Awards recognize industry leaders who advocate for the advancement of women in transportation
AUSTIN, Texas (May 14, 2024) – HNTB’s Jessica Kessinger, PE, deputy program manager, and Marisabel Ramthun, PE, Central Division business development leader, have received the WTS San Antonio Chapter 2024 Woman of the Year award and WTS Heart of Texas Chapter 2024 Woman of the Year award, respectively. The Woman of the Year award recognizes a distinguished leader in transportation who has made exceptional contributions to the sector and has actively fostered the advancement of women and minorities through impactful programs or opportunities within the field.
Kessinger provides oversight for the Texas Department of Transportation’s I-35 NEX General Engineering Consultant program and I-35 NEX South Project design-build section. This includes overseeing procurement, contract management, construction, project controls, risk management and operations. She has been actively involved in leadership roles within the WTS Heart of Texas and San Antonio Region chapters. In Austin, she served as the recognitions chair from 2016 to 2020, overseeing the nomination and voting process for various awards. Since relocating to San Antonio, Kessinger has taken on the role of corporate partnership chair, spearheading efforts to secure financial support from local firms and increasing participation for WTS scholarships.
In her current role, Ramthun engages closely with clients to assess project needs and strategize to ensure project goals are met. During her time at the Texas Department of Transportation, Ramthun was instrumental in several initiatives to advance projects and played a pivotal role in securing full funding for the IH 35 Capital Express projects, which encompassed numerous initiatives led by women and minority engineers, planners and environmental specialists.
“We are immensely proud to celebrate the accomplishments of Jessica and Marisabel,” said Summer Lawton, HNTB’s South Central Texas office leader and vice president. “Their dedication to advancing women within the transportation industry and our organization is truly inspiring. These recognitions underscore their commitment and exemplary leadership.”