Four decades of service to ITD
earn D2’s Ken Helm the Career Achievement Award

Ken Helm, who has served at ITD since 1978, won the Excellence in Transportation award at the event Dec. 12 in front of the Idaho Transportation Board. Helm started as a Draftsman, a position no longer in existence, just four years after the department changed its name from Department of Highways to ITD to be more inclusive of other modes of travel, most notably the Division of Aeronautics.

Through the years, Helm has transitioned from Draftsman to Transportation Technician to Planner to Project Manager, reflecting a change in focus along the way. One thing that has remained constant, however, is an unwavering commitment to the department and the north-central Idaho region he serves.

“Ken’s efforts have positively affected those within and outside of the organization,” explained D2 District Engineer Doral Hoff. “Over the years, he has expanded his skills in drafting and project design, allowing him to move to project manager (among other positions) where every day he betters himself, the department and his community.“

Hoff has worked with Helm for 23 years.

If there is a “signature” project for Helm, it is the US-95 expansion from Lewiston to Moscow — a transition from a rural, two-lane road to a safer, four-lane divided highway.  Helm has guided it from the very beginning, through the design phase (and endless input, both for and against the proposal) and into construction next year. His diligence in documenting design decisions has helped the department navigate, and ultimately win, a series of lawsuits and appeals.

Helm has a skilled eye for discerning highway sections that need improvement and utilizing limited resources to provide the greatest benefit for drivers and pedestrians.

“Ken’s years of experience qualify him as the go-to subject matter expert for the district and the state,” Hoff said. “Newly graduated design technicians who are mentored by him benefit from his patience and even temperament as much as his design knowledge. He listens to understand, treats all with respect and finds tactful ways to provide suggestions.”

“His knack for negotiating complex processes has also led him to mentor other organizations, such as the city of Potlatch, the Lewiston MPO and the Nez Perce Tribe, as they seek to improve their infrastructure by identifying and applying for grant opportunities,” Hoff added.

“The work could be as simple as a sealcoat or as challenging as the design for a dry well to address road fatigue or the long-term consequences of his US-95 expansion project. Simply put, he’ll do whatever is needed and do it extremely well — no job is too big or too small.”

Check out the video of Ken at the awards ceremony.

Published 12-13-19