Travis receives ARTBA Ethel Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award

Southwest Region Transportation Director Wendy Travis, AICP, has been selected as a recipient of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Ethel Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her three decades of leadership, service, and impact on the transportation industry.

The award honors women whose careers have advanced transportation infrastructure while creating opportunities for future generations of industry professionals. For Travis, the recognition reflects a career built on innovation, advocacy, and a commitment to delivering transformative transportation programs across the country.

“Wendy’s influence on the transportation industry extends far beyond the projects she has helped deliver,” said Garver Director of Transportation Brent Schniers. “She is a respected leader, trusted advisor, and passionate advocate for both the profession and the people within it. This recognition is a testament to the lasting impact she has made throughout her career.”

Travis’ transportation career began in 1992 as an ARTBA intern while attending graduate school. That experience ignited a passion for transportation infrastructure and set the foundation for a career defined by strategic leadership on some of the nation’s most significant transportation initiatives.

In 2024, Travis became Garver’s first female and first non-engineer Transportation Regional Director, a milestone that reflected both her expertise and the industry’s trust in her leadership. She also joined Garver’s Strategic Planning Group, helping guide the firm’s long-term vision while leading transportation teams across Texas and the Southwest region.

Throughout her career, Travis has directed large-scale transportation programs that have improved mobility and strengthened communities. She became the first non-engineer consultant to manage a major Texas Department of Transportation program, leading the delivery of billions of dollars in projects through the I-35 Corridor Program and My35 implementation plan. She also played a key role in advancing the $23.5 billion Ports-to-Plains Corridor initiative to expand Interstate 27, led planning efforts for Missouri Department of Transportation’s Forward44 Program, and contributed to the Connecting Arkansas Program, the largest highway improvement initiative in Arkansas history.

Beyond project delivery, Travis has dedicated her career to strengthening the transportation profession through industry leadership and service. She has held numerous leadership positions with the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), including serving as vice president of the organization’s North Florida Chapter and founding president of the North Carolina Chapter. Today, she continues that commitment as a member of the WTS Heart of Texas Scholarship Foundation Board.

Travis also has been a strong advocate for transportation funding, public policy, and industry advancement through leadership roles with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and Transportation Advocates of Texas. Her service on public policy committees and boards has helped shape discussions around transportation investment and infrastructure priorities across Texas.

Equally important to Travis has been her commitment to mentoring and developing future leaders. For the past four years, she has co-chaired Garver Connect’s Recruit and Retain Committee, helping recruit, mentor, and support the advancement of women across the firm. She has championed STEM education initiatives, including student transportation safety competitions and classroom engagement programs, while mentoring students and young professionals through WTS and Transportation YOU programs.

“Transportation is ultimately about improving people’s lives and creating opportunities for communities to thrive,” Travis said. “It has been a privilege to work alongside so many talented professionals throughout my career, and I’m honored to receive this recognition from an organization that has been part of my journey since the very beginning.”

From guiding multibillion-dollar transportation programs to advocating for the next generation of industry leaders, Travis has spent more than 30 years making a lasting impact on transportation infrastructure and the profession itself. The ARTBA Ethel Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes not only those accomplishments, but also the legacy she continues to build through leadership, service, and mentorship.