2023 Cohort
Lawson Picasso San Antonio Lead of Communications and Public Involvement WSP USA lawson.picasso@wsp.com
Lawson Picasso’s career path is unorthodox. She started working in print/digital marketing and advertising at 16 years old. Through many obstacles and pauses, she’s continued to challenge herself by trying something new and learning a facet of the career she’s chosen. She currently serves as WSP’s San Antonio Lead for Communications and Public Involvement and leads projects throughout the U.S., mainly supporting federally funded projects locally in San Antonio and throughout the Central Region. With more than 10 years of experience in communications and outreach, Lawson is utilizing her diverse background to also explore opportunities for WSP in South Texas. Lawson’s experience in both the public and private sectors informs a comprehensive approach to how she develops inclusive engagement plans and equitable solutions to projects, and how she uses her knowledge and network to support pursuits in new markets. As San Antonio Lead of Communications and Public Involvement for WSP USA, a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy, Lawson Picasso is committed to educating and serving her community. Picasso oversees a team of three, which thoughtfully works together to create STEM-rich learning environments throughout the city of San Antonio with the VIA ART Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative and largest infrastructure project in the region. With the implementation of this program, Picasso has introduced technology and conceptual designs to the city’s Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) stations, bringing elements of science, technology, art and mathematics (STEAM) into communities where households may not have access to that type of learning and education. Under her guidance, they were able to meet with almost 300 residents and received over 450 comments that were utilized in the initial planning and design of the project. Additionally, she ensured that accessibility was always at the forefront of community engagement and designed the meetings to be inclusive to attendees by offering Spanish-speaking and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at all public meetings. In addition to her work with VIA, Lawson has also worked across the country supporting projects in Utah, New York, and Ohio. Lawson Picasso is a passionate advocate for those less fortunate and brings her lived experience to all areas of her work. Recently, she accompanied San Antonio Food Bank President and CEO, Eric Cooper, to the inaugural White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health with President Joe Biden. These topics are especially important to Picasso, having lived out of her car when she was 20 years old, during which time she faced barriers and extremely minimal access to basic-life necessities. Through her work with the food bank, Picasso is on a lifelong mission to minimize – and hopefully end – food insecurity in the United States, so that no person experiences similar hard- ships and access challenges. In addition to her work with the food bank, Picasso partners with local housing advocates to advocate for policies and services that will ad- dress these needs in San Antonio’s most marginalized communities. Most recently, Picasso proudly served on San Antonio Bond’s Housing Committee, which passed a policy she proposed that requires those interested in Housing Bond funds to submit Request For Proposal (RFP) in line with the city’s Displacement Impact Risk Assessment and solutions for any risks that may occur. She is a scorer for the Bond’s Housing RFPs, focused on rental rehabilitation; sits on City Public Service Energy’s Citizen Advisory Commit- tee, where she closely works with the utility company’s board to ensure what’s being proposed benefits all households; and was newly appointed to participate on the City of San Antonio’s Bond Commission. She was recently accepted into the 2023 class of Leadership San Antonio via the San Antonio Chamber and San Antonio Hispanic Chamber. It is considered the premier program for existing and emerging leaders in the Alamo Region.
In short, through her professional work, personal downtime, and as a busy mom, Picasso demonstrates that she is invested in her commu- nity; committed to improving mobility; and dedicated to giving back to others.
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