The Sacramento Chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) has selected San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) General Manager/CEO Donna DeMartino as its Woman of the Year award recipient.
WTS is an international organization dedicated to building the future of transportation through the global advancement of women. The Woman of the Year award recognizes leadership in transportation and contributions toward the advancement of women and minorities in transportation. The award will be presented as part of WTS-Sacramento’s Annual Awards & Scholarship Dinner on Wednesday, January 20, in Sacramento.
DeMartino, a single mother of six who began her nearly 30-year transit career as a part-time coach operator, was appointed RTD’s first female General Manager/CEO in 2001. Under her leadership, RTD has established a Bus Rapid Transit system, adopted new hybrid and electric bus technologies, and completed significant transit improvements and infrastructure investments, including the Downtown Transit Center, Mall Transfer Station, Hammer Triangle Station, and the Regional Transportation Center. Together, these milestones and innovations have strengthened RTD’s service and helped build bridges to community partners throughout Stockton and the greater San Joaquin County area.
Additionally, while the transit industry’s average percentage of women employees is only 20%, thanks to DeMartino’s management and support, 51% of RTD’s entire workforce and 48% of its professional, managerial, and executive staff are women.
“I got teary-eyed when I heard the news of my selection,” said DeMartino. “RTD has received many national and local awards and to personally receive this kind of recognition for the work I love and am proud to do is just very humbling. It encourages me to continue RTD’s efforts to support and create opportunities for our employees and our community.”