Driving the Future of Engineering – 04/21/26
March 2, 2026Driving the Future of Engineering – 04/21/26
March 2, 2026ASHE Carolina Piedmont presents:
Learn how Charlotte is fast-tracking high-impact transportation projects through its Strategic Investment Areas program—using innovative delivery, strategic bundling, and targeted investment to transform key corridors.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
11:30am – 12pm – Registration & Networking
12:00pm – 1:00pm – Program
Dillworth Neighborhood Grille
911 E Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28204
Event Overview
We invite you to join us for our May Lunch & Learn on May 20, 2026, featuring Mackenzie Nowacki, PE, from the City of Charlotte.
Mackenzie will present an overview of the City’s Strategic Investment Areas (SIA) program and how it is being used to align transportation, land use, and infrastructure investments along high-priority corridors.
Attendees will gain insight into how SIA projects support:
- Multimodal transportation initiatives
- Economic development opportunities
- Safety improvements
- Long-term, sustainable growth
This session will be especially valuable for engineers, planners, consultants, and public-sector professionals interested in urban mobility, funding strategies, and collaborative project delivery.
As Charlotte continues to grow, understanding how Strategic Investment Areas guide capital planning and implementation will be critical for those involved in local and regional transportation projects.
Presenter:
Mackenzie Nowacki, PE
Engineering Program Manager – SIA Program Management Office – City of Charlotte
Mackenzie Nowacki is an Engineering Program Manager with the City of Charlotte, where she has served for the past eight years. She currently acts as Co-Lead of the City’s Strategic Investment Areas (SIA) Pilot Program, helping to advance innovative approaches to delivering transportation improvements more efficiently and strategically.
Originally from Western New York, Mackenzie earned her degree in Civil Engineering from the University at Buffalo. Prior to joining the City of Charlotte, she spent over six years in the private sector, gaining valuable experience in transportation engineering and project delivery.
Mackenzie is actively engaged in the professional community, serving as President-Elect of the APWA North Carolina Leadership & Management Division and as a board member of the WTS Charlotte Metro Chapter.
Outside of her professional work, Mackenzie enjoys spending time with her family, often chasing after her two young children, supporting her family’s businesses in the Music Factory, and taking her dog, Phyllis, on long walks.
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be available upon request.
The cost is just $35 for members, $50 for non-members and SPECIAL $20 for Government Employees who pay no later than Friday May 15, 2026. Please note, rates increase on the Saturday before the event and there are no refunds for no-shows. Lunch will be provided and PDHs will be available upon request. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ashecpssecretary@gmail.com.