IBTTA Releases Press Statement on WTS International Recognition Award Recipients
This below statement was originally released as a press release. View or download it in our Press Releases section. For more information, contact Tanya Sheres.
WASHINGTON, D.C—May 8, 2025 - Mary Jane O'Meara and Cassaundra Rouse and recognized for advancement in transportation.
WASHINGTON — The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) congratulates two of its esteemed leaders, Cassaundra Rouse, executive director of the Illinois Tollway, and Mary Jane O’Meara of HNTB, for receiving prestigious national honors that highlight their leadership and impact on the transportation industry.
Rouse, a current IBTTA board member, has been named WTS International’s 2025 Woman of the Year. As executive director of the Illinois Tollway, she oversees a 294-mile system across 12 counties in northern Illinois and leads nearly 1,400 employees in delivering safe, efficient service to 1.6 million daily drivers. She manages two major capital programs — the $15 billion Move Illinois initiative and the $2 billion Bridging the Future plan — while championing diversity, equity and opportunity throughout the agency. She also serves as vice chair of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s MPO Policy Committee.
O’Meara, national tolling practice consultant and vice president at HNTB, has been selected as the recipient of the Mary Peters Inspirational Leader Award. A transformative force in the industry for more than four decades, she has held leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including at the Massachusetts Port Authority where she served as director of the Tobin Bridge. A founder of the New England Toll Association and former WTS International Board president, she remains an active member of the WTS-Boston Chapter and served as its past president. O’Meara joined HNTB in 2011 and was the 2nd female president of IBTTA in 1999. In 2020, she was honored with the Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. She also received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 from the IBTTA Women in Tolling Council.
“It’s extraordinary to see two powerhouse leaders from the tolling industry honored on an international stage,” said James Hofmann, president of IBTTA. “Cassaundra and Mary Jane exemplify the excellence, integrity and forward-thinking vision that move our industry forward. Their work continues to open doors and drive innovation — and we are proud to count them among IBTTA’s leadership.”
“These awards speak to the kind of impact that lasts,” added Wanda Klayman, interim executive director and CEO of IBTTA. “Mary Jane and Cassaundra have each made a meaningful difference — in their organizations, in our industry and in the lives of those they lead and support. We are honored to celebrate this moment with them.”
IBTTA also congratulates all of this year’s WTS International honorees, including individuals and IBTTA member organizations AECOM, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Jacobs and HNTB. Their achievements reflect a commitment to shaping a more connected, inclusive and innovative transportation future.