Keli Wylie, P.E.

Assistant Chief Engineer, Program Delivery, Arkansas Department of Transportation
Founding Chapter President, WTS Arkansas

About me: I consider myself an introverted extrovert who is excited to take on new challenges, which I approach with determination and enthusiasm. I welcome any opportunity to highlight the extraordinary work ARDOT employees perform daily, and I am always happy to share the innovative things we are doing. In addition to my work at ARDOT, I am also very enthusiastic about introducing young girls to STEM-related fields of study, and I’m extremely proud of my work with WTS Arkansas, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to attract, sustain and advance women’s careers in the transportation industry. WTS Arkansas has raised over $75,000 for scholarship endowments for young women entering a transportation-related field of study in either a higher education institution or trade school.

Lives/Works in: Little Rock

Best Career Advice: Listen twice as much as you speak. One of my mentors, ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor, gave that advice after I expressed my admiration of her ability to make people feel seen and heard.

Lesson Learned the Hard Way: I learned years ago that you must be confident in your knowledge and your decision-making abilities when you’re running a project or leading a team, especially in male-dominated fields like engineering and construction. Never be afraid to ask a question or get advice from a mentor or trusted advisor.

Proudest Moment of Impact: I began to see the potential impact of WTS Arkansas on our community when we were able to endow our first scholarship in 2022. As a recipient of an endowment in college, I know what a tremendous impact financial security for higher education has on a person’s life now and in the future. We awarded our first scholarship this year to a deserving young woman, and that was a dream come true for me personally. 

TOP 100 WOMEN OF IMPACT IN ARKANSAS 2023
A Women's Foundation of Arkansas Initiative