WTS International, the association for the advancement of women in the transportation industry, was among the invited guests at the annual Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO summit last week.

APEC held its meeting of the world's companies at the helm of our global economy in Hawaii this year, but there was little in the way of luaus and leis, as several of the tightly held sessions presented and concluded that the world's economy may suffer great consequences due to a shrinking pool of talent.

WTS International's invitation to attend the APEC summit was an appropriate step in creating solutions to the dilemma of the dwindling talent pool. With the primary goal of growing the female demographic in the transportation industry's professional leadership roles worldwide, the association is getting the attention it needs from the world economy's major players to help move WTS's strategic plan along.

"President Obama, Hilary Clinton, and the CEOs of companies such as FedEx, Boeing, Caterpillar and DHL were in attendance at the summit, and they all heard or aired the same concerns for the world's future infrastructure," said WTS International's President and CEO Marcia Ferranto. "The top-notch talent currently responsible for transportation systems across the globe is retiring, and the quantity of young talent coming up through the STEM educational and training paths (science, technology, engineering, and math) is dwindling."