Diana Mendes, AICP, HNTB Corp. transit/rail practice leader and sr. VP, was named 2017 Training Professional of the Year Award by the National Transit Institute. The award was presented at the NTI 2017 Transit Trainer’s Workshop in Nashville, Tenn.

“I am honored to be recognized by the National Transit Institute and support its mission of providing training and educational resources to practicing transit professionals,” Mendes said. “Trainers play a critical role in the industry and people’s lives by opening new possibilities for our workforce, our customers and our organizations.”

Mendes has provided training nationwide for the NTI and the Federal Transit Administration for more than 15 years. She has aided personnel from transit agencies, state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to better manage the environmental review process for federal transit projects. Mendes has reached more than 1,200 participants through more than 40 course offerings.  

“She is an outstanding trainer for NTI and many other programs that she works with,” said Paul Larrousse, NTI director. “More importantly, she is recognized as a mentor to many individuals, particularly the new generation of leaders in our industry.”

According to NTI, the Training Professional of the Year Award recognizes the exceptional contribution and sustained impact of a transit training professional on his or her organization and the industry as a whole. The Training Professional of the Year is chosen based on an applicant’s innovation, impact, professional development and reference letters.

In her role as HNTB’s transit/rail practice leader, Mendes is responsible for strategic planning and implementation, industry representation, business development, service delivery and client satisfaction. She is based in the firm’s Arlington, Va., office and works with transit clients across the country.

In addition to NTI, Mendes is active in a number of professional associations, including APTA and the American Planning Association.