Nov. 22, 2023

MoDOT employee wins AASHTO President's Award

From Nov. 13-16, the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials held their annual meeting and expo in Indianapolis, IN. At the meeting, the AASHTO President's Award for Research was presented to MoDOT Environmental Chemist Sam Marshall.

This award highlights the efforts of individuals and teams who have championed research for their state DOT and the transportation field overall. These individuals and teams have supported and contributed high-quality transportation research and innovation to improve the movement of people and good.

Marshall has embraced MoDOT's Innovations Challenge program, consistently improving his laboratory work while maintaining his regular workload. His innovative contributions have consistently advanced to the Statewide Innovations Showcase from 2019 to 2023. Notable among his innovations is a faster determination of sulfide sulfur in blended slag cement, saving time, reducing chemical usage and minimizing waste. Marshall's dedication resulted in his presentation at the American Society for Testing & Materials conference for potential national implementation.

(Left to right) Deputy Director/Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger, Assistant Chief Engineer Eric Schroeter, Environmental Chemist Sam Marshall, Director Patrick McKenna, Governmental Relations Director Jay Wunderlich and Int. Governmental Relations Specialist Patrick Flesch.

Marshall submitted concepts like Chemical Analysis of Concrete Cores by Extraction and Solubility, Total Sulfur determination in Fly Ash (awarded the Director's Award for Stability) and Rotary Kiln Fines in Concrete (RKF), which won top honors at the Innovations Showcase. His RKF innovation seeks to reduce the carbon footprint in concrete production by incorporating a by-product of calcined clay, demonstrating his commitment to improving lab practices and mentoring interns.

“It was such an honor to represent MoDOT in that capacity and showcase MoDOT as a leader in the transportation industry," said Marshall. "I’m truly blessed to work with and be supported by MoDOT’s team, specifically Patrick McKenna, Ed Hassinger, Kelly Backues, Sarah Kleinschmit, Kara LeCure, Todd Bennett, Leonard Vader, Dave Ahlvers, Brandi Baldwin, and Terri Parker. Also, I was fortunate enough to surprise my 84-year-old mother and give this award to her as an early Christmas present.”

Congratulations, Sam!

THINGS TO KNOW

I-70 UPDATE

Team hosts industry meeting for second project

The Improve I-70 team hosted an industry meeting on Nov. 14, in Wentzville for the second project scheduled for the Statewide Improve I-70 Program. Improve I-70: Warrenton to Wentzville will expand and improve Interstate 70 from the eastern-most side of Warrenton to Interstate 64 in Wentzville. At over $500 million in scope, this project is scheduled to be awarded in fall 2024 with an anticipated completion date in fall 2028.

Approximately 150 industry partners attended the meeting led by the Improve I-70 East Team Project Director Kim Trainor. During the meeting, Trainor provided project details about solicitation for the owner engineer role, project budget, schedule, Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) process and more. While this project is not expected to issue the RFQ until spring 2024, the team wanted to share some of these details prior to the holidays due to the immense size of the project.

Project #1, Columbia to Kingdom City, has shifted into its one-on-one meetings between shortlisted teams and the Central Project Team. These meetings will be ongoing until the project is awarded in February 2024.

For more information about the Improve I-70 Program, click here.

Approximately 150 industry partners attended the industry meeting for Project #2 (Warrenton to Wentzville) of the Statewide Improve I-70 Program.

MoDOT honors its veteran employees

Deputy Director/Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger speaks at the Central Office Veterans Day ceremony.

On Nov. 9, MoDOT Central Office celebrated Veterans Day by honoring employees who have served in the United States Military. Employees were recognized for their courageous sacrifice during a luncheon and ceremony where they were presented with personalized certificates.

Attendees of the Veterans Day ceremony were able to hear remarks from MoDOT Deputy Director/Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger as well as Deputy Director Col. (Ret) Ryon Richmond of the Missouri Veterans Commission.

Director McKenna, the District Engineers and Hassinger also shared their gratitude for MoDOT veterans in a video which can be viewed here.

The Central Office and Central District veterans honored were:

Evan Adrian – U.S. Marine Corps, 5 years
Patricia Barnes – U.S. Air Force, 10 years
James Beattie – U.S. Army, 20 years
Darrell Bennett – U.S. Marine Corps, 8 years
Randy Blalock – U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve & Missouri Army National Guard, 14 years
Nick Cook – U.S. Army & Missouri National Guard, 9 years
Chelsie Cunningham – U.S. Air Force & Missouri Air National Guard, 9 years
Stacey Fowler – U.S. Air Force, 8 years
Virgil Helton – U.S. Navy, 6 years
Tommy Hill – U.S. Army, 16 years
Curtis Holland – U.S. Navy, 4 years
Thomas Holland – U.S. Army, 3 years
Chi Hung – U.S. Air Force, 5 years
Michael Larimore – U.S. Air Force Reserves, 36 years
Eddy Larson – U.S. Army, 4 years
Bruce Loomis – U.S. Navy, 6 years
Kenneth Miller – U.S. Army, 5 years
Jean Nougues – U.S. Army, 2 years
John Stump – U.S. Army, 23 years
Denny Whittle – Missouri Army National Guard, 8 years
Douglas Witt – U.S. Navy, 4 years

On Nov. 15, the Kansas City district offered breakfast for its veterans followed by gifting challenge coins and a tour of the Veterans Community Project. VCP is a nonprofit organization that was established in Kansas City and provides services that help veterans overcome challenges, resolve immediate crises and move toward permanent stability.

View additional photos of the Kansas City district's Veterans Day event here on Flickr.

On Nov. 17, St. Louis District veterans toured the “Vietnam: At Home and Abroad” exhibition at the Soldier’s Memorial in downtown St. Louis.

View additional photos of the St. Louis Veterans Day event here on Flickr.

On Nov. 8, some of Northwest District's veterans toured the Missouri Air National Guard 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph. They received a briefing by public affairs of the wing’s mission, toured a C-130 aircraft and got to walk through the aircraft hangar.

View additional photos of Northwest District's Veterans Day event here on SharePoint.

Thank you to all MoDOT veterans and military families for making the choice to serve to protect our freedom.

Focusing on talent management

This month, the Human Resources Employee Development team is highlighting MO Learning courses on talent management throughout teams. Talent management focuses on how a department brings employees on board and manages them within their teams and how employees are kept happy, engaged and productive.

Talent management comes from all areas within an organization. All teams are unique and diverse, meaning leaders and co-workers need to spend time connecting with each other to learn how one can be influenced through positive talent management.

Review these courses to focus on improving and assisting in talent management at MoDOT:

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Tips to stay healthy on a tight budget

Having a tight budget can make it seem like the options for staying healthy are limited. Yet with some creativity and planning, you and your loved ones can eat well, exercise and reduce stress to stay healthy and stay within your budget.

The trick to pursuing a healthy lifestyle without spending a lot of money is to think outside the box and plan ahead.

Eating healthy on a budget is easier when you think ahead about your meals. Planning in advance helps with saving money, saving time and making food last longer.

Make the most out of your trips to the grocery store by doing some research before you go. If possible, find out what is on sale. Also ask if the store has a loyalty program for members that includes lower prices on items.

Plan your meals based on what you can pick up for less, plus what is already in your pantry and refrigerator. Make vegetables and other plant-based foods the stars of your meals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s My Plate, American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Plate Method and Harvard School of Public Health’s Healthy Eating Plate recommend filling at least half of your plate (or bowl) with fruits and vegetables.

As you plan meals, think about how to use leftovers. For example, uneaten vegetables and rice are great for soups and stir fry. You may also make large batches of a recipe and freeze portions for later. Buying in bulk can make healthy options cheaper when you break it down by serving.

When you go to the store:

Stick to your shopping list.
Buy staples and items that will not spoil in larger quantities when possible. These can include rice, pasta, dried beans and peas, frozen vegetables and fruit, and canned items.
Choose simple foods that have fewer ingredients as they are more likely to be healthier.
Avoid single-serving and pre-packaged meals. They are usually more expensive per serving. Many have added salt and other preservative ingredients.

If you are in need, take advantage of free food sources, too. You can find food pantries and other resources through Feeding America, the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) and local community and religious organizations. Federal and state governments, and some local governments, offer food assistance programs, too.

Southeast District holds annual bridge competition

Ste. Genevieve, Chaffee & Hartville high schools take ‘Top Three’

After weeks of work to build the most efficient model bridges, Southeast Missouri high school students put their bridges to the test last week at the completion of MoDOT’s 20th Annual Bridge Building Competition. The competition challenges high school juniors and seniors to design and construct the most efficient model bridge using limited materials—balsa wood, thread and glue.

Ste. Genevieve, Chaffee and Hartville high schools received first, second and third place for best overall performance, respectively. These schools received cash prizes.

In addition, students were recognized for building the lightest bridges that carried the greatest loads. Winners included:

1st – Hope Schmelzle – Ste. Genevieve
2nd – Vinil Bhagha – Ste. Genevieve
3rd – Josh Horrell – Leopold
4th – Ayne Held – Chaffee
5th – Myra Roth – Saxony Lutheran

KFVS12, the television news station, covered the story and focused on women in STEM careers by interviewing two female students and a female teacher from Notre Dame High School. Click the image above to watch the interview.

Other awards included the most aesthetic bridge presented to Ayne Held of Chaffee High School and the computer-based electronic bridge award presented to Houston Lafferty of Leopold High School.

Prize donations have been made possible by the following businesses and organizations: SE Chapter Transportation Employee Association of Missouri, Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety, Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing, Cape Girardeau Noon Optimist, SE Chapter of Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and Three Rivers College.

MoDOT also partnered with Arkansas State University, University of Missouri-Columbia, Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology and Southern Illinois University to offer seniors interested in civil engineering up to $10,000 in scholarships.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety were on hand during the competition to discuss the importance of buckling up.

To view photos from the event, click here.

Northwest District resets 1850 monument

Earlier this year, members of the Northwest District survey team aided in resetting a cast iron monument on the Missouri/Iowa border.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture Land Survey Program was informed of Mile Marker 60 being knocked over in late 2022, and in the spring of 2023, worked with MoDOT to reset it. District Land Survey Manager Stephen D. Miller, Land Surveyor in Training Francis Duncan, Intermediate Survey Technician Jose Madera, Senior Maintenance Worker Scott Witkowski and crew dug a 6-foot hole to reposition the monument so that it rests below grade, making it less likely to be struck by farm equipment.

Mile Marker 60 is lowered into place by a crane guided by crew members.

The monument was originally placed in 1850 and is located one mile east of the Missouri River and the line between Fremont County, Iowa and Atchison County, Missouri. It is one of four large markers that delineates the line between the two states. It measures 5 feet tall and weighs between 1,500-1,600 pounds.

While the marker was reportedly knocked down in 2022, it hasn’t sat upright for most of its existence. Photos published in 1943 in the “Original Instructions Governing Public Land Surveys of Iowa” show the marker leaning to the east. Then in 1972, notes from the Mann survey report that Mile Marker 60 tilted in a different direction than the 1943 report.

A local landowner also added his account of the monument. As reported in the “Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors,” Lucian Smith said that the marker was removed by a local farmer and dumped in the Missouri River, but the same person later recovered the monument and reset it after feeling guilty for moving it.

The monument has now been restored to its intended position, located at the edge of the road and an agricultural field.

SHOW-ME MODOT

Kelly Backues

Central Office Transportation Planning Specialist

Transportation Planning Specialist Kelly Backues loves her unique roll at MoDOT as the coordinator of the statewide Innovations Challenge. Day-to-day, Backues works to prepare for MoDOT’s annual Innovations Challenge from kickoff to showcase while also assisting employees in performance management and developing American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, Federal Highway Administration and Office of Administration award submissions.

“Hands down, my favorite thing is the Innovations Showcase,” said Backues. “I like watching the employee comradery and seeing the winners’ proud faces. I really enjoy working with the awesome showcase crew!”

Backues has been with Transportation Planning for nine years and has worked in performance management for 12 years. Previously, she worked with insurance agents at a district level, which helped develop her interpersonal skills and one-team culture approach. Backues has been involved with the Innovations Challenge for the past 11 years and became the statewide coordinator in 2018.

The highlight of Backues’ career – so far – as a Transportation Planning Specialist has been sharing MoDOT’s innovations program on a national level with other transportation departments and organizations.

“It’s an honor to see agencies across the nation replicate our program,” she said.

Backues was drawn to MoDOT back in 2006 when her friends recommended it as “the best state agency,” and she’s stayed because of management support, the adaptable workplace and the lifelong friendships she’s made.

Outside of work, Backues enjoys being with her family and friends, traveling and sitting on a beach.