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Director Ness earns WTS Transportation Leader of Year honor

In recognition of his efforts to transform ITD and create a leaner, more responsive organization, Director Brian Ness has been named Transportation Leader of the Year by Women in Transportation.

The Treasure Valley chapter will present the award Jan. 31 at its annual meeting and awards ceremony. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Riverside Hotel.

Ness was selected from among other transportation professions for his vision and leadership since becoming director three years ago. His “directives have made substantial contributions to ITD and the transportation industry,” according to the nomination.

WTS is a national organization of women in transportation-related professions; the Treasure Valley chapter represents members throughout southwest Idaho.

Ness was chosen for the award because of his leadership in:

Creating a strong relationship with the governor’s office, the legislature, industry and businesses. ITD’s conversations with the governor’s office, legislators and business partners turned from cynical and questioning to that of confidence and collaboration. During his initial three years with the department, the Governor’s Executive Order to improve the department was satisfied, and ITD met the requirements of the Office of Performance Evaluation Audit.
Realigning the department. Through realignment, Brian has returned decision-making and opportunities to the employees who do the work. Decisions no longer are filtered up and down nine layers of management. No employee lost their job or pay through the process.
Gaining national attention. The department’s realignment and subsequent successes have attracted national attention. Ness was invited to Washington, D.C. to address that success and other ITD initiatives at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting this week.
Reinvesting savings. More than $12 million in savings resulting from realignment have been reinvested into maintenance equipment, operations, new projects and employee compensation plan. The compensation plan was the first raise for ITD employees in four years and has dramatically reduced turnover in key front line positions.
Improving accountability and communication. Under an initiative led by the director, all employees now are reviewed at the end of the state fiscal year rather than on their anniversary date. This allows employees’ performance plans to be more directly linked to the department’s strategic plan and budget cycle.
Adopting a new strategic plan. The strategic plan represents a major cultural shift for ITD and separates it from most DOTs in the country. The plan focuses on meeting the economic goals of Governor Otter’s Project 60 first, then making project decisions to drive those goals.
Leading revenue enhancement discussions: Ness is positioning the transportation industry to begin discussion about a revenue increase. Through the successes of the above initiatives and others, key legislators now are willing to start discussing revenue enhancements based on the recommendations of the Governor’s Transportation Task Force.

Ness also was recognized for his support of advancing women and minorities within the transportation profession by:

Selecting a woman to be a member of his three-person Executive Team. Mary Harker, the chief of Human Resources, plays an integral role on the Executive Team and is a strong advocate for respectful workplace training and equal opportunities.
Women filled the most recent two career advancement opportunity at the ITD Headquarters complex – the Human Resources Manager and Right of Way Manager. Ness was a member of one interview panel and approved the other promotion.
Selecting women and minorities to be on his “Direct to the Director” teams. The group of supervisors and non-supervisors meet quarterly with Brian. No agenda is set or minutes kept. Rather employees bring issues and concerns to discuss directly with the director.
Supporting brown bag luncheons at the department’s Headquarters that promote diversity and multicultural appreciation and understanding.
Supporting a program that annually brings junior high girls to ITD to learn about the opportunities an engineering degree would bring and enabling ITD women engineers to participate in a similar program sponsored by Boise State University. ITD participates in the annul Girls State program that matches a junior with mentor/leaders at major state agencies.
Insisting on swift and decisive investigations of civil rights issues.