CT News 2023, Issue 4

Click here for a one-webpage version of all the stories in this column, in their complete form. (Service Awards and Retirements are not included.

Director’s Corner

So far, so good, with much more to accomplish

Gratitude is certainly among my primary emotions as I look back on my first year as director of the California’s Department of Transportation. It has been quite the ride, so to speak, as together we have traveled great distances and done much meaningful work. Let us take a step back and acknowledge the past year's highlights, many of which are listed in the 2022 Caltrans Annual Accomplishments Report, released this summer.

News

Eleven colleagues awarded Medals of Valor

In June, the Governor's Office honored 11 Caltrans employees with the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor, the highest honors California bestows on its public servants. The awards are given to state employees for acts of heroism that go beyond the normal call of duty and at great personal risk to protect state property or save lives.

There are no borders during times of disasters

It's the eve of the new year of 2023. People are already popping champagne, making resolutions and ready to ring in the new year ahead of them. What better way to celebrate the new year than with mountains of snow and flash floods across the state of California. Not an ideal way to put the old year behind us and the new year ahead of us. That was only the beginning. Little did we know, winter was coming, and that it was going to be a long and excruciating three months of storms from January through March.

Modern Caltrans marks its 50th anniversary

Fifty years ago this summer, the State of California established a new Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to unify a wide range of transportation functions under a single entity. Since July 1973, the department has managed one of the most complex transportation systems in the nation and helped play a vital role in creating the world’s fourth largest economy.

As strong as steel: A DBE success story

This story from the Caltrans Office of Civil Rights spotlights Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Marvella Steel Placers, and its CEO, Jacqueline Pruitt. Now a successful small business owner, Pruitt was in and out of jail for years until age 23. One week before being arrested the final time in 2003, the now 20-year sober addict said she had reached her breaking point and prayed to God to ask Him to remove her from the life she was living. God answered.

Hats Off

Mural artists tout Clean CA experiences in Salinas

Work is well underway on Clean California projects on underpasses of U.S. Highway 101 in Salinas. The two artists who designed the murals, MJ Lindo-Lawyer and Joshua Lawyer of Rough Edge Collective, recently contacted District 5 Senior Landscape Architect Corby Kilmer to express gratitude for the opportunity. See what they wrote.

DOT Shots

Check out scenes of, about or at least related to our 21,000 Caltrans colleagues as we continue to go about our business serving all those who use or benefit from our state's transportation network.

Health and Safety

Pursuing happiness: It’s tempting to reach for something just out of reach

The “pursuit of happiness” is one of the longstanding inalienable rights we enjoy in this country, as espoused by the Declaration of Independence. For hundreds of years, Americans have sought to improve their situations and move forward in as many life realms as possible. However, insisting on attaining happiness can come with risks. If you’re yearning for happiness, it automatically signifies that you’re not happy right now.

Who's New

Nina Dinsdale assistant division chief, DBO’s Business, Office, and Security Services Branch

Nina Dinsdale has been appointed as the Division of Business Operations’ assistant division chief for the newly formed Business, Office, and Security Services Branch, which encompasses the functional areas of Business Services, Sacramento Building Operations Center and Statewide Security Team. Nina has been a valued member of the Caltrans leadership team since December 2020.

Tarianna Perez, media CPRA coordinator, Headquarters Public Affairs

Tarianna Perez has joined Public Affairs as the Headquarters’ media CPRA (California Public Records Act) coordinator. Her responsibilities include statewide oversight on CPRA requests from the media, as well as being an integral part of ensuring consistent messaging. Prior to state service, she was with Sacramento State for over three years as a communications coordinator.

Gloria Roberts, District 7 director

Gloria Roberts has been appointed to be the new District 7 director. She had been serving as acting director. Since joining Caltrans in 2007, Gloria has served in a variety of roles in District 12, District 7 and Headquarters, including business services manager, chief of Public Information & Governmental Affairs, deputy district director of Administration, acting EEO program manager, acting division chief of Safety and Management Services, and chief deputy district director.

Service Awards

A list of Caltrans employees who celebrated 25 or 40 years of service, or who received superior accomplishment awards, in June and July.

Retirements

A list of Caltrans employees who retired in June and July.

Obituaries

Arnold Lee Larson, retired surveying engineer

Arnold met the love of his life, JoAnn, while working for Caltrans in Clearlake. They married in 1958 and settled in Ukiah in 1968 to raise their four children: Daniel, James, Kathryn and Kenneth. Arnold was a surveying engineer by trade and was a part of the Caltrans team that built U.S. Highway 101 from the Oregon border to Santa Rosa. He worked in Construction and was a part of the building up of Northern California.

Medha Mehta, retired staff services manager in District 4 Audiovisual/Graphics and Reprographics Services

Medha began her career at Caltrans in 1991 as a delineator in Engineering Services and advanced her position as a senior delineator in 1993. In 2001, she became the supervisor of Drafting Services in the Office of Engineering Services, Geotechnical Unit. In 2003, she moved to the Division of Administration and supervised the Audiovisual, Graphics, and Reprographics branch. She enjoyed her leadership role and was an advocate for her staff.

Clifford A. Rice Jr., retired civil engineer

Cliff graduated from Lincoln High School (Stockton) in 1963.  He went on to college at the University of Pacific, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. He served in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam War and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. He started working at Caltrans in 1984 and retired in December 2009 after over 25 years of service.

Ryan Bret Stiltz , senior bridge engineer

Senior Bridge Engineer Ryan Bret Stiltz, who was born on Jan. 17, 1972 in Fairfield, died on July 7 in Sacramento at the age of 51. "Ryan was an amazing colleague, teacher and friend," fellow Senior Bridge Engineer Jason Chou wrote in an email to their colleagues on July 10. "I know everyone loved Ryan because of his down-to-earth personality. He had a great head on his shoulders. I know everyone who crossed paths with Ryan thought highly of him."