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Barrus takes the fast lane to eastern Idaho

Three job positions in five months. Not your everyday career ladder at ITD. But Jesse Barrus is up to the challenge.

Barrus (pictured right) starts Monday as the new maintenance operations manager at District 6. He leaves Headquarters, where he has been the acting state design/traffic services engineer since April. Prior to that, he was materials engineer in District 5.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” Barrus said, “but I’m grateful for the opportunity to work in different areas of ITD. I look forward to working with the capable management and staff at District 6.”

Barrus started his career with ITD in April 2010, beginning as a staff engineer in design at District 5. He was named materials engineer for the district, based in Pocatello, on April 29, 2013.

The opportunity for a Headquarters experience emerged this spring and he jumped at the chance. Then the District 6 operations manager came open and he applied for it.

“I’ve really enjoyed my assignments at ITD,” Jesse said. “District 5 was great, and leading the state design/traffic services section in Boise provided important perspective on leadership and services at Headquarters.

“I also enjoyed touring ITD offices around the state and attending conferences of the Western Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (WASHTO) and of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). This summer, I was able to participate in the WASHTO Emerging Leaders program.”

A Riverton, Wyoming, native, Barrus earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Utah State University in April 2004. He then worked six years as a consultant in materials testing, geotechnical engineering, and roadway design in Boise before joining ITD.

District 6 Engineer Jason Minzghor thanked District 6 maintenance foremen and Human Resource Associate Stephenie Grover for helping select Barrus. “Jesse will have great support from his District 6 team,” Minzghor said.

Jesse and his wife Britani are the parents of two boys and two girls. The family will live in Blackfoot, where they have a home.