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MoDOT innovations highlight
annual Innovations Showcase
MoDOT celebrated the imagination and problem-solving skills of its workers in its Innovations Challenge Showcase held April 2 at the Springfield Expo Center.
We are devoting this special edition of Connections to recognize the Showcase winners.
Out of 52 finalists in the categories of productivity, projects and tool and equipment, the following entries were awarded top honors:
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Productivity Statewide Winners
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Jason Bonner, Darrell Wade - SW
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Ray Shank, Matthew McMichael -
TS, IS and TP
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Electronic Physical Inventory Count System
Christina Wilkerson, Amy Blankenship
FS, IS, MT, MC, NW and SE
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Travis Jones, Shelly Cooper and Courtney Thompson - KC
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Projects Statewide Winners
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Remote Access to Dash Cameras
Marc Lewis, Bruce Pettus -
SW
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Ryan Hale, Joshua Scott -
KC
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Mike Blattner, Liz Leingang -
SL
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Llans Taylor, Patrick Hake
DE, IS, BR and SE
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Tool & Equipment Statewide Winners
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Reverse Guardrail Sprayer
Kyle Fischer, Matthew Brune - CD
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David Powell, Mark Moellering - NE
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James Arbuckle, Rick Gaul - NE
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Dan Woody, Shadow Ellis - NW
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Director's Award for Safety
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CR and TS
Martin Schwartz, Gregg Ochoa and Jon Nelson
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Director's Service Award
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Ryan Hale, Joshua Scott - KC
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Director's Stability Award
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Missouri Road and Bridge Program
TP statewide programming group
Doug Hood and Gary Jahnsen
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Dickson People's Choice Award
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David Powell, Mark Moellering - NE
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Brinkmann encourages MoDOT imagineers
to take a fresh look at their jobs every morning
When looking for creative solutions, don't be willing to settle for the first right answer. That was just one of the messages presented by Commissioner Robert G. Brinkmann, who spoke April 2 at the General Session of DOMInno (Deliver, Operate, Maintain, Innovate) at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield. The session followed the Innovations Challenge Showcase.
Brinkmann, who was appointed to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission on Sept. 8, 2017, is the CEO of Brinkmann Constructors and is known throughout the industry as an exceptional creative thinker and problem solver.
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Missouri Highways and Transportation Commissioner Robert G. Brinkmann shared thoughts about creativity with DOMInno attendees.
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"Creativity is the phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is formed," Brinkmann said. Drawing from the TED talks (Technology, Entertainment and Design) of Steven Johnson, Brinkmann linked the Age of Enlightenment to the opening of the first coffee house in England in 1650. Before that time, drinking water was considered unsafe so alcohol was consumed morning, noon and night. As people began to gather in coffeehouses, they switched from drinking a depressant to drinking a stimulant. That, coupled with the social nature of the coffeehouse, led to the sharing of better ideas, he said.
Creativity provides strategic thinkers the tool to do something better by developing their own how and why for a project. "Always start by answering the why," Brinkmann said. "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it."
Brinkmann urged the audience - which consisted of Innovations Challenge competitors who are some of the most creative minds at MoDOT - to "steal like an artist," both individually and in groups.
"There's a good way to steal and a not-so-good way to steal," Brinkmann said. "Make sure you steal from a lot of people, not just one guy. Then transform those ideas that you steal into something different." In that way, Brinkmann said, a creative individual is always looking for inspiration.
Brinkmann also encouraged attendees to always look at their job fresh every morning and never settle for the first solution to a given problem. "Always look for the second right answer, not the first," he said.
Brinkmann's presentation was interspersed with comments from Director Patrick McKenna and Deputy Director/Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger, as well as interviews with past Innovations Challenge winners, including members of the teams that developed the Rear-Mounted Weed Eater, the JAWS Debris Remover and the Divergabout.
A video showing Commissioner Brinkmann's presentation will be shared with employees in a future issue of Connections.
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DOMInno takes center stage
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MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna opened the DOMInno conference by sharing a budget update and thanking employees.
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In his introductory comments to the DOMInno attendees, Director Patrick McKenna provided an update on the department's budget request. He also thanked staff for their hard work, especially during the recently completed winter operations.
Assistant Chief Engineer Eric Schroeter, Chief Safety and Operation Officer Becky Allmeroth and Chief Financial Officer Brenda Morris participated in a panel discussion. They answered submitted questions. A video of the panel discussion will be shared with employees in a future issue of Connections.
Breakout sessions included presentations on program delivery, work zone awareness, asset management, an update on the Maintenance Management System and an overview of MoDOT innovations that have been put into operation.
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See More from the Showcase and Conference
See all Showcase photos: Showcase
Videos:
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The mission of Connections is to be a source of MoDOT news
and feature articles that connects employees statewide.
Comments
What would you like to see in Connections?
We want to hear from you! Send comments
and suggestions to Tammy Wallace at:
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MoDOT Communications
P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102
Editor: Tammy Wallace
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