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Crider adds EEO duties as Sparkman nears retirement

Karen Sparkman, ITD’s external Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) officer will retire after 35 years with the department. She has been responsible for ensuring the department complies with federal EEO requirements and fostering business opportunities for women- and minority-owned contractors.

Monica Crider, roadway design engineer, will assume Sparkman’s EEO duties on an interim basis while continuing in her present position, Deputy Director Scott Stokes announced Tuesday.

She will work with ITD Director Brian Ness and the management team “as we contemplate options that will complement the efforts to streamline the agency organizational structure. This will allow us an opportunity to scrutinize our structure, our goals, and hopefully amplify our plans for future achievement,” Stokes said.

“Please lend your full support to Monica, the EEO office, and Roadway Design during this interim period.”

“This transition will enable us to look at elevating our EEO program to an even higher level,” Stokes said, “… providing services to our EEO contractors that will help them become even more successful in their relationships with the department.”

Stokes joins ITD employees in thanking Sparkman for her years of dedicated service to the department and the state and wishing her the best in retirement.

A no-host luncheon in her honor is planned Thursday at Smoky Mountain Pizza, 1805 E. State St., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friends and colleagues planning to attend are asked to confirm with Debby McCarthy, ext. 4442, by Monday (Sept. 27).