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Director touts employee achievements during presentations to legislators

When ITD Director Brian Ness made his 2016 presentations to the Idaho Legislature, he talked about the department’s accomplishment and how the agency’s employees were coming up with award-winning and money-saving innovations that were being adopted as models for other states.

“They are the ones who continually step up to the plate and hit home runs again and again,” Ness told legislators. “They too are achieving recognition. And it is well deserved.”

Tri Buu earned the prestigious Mr. Northwest Geotech Award for contributions to the Geotechnical industry.

ITD’s Principal Auditor Sandra Healey was named the Association of Government Accountant’s National Recruiter of the Year.

Driver Services employees, Chris Kiyoshi and Santiago Palomera became members of the AAMVA committees for vehicles and law enforcement.

Matt Beckstead, from the Preston Maintenance Shed won second place in the loader event from among 55 competitors at the Western Snow and Ice Conference and National Truck Roadeo in Colorado. This was the second year Matt has competed

District 5’s Dan Harelson wrote a paper on low-volume roads that earned him the opportunity to give a presentation from the lectern at the Transportation Research Board International conference. He wrote about an ITD system that has reduced crashes by approximately 35 percent in nine years at 1,100 intersections in District 5.

Long-time employee Trish Whitney, who has worked for ITD since 1974, was recognized by the American Red Cross as a 2015 Hometown Hero for her volunteer service.

“These are just a few examples of our employees’ excellence. I could have shown many more, but I think you get the idea. We have a great workforce,” Ness said.

He also credited a team of 30 employees, led by Chief Deputy Scott Stokes and Chief Administrative Officer Char McArthur, for work on the Division of Motor Vehicles’ Cash Drawer System. Their work improved service to ITD customers across the state, made payments far more convenient, and improved processing and accuracy and accounting for DMV.

“Major customer-service improvements like this, and the awards and accolades earned by our employees in 2015 show the quality and excellence our employees bring to work every day,” he explained. “They are outstanding people at work and in their communities.”