The Women in Transit reception at this years APTA EXPO featured guest speakers, Carolyn Gonot and Lona Edwards Hankins. The two leaders, speaking at the event sponsored by Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. and Systra, told attendees about their remarkable professional journeys and becoming CEOs.
Gonot serves as the general manager and CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA) and Lona Edwards Hankins helms the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) as its chief executive officer.
The Women in Transit reception was the brainchild of Sima Vajdani, PE, vice president of the California Business Group for Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. It was her idea three years ago to bring together women in transit and celebrate their accomplishments.
Vajdani said, “It’s important that women see other women in top management positions. It spurs on the younger women entering our industry. They can see what they can accomplish. “
