Tanya Adams, assistant vice president, community relations and diversity manager for the transportation and infrastructure sector’s Central U.S. region at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, has been named 2016 Corporate Executive of the Year by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO). She was also elected to the organization’s national board of directors.
COMTO is a leading advocacy organization for minority professionals and businesses in the transportation industry. It’s Corporate Executive of the Year award recognizes an executive whose corporation, through his or her leadership, has consistently provided exemplary support to COMTO and contributed to its mission and goals both nationally and through the local COMTO chapter.
“My selection is validation of the work that we do at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff to value diversity and I will continue to look for opportunities to position our firm as an industry leader,” Adams said.
Adams is responsible for a variety of complex marketing, networking and business development initiatives, including implementation of regional diversity programs, client relations, public relations and community engagement. She serves as co-chair, with Martha Alongi, on WSP | Parson Brinckerhoff’s diversity committee.
She also served as recruiting manager for the Central U.S. region, where she oversaw regional recruiting and advised management and staff on issues pertaining to recruiting issues.
Prior to joining the firm in 2006, Adams spent more than 18 years with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) as an employment specialist. “My time at IDOT helped open my eyes to the challenges faced by minority firms aspiring to participate in the transportation industry and the need to create a level playing field,” she said.
As a member of the COMTO board, Adams will work with industry professionals to develop and enforce strategic plans for the organization. Her two-year term will continue through July 2018.
“I wanted to serve on the board of directors of COMTO because I am passionate about diversity and making sure that the diverse faces of America are represented in strategic ways,” Adams commented. “COMTO’s mission aligns with my personal mission, which makes me a good fit for this leadership role.”
At COMTO, Adams serves on the corporate advisory council, program and planning committee, Women Who Move the Nation nomination committee, and joint leadership committee. In addition to her work with COMTO, she serves as a member of the board of directors for the Illinois chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies. She is also a member of the equal employment opportunity committee for the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association; serves as a committee member on the DBE focus committee for the Innovation Conference on Asphalt and Transportation (ICAT) committee; and was recently appointed as secretary of the board of directors for the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce.
