Ness focuses on building the culture for a better Idaho

In front of some 170 Idaho Transportation Department employees at the 2014 Leadership Summit, Director Brian Ness highlighted how the department is doing, where it is going and how it is redefining its culture, one employee at a time.

With its goal of transforming ITD into the best transportation department in the nation, Ness’ presentation focused on how “building the culture for a better Idaho” comes down to nine strategic points or pieces of the puzzle.  Through the agency’s vision, strategic plan, accountability, realignment, cultural change, credibility, compensation, efficiency and employee development, Ness said it is entirely possible that ITD will continue to be an organization that focuses on efficiency, providing extraordinary customer service and remaining transparent and accountable.

Since ITD began its focus on redefining its culture through an extensive restructuring effort, the agency has been able to offer employees five salary increases in the last five years, despite saving $23 million in cost-saving measures.

Those cost saving measures didn’t come from layoffs or furloughs, but instead by tightening the way ITD does business and making the most of its resources and dollars. Those adjustments resulted in $23 million in savings to the department, a reinvestment of $180 million into the transportation system without a revenue increase and $40 million saved when GARVEE loans were refinanced.

To watch Ness’ full presentation, which includes Ness piloting a plane with the destination of ITD becoming the best transportation department in the agency, and asking every ITD employee to move from Mission: Impossible to Mission: Possible, click here.

Published 8-22-14