Api Appulingam, Deputy Director of Aviation, Capital Development, at Philadelphia International and Northeast Philadelphia Airports, was recently chosen as President-Elect of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), Philadelphia Chapter. 

“Api’s intelligence, kindness, efficient attention-to-detail, knowledge of board structure, unwavering commitment to the mission of WTS and making the Chapter stronger are all assets from which WTS Philadelphia will surely benefit,” read a statement from her nomination package.

The Women’s Transportation Seminar, launched in 1977, is an international organization comprised of more than 40,000 professionals whose mission is to attract, sustain, connect, and advance women’s careers to strengthen the transportation industry. WTS Philadelphia is one of the most vibrant chapters and, over the decades, has grown steadily, attracting women and men throughout the five-county Delaware Valley region. Today, the chapter, which emerged in 1979, has more than 60 corporate and agency partners and over 300 members.

“I am incredibly proud to be a part of WTS Philadelphia. The women and men of the board are truly dedicated to the mission and vision of the organization and I am excited for what the upcoming term holds,” said Appulingam, who will be joining Erica Antoine (President), Abbey Gancz (Vice President), Alexis Williams (Recording Secretary), and Tamara Nicholson (Treasurer) for the 2021-2022 term.

Appulingam has been active with the WTS Philadelphia Chapter for over seven years and has served on the Board of Directors since 2015. She was previously elected to the Executive Board as the Corresponding Secretary for the 2019-2020 term.

In her role as Deputy Director of Aviation, Capital Development, Appulingam oversees the multi-billion-dollar capital development program tasked with making critical improvements and developing new infrastructure for both PHL and PNE. She also manages a team of approximately 100 staff members, including engineers, planners, architects, and managers.

“At PHL and PNE, we are very proud of Api’s most recent achievement. I know first-hand how passionate Api is about mentoring girls and young women to pursue a career in STEM, so this is a great opportunity for her and her team at WTS Philadelphia to continue forging relationships that will advance equity and access for women in transportation,” said PHL’s CEO Chellie Cameron.