MARCH 2021 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 Arizona Highways magazine PAGE boosts tourism dollars 3 t Diverse communication t Leadership Matters, t Customer Service Award platforms connect Amy Ritz winner Julia Voight Arizona PAGE 2 PAGE 5 PAGE 4 LEADERSHIP The INSIDE MATTERS ADOT DIRECTOR EDITORIAL BOARD am a project manager in the Major Projects Group, managing the John S. halikowSki eddie ediSon, hr vinCent laBella, oCi Interstate 10 Broadway Curve project. I began my career in politics DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR POLICY Sonya herrera, aSd kevin BieSty — not engineering as many people assume. My transportation career gregory ByreS, mpd began in 2006, when I was hired by ADOT’s Utility and Railroad group. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR lt. JameS warriner, eCd/oig timothy tait JameS windSor, tSmo I was pregnant with my first child at the time. As I look at her, now 14, I JenniFer BowSer riChardS, mvd COMMUNICATIONS DEPUTY DIRECTOR larry Clark, mvd realize how working for ADOT has benefited my family over the years, and Jon BrodSky I Steve BoSChen, ido how thankful I am to have had such great opportunities. I’ve been blessed NEWSLETTER STAFF the inSide lane iS puBliShed monthly with great mentors and leaders who’ve supported and encouraged me kathy Boyle, AssiStant For the employeeS oF the arizona CommuniCationS direCtor every step of the way. Amy Ritz department oF tranSportation By lori Baker, Senior CommuniCationS Major Projects Group ADOT CommuniCationS. SpeCialiSt In 2012, I became a project coordinator in the Urban Project Management Project Manager angela de welleS, Senior address all CommentS and (now Project Management Group.) While I worked to get up to speed on CommuniCationS SpeCialiSt SuggeStionS to [email protected]. kim larSon, Senior CommuniCationS a weB verSion oF thiS newSletter Can project management and all it encompasses, I shadowed several project SpeCialiSt Be Found on ADOTnet or at miChelle Fink, adminiStrative Support managers who allowed me to ask questions and learn from their experiences. azdot.gov/inSidelane. randy SaSaki, graphics proJeCt manager © 2021 Arizona Department of In fall 2014, the South Mountain Freeway was gaining momentum and I was asked to join Major John walradt, graphiC deSigner Transportation Projects, led by Senior Deputy State Engineer Robert Samour, to help deliver the project. It was an elena diaz, graphiC deSigner alternative delivery project and ADOT’s first freeway Public Private Partnership (P3). There are many Frank rodriguez, graphiC deSigner great things I could say about my experience with Major Projects. I’ll sum it up with our motto: “Make a decision, be able to support it and move on.” Share your best In 2016, Major Projects was asked to run the $700-million I-10 Broadway Curve project, and I was cover shot asked to serve as project manager. This is the first project to receive environmental clearance, acquire Do you snap shots that show off the scenic side of transportation in right-of-way, establish the schematic design and complete a P3, Design-Build procurement process Arizona? Share them with us and we simultaneously. I saw firsthand how a great team can produce great work. I’m happy to say we have a might put your photograph on the next cover of The Inside Lane. developer under contract and construction is scheduled to begin this summer. It can be a great picture of an MVD On the cover Work will occur on I-10 between Ray Road and 24th Street. Please visit azdot.gov/i10broadwaycurve to office, a beautiful highway shot or The world-renowned Arizona Highways even an artsy photo of construction magazine stimulates more than $43 learn about the improvements, watch the simulation video and subscribe for email updates. In another materials. Whatever the subject, the million annually of direct tourism first for ADOT, the project will have a mobile app to share the most up-to-date project information. I photo should highlight some aspect revenue to Arizona, a new research of the work happening here at ADOT. encourage you to download the app when it’s available, especially if you travel through our 11-mile report shows. The cover photos, Submit your original, digital provided by Arizona Highways, show work zone. During construction, it’s important to #StayAheadOfTheCurve. photographs to InsideLane@azdot. a sampling of the beautiful Arizona gov in JPEG format (no larger than Highways magazine covers, calendars Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, and very active daughter and son, cheering 10MB). Along with the photo, please and other products that help promote provide a brief description and your the Grand Canyon State. See more them on at softball, baseball and football games. name/title. coverage on Page 3. 21-005 The INSIDE MARCH 2021 2 Arizona Highways magazine stimulates $43 million annually in Arizona tourism howcasing arizona’s beauty, tourism community throughout Arizona. Arizona Highways diverse culture and rich history with It also confirms the exceptional work the retail product stunning photography and compelling entire Arizona Highways team does each and purchasers, the study’s Sarticles, Arizona Highways magazine every day,” said Arizona Highways Magazine researchers reported. Kelly Mero (AHM) plays a major role in boosting the Publisher Kelly Mero. Highlights of the Arizona Highways publisher state’s tourism economy, as detailed in a new The “Economic Impact and Contribution of report include: research report. Arizona Highways Magazine to State Tourism” • About 87% of The world-renowned monthly publication study, published in December 2020, describes subscribers keep their magazines for trip brings more than $43 million annually of how Arizona Highways magazine, its ancillary planning months or even years later. direct tourism revenue to Arizona, according products and brand influence travel and • Facebook users primarily seek information to subscriber surveys and economic modeling tourism decision-making, along with the about sightseeing, day trips and recreation analyzed as part of a new ADOT research spending habits of Arizona travelers and out- from the AHM Facebook page. study. The study was conducted by a team at of-state visitors. • About 77% of shoppers at the Phoenix Sky Arizona State University under the direction The study points to how travel spending Harbor International Airport AHM gift shop of the ADOT Research Center. For every $1 generates taxes for state and local subscribe to Arizona Highways magazine. spent by Arizona Highways, at least $3.74 governments and pumps tourism dollars into • Focus groups of Arizona Highways TV enters Arizona’s economy from out-of-state communities across the state, particularly viewers indicated that the show informs subscribers whose travel decisions were in places featured in the magazine and its their travel decisions. influenced by the magazine. Jeff Kida, Arizona Highways branded products. In-state expenditures by The research study, funded partially by the “The study confirms the importance and Arizona residents are important to many Federal Highway Administration, is the latest Arizona Highways magazine editorial team impact the magazine and brand have on the rural communities, where the tourism market in a series of studies conducted about every members participate in a virtual meeting. includes residents from the Phoenix and seven years to assess the impact of the AHM (Left to right) Top row: Keith Whitney, Lisa Altomare, Samantha Chow and Vicky Snow. $21.2M Tucson metro areas. brand. While Arizona Highways magazine is $35.4M Wages and Proprietor Income part of ADOT, it does not receive state funding Bottom row: Ameema Ahmed, Robert Stieve Total Economic Contribu�on 628 People are loyal to the Arizona Highways brand $43.1M Arizona Jobs Supported and is financially self-reliant. and Noah Austin. (Not pictured: Kelly Vaughn Torism pendng across multiple platforms as Arizona Highways and Jeff Kida.) $9.7M ~ Lori Baker, Senior Communications Specialist Total Tax Revenue magazine subscribers, AHM Facebook page users, Arizona Highways TV show viewers and the best of what the Grand Canyon State Arizona Highways sells Arizona-themed A one-year subscription (12 issues) to the Arizona Highways has to offer. It publishes unique outdoor products, including calendars, travel guides, print version of Arizona Highways magazine magazine draws experiences, expert travelogues and photography books, home decor and jewelry, is $24 in the United States, and magazine historical tales accented with award-winning through its online store on ArizonaHighways. features are available digitally. For more worldwide audience photographs of Arizona’s scenic wonders. com. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have information about Arizona Highways Since its debut in 1925, Arizona Highways The magazine has subscribers in all 50 states temporarily closed the gift shops at the magazine or to purchase Arizona Highways magazine has grown into a spotlight of and more than 120 countries. Arizona Highways office in Phoenix and the products, visit ArizonaHighways.com or call Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. 800.543.5432. The INSIDE MARCH 2021 3 Diverse Arizona requires multiple communication platforms onnecting arizona. Everyone. Everywhere. Every Day. our data showed that more than It’s the ADOT mission. Along with planning, engineering half the households in the area have C and maintenance comes relaying the information to the individuals who are predominantly public, and communications is not a one-size-fits all approach. Spanish speaking.”