JACKSONVILLE — The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has selected Jannet Walker-Ford, senior vice president and national transit and rail leader for WSP USA, to serve on its Executive Committee for the 2021-2022 term.
APTA is a nonprofit international association representing all modes of public transportation, including bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed passenger rail. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the U.S. and Canada ride APTA member systems.
“Throughout her career Jannet has developed successful strategies for public transportation, and that experience will provide the APTA Executive Committee with valuable insight and guidance,” said Sofia Berger, WSP executive leader for the Transportation business line. “Her dedication to enhancing the transportation industry by advocating for vital transit services that lead to a more sustainable, resilient, customer-centric and equitable future for us all make her an outstanding choice to represent WSP in this leadership role with a critical industry partner.”
Walker-Ford will also continue in her role as a member of the APTA Board, where she has served for six years, and as chair of the APTA Foundation, a position she has held for four years.
Since joining WSP earlier this year, Walker-Ford has been responsible for leading and growing the firm’s business in the national transit and rail markets, establishing strategies for major advisory, planning, design, program management and construction management assignments.
Walker-Ford brings extensive transit experience to her national leadership position with APTA. Throughout her career she has served in an executive leadership capacity on programs and projects for large transit and transportation agencies across the U.S., including a public-private partnership for the Massachusetts Bay Area Transportation Agency and a capacity enhancement program for the Philadelphia International Airport. She served as deputy general manager/deputy CEO and chief information officer at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, leading the creation of a regional smart card fare collection system, the first of its kind in North America.
In addition to her roles with APTA, she is a leader with several organizations, including chair of the WTS International Foundation Board and vice chair of the WTS International Board, an ENO Center for Transportation Board member, Jacksonville University Board of Trustees member, immediate past chair of the Greater Jacksonville Cultural Council Board, and vice chair of ITS America’s Sustainability & Resiliency Committee.
Walker-Ford was named Woman of the Year by the Northeast Florida Chapter of WTS International earlier this year. Her other awards include the 2019 Women of Color STEM Technology All-Star Award, the 2019 Miami Women Who Rock’s National Business Achievement Award, the 2019 Transportation Diversity Council/Massachusetts Institute of Technology honoree for Services to the Transportation Industry, and a 2019 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials’ Women Who Move the Nation honoree.
She is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and Central Michigan University with a master’s degree in business administration. She has completed significant coursework towards her doctorate in information systems from Nova Southeastern University.
About WSP USA
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 12,000 employees in 200 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com
About APTA
The American Public Transportation Association is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 public- and private-sector organizations which represent a $80 billion industry that directly employs 448,000 people and supports millions of private sector jobs. APTA members are engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services and intercity and high-speed passenger rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products.
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