WTS: Heart of Texas Chapter
February Meeting:
Women in Leadership

Join us for a panel discussion with local women in the transportation industry as they discuss their careers, their roles in their respective organization, the challenges faced as a woman leader, and their successes.

 Our panelists are:

Valerie Covey

Valerie Covey was elected to represent Williamson County Precinct Three on the Williamson County Commissioner’s Court in November 2006 and was reelected to her second full term in November 2016. 

She serves the county by participating on various boards and committees, including: the Williamson County Conservation Foundation, the Williamson County Mental Health Committee, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter Board, the Williamson County Audit Committee, and the Williamson County Investment Committee.  Commissioner Covey also served as the chair of the Local Authority Network Advisory Committee until August 2015. 

During her time in office, Commissioner Covey has been recognized with numerous transportation accolades including the prestigious Texas Road Hand Award in 2013.  

She attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a degree in accounting and has been licensed as a certified public accountant for more than 20 years.  She and her husband of 30 years, Mark Covey, have lived in Georgetown, TX since 1994, and are blessed with three sons and a daughter-in-law.  

 
Gayle Heath

Gayle Heath is CEO of Alliance Transportation Group. She co-founded the firm in Austin back in 1997. Since becoming Alliance’ CEO in 2001, Alliance has expanded into a full service consulting firm, and has successfully completed projects in 27 states. The firm has grown nearly 400% under her leadership and continues to grow.

Gayle’s corporate responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s operations, strategic planning and implementation and champion of the firm’s corporate culture.

She is a graduate of Texas A&M University. Upon graduating from Texas A&M she entered the graduate business program. She began her career in management at the University where she managed a staff of 50 employees. Gayle’s knack for updating technology and systems led her to a career in transportation with the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI).

Gayle is a member of the American Planning Association, Women’s Transportation Seminar and the Texas Council of Engineering Companies. She is a member of the WTS Heart of Texas Chapter Advisory Board.

Gayle lives in Pflugerville with her husband of 31 years, Mike. They have two grown children, Michael and Rachel and three grandchildren.

 
Cinde Weatherby

Cinde Weatherby is managing principal and chief happiness officer of Weatherby Consulting. Since 1975, Cinde has been in transportation-related public sector leadership positions at regional, municipal, county and state levels; and in small and large consulting firms.  Her facilitation and management have been key to establishment of three new transportation governmental agencies, including Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART); implementation of major infrastructure projects and transportation services, such as Denton County Transportation Authority’s commuter rail service; and adoption of major plans, and collaborative regional transportation initiatives.  Cinde has also led state and national research projects in transportation-related policies and processes, marketing, public outreach, and public finance.   

Our moderator is:

Ashby Johnson

Ashby Johnson is the Executive Director of CAMPO, which is the metropolitan planning organization for the six-county central Texas region, and has served in that capacity since August 2014. For the past 11 years he served as the Deputy MPO Director at the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the metropolitan transportation planning agency for the eight-county greater Houston region. Prior to H-GAC, he spent eight years with the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Planning and one year with the Federal Transit Administration's Office of Planning. Prior to USDOT, Ashby spent five years with the Texas Department of Transportation in the Environmental Affairs Division. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Government and a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from The University of Texas at Austin.