Published November 25, 2024
By : Staff Writer
World Sustainable Transport Day is celebrated annually on November 26. In recognition of the importance of sustainable transport systems in supporting economic growth, WOC Online highlights the achievements of two STEM award winners in this field.
In July 2024, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials announced that Sharon Jean-Baptiste, a WOC STEM award winner, was elected to a new group of leaders dedicated to advancing innovation, equity, and sustainability in the transportation industry.
As vice president of U.S. Midwest Operations at Jacobs, Sharon led a team that collaborates with clients in the water transportation and built environment markets to create infrastructure solutions that promote equitable outcomes.
She managed multimillion-dollar programs for the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, Philadelphia International Airport, and the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey.
Sharon actively leads in both engineering and transportation sectors, including the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, which represents over 3 million professionals across North America in every facet of the transportation industry.
In her acceptance speech at the Women of Color STEM Gala, she expressed, "It's an honor to be here today. This recognition is the result of a well-traveled path inspired by a passion for improving the world. One conversation changed my life trajectory. A high school teacher told me that I could be an engineer. So, stay open to possibilities, embrace discomfort, and seize opportunities to pay it forward."
LaShan Bonaparte, another WOC STEM award winner, made significant contributions to Bell's commercial aircraft programs, where she led program management and developed commercial helicopter products.
Bonaparte successfully certified the 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopter with airworthiness authorities, including Transport Canada Civil Aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
During her career at Bell, she served as the chief engineer for the H-1 Upgrade Program, overseeing all technical aspects of the program for one of Bell's key clients, the U.S. Marine Corps.
