April 27, 2023

MoDOT wins employer of the year award

A group of Kansas City District employees attended the Women’s Transportation Seminar awards banquet on April 20, where MoDOT received the Employer of the Year award.

Since 1977, WTS has focused on promoting the advancement of women in the transportation industry. WTS is an international organization whose values include being collaborative, future-focused, professional and inclusive.

The Employer of the Year award recognizes an organization that supports WTS through memberships, sponsorships and employee involvement at the local and international levels. The winning organization may also provide continuing education opportunities to female employees and/or encourage female students to enter the transportation field by providing internship opportunities.

Kansas City District Traffic Engineer Ericka Ross accepted the award on behalf of MoDOT. 

Left to right: District Engineer Chris Redline, District Traffic Engineer Ericka Ross, District Traffic Systems Supervisor Kelly Alvarez, Area Engineer Jill Bruss, Intermediate Traffic Studies Specialist Brittany Saathoff, Intermediate Highway Designer Hannah Sihamaya, Highway Designer Lilly Moua and Design Liaison Engineer Shelie Daniel.

No MOre Trash! contest winners announced

MoDOT congratulates Ginnifer Fuemmeler and their K-2 students at Hannah Cole Primary School in Boonville, Daniel Schaefer and their 4th graders at Kingdom Christian Academy in Fulton, and Hannah Shaw and their 7th graders at Liberal R-II Middle School in Liberal on being selected as winners of the 2023 "Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter Free" trash-can-decorating contest.

MoDOT sponsors the contest as part of Missouri's "No MOre Trash" campaign to raise awareness about and discourage littering. The contest encourages students kindergarten through eighth grade to join the fight against litter by decorating and displaying a large trash can with the "No MOre Trash!" logo and a litter-prevention message using a variety of creative mediums.

The first-place winners from each of the three competition categories (K-2, 3-5 and 6-8) receive a $200 award. All first-place winners were then eligible for the $600 grand prize and trophy. Entries were judged by MoDOT staff.

K-2 students at Hannah Cole Primary School in Boonville won the K-2 category and the grand prize for their "One Man’s Trash, Another Child’s Treasure" entry! Their project will be on display in the MoDOT Highway Gardens building at this year's Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Aug. 10-20, 2023.

Fourth graders at Kingdom Christian Academy in Fulton won the 3-5 category for their "Gotta Catch MO Trash" entry! 

Seventh graders at Liberal R-II Middle School in Liberal won the 6-8 category for their entry, "Don’t 'Leaf' Your Trash Behind!"

The winners were among 21 entries from Missouri students. See images and information on all entries online at modot.org/trash-can-contest.

MoDOT participates in Jefferson City job fair

MoDOT joined approximately 19 other Missouri agencies at the Capital Mall in Jefferson City for the state’s spring hiring event on April 12.

“We met over 75 people and interviewed 10 who were interested in maintenance positions,” said Ciara Harden, Human Resources specialist and recruiter.

Harden said the recently announced 8.7% pay increase for state workers seemed to provide incentive for job seekers. “We met people who were looking to start a career, others who were looking to change careers and some who were retired, looking to do something different with their time,” she said.

MoDOT HR plans to participate in future job fairs throughout the state, such as the St. Louis Diversity Job Fair on May 10.

Left to right: Central Office Human Resources Specialist Ciara Harden, St. Louis District Human Resources Manager Javal Burton and Central District Senior Human Resources Technician Ruth Falter.

For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, MoDOT hosted a statewide Local Public Agency meeting this past month. The meeting, aimed at MoDOT staff who are involved with the delivery of LPA projects, was held March 29 and 30 in Jefferson City.

Director McKenna addresses MoDOT staff at the first statewide LPA meeting since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was so nice to get everyone together in-person to put faces with names, to get to know everyone just a little better, and to learn from one another,” said Assistant State Design Engineer Ashley Buechter. “Forming these connections and relationships is essential and creates an atmosphere that allows everyone to reach out to one another when questions might arise. I certainly enjoyed our time together!”

The LPA meeting brings staff together from Design, Transportation Planning, Financial Services, Bridge and all seven districts to collaborate and learn from each other. More than 50 people attended this year’s meeting, which also included representatives from the Federal Highway Administration and Executive Team.

Allergies happen when your immune system has a bad response to something that's mostly harmless, such as pollen, pet hair or tree nuts. The immune system identifies these things as dangerous, setting off an allergic reaction.

Allergies can develop at any age. If both your parents have allergies, you probably will too, but you may not be allergic to the same things. Some people only have spring or fall allergies, while others say their allergies get worse at night.

Common Symptoms

• Breathing problems.
• Diarrhea, stomach cramps or vomiting.
• Headache.
• Itchy eyes, nose, mouth, throat or skin.
• Runny or stuffy nose, coughing and sneezing.
• Skin rash or hives.
• Watery, red or swollen eyes.
• Wheezing.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and make you wonder if you have allergies or a cold. Your doctor can help figure it out and help you take the right steps to reduce symptoms. 

Allergy-Proof Your Surroundings

• Change your furnace and AC filter each season.
• Wash sheets, pillowcases and blankets once a week in hot water. 
• Dust often - don’t use harsh chemicals and wear a mask when vacuuming, cleaning, gardening or mowing.
• Vacuum carpets and rugs once a week.
• Don’t let anyone smoke in your home.
• Keep the temperature in your home at 70°F and the humidity under 50% to help prevent dust mites and mold.
• Keep windows closed and use AC if you’re allergic to pollen.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the type of allergy you have and how bad it is. Over-the-counter and prescription medicines, such as antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays, can help ease allergy symptoms. Allergy shots give longer-lasting relief but usually need to be given over a few years before they're fully effective.

Find a doctor or specialist who can help you figure out what remedy works best for you.

Severe allergic reactions need to be treated right away with an EpiPen®. Call 911 immediately if you or someone you're with is having a severe allergic reaction.

Sources

Allergies (accessed January 2023): mayoclinic.org.

Allergy medications: Know your options (accessed January 2023): mayoclinic.org.

Allergy-proof your home (accessed January 2023): mayoclinic.org.

Allergy shots (accessed January 2023): mayoclinic.org.

Anaphylaxis: First aid (accessed January 2023): mayoclinic.org.

Northwest District Bridge Engineer Bryce Acton speaks with students from Lathrop Elementary School for their career day. 

Earlier this month Northwest District employees went back to school – for career day! Participating team members took the opportunity to talk to elementary students about their careers at MoDOT. 

Bridge Engineer Bryce Acton visited Lathrop Elementary School on April 13 for the school’s career day. Acton said the students were more fascinated than he expected. A fellow coworker reported back to Acton saying that he was many of the kids’ favorite speaker in his wife’s classroom.

District Traffic Operations Engineer Joseph Turner and Traffic Studies Specialist Matthew Stine also attended a career day event at Hyde Elementary School in St. Joseph on April 21. They spoke with the students about what they do at MoDOT in the traffic department and about how college prepared them for their careers at MoDOT. 

Northwest District Traffic Studies Specialist Matthew Stine speaks with students from Hyde Elementary School for their career day. 

Southwest District Engineer Stacy Reese (right) presents one of the district safety awards to Urban Traffic Supervisor Joe Dotson (left) and Traffic Supervisor Shannon Johnson during the spring meeting in Mt. Vernon.

Each day was wrapped up with an update and question and answer session from Southwest District Engineer Stacy Reese.

In honor of National Work Zone Awareness Week, Kansas City District Engineer Chris Redline joined other local partners along with 800 traffic cones to commemorate the number of people who lose their lives in work zones crashes each year.

When you see orange barrels or cones, pay attention and put your phone down. #nwzaw #bupd

April retirements

Northeast District

Erin Gruber 29

Andrew Dittmer 20

Randy Grote 22

Kansas City District

William Weaver 5

Central District

Donald Maddox 20

Tyann Alexander 23

Central Office

Cynthia Rackers 2

Elizabeth Ring 18

Todd Miller 25

Tim Taylor 23

St. Louis District

Eric Axtell 25

Carolyn Smith 28

Richard Campbell 30

Southwest District

Teresa Nixon 27

Larry Jeffreys 28

Southeast District

Louis Ochs 3

Norman Malkowski 28

The mission of Connections is to be a source of MoDOT news

and feature articles that connect employees statewide.

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Editor: Sr. Communications Specialist Bethany Belt

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