Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionAngela Saunders
Transportation Planning Manager, PennDOT District 12
Why is mentoring other women important to you?
The LEAD (PennDOT's mentoring program for women in the department) program has been the most beneficial program I have participated in during my career; I gained so much from my time as a protégé. The LEAD program becomes part of your legacy and you belong to a long line of successful women. I want to help make sure other women have a similar experience and get the most they can. Being a mentor gives you a chance to pass on experiences from your career as well as help other women know that no one's career is perfect no matter how it looks on the outside.
What would you tell young women considering careers in transportation?
We all need to get from place to place and to move goods and services. Transportation is a field where you will get a chance to work with and meet all types of people. It's not all about engineering; the industry needs all types of people and professions to make our transportation network efficient and effective.
Wanita Lynch
Assistant County Maintenance Manager, PennDOT District 2 — McKean and Elk Counties
Why is mentoring other women important to you?
I have been blessed in my career with a series of good managers and leaders, both male and female, who have encouraged and advised me throughout my years of service to the department. This is my way to give back and share the knowledge that I have gained.
What would you tell young women considering careers in transportation?
Transportation is dynamic and innovative. The department is always evolving and striving to improve our services and products. There are a wide variety of skill sets needed to make the entire organization successful. If one dedicates themselves to learning, then the opportunities for advancement and the variety of career options here are seemingly endless.
Melissa Matchock
Human Resource Officer, PennDOT District 9
Why is mentoring other women important to you?
I have been a mentor for the LEAD program since 2010. Mentoring is a great career development and networking tool and a way for women to share experiences and insights with each other.
What would you tell young women considering careers in transportation?
I tell young women all the time to consider a career in transportation. The transportation field is varied, exciting, and challenging.
Andrea Bahoric
Director, PennDOT Bureau of Planning and Research
Why is mentoring other women important to you?
Mentoring is important to me because I was provided with the opportunity to participate in the mentoring program and it helped to improve my leadership and communication skills. I want to be able to provide the same opportunity to other future leaders.
What would you tell young women considering careers in transportation?
A career in transportation doesn't mean you need to be an engineer. Transportation embodies multiple facets that need a variety of skill sets and backgrounds.
Beth Bonini
Rail
Transit Safety Review Program Division Chief, PennDOT Multimodal Transportation
Why is mentoring other women important to you?
Mentoring other women is important because it provides a mechanism to voice my experiences and potentially help the next generation of women coming up in a transportation career.
What would you tell young women considering careers in transportation?
It is essential to have talented women involved in transportation careers because roads, bridges, rail, waterways, bike/pedestrian access, and public transportation help shape the quality of life and economic development of our communities for generations.
Laurita Povilavicius
Division Chief, PennDOT Bureau of IT Project Development and Delivery
Why is mentoring other women important to you?
I personally had and still have great mentors who helped me develop my skills and discover my strengths. Having their guidance really helped me prepare for the IT Project Manager 2 position that I hold now, and helped me grow as a person, too. I enjoy learning and view the role of a mentor as another learning and growth opportunity. I believe in giving back, so I am very open to sharing my experience and knowledge to help others. My mentoring relationships for the most part have formed informally, but I really appreciate that PennDOT has a formal program like LEAD to emphasize and facilitate the mentoring process.
What would you tell young women considering careers in transportation?
PennDOT is a great place to work. The organization is large and there is a wide variety of career paths to choose from — from construction and maintenance and technical engineering positions, to positions in budget, procurement, human resources, legal, information technology, etc. I am glad I chose PennDOT. In my 10-year career, I worked on a wide range of projects and assignments and have met a lot of dedicated and knowledgeable people. Through my project work, I got to learn about a number of various activities PennDOT is involved in, but I know there's a large number of business areas I have not worked with yet. There is an impressive variety of impactful work that gets accomplished by PennDOT employees.
Danielle Klinger-Grumbine
Division Chief, PennDOT Bureau of Innovations
Why is mentoring other women important to you?
I have been blessed with some phenomenal mentors throughout my career with the Commonwealth, particularly in my nearly 12 years with PennDOT. I would not be where I am today without their guidance and support. I feel it is my responsibility to give back in some small way by mentoring others and providing them with the same guidance and support that I received, while passing along some of the lessons I have personally learned along the way. Mentoring is so important, especially to those looking to advance within an organization, and is crucial to the overall success of any organization.
What would you tell young women considering careers in transportation?
Believe in yourself and your abilities. Don't be afraid to take chances, and be open to the various career paths and opportunities that exist within the transportation industry. You never know where they may lead.