Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)’s Post

We’re launching #WomensHistoryMonth with a salute to one of our amazing female leaders Ashley Nylen, PMP. We sat down with Ashley to discuss her work in #transportation across the Federal, State, and academic spheres and what inspires her to make a mark in this space. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐃𝐎𝐓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞? I joined the U.S. Department of Transportation and commenced Federal service in December 2022. Currently, I serve as Acting Assistant Director of Program Development and Strategy on the HASS COE Leadership Team, ensuring operational excellence and efficiency within our office. I formally joined HASS COE as a senior strategist, focused on surface transportation automation research and deployment. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫? I believe my greatest strength as a collaborator is fostering an environment where people feel they can ask questions. I’ve always found that if I have a question on something, typically someone else may also have that same question in their mind! 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮? Working in transportation has taught me to ask first, “what is the problem we’re trying to solve?” and then consider how something will impact safety, first and foremost, as well as mobility and efficiency at a system-wide level. Additionally, in public service, I’ve learned the importance of broadly sharing lessons learned so that others can be propelled forward as they embark on similar efforts and advance or iterate whatever it is we’re working on more exponentially. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? I must give initial credit to the University of Iowa (my alma mater) for providing me both academic (BS and MS) and professional research opportunities over the course of 10 years. After working for a local government after grad school, I worked with Dr. Daniel V McGehee at the University of Iowa, who provided me with tremendous opportunity to research and lead several projects involving vehicle automation, as well as engage with many in our community (that I still get to work with today!). Today, my inspiration comes from all the amazing people that operate and maintain our transportation system at the state and local levels. During my time at the Colorado Department of Transportation, I got first-hand experience to observe and support our transportation workers who risk their lives every day to make our transportation system function safely and smoothly. It seems like state and local DOTs are facing ever-increasing challenges (resources, societal, fiscal, you name it!). Every time I drive by a snowplow or see a worker on the roadway, I can’t help but think about the massive sacrifice those people are making and the devotion among countless others that support them.

Embracing core values isn't just about what we do, but who we are. These values guide our choices, enrich our people, and help us deliver a world-class service. They are the compass that direct our success. Core Value 4: “Nothing Less Than What's Best For The Project” Understanding that each project is as unique as its owner, we tailor our approach to align with the client's vision and requirements. What's best for the project means what's best for the client, ensuring that their needs and desires are at the forefront of every decision. #TeamBilt

Watch as our V.P. of Bus. Development, Charles D. Hatley, Esq., discusses what he believes to be one of the most important things we can focus on right now... #employeeexperience #EX #businessdevelopement

These past two days have been a remarkable start to our lean thinking journey at HQSD California. Thanks James Williamson for opening doors for this transformative experience. It’s been enlightening to learn about Overall Work Effectiveness, VA (Value Added), and NVA (Non-Value Added) elements, and how these concepts can significantly impact our organization if prioritized. Looking forward to the journey ahead! This is HQGroup ✨ #LeanThinking #ContinuousImprovement #StrategicPlanning

Goals are important, but for long-term success, small businesses need a North Star - a guiding vision for their future. A North Star is a powerful guiding principle that sets the direction for a business's long-term success. It's a compelling vision that encompasses the company's purpose, values, and aspirations. It provides a clear and inspiring target for the entire organization to work towards. On the other hand, goals are specific, measurable objectives that contribute to achieving the North Star. They are the building blocks that help the business move closer to its ideal future. Each goal should be aligned with and support the North Star, ensuring that the organization's efforts are focused and coordinated. #goalsetting #northstar

Connecting Work and Personal Values We have worked on hundreds of organizational culture projects for 25 years and observed the strongest cultures directly connect work and personal values. This enables employees to align with both sets of values without having to be a different person at work than they are at home, ultimately living and working authentically. One of our clients, TNW Corporation, is an industry leader in rail transportation logistics and short-line railroad operations. Safety is one of their core values, “SAFETY – We believe all accidents and injuries are preventable.” Paul Treangen, CEO, says, “Safety is not about rules. It’s about taking care of each person, which is an extension of our Servant Leadership value.” TNW does many things you would think of to keep safety top of mind like sharing a safety tip before each meeting. They also do many other creative things you would not necessarily think of. For example, the above photo is one of a set of framed drawings by employees’ children. TNW involved their families in connecting this company value to their families’ values. The postcards to workers from their children are framed and made visible to workers each day as a visceral, personal reminder of why they should use safe practices. Some of these postcards, from the mouths of babes, read: - “I am glad you are careful at work because when you come home we can work in the shop, ride our four wheelers together or watch TV or movies.” - “Always check the tracks before a derailment can happen! Glad you come home every time.” - “Never stop between cars. And wear a safety vest. Thank you dad for all your hard work and staying safe.” - “It’s important to work safely so he can come home safely.” “Trains are dangerous. Always be aware!” Would you be a safer worker if your child wrote this and you read it each day? TNW Corporation has had no recordable safety incidents on their railroads for 5 years … and counting! Challenge your team to identify ways to connect your organizational values to personal values. It will result in greater engagement and deeper commitment to values that serve the business and its employees. The benefits are realized by all parties – a true win-win. So, how can you better connect your team’s work and personal values?

Want to foster a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration? A FedEx Day is a concept borrowed from FedEx's overnight delivery service. In the context of workplace culture, it refers to a designated period of time, typically 24 hours, where employees work on a project of their choosing, often unrelated to their daily tasks. The aim is to foster innovation, creativity, and collaboration by giving employees the freedom to work on something they are passionate about. #fedexdays #culture #innovation #creativity #collaboration

🌟 Introducing Ward Hadaway’s New Values! 🌟 Last week, we launched our the values which we, as a firm, have chosen. Straightforward, Respectful, and Ambitious. Straightforwardness ensures clarity in communication and decision-making. By being transparent and honest, we foster trust among our team members and clients, paving the way for effective collaboration and problem-solving. Respect is at the core of how we interact with one another and the world around us. We value diverse perspectives, treat everyone with dignity, and create an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard and valued. Ambition drives us to push boundaries, set high goals, and pursue excellence. With a mindset of continuous improvement, we challenge ourselves to innovate and strive for success, both individually and as a company. These values aren't just backgrounds for our computers or words on paper; they're the foundation of our culture and the guiding principles that shape our actions every day. By embracing straightforwardness, respect, and ambition, we not only enhance our workplace but also deliver exceptional results for our clients. #CompanyValues #Straightforward #Respectful #Ambitious #CultureBuilding

🤝🏼 Peter Park: "BE ACCOUNTABLE" 🤝🏼 Taking responsibility, honouring commitments and promoting a culture of accountability, transparency and trust - these are the cornerstones of our success. Today we would like to give you an insight into our second core value: BE ACCOUNTABLE! 💼 At Peter Park, we see accountability as a central element of our actions. We actively take responsibility and are committed to always fulfilling our promises. 🤝 Collaboration based on trust: Every team member contributes to creating a culture of accountability characterised by transparency and trust. We know that true strength lies in accountability. 🔗 Keeping commitments: Commitments are more than just words to us. We honour our promises to customers, partners and team members and attach great importance to building trust through consistent action. 🌐 Transparency as a basic principle: Openness and transparency are essential for us. We proactively share information and thus create an environment in which everyone feels safe and informed. 🏆 Culture of trust: At Peter Park, we promote a culture of trust in which employees feel empowered to take responsibility and drive innovative ideas forward. And our customers also have this trust in us. With the value "Be Accountable", we not only set clear standards for our team, but also create a basis for strong partnerships and long-term customer relationships. Together, we take responsibility, shape a transparent future and build on a foundation of trust. #PeterPark #BeAccountable #Accountability #Transparency #Trust

To truly support diverse talent in trucking, we need more than just opportunities—we need robust support networks and mentorship. Our latest blog explores why mentorship is essential for advancing diversity in the industry and offers actionable solutions. Read the full blog for insights 👉 https://bit.ly/47dJjYZ #TruckingDiversity #InclusionMatters #DiversityAndInclusion #DriverRecruitment