WSP, HNTB, STV, and Aldridge Electric Executives Honored With Leadership Impact Awards

WASHINGTON — The American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) Foundation Sept. 26 announced the winners of its annual Leadership Impact Awards, which honor graduates of its Industry Leader Development Program (ILDP). The awards were presented at ARTBA’s national convention in Nashville, Tenn.
 
The ILDP provides attendees with a solid understanding of industry economics, how U.S. transportation projects are funded and financed, how actions by the federal government impact the industry, and how they—and their company or agency—can become politically engaged. It takes place annually in the Nation’s Capital.

Nearly 800 professionals from all eight ARTBA membership divisions representing 200 firms and public agencies have completed the program since 1996.

Award winners were evaluated and selected based on three key criteria: 1) demonstrated contributions to national, state, or local transportation design and construction associations or professional societies; 2) proven track record displaying visionary thinking, driving change, or solving problems that helped improve operational performance; and 3) serving as a mentor to firm/agency colleagues or industry peers, and driving efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.

The winners, followed by the year they completed the ILDP, are:
Sofia Berger, WSP USA (2017)
Since assuming the role of WSP USA’s transportation national business line executive in Sept. 2021, Berger has led the company’s vision for making communities safer, cleaner, more efficient, and livable. Berger sponsors members for WSP’s NextGen PM and Growing our Leadership Diversity programs. Her volunteer ARTBA leadership roles include serving on the 2019 Reauthorization Task Force, Nominating Committee, Board of Directors,  Women Leaders Council, Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and chair of the Industry Leader Development Council (ILDC).
 
She is involved in the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Greater NY Chapter— serving as its 2020-2021 vice president and 2018-2019 co-chair of the Events Committee, which helps create networking and educational opportunities for women and all transportation professionals in the New York area.
 
Eric Morris, HNTB (2018)
As HNTB’s Michigan office leader since 2015, he manages the state Partners Program that helps small businesses better understand the firm’s expertise in sales, project delivery, and business operations. Morris has been a staunch advocate for the transportation and road building industry, especially at the state level. He was a board member of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association.
 
Morris is a director on ARTBA’s Planning & Design Division board. He serves as treasurer and director on the American Council of Engineering Companies Michigan chapter. In 2019-2020, he worked with both the Michigan House and Senate Transportation committees to secure sustainable transportation funding. The efforts led to the passage of Public Act 140, which commissioned a tolling study for Michigan’s freeways.
 
Athena Ullah, STV (2021)
As STV President and CEO Greg Kelly’s chief of staff, Ullah’s responsibilities include driving corporate alignment, post-acquisition integration, and developing an environmental and social governance framework. She is also tasked with ensuring effective executive communications for leadership teams, guiding the development of operating committee meetings and managing board relations.
 
Ullah’s 22-year career in the public sector began in 2002, when she helped establish the East Los Angeles Foundation to identify campus needs for infrastructure and educational funding in her community college district. These early experiences led to an academic and professional career connecting communities within the transportation sector.
 
She held multiple fellowships at research institutes such as PolicyLink, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Community Innovators Lab and University of California at Los Angeles Center on Labor Studies, where she contributed to research on asset management, procurement, shop maintenance improvements and safety. She played a key role in developing STV’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

Jamie Breme, Aldridge Electric (2020)
As director of business development for Aldridge’s transportation market and its corporate marketing and communications team, Breme has been an infrastructure industry leader for more than 20 years. Her career highlights include mega highway, transit and bridge projects, energy and chemical facilities, nuclear power plants, manufacturing, food and beverage and life sciences. She is a member of ARTBA’s Women Leaders Council and serves as a director on the association’s Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Division board. She was a key member of Aldridge’s Construction Safety Week Executive Committee and led the marketing and communications group where she was able to increase participation to 350 organizations globally with over 3.5 million people interacting during a week-long focus on industry-wide safety.
 
Established in 1985, the ARTBA Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity designed to “promote research, education and public awareness” about the impacts of transportation investment.  It supports an array of initiatives, including educational scholarships, awards, management and education programs, roadway work zone safety training and certificates, special economic research and reports, and an exhibition on transportation at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.