A Publication for Employees of the Missouri Department of Transportation ConnectionsMay 2007 Missouri State Employee Recognition Week / May 7-11 “Inspired by today, leading for tomorrow - Missouri State Employees.” Thank you for your dedication and hard work. Your efforts are delivering a better quality of life for all Missourians. Pete K. Rahn Commission Changes Leadership, Gains New Member by Patti Knopke The Missouri Highways and Transporta- board of First State Bancorp Inc. of Ca- tion Commission is under new leadership. ruthersville. Jim Anderson of Springfield began a As well as new leadership, the commis- one-year term as chairman, while Duane sion has a new commissioner. Rudolph Michie, Hayti, is serving as vice-chair. E. Farber, a Republican from Neosho, Anderson and Michie have both served on was nominated to the commission in late the commission since 2001. March and was confirmed by the Senate “I’m excited about taking my turn at on April 19 for a term ending on March leading the commission,” Anderson said. 1, 2013. He replaces Marjorie Schramm, “The commission has a big responsibility whose term expired. - making sure Missourians have a quality His appointment marks the first time in 35 Duane Michie transportation system - and I intend to Jim Anderson years that a commissioner has hailed from keep things moving in the right direction.” since 1988. Michie is chairman of the any of the five southwestern-most Mis- Farber, 65, is chairman of the board of Anderson has served as president of the Board of First State Bank & Trust Co., souri counties. Community Bank & Trust in Neosho. Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Inc., and president and chairman of the He holds a bachelor’s degree in business continued on p. 2 I n sid e 5 10 15 Watch Out Helping Hands Super Size It For Us 7 District 5 maintenance 11 Student’s artwork Kelly Hoierman delivers Roadeo Roundup workers brave storm Paint the becomes a giant safety an emotional work zone District 2 winter to assist elderly Osage Town Orange message for drivers awareness message at equipment operators County farmer. St. Louis displays support along Interstate 55. CO memorial ceremony. show off their skills. for work zone safety. Paving the Way to Cultural Competency by Kristi Jamison Using a combination of motivational Equal Opportunity’s speakers and creative, thought- Intranet Site Gets a Facelift provoking workshops, the Equal Opportunity Division hosted its fifth Equal Opportunity’s Intranet site has annual Diversity Conference. The a bold new look and is full of valuable, annual program educates MoDOT easy to find information about management on how to embrace MoDOT’s diversity initiatives; tips diversity and ensure that MoDOT is a on proper work place etiquette; and work place that is inclusive of people of EO-sponsored events, training and different races or cultures. outreach efforts. “I enjoyed the conference,” said Reyna The site also includes comprehensive Spencer-Gurlly, community liaison in information about the Mentorship, District 6. “I appreciate that MoDOT is TRAC, Co-op and Partnership in making an effort to celebrate diversity Shaun Schmitz Education programs. and to really make that an integral part Keynote Speaker Gail Hinshaw talked about generational gaps in the work place and gave attendees tips on how to manage of the department’s culture.” workers from different generations. Check it out at wwwi/intranet/eo/. Nearly 100 managers attended the can recognize the differences and percentage increase in minority and conference, which was given the value them for the understanding women employed in their respective actions best promoted diversity in the theme “Paving the Way to SRI: and strength that they can bring,” work unit. work place. The awards given this year Simply Respecting Individuals.” said Chris Rutledge, Transportation “It is an honor for the System Delivery will become an annual presentation. Both general and breakout sessions Planning Manager in District 9. “These Team to receive the Director’s Diversity provided valuable information to help principles and concepts are not only 2007 Diversity Conference Awards Award,” said Chief Engineer Kevin management become more culturally helpful for us in the work place, but Keith. “We are working hard to create a Director’s Diversity Award – System competent, understand diverse work are applicable in the families, churches, culture of inclusiveness at MoDOT, and Delivery Team styles and bridge the generational gaps communities, and world that we live in.” one of the first steps is to increase the Diversity in Hiring Award - System in today’s work force. Chief Financial Officer Roberta diversity of our staff.” Delivery Team “The value of this conference was Broeker presented seven diversity Career Builder Award - System Other awards recognized districts not that it minimized the differences awards during the noon luncheon. The Facilitation Team or Central Office teams for their in people. Rather, discussions, System Delivery Team received the Excellence in TRAC - District 6 efforts to increase diversity in the presentations, and work sessions highest honor, the Director’s Diversity Co-op Educator of the Year work place, either through hiring were set up such that employees Award, for achieving the highest Award - Lisa Elliott practices, opportunities for promotion EAC Diversity Advocate of the or educational efforts. They also Year Award - Jana Hughes rewarded outstanding participation in Best Practical Design Concepts District Diversity Pioneer the TRAC and Co-op programs, as well Award - District 2 and District 8 Recognized at TEAM Conference as honoring the EAC member whose by Bob Brendel Practical Design continues to return 2007 Awards for Excellence “U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said dividends to Missouri taxpayers, Small Bridge she was impressed with the Missouri Department of enabling MoDOT to provide more George Butler Associates, in Transportation’s innovative transportation programs and improvements to its sprawling system. cooperation with District 5 – Route V, how the agency was making wise use of taxpayer dollars. At this year’s annual conference of the Boone County Transportation Engineers Association ‘The Show Me State is showing America how to deliver of Missouri, some of the best examples Large Bridge highway projects on budget and on schedule, and even of Practical Design were recognized MoDOT’s Bridge Division, in ahead of schedule,’ Peters said. Peters [also said] Missouri with “Awards for Excellence.” cooperation with District 3 – Route 61, is a national leader when it comes to embracing innovative Pike and Ralls Counties approaches and solutions.” The competition, which received 30 entries, was co-sponsored by Small Rehabilitation Project Excerpt from Willow Springs Community & Business News, Feb. 23, 2007 2 based on comments Peters made at Missouri’s Transportation Conference MoDOT and the American Council of District 7 – Route 37, Barry County Engineering Companies-Missouri. Large Rehabilitation Project In making the presentations, Chief HNTB, in cooperation with District 4 Leadership Changes New EAC Members Engineer Kevin Keith noted that the – Route I-35/I-670 in Jackson County Continued from p. 1 eight winning projects represented $83 and Truman Road Bridge in Kansas Take Office in July administration from Northwestern million in savings. All 30 submitted City University and a master’s in business Employees answered the call when the projects represented $361 million in New Construction Small Project administration from Columbia Univer- Employee Advisory Council put out a savings. Crawford, Murphy & TILLY, in sity. request for new members in February Each MoDOT district was allowed to cooperation with District 3 – Route 61, to replace 10 members whose terms enter two projects; consultants were Lewis and Clark County (Avenue of the expire later this year. Saints) allowed one entry per firm. The entries New members, who will take office were then evaluated by the team of Paul New Construction Large Project on July 1 for a two-year term, are: Ed Corr (Fred Weber, Inc.), Larry Benz, Gateway Constructors, in cooperation Angle and Julie Hill, District 1; Denise (Cole County and TEAM president), with District 6 – The New I-64 … The Hutchinson, District 2; David Powell, Tom Gredell (Gredell Engineering I-170 Interchange District 3; David Bower, District 4; Resources representing ACEC-MO), Travis Riggs, District 5; Edith Richard- Most Innovative Small Project Kevin Kelly (FHWA), Mike Curtit son, District 6; Lewis Gerbitz, District District 10 – Routes 77, 80 and 102, (MoDOT Traffic), Paul Kelly (MoDOT 7; Johnna Teel, District 8; Johnathan Mississippi County Bridge) and Kathy Harvey (MoDOT Estes, District 9; Tammy Hefner and Design). Most Innovative Large Project Shaun Schmitz Richard Russell, District 10; and For more details about team members, District 4, in cooperation with FHWA Rudolph E. Farber Cheryl Bonner and Kevin Raithel, a project description, costs and cost – Route I-435, Jackson County … The Central Office. savings, go to www.modot.org. Diverging Diamond M a y 2 0 0 7 Connections It’s Roadeo Time! Story by Jeff Briggs, photos by Wes Farris After a few years off, MoDOT’s Winter Operators earn points for each skill, Skills Roadeo is once again under way with the two highest performers in throughout the state. Most employees each district advancing to the statewide who operate equipment during win- Roadeo in October. ter storms participate in this training “MoDOT invests competition that rates operators on a more than $27 variety of skills, with the highest scores million a year, advancing to the statewide Roadeo on average, finals. to keep the “We’ve got about 3,000 of our folks out highways clear taking care of our roads during winter of snow and storms,” said Mike Shea, MoDOT’s ice,” Shea said. statewide Roadeo coordinator. “It’s “This training difficult work in tough conditions, and helps us make you’ve got to know exactly how to the most of that handle the plows and other equipment investment.