Jannet Walker-Ford is Senior Vice President, National Transit and Rail Leader at WSP USA.
Key topics in this conversation include:
- The objective of public transit
- Why equity is such a critical consideration while rolling out new mobility solutions
- What it means to serve our communities in an equitable manner
- Deploying transit solutions that truly solve the challenges they aim to address
- How inequities can unintentionally emerge if we aren’t intelligent in the way we deploy technology
Listen here:
Apple Podcasts: link
Google Podcasts: link
Spotify: link
Links:
- Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/jannetwalker-ford
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannet-walker-ford/
- https://www.wsp.com/en-us/news/2022/equity-center-of-excellence
- https://www.wsp.com/en-us/hubs/future-ready
- https://www.wsp.com/en-us/hubs/transit-and-rail
Jannet’s Bio
Jannet Walker-Ford is a nationally recognized transportation industry executive with WSP USA, a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy. Walker-Ford has more than two decades of diverse experience in management consulting, technology, mobility and transportation systems. She serves as senior vice president and national transit and rail leader, responsible for leading and growing the firm’s business in the national transit and rail markets and establishing strategies to position WSP for major advisory, planning, design, program management, alternative delivery and construction management assignments.
Prior to this role, Walker-Ford served as senior vice president and Americas transit market sector leader at an international engineering services firm where she was responsible for leadership and strategic direction of the transit market in North and South America. She also previously worked as vice president and general manager for the eastern region of the U.S. for a transportation technology firm. She has served in an executive leadership capacity on programs and projects for large transit and transportation agencies across the country. Walker-Ford also served as deputy general manager/deputy CEO and as CIO at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.
She is active on multiple diverse boards serving as board chair of WTS International; an executive committee member of the American Public Transportation Association board; immediate past chair of the WTS Foundation Board; immediate past chair of the American Public Transportation Foundation; a member of the ENO Center for Transportation Board; and a member of the Jacksonville University Board of Trustees. Additionally, Walker-Ford serves as chair of ITS America’s Sustainability and Resiliency Committee. She is a member of the IT Senior Management Forum and Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, an alumna of Leadership APTA and the ENO Executive Leadership program.
Walker-Ford’s numerous awards include the 2022 American Public Transportation Association’s Business Member of the Year; 2019 Women of Color STEM Technology All-Star Award; 2019 Miami Women Who Rock’s National Business Achievement Award; 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.
About WSP USA
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering, environment and professional services firms. Recognized on Fast Company’s Brands that Matter List for 2022 as a top Community-Minded Business, WSP USA brings together engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals who are dedicated to collaborate in the best interests of serving local communities. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,500 employees in 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com
Future of Mobility:
The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, effective, and accessible mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields.
linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/
brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/
Edison Manufacturing:
Edison manufacturing is your low volume contract manufacturing partner for build and assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.