ACEC/NCDOT Small Business Showcase on Sept. 23, 5-7 p.m.

The showcase is part of the ACEC/NC NCDOT Joint Transportation Conference, which brings together the engineering community and the North Carolina Department of Transportation for two days of collaboration, innovation, and insight into the future of infrastructure across the state.

This year’s conference will feature keynote speakers, technical sessions, and networking opportunities designed to foster meaningful dialogue and drive progress in transportation planning, design, and delivery. Stop by the NC Triangle Chapter booth and connect with us!

Name: Peri Akozer

Hometown: Livermore, CA

When did you join WTS? January 2024

Why did you join WTS? I learned about WTS in college at NC State and heard it was a great organization bringing women from all different experiences and backgrounds together to connect. 

Where do you work/How long? NCDOT / 2.5 years (Signing and Delineation Unit)

What is your title? Signing and Delineation Design Engineer 

What do you like best about your job? I love to work with the divisions and other stakeholders to point citizens in the right direction. I enjoy designing signs, reviewing projects, and ensuring the safety of the public as well. 

What is your favorite project you’ve worked on and why? I don’t think I have a favorite project, I think enjoy sign designs on every project. My favorite ones will always be local projects because I can see them while driving down the road. 

What do you like to do in your free time? In my free time, I enjoy traveling to different destinations and meeting new people. I also enjoy hanging out with friends and making shirts! I know I enjoy my job because while I travel, I compare signs to our signs in North Carolina. 

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. My name means “Fairy” in Turkish and comes from the Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia, Turkey (where you see a lot of the hot air balloons).

Hispanic Heritage Month starts in September, and the chapter's ABIDE Committee put together some information about notable Hispanic and Latinx figures in the field of transportation. Read about the first Hispanic US Secretary of Transportation and a national advocate for equity in public transportation.

Other observances during the month include:

• International Equal Pay Day - Sept. 18
• International Day of Sign Languages - Sept. 23

Read the committee's monthly newsletter here.

As one of the world’s leading engineering, environmental, and professional services firms, WSP has over 500 professionals across North Carolina committed to making a positive impact. Our multi-disciplinary teams work collaboratively to support our clients by bringing diverse expertise and perspectives to every project.  

Recently WSP, with support from Alta Planning + Design and TransLink Consulting, LLC, led NCDOT’s FAST (Freeway, Arterial, Street, and Tactical) 2.0 Transit Study which focused on ways to advance the implementation of transit infrastructure across the Triangle region. WSP’s Morvean Maclean (above, second from right) and Rachel Gaylord-Miles (above, fourth from left) presented an update on the FAST 2.0 Study at the RTA Transportation Brunch in August 2025 to local, regional, state and federal partners.  

The FAST 2.0 Transit Study spanned a five-county region and engaged 15 funding partners, including MPOS, counties, municipalities, and transit agencies. WSP provided ongoing outreach and led successful visioning workshops with these stakeholders along with one-on-one interviews to understand the goals and needs of each partner. The study also identified potential opportunities to leverage funds, along with potential policy changes to advance and transform transit in the region. 

WSP is proud to be an active supporter of the WTS Triangle Chapter and its mission to promote the advancement of women in transportation. Together with our partners, we are fostering inclusive teams, empowering women leaders, and advancing a vision of transportation that better serves communities across North Carolina. 

Below are a list of the committees within the NC Triangle Chapter and contacts for each committee. If you are interested in learning more about a committee or volunteering, please reach out to the listed contact(s).

Data – Sara Christoph

Programs – Katharine Mather

Professional Connections – Alexa Kennedy

Awards – Anamika Laad

TransportationYou – Sharon Freeman and Noshin Promy

Communications – Les Tracey and Lily Cloud

Fundraising – Mike Holder and Eva Ingram

Scholarships – Allison Thorburn

ABIDE – Kim Gillespie

Membership – Tanya Thompson

Mentorship Program – Ines Nizeye

2025 Partners

Emerging Business Partners

Public Agencies