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Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
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Auditors
share insights, absorb Idaho culture
Professionals from 43 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico gained new insight into their roles as transportation department auditors and an appreciation for Idaho’s natural amenities this week during a four-day conference in Boise.
The annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Subcommittee on Audit attracted 114 participants and another 30-plus companions for a series of presentations on internal and external audits. Organized by ITD’s Internal Review Office and coordinated by Bob Elliott, the conference included examples of best practices.
Among the 17 speakers was LaVonna Smith who discussed the procedures she used to conduct a thorough internal control assessment of ITD’s information technology. Her task was to review the department’s use of information technology – a high-investment, high-risk, pervasive activity – to ensure that it incorporates appropriate security and functions efficiently and effectively.
Other key speakers included:
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Idaho Transportation Board chairman Charles Winder;
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Ken Mead, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation;
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Max Inman, Chief of the Federal Aid Financial Management Division of the Federal Highway Administration;
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Paula Williams, technical manager of information technology internal audits, Albertson’s; and
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Gail, Vallieres, Financial Management & Assurance Team of the federal Governmental Accountability Office.
In
addition to Winder and Smith, other program participants from Idaho
included Paula Williams, technical manager of information technology
internal audits at Albertson’s and Mark Pearson, assistant audit
director for the Boise Corporation.
Representatives from transportation departments in Washington, North Carolina and Arizona joined a pair of certified public accountants in a panel discussion of external audit relations with consultants.
Conference participants enjoyed a taste of Idaho Tuesday evening at a catered Basque dinner, including entertainment by Basque dancers in downtown Boise.
Many of the audit professionals were accompanied by family members or friends, and many took advantage of their trip to Idaho to work mini-vacations into the agenda. One traveled to Riggins, some floated the Payette River, and others visited Sun Valley and Craters of the Moon.
By all measures, the conference was a tremendous success, said Carri Rosti, who leads ITD’s Internal Review section.
“We have one of the smallest DOT audit groups, yet some people indicated this was among the best conferences they’ve attended,” Rosti. “They were very gracious and generous in their praise, and many sought us out to say ‘thank you.’”
Most of the accolades were directed at the quality of the speakers and the content of their presentations. Some attendees will use the conference to fulfill requirements for continuing professional development.
Rosti said the conference will serve as a model for similar events in the future; she already has been asked for advice in organizing the 2005 event in South Carolina and the 2006 conference in Montana. Even some colleagues within ITD have asked for input as they begin planning their own professional conferences.
As acknowledgment of the program’s success, Rosti was appointed to serve as secretary of the organization next year.
“I
cannot compliment my staff enough for the splendid work and exemplary
commitment they made to the conference,” Rosti said. “It was
extremely gratifying to have my colleagues compliment us on the organization,
the agenda, the activities and the Basque dinner…
“Everything turned out so well and so successfully, I don’t know what we could do differently. However, now our ‘day jobs’ kick in.”
“Everyone was enthusiastic throughout the conference. In fact, I think enthusiasm grew during the conference,” Elliott said. “There was a lot of participation and a lot of good discussions. They enjoyed being here, and they felt it was a very worthwhile experience.”
Actually, the embers from this year’s conference had not cooled before Rosti and her staff returned to their normal routine. They held a preliminary meeting on an audit request just hours after closing remarks and adjournment Wednesday.
Photo captions: Transportation department auditors from throughout the country gleaned professional lessons from at a subcommittee conference in Boise this week (top). ITD's LaVonna Smith (middle) gave a presentation on an information technology audit she conducted. Basque dancers provided entertainment during a cultural banquet in downtown Boise (bottom).