It is easy to stand on the sidelines. But when you do, you not only sacrifice the best view, you also forego experience, education, and the gratification of giving back and a job well done. LKG-CMC, Inc., owner and president Kathy McClure is never one to stand on the sidelines. It’s just not who she is. Leading her firm to become one of the top comprehensive program controls and document control/configuration management consultants in the nation, she is most definitely in the game. But for her, that’s not enough.
Now, she has also taken on a significant new role. On January 1, Ms. McClure took the helm of WTS-Los Angeles (WTS-LA), one of the largest chapters of an international organization founded to advance women in transportation. Only the second small business owner to serve as WTS-LA president in its 30-year history, she intends to make a great chapter even greater.
“WTS is an organization dedicated to leveling the playing field for women in transportation, once a maledominated field. It is an essential organization that has made a very real difference in the transportation industry. And WTS-LA is a pivotal chapter in that regard. So, I look to work closely with our members to advance what works and overhaul what doesn’t, to make the chapter even more effective at fulfilling that mission.”
McClure knows exactly how to do that. She joined WTS-South Florida in the 1980s, a chapter facing great challenges at that time. Recognized for her abilities and drive, she vaulted to chapter president. Within three years, she increased membership more than 300 percent. Programs that had previously attracted only a handful of participants quickly saw attendance top 100 for each event. But the numbers were not what moved McClure.
“Yes, we gained critical exposure and were able to meet folks within the transportation industry. But more importantly, we provided unparalleled access for our members and for the transportation community in the tricounty Florida region that the chapter served. Those were very profound lessons for me. It was very gratifying.”
For WTS-LA, McClure has designed a comprehensive agenda as well. But two factors will serve as a primary focus for her: workforce development and access.
“WTS and WTS-LA’s mission hinges on developing women to advance in the transportation industry. That is critical. And one of the best ways to help women advance once they’re prepared for the transportation landscape is to provide them with unparalleled access to transportation leaders and decision makers. With the industry evolving at a rapid pace — from ever-changing technology to new delivery methodologies — it is imperative that we stay ahead of the curve and ensure that women play pivotal roles in driving that change.”
Firm in her beliefs, McClure didn’t just happen upon these values. They are central pillars of her company as well. A certified DBE/WBE/SBE firm (with over 65 agencies), LKG CMC boasts a national reputation as one of the nation’s top subconsultants for transit-configuration management/document control and project controls. And this year, LKG-CMC celebrates its 30-anniversary as a force in the industry. And with the firm’s foundation of top client services, and new focus on additional services, LKG-CMC is now looking to compete as a prime, JV partner, or major subconsultant partner on mega capital projects and programs in dynamic regions like California, New York, and beyond.
“Though our roots are in transit rail, we provide comprehensive services in a variety of disciplines. From aviation to water/wastewater to highways to rail/transit rail, we deliver cost-effective configuration management/document control and project control services. But this is a unique time in our industry and the nation. Local ballot measures—like Measure M in LA County—demonstrate that jurisdictions are taking greater control of their transportation needs. That combined with federal infrastructure initiatives mean that work will expand considerably in both the short and long terms. Many knew this was coming. So, we’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time.”
It is easy for some to stand on the sidelines. But when they do, they lose out in many ways. Kathy McClure could never stand on the sidelines. And whether in her role as WTS-LA president or as president and owner of LKG-CMC, Kathy McClure is most definitely in the game. While she promises to use her skills and experience to continually advance her company, now she also looks to improve and expand women’s place in the transportation industry through her work as president of WTS-LA.
