Director's Corner

Catching up at Caltrans: Economic development, awards, etc.

Greetings, Caltrans family, and welcome to the latest edition of our employee e-newsletter. I want to take this opportunity to summarize a few intradepartmental announcements I made last month.

The first involves Caltrans’ partnerships with small businesses and how that collaboration helps ensure that all Californians have access to economic opportunities.

The hundreds of firms that we contract with every year provide us with essential services in fields such as construction, engineering, architecture and communications. As the second-largest state government agency in California, we recognize the outsized impact that the department can have on the businesses we work with – and by extension, the communities that those businesses serve.

In 2023, Caltrans participated in 384 hybrid outreach events, which attracted more than 8,100 participants statewide. In October, we will hold our fourth annual Disadvantaged Business Enterprises summit, which equips small business owners with a comprehensive range of tools and resources to foster development, expansion, and a deeper understanding of contracting opportunities with the state.

Learn more about our work with small businesses by visiting this Division of Procurement and Contracts internal webpage.

I also wanted to reiterate that in early May, we observed Public Service Recognition Week by honoring and celebrating the commitment and sacrifice of our workers at all levels who serve our communities with passion and commitment. Your contributions are invaluable and will have a far-reaching impact as we maintain and build a transportation network for all Californians.

Caltrans’ mission to provide a safe, reliable and climate-resilient system is at the core of every project and initiative we undertake. You play a crucial role in achieving this goal. Whether you are out in the field ensuring the safety of our roads; managing critical infrastructure projects; or supporting our operations behind the scenes, your efforts make a difference in improving lives and saving lives.

We offer a robust Career Development program designed to provide you with the support and resources you need to grow and advance with Caltrans and beyond. We're committed to helping our team members achieve their professional goals through personalized guidance and support.

Furthermore, I wanted to again share news about the Inaugural Director's Innovation Awards. The employees who earned this special designation are shown in the accompanying graphic.

Each of these winners exemplifies the spirit of innovation and has set a high standard for future initiatives. Their hard work and ingenuity are deeply appreciated and celebrated.

Lastly, I point you toward the groundbreaking achievement of Mina Pezeshpour, supervising bridge engineer/office chief for Bridge Design South. Earlier this month she became the first woman to ever win the California Transportation Foundation’s prestigious James E. Robert Award.

Other Caltrans winners at June 13’s 35th Annual CTF Transportation Awards were Kevin Murdock, senior transportation engineer, who won the Karl Moskowitz Award; Belinda Hon, supervising transportation engineer in the Office Chief of Innovative Design and Delivery, who won the Charles H. Purcell Award; and Marlon Flournoy, chief of the Division of Transportation Planning, who won the Bimla G. Rhinehart Award.

To all of you, thanks as always for your good work. Let’s keep it up! Enjoy the summer and stay safe.