Three STV rising stars were recently selected by the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) to participate in the Philadelphia Emerging Leaders Program. Engineer Kara Hammon (left in photo), P.E., engineering specialists Autumn Gargiule (right in photo), E.I.T., and Gina Venuto-Gabriella (center in photo), will join a group of approximately 25 early career professionals at this prestigious industry program.

The WTS Philadelphia Emerging Leaders Program holds monthly development meetings to provide participants with the necessary tools to grow professionally and to develop their interpersonal skills. The diverse group consists of engineers, architects, planners, construction managers, and marketing and financial support personnel.

Along with her involvement with WTS, Hammon is a board member of the Philadelphia Chapter of Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT), the local arm of an international nonprofit that helps facilitate professional development, fellowship, and networking for new professionals in the transportation industry.

Venuto-Gabriella was first introduced to WTS while attending Rowan University. There, she served as the WTS Philadelphia student chapter president throughout the 2019-2020 school year. She is currently involved in WTS’s Scholarships and Awards and Recognition committees.

“Having a network of people who can provide advice or answer questions is invaluable,” Venuto-Gabriella said of her WTS involvement. “The WTS student chapter helped me find mentors that led me to become more confident. They’ve fostered lasting connections and I am hopeful to make many more with other professionals who are just starting their careers.”

A WTS member since graduating college, Gargiule sees the Emerging Leaders Program as a great opportunity to grow as a professional and receive lasting guidance from peers and mentors.

“My goal as a professional is to manage transportation projects that will have a positive impact on our communities,” Gargiule said. “I hope this program will help me further develop my skillset and that it will provide me with an opportunity to work with and learn from others in the industry.”

Marc Preim, P.E., senior associate and senior project manager in our Philadelphia office, expressed his appreciation of STV’s involvement in the program.

“Kara, Autumn, and Gina represent the best of what STV has to offer in our emerging leaders,” Preim said. “WTS is lucky to have them as part of this program and I’m grateful that they are each a part of the STV family.”