WSP leader in public transport and champion of diversity recognized for its service to the Latino community, as president and founding member of the national organization Latinos In Transit.

SACRAMENTO, Calif .– News Direct – WSP

SACRAMENTO, Calif., September 17, 2021 / 3BL Media / – The Latino Leadership Conference presented its national Latino Leadership Award to Alva Carrasco, market leader in transit and western rail at WSP USA, a leading consultant in engineering and professional services.

Carrasco received his award on Wednesday September 15 at the 6th Annual Latin Leadership Conference virtual event. Latino Leadership Conference, an initiative of the National Diversity Council, is a leadership development event for entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, educators, policy makers and students, designed to foster change and opportunity within the community latino.

She is currently President of Latinos In Transit (LIT), a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and development of Latinos and other minorities in transportation. She is a founding member of the organization and has been a member of the LIT Board of Directors since its inception in 2016. Under her leadership, LIT’s membership has grown exponentially and forged partnerships with multiple industry partners. public and private. WSP is a Diamond Sponsor of LIT.

“I am honored to receive an award that recognizes the work I have done to stand up for Latinos and other minorities so that they have a seat at the table, making decisions for members of our community,” said Carrasco. “I truly believe that fairness in the workplace leads to a better and more innovative product. A diverse group of people making decisions and providing problem-solving services that will benefit disadvantaged communities is needed. That’s why it’s a personal mission for me to defend and mentor Latinos to pursue their career goals all the way to the C-suite.

Based in the WSP office in Sacramento, Carrasco was recently promoted to her role as Vice President within the company, leading the expansion and growth of the Transit and Rail practice in the western United States. responsible for the zero emission bus (ZEB) for the West, responsible for business development and ZEB projects. WSP has been at the forefront of several initiatives in the West to convert transit systems to all-electric buses, including the preparation of a master plan for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority to move to a fleet of zero-emission buses by 2030; and technical assistance for King County Metro Transit in Seattle to develop plans for the transition to a zero-emission fleet.

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“Alva’s passion for her transportation work goes hand in hand with her efforts to foster equity and diversity within the Latin American community,” said Jannet Walker-Ford, National Transit Leader and rail for WSP. “Her leadership inspires our team and the perspective she brings translates into more thoughtful projects that benefit our transportation customers and the communities they serve. I congratulate her on winning such a prestigious and well-deserved honor from the Latino Leadership Conference and look forward to seeing her continue to inspire and influence future generations of business and industry leaders in the Latino community. .

Carrasco has over 28 years of experience in the transit industry, including Vice President of Maintenance for the Sacramento Regional Transit District, where she was responsible for operations and maintenance. daily operations of its fleet of buses and light rail vehicles, track maintenance and materials management. She has dedicated her time in public transport to providing communities with clean alternative modes of transport, reducing congestion, improving operational efficiency, improving customer relations and promoting workforce development in what she sees as a “green collar” industry.

Carrasco received a Masters in Transportation Management from San Jose State University (SJSU). She was recognized by SJSU as Alumnus of the Year in 2017. She is a 2002 alumnus of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Leadership Class. In addition to her work with LIT, she is chair of the ZEB subcommittee and member of the ZEB working group for the California Transit Association (CTA), member of the transit project oversight and selection committee for the cooperative research on transit, and a national mentor for the APTA Emerging Leaders program.

She is a member of several industry committees focused on diversity and inclusion, including the APTA Diversity & Inclusion Counsel and is Vice Chair of the CTA Inclusion Diversity Equity Association Committee.

About WSP USA

WSP USA is the US operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services companies. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs sustainable solutions in the building, transportation, energy, water and environmental markets. With more than 12,000 employees in 200 offices across the United States, we work in partnership with our clients to help communities thrive. wsp.com

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See the source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/alva-carrasco-honored-with-2021-latino-leadership-award-421321307