Idaho and ITD shine as hosts of WASHTO annual meeting
The Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) 2015 annual meeting, July 19-22, provided an opportunity for departments of transportation from throughout the western United States to share best practices, initiatives and innovations. Nearly 500 attendees representing 18 states discovered Boise and Idaho during the three-day meeting.
Many of this year's participants were impressed with Idaho and the customer service ITD volunteers and staff provided throughout the meeting.
WASHTO holds its annual conference in a different member state each year. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) hosted the 2014 conference. Idaho last hosted the WASHTO annual conference in 1997 when the group met in Sun Valley.
ITD Director Brian Ness welcomed transportation professionals
representing 18 states to Idaho and WASHTO's 2015 annual meeting.
ITD staff and volunteers helped meeting attendees find their way in Boise, from the moment they landed until departures.
Lt. Gov. Brad Little explained the importance of transportation systems to state economics.
Monday morning's roll-call of states provided an opportunity for attendees to meet some of the 490 registered attendees.
ITD Chief Deputy Scott Stokes took his turn at the microphone during the meeting's opening session.
Economist Todd Buckholz, a frequent guest on ABC News, PBS and CBS, offered his thoughts to close out the opening session of the WASHTO meeting.
Author Kenneth W. Gronbach is a nationally recognized author, expert and futurist in the fields of Demography and Generational Marketing. His keynote address showed attendees what was coming regarding shifting demographics and the changing of generations.
An All-Star federal issues panel fielded questions for several hours during the opening day of the meeting.
Pictured is one of the many breakout information sessions offered during the three-day annual meeting.
Lloyd Brown, director of communications with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), provided meeting attendees the opportunity for some media training.
Vendors offered transportation solutions to attendees during meeting breaks.
Monday's State Night was hosted at the Idaho State Capitol and featured interesting activities and refreshments on all four floors of the rotunda.
Pictured is one of several technical-track sessions on Tuesday that included tours of the National Interagency Fire Center and Transit Center construction in downtown Boise.
Boise Transit Center construction near the Centre on the Grove interested these meeting attendees.
ITD Chief Operations Officer Jim Carpenter opened Wednesday's activities and introduced the morning's keynote speaker. Carpenter and Chief Human Resources Officer Brenda Williams also delivered a Wednesday break-out session discussing horizontal career paths.
UPS Vice President of Global Affairs Pat Thomas talked about exceeding customer needs.
ITD Chief Administrative Officer Charlene McArthur shared the thinking behind
the department's new citizen-centric annual report during Wednesday's
Policy/Funding Track break-out sessions.
Published 07-31-15