Austin Business Journal honors Travis as 2025 Women in Business Awards finalist

The Austin Business Journal has named Garver Southwest Regional Director for Transportation Wendy Travis, AICP, a 2025 Women in Business Awards finalist. An inspiring and influential leader, generous mentor, and caring community member, she is deeply deserving of this recognition. 

Travis has been a leader in the transportation industry for the past 30 years, since her trailblazing career began at the Federal Highway Administration, where she had oversight responsibilities to ensure state department of transportation were meeting the Federal-Aid Highway Program requirements for transportation planning, National Environmental Policy Act compliance, and air quality.    

Now a firm owner and vice president at Garver, where she has worked for nearly nine years, Travis has significantly contributed to Texas transportation systems and the transportation industry throughout her accomplished career. As Garver’s first female regional director of transportation, she manages a team of over 50 transportation engineering consultants, supervising the delivery of high-quality service for infrastructure projects across the Lone Star State. 

This level of leadership isn’t new to Travis. She served as program manager for the Texas Department of Transportation's I-35 Corridor Program, managing a team of 40 multi-disciplinary consultants to deliver billions of dollars in projects along with I-35 corridor. Other noteworthy projects she has helped deliver include the My 35 Plan, for which Travis helped develop a plan for $27.5 billion in TxDOT-funded projects along I-35; the Ports-to-Plains Corridor Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan, a project she recently completed to develop a $31.2 billion plan for expanding I-27 in South and West Texas; the Connecting Arkansas Program, the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s largest highway improvement project to date; and Forward44, which recommended improvements to over 250 miles of I-44 in Missouri. 

In addition to these achievements, Travis is paving the way for the future women leaders to follow in her footsteps. For the past two years, she has served as co-chair for the Recruit and Retain Committee for Garver Connect, the company’s employee-led initiative committed to uplifting the firm’s women. As co-chair, Travis develops strategies to recruit the most talented employees – specifically women – in the industry and retain and support existing female employees through networking and mentorship. 

Travis is also actively involved in the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS). She served as the vice president of the North Florida chapter, founded and served as the first president of the North Carolina chapter, and helped re-establish the Heart of Texas chapter, serving as their membership chair. She also served as a mentor for high school students at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders through WTS’ TransportationYOU program. And through the WTS mentorship program, she has mentored young female professionals throughout the industry. She currently serves on the Heart of Texas Chapter Foundation Board. 

Travis is equally dedicated to inspiring the next generation of engineers through the advancement of STEAM education. She volunteers with the Bullock Texas State History Museum to lead STEAM-focused activities for elementary-aged students and played an instrumental role in bringing the Garver Chain Reaction Challenge, a year-long initiative celebrating the firm’s 100th year by engaging elementary students across the country in a STEAM-centered competition, to Austin Independent Schools students in Texas. 

Alongside her volunteer efforts for STEAM education, Travis invests in and supports her community through various forms of engagement and service. She has served on various boards and committees, such as the City of Cedar Park Economic Development Board, the City of Cedar Park Charter Review Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee. She has also been actively engaged in her church, regularly teaching Sunday School and serving as an Elder. In addition, she has held various leadership positions in parent-led boards and committees at schools in the Leander Independent School District.