WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Diana Mendes, AICP, HNTB corporate president of infrastructure and mobility equity, received the Rosa Parks Diversity in Leadership Award from the Washington, D.C., chapter of Women's Transportation Seminar. Presented last night at the WTS-DC holiday party, the award celebrates those who facilitate professional opportunities for women and minorities and make significant contributions in promoting diversity, inclusion and multicultural awareness within their organizations and the transportation industry.
"I am grateful and humbled to receive an award named after such a strong, courageous woman like Mrs. Parks, and from an organization, which I hold in high regard for its dedication to creating a more diverse, inclusive and equitable transportation industry," Mendes said.
"Diana Mendes has exemplified the true spirit of the Rosa Parks Award throughout her career," said Neela Babu, WTS-DC chapter president. "She has been a steadfast supporter of WTS-DC and our core value of inclusiveness. She follows our guiding principle to ensure a diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce."
Mendes has been instrumental in developing HNTB's commitment to infrastructure and mobility equity. She drives industry conversations on the topic, participating in numerous panel discussions, speaking at transportation conferences and providing guidance about how federal initiatives will impact the way transportation projects are developed.
"Diana is a tireless advocate for women and minority groups, and we are so proud to see her recognized with this prestigious honor from WTS," said Rob Slimp, HNTB Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. "We appreciate and value her experiences in using diversity, inclusion and equity to drive innovation and create value both within HNTB and in the industry."
Mendes joined HNTB in 2016 as transit and rail market sector leader and a trusted adviser to transit agencies across the country. A few years later, she became the firm's mid-Atlantic division president and, in 2020, was named an HNTB Fellow, one of the firm's highest honors for technical excellence and innovation.
Mendes is equally respected outside of HNTB. In 2017, she became the first private-sector representative and only the second woman to chair the American Public Transportation Association's Legislative Committee. She has earned numerous industry awards, ranging from the Virginia Business Women in Leadership Award and Conference of Minority Transportation Officials' Executive of the Year to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association's Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award and COMTO National's Shirley A. DeLibero "Women Who Move the Nation" Award.
Mendes also teaches the National Transit Institute's advanced environmental justice seminar as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University. In 2017, she was recognized as NTI's Training Professional of the Year.
HNTB is a top-level strategic corporate partner of WTS International. Nationally the firm has more than 350 WTS members, including 20 women senior executives. Some 35 HNTB employees hold international-, national- and chapter-level leadership positions in WTS.
About HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With 107 years of service, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients' most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, and program and construction management. For more information, visit http://www.hntb.com, or follow HNTB on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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Brian Cox, HNTB, 816-527-2056, [email protected]
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