All-in-one

Director's Corner

Done with one busy year, and onward to the next!

Greetings, Caltrans colleagues. Welcome to the latest edition of our bimonthly e-newsletter, CT News.

As the new year dawns, we can reflect that 2024 was characteristically busy – and productive. I want to acknowledge that all your individual hard work has the cumulative effect of making Caltrans the nation’s premier department of transportation. I have every confidence that we will continue that leading role for the foreseeable future.

While the emergence of 2025 puts us in forward-looking mode, let us take a few moments to consider a couple of major things that we announced this fall: the 2024-2028 Strategic Management Plan, and the 2023-2024 Annual Accomplishments Report.

The strategic plan is a compass that will guide the innovative solutions that Californians deserve. It was developed using numerous data sources, including transportation partners, community advocacy groups, and Caltrans employee survey results, and was informed through engagement with historically disadvantaged and underserved California communities in alignment with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-16-22.

At its core, this plan recognizes that we must continue to adapt our organization to meet the needs of all people and communities within the state.

It also recognizes that we do more than construct and maintain highways. Whether we are building public park space in our right of way, installing broadband connectivity, or reconnecting communities that were separated by highways decades ago, we understand that the meaning of public service is to improve lives.

Out of this plan’s five new goals, four were chosen to align with the Core Four Principles: Safety, Equity, Climate Action and Prosperity. Because Caltrans cannot succeed without employees who are healthy, fulfilled and growing in their careers, we are adopting a fifth goal of Employee Excellence.

The Strategic Plan is not simply a lofty ideal intended for the purpose of executive planning. Every office and division throughout our organization will be measured by their progress toward the goals outlined in this document.

(The entire plan is downloadable as a PDF document.)

Our Caltrans Annual Accomplishment Report highlights accomplishments from January 2023 through June 2024 and celebrates the exceptional work that districts and programs completed. As I reflect on those 18 months, I am in awe of all that we have accomplished. As a department, we continue to work tirelessly to achieve our goals – with successes achieved every day. We can be proud of all that we have done.

The report marks our fourth collection of successes that spans the breadth of all the programs and districts of Caltrans and highlights the broad reach of our impact on Californians. This newest report is framed in the context of our Core Four Priorities — Safety, Equity, Climate Action, and Prosperity — with People First at the forefront of what we do.

I hope that seeing these accomplishments in one place helps to reinforce in each of you exactly how much the work we do matters. We all play an integral role in shaping our communities. Whether we are out in the field maintaining the roads or working behind the scenes to plan our transportation future, our mission is the same — to improve lives.

The past 18 months have brought us many challenges — including emergencies that shut down our busiest highways and repair efforts that are still underway — but they have also marked an exciting time to be in transportation, with unprecedented levels of funding for the safety and connectivity improvements that Californians deserve. Throughout this time, Caltrans employees have risen to the occasion, a fact to which this report (download the pdf version) clearly shows.

As always, I thank you for your vital contributions to our past successes and future accomplishments. Happy New Year, everyone!

P.S. Take a look at the image below, which reflects that Caltrans is considered by Forbes to be among the best places to work in California. In 2025, let’s strive to move higher on that prestigious list!

News

Lights, permits, action! District 1 worker’s a hit

By Meriah Miracle
District 1 information officer

Caltrans District 1’s Heidi Quintrell was named the “Public Employee of the Year – State” recently by Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS).

FLICS honors the best location professionals in entertainment at the annual California on Location Awards (COLA) ceremony and recognized Quintrell for her work on the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson directed feature, “The Battle of Baktan Cross,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Regina Hall.

A 26-year veteran of Caltrans, Quintrell currently serves as the District 1 permit engineer, assisting businesses, agencies and even film productions work along the state highway system. In that role, she was responsible for guiding “The Battle of Baktan Cross” production team through the permitting process, advising them on the best highway locations to achieve their goals and coordinating with California Highway Patrol on rolling closures of U.S. Highway 101 near Arcata.

Quintrell said, “I love problem solving and figuring out how we can make it work for them, and we have a team that wants to find a way to say yes. It was truly a fun experience.”

Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine worked closely with Quintrell and nominated her for the honor.

“Heidi is a gem,” Hesseltine said. “Her ability to handle any situation and do it while being so kind is unique. I greatly appreciate every time I get to work with her.”

At first, Quintrell thought the email notifying her of her COLA nomination was spam. Once she confirmed, she traveled to the award ceremony held Sunday in Los Angeles. She said it was “shocking” to hear her name called and then receive a standing ovation from the production team she’d worked so closely with earlier this year.

“You do your job each day and you don’t think anyone notices, but it’s always nice to be acknowledged for your efforts,” Quintrell said, adding that she was proud to represent Caltrans alongside other finalists, including Stephen Hirte from District 11.

Quintrell emphasized that this work has long-term benefits for District 1. “People still talk about movies that filmed here. They bring in a lot of economic activity, promote our area and help put our little corner of California on the map. That’s really fun to be a part of.”

Customized beam gives crews extra protection

By Chris Woodward
District 2 information officer

Caltrans has always been at the forefront of improving safety and innovation on the state’s vast network of highways and roads. One of the most innovative tools that District 2 has incorporated into its operations is the Balsi Beam, a critical piece of equipment designed to protect both our maintenance workers and motorists during maintenance activities.

The Balsi Beam is easily transported to work sites. Its high-strength steel beams can extend horizontally, using hydraulics. The beams can rotate to either side of the trailer, depending on where protection is needed, acting as physical barriers that absorb and redirect the impact of vehicles.

The beam is named after Mark Balsi, a Caltrans employee who was injured while clearing overgrown brush. Balsi was hit by an impaired driver, resulting in the loss of his left leg and multiple injuries. In 2003, Caltrans developed the Balsi Beam in his honor to enhance worker safety.

We spoke with Billy Shakespeare, bridge crew supervisor for District 2 Special Crews, whose crew has been utilizing the Balsi Beam at various locations for vital bridge maintenance throughout the district.

“When I heard the Balsi Beam was available for us to use in District 2, I jumped at the idea,” says Shakespeare. “This piece of equipment is ideal for most areas and aspects of our bridge needs.” 

Recently, the Bridge Crew used the Balsi Beam for concrete deck repairs on the Castle Creek Bridge in Dunsmuir. Since the Bridge Crew has started using the Balsi Beam, they have logged more than 6,000 miles and 650 hours on the unit.

“We are trying to keep the Balsi Beam up here until it’s replaced with newer MASH (Manual for Accessing Safety Hardware Regulations) compliant standards, which means the current truck and trailer will be retired at the end of 2025,” says Shakespeare. “We are hoping that the amount of time we have used the beam will justify the need for the equipment, along with the huge safety factor it provides my crew on bridges where there is little to no viable escape routes.”

Over the past century, Caltrans has lost 194 lives of workers on the job. “Safety is always our top priority,” says Dave Moore, District 2 director. “Having the Balsi Beam in our area and being able to utilize it on a daily basis helps to keep our men and women safe as they maintain our highway system.”

The Balsi Beam was also featured at this year’s Workers Memorial at the Red Bluff Maintenance Station. There are fewer than 10 of these pieces of equipment across the entire state.

Projects ensure a cleaner District 1’s in the bag

By James Seward
District 1 information officer

Over the past year, the team behind District 1’s Local Grant Program has been hard at work guiding its seven Cycle 1 projects to completion.

All seven of the projects were granted to underserved communities throughout District 1’s four counties, and Local Grant Program Manager Preston Allen has been at the helm, working with program partners and engaging with the public to teach people more about the projects taking place in their communities.

Preston has been to more than 10 outreach events since taking on the Clean California local grant manager position nearly three years ago and said he believes these events help community members understand the scope of the projects and the myriad ways they aim to improve their communities.

One project that Preston helps manage is the Peninsula Beautification Project in partnership with Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) and Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District. While the primary goal of the project is to enhance public spaces and increase the number of safe outdoor recreation spaces within the Peninsula, the project is proactive about providing engaging opportunities for the community to get involved and participate in different ways including mural painting and beach cleanups.

“Our partners have done an excellent job improving the Peninsula community in a fun and creative way by working directly with community members to paint murals throughout the area and host scavenger-hunt-inspired beach cleanups,” Allen said. “Murals and other forms of public art help to make spaces such as parks feel more inviting, and they also help to reduce the amount of litter in the area.”

On Sept. 21, the Peninsula Community Collaborative, in partnership with RCAA and Clean CA, hosted their Trash and Treasure Beach Clean-up in Samoa to support California Coastal Cleanup Day. More than 65 people participated, including staff from District 1. Participants in the cleanup were given treasure maps to hunt for hand-blown glass fishing floats as they picked up litter along the beach.

District 1’s Clean CA coordinator, Julia Peterson, said the turnout was great. “Participating in events like this help the community by cleaning the environment so we can better enjoy the natural beauty, encouraging working together as a community toward a common goal, and strengthen the awareness and desire to keep litter from occurring throughout our community.”

Deputy Director of Maintenance and Traffic Tom Fitzgerald and Chief of Programming and Asset Management Valency Fitzgerald were also at the cleanup event and focused on removing litter near the Vance Parklet, which was the first Clean CA project completed statewide. In just two hours, the pair picked up enough litter to fill six large bags.

“Events like this benefit our community in so many ways,” Allen said. “Not only do they work to beautify our public spaces, but they provide an opportunity for people in the community to work together with a shared goal.”

While Clean CA Local Grant Program’s Cycle 1 projects are projected to be completed by the end of next year, Cycle 2 projects are currently underway with many more project-related outreach and community events to come.

Caltrans shines on Redding radio station

By Kurt Villavicencio
District 2 information officer

For years, KQMS NewsTalk Radio has featured a series of informative interviews featuring representatives from Caltrans District 2. According to Steve Gibson, KQMS’ news director and on-air personality, the partnership has been remarkably successful and mutually beneficial.

"We’ve had an excellent working relationship with Caltrans since we’ve been doing these monthly interviews," Gibson shared. “I’ve gotten a sense that Caltrans has a culture of openness and transparency, and a healthy realization that they spend a lot of taxpayer money and are eager to explain why it’s necessary to do so.”

Listeners have tuned in regularly to hear about everything from complex engineering projects to the day-to-day operations that keep California’s roads and highways functioning smoothly. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with listener responses consistently reflecting appreciation for the insightful and engaging content.

Project Manager Sara Hunt recently joined the show to discuss Caltrans safety projects. Despite feeling nervous beforehand, she found the experience rewarding.

“I was a bit anxious about being on the radio,” Hunt admitted. “But once we got started, it was actually a lot of fun. It was great to have the chance to talk about our safety initiatives and explain how they benefit the district.”

Hunt noted that talking about the projects helped clarify their importance. “It’s always beneficial to communicate directly with the public,” she said. “It was nice to share the details of our work and explain how our projects make a difference. It felt like we were really connecting with the community.”

Gibson attributes the success of these interviews to the passion and enthusiasm of the Caltrans staff.

“What’s most important is that the person I’m talking to has a true passion for the topic,” he explained. “You can hear the interest in their delivery, and it brightens their day to talk about their jobs.

“Some of the more interesting guests have included engineers and planners who can talk in layman’s terms, as well as cultural positions like the Native American Liaison. Even the culvert guy was interesting because he had a passion for culverts.”

The evident job satisfaction among Caltrans employees has also caught Gibson’s attention.

“Everyone has been very professional, and the perception of job satisfaction is almost weirdly universal. Surely you can’t all love your jobs! The positive attitudes I’ve seen makes me want to work for Caltrans!”

As the collaboration between KQMS Radio and Caltrans continues, it’s clear that this dynamic exchange of information and enthusiasm is not only informative but also truly engaging for the listeners.

Major wildfire prevented by ‘proactive’ Caltrans work

By Meriah Miracle
District 1 information officer

A springtime fuel reduction effort paid off big this summer.

The Hoff Fire sparked in early August when a vehicle fire spread to vegetation along State Route 29 near Hidden Valley in Lake County. CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa (LNU) Unit posted photos of the burnt hillside and wrote that a “Caltrans District 1 roadside clearance project helped prevent a major wildfire,” containing the spread to only three acres.

CAL FIRE LNU Public Information Officer Jason Clay said, “Had this proactive work not taken place, there would have been more fuel to feed the fire and it would have had more potential to grow much greater in size.”

The roadside clearance project was part of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action plan, which provided direction to create fire safe roadways.

District 1 established a Vegetation Management Program (VMP) to meet those goals, bringing together a multi-disciplinary team to identify high-priority areas and manage fuels-reduction contracts.

Cassie Nichols is the VMP lead and a senior environmental scientist for Environmental Planning. She said the work requires collaboration between interagency partners like CAL FIRE, area stakeholders and Caltrans units including Maintenance, Environmental and Right of Way, to name just a few.

“We use a multistep process and information from our field maintenance staff to determine priority areas for fuels reduction,” Nichols said. “We’re hoping to include most of the district, but we do have those focus points that are most vulnerable to wildfire and necessary for evacuation.”

State Route 162 in Mendocino County, for example, is deemed a high priority because it is the only paved road into and out of Covelo.

Fuels reduction includes thinning brush, limbing up trees and removing dead and downed materials along the roadway in an environmentally friendly way so evacuation routes are clear in the event of fire or other disaster. Most of the work is done by our Maintenance crews with some additional work completed by contractors.

Maintenance Landscape Specialist and VMP team member John Hackett said, “Maintenance area supervisors, superintendents and managers have been so open to share their knowledge and what they see that needs to be addressed. They do a great job.”

CAL FIRE highlighted the importance of agencies working together. “The Hoff Fire is a success story and is a highlight of the collaboration between our agencies focused on keeping the public safe,” Clay said.

Nichols added, “It feels great to know we’re accomplishing the goals we set and working together to best serve our communities.”

District 2 shop helps keep motorists posted

By Haleigh Pike
District 2 information officer

One of the lesser-known but essential parts of District 2 is its sign shop, where signs that guide millions of motorists every year are meticulously crafted.

These signs are more than just pieces of metal with words, they represent safety, navigation and communication on the road.

A vital part of any transportation system, road signs communicate necessary information to drivers, such as speed limits, directions and warnings about road conditions or hazards. Each sign is designed with care and precision while adhering to strict standards and without them, navigating California’s roads would be a confusing and dangerous endeavor.

The District 2 sign shop has been a hub of activity since it was brought back to the district in 2023. Spearheaded by former Deputy District Director of Maintenance and Operations Michael Webb to minimize the growing financial commitment in keeping our roadway signs up to standard, the sign shop supports the district with the production, repair and customization of signs that end up on our highways and bridges.

“Having the District 2 sign shop up and running has not only saved the district a significant amount of money, but the state. The monetary value is a huge plus, but the long order and delivery time frames endured by maintenance crews while waiting on replacement signs has been shortened drastically,” said Sign Crew Supervisor Billy Shakespeare.

Training to work in the sign shop is a rigorous process that blends technical skills, safety awareness and a thorough understanding of road sign regulations. Workers are trained on specialized equipment and follow strict safety protocols, but the real training for District 2 was when they were able to work with the equipment.

“There is some initial training for employees. However, a large amount of knowledge is learned when working hands-on through trial and error,” said Shakespeare. “Districts 3 and 4 have also been a huge help through this process by sharing knowledge and expertise. We have sent employees to their facilities, and they have sent theirs to ours.”

Before the physical process of making a sign begins, engineers and planners decide on the size, shape, color and content of each sign based on national and state regulations. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices outlines the specific fonts, sizes and reflectivity levels required for road signs to ensure consistency across the country.

For Caltrans, creating a sign means we also must take into consideration factors such as visibility at different times of the day, under various weather conditions, and from different angles and distances, especially for large freeway signs.

The process of creating the sign is both an art and a science. After the design is transferred onto the aluminum backing, the signs are cut to appropriate size. After the sign is cut and assembled, it goes through an extensive inspection process to check for accuracy in design, spelling and reflectivity. Even the smallest mistake could lead to confusion on the road, so attention to detail is paramount.

Unlike many other districts that rely on outside vendors or specialized contractors, the District 2 sign shop has developed the in-house ability to perform fabrication and welding of sign frames. By welding and fabricating frames in-house, District 2 is saving both time and money, which is especially valuable when road signs are damaged by weather or accidents.

This also allows District 2 to have direct control over the materials and techniques used, as the signs in District 2 often need to endure more extreme conditions, thus needing to be produced to the highest standards of durability to ensure longer-lasting infrastructure and less frequent need for repairs or replacements.

The work of the District 2 sign shop directly contributes to road safety by providing clear, readable signage that communicates critical information to drivers. Whether you’re cruising down Interstate 5 or navigating a rural road, the signs that keep you on track are a result of hard work, innovation, and careful planning at the District 2 sign shop.

Caltrans food drives help those in need

Caltrans annually participates in the State Employee Food Drive event. The 2024 Headquarters Food Drive runs from through Jan. 8.

(Districts also are conducting food drives; ask your food-drive coordinator for details.)

We kindly request your support in contributing imperishable food items. Your generosity can go a long way in providing nourishment comfort to those who need it most.

Some examples of accepted donations include:

• Canned tuna fish and meats
• Canned fruit in water
• Canned vegetables
• Canned beans/corns
• Canned soup
• Peanut butter
• Pasta and rice

Please feel free to drop off your donations in your designated bins, which in the case of Headquarters employees are located by the security desk on both entrances of the 1120 N Street building in downtown Sacramento.

Messaging becomes clearer along U.S. 101 in Santa Barbara

From District 5 Public Affairs

A pair of new and upgraded full color changeable message boards (CMS) have been installed on northbound U.S. Highway 101 near State Route 154 and near the North Bound Pueblo Street off-ramp in Santa Barbara.

These new full-color message boards several represent a major upgrade than what was there before and include significant advantages.

Enhanced visibility: Include a full color display that provides a wider range of colors for more impactful and eye-catching messages, improving driver attention and comprehension.

Increased brightness: Allow better visibility in all lighting conditions, including daylight and nighttime, ensuring messages are easily readable even in challenging environments. 

Improved reliability and enhanced weather resistance: To withstand harsh weather conditions like extreme temperatures, rain, snow and high winds, ensuring long-term durability and minimizing maintenance needs. 

Greater versatility with color capabilities: Allows for more-dynamic and informative messages, including graphics and symbols, enhancing communication effectiveness.

Increased safety/improved driver awareness: Resulting in more effective communication of critical information such as road closures, accidents, weather alerts and construction zones resulting in informed decision-making. 

By upgrading to the latest full-color CMS technology, Caltrans can significantly improve driver safety, enhance traffic flow, and provide more effective and engaging communication to motorists.

Pelagic Engineering based in Oxnard was the contractor for this $188,000 project. 

Dog rescued from crash site thanks to Caltrans crew

Note: The following story appeared on the KQMS (Redding) website on Nov. 15. It was written by Steve Gibson and posted by Kelly Frost Jr.

There was a happy ending to a story out of Siskiyou County this week.

On Wednesday an SUV and a big rig collided on Highway 89 near the Mount Shasta Ski Park entrance. There were two dogs in the SUV and they bolted when the crash happened.

One of the dogs was quickly recovered but the other dog evaded capture until Caltrans workers returned to the scene Thursday morning. The dog was in the area and had calmed down enough that the workers were able to reunite it with its family.

Health and Safety

Handling big emotions – and the holidays

By the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Emotions are a normal part of everyday life.

We feel frustrated when we are stuck in traffic. We feel sad when we miss our loved ones. We can get angry when someone disappoints us or does something to cause us pain.

While we expect to feel these emotions regularly, some people start to experience emotions that are more intense and impact their lives. The good news is that we can learn how to handle big emotions.

Emotional regulation means taking any action that alters the intensity of an emotional experience. It does not mean suppressing or avoiding your emotions.

Powerful emotions often surface quickly. A key to emotional regulation is to pause and breathe deeply — to slow the time between an emotional trigger and your response.

Pay attention to what you are feeling physically. Is your stomach upset? Heart racing? Tension in your neck or head?

Try naming the emotion you are feeling. Is it anger, sadness, disappointment, resentment, fear? Sit with and strive to understand the emotion.

Remember that you have a choice of how to respond. Instead of lashing out, can you respond differently this time?

 

Holiday emotional wellbeing

With so much going on, this time of year can usher in many emotional highs and lows. Consider these self-care tips if you struggle with your emotions during the holidays.

Remember that it is okay to feel ambivalent during the holidays. Some of your interpersonal experiences may be warm and fuzzy, while others may feel uncomfortable.

Develop a plan for when you are feeling sad, stressed or lonely. This could entail contacting a close friend or family member, going for an outdoor walk, watching videos that give you laughs or any other activity that brings you joy.

If an event causes you uncomfortable emotions, identify them, remind yourself that they are temporary and commit to carefully examine them later.

Be sure to schedule soothing activities over the holidays that recharge your mind and body. Try reading, listening to your favorite music or painting. Do relaxation techniques or fit in some extra naps.

Kindly yet firmly set limits and boundaries around your time.

Visit Mind Your Mental Health on the EAP website or call 1-800-EAP-4SOC (1-866-327-4762) TTY: 711 for confidential mental health support and resources.

Kelijo Boney, Clean California public education campaign manager

Kelijo Boney is the new Clean California public education campaign manager in Headquarters Public Affairs.

Kelijo comes to us from the Division of Traffic Operation’s Office of Talent Management, where she was the branch chief of career development and succession planning for almost three years. In that role, she hired the founding team members of the new branch, spearheaded the design and implementation of multiple talent management programs, oversaw marketing and communication campaigns for branch programs, and worked to improve the engagement and culture within the division to reduce employee turnover and promote career mobility.

Prior to working at Caltrans, she worked for California State Parks where she coordinated an employee wellness program and workplace violence program. Additionally, she worked for the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration where she led employee programs related to wellness, engagement, and career development.

Prior to state service, she worked in a variety of positions in the human health and wellness space.

Kelijo has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in history from Sacramento State and holds her master’s from CSU Monterey Bay.

In her free time, Kelijo plays on multiple recreational sport teams, watches scary movies, and enjoys some gardening. She and her partner, Samantha, are proud parents of two fur babies, Maggie (dog) and Potato (cat).

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Tom Chorneau, Headquarters Public Affairs customer service officer

Tom Chorneau has joined Headquarters Public Affairs as the customer service officer.

He serves as the liaison between the public and the Division of Maintenance, Traffic Operations, and Equipment along with taking on other public affairs responsibilities.

Before joining Caltrans, Tom spent nearly 30 years in mainstream journalism, including more than a decade as a political reporter for the Associated Press and the San Francisco Chronicle.

He is the author of works in fiction and non-fiction. Most recently, he was editor of a pair of weekly newspapers in Napa County.

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R.J. Hickman, META superintendent

R.J. Hickman is the new maintenance area superintendent for the Maintenance Equipment Training Academy (META) at Headquarters.

R.J. brings 18 years of dedicated service to Caltrans, having gained extensive experience across various maintenance facilities in District 8 before transitioning to META in 2018.

As META superintendent, R.J. oversees the academy’s training programs and leads a team of instructors in delivering essential training to Caltrans staff, from maintenance workers to superintendents. His leadership will be instrumental in ensuring that the training curriculum is effectively executed and aligned with the department’s mission, vision and goals.

Throughout his career, R.J. has been deeply involved in hands-on maintenance work, including desert and snow operations in the local mountains. His passion for teaching emerged in 2018 when he became an instructor, where he thrived in training and certifying operators, as well as teaching safety protocols to new employees.

In his new role, R.J. is committed to fostering a culture of safety and collaboration within the META team. He will work closely with instructors to ensure the curriculum is delivered with excellence, with a strong focus on safeguarding both staff and the traveling public. R.J. believes that effective collaboration is key to shaping meaningful training and safety initiatives that benefit all Caltrans employees.

Outside of his Caltrans responsibilities, R.J. cherishes spending time with his wife, Kellie, enjoying the outdoors, and seeking out new adventures on their Harley, often looking for the next perfect selfie spot. He is also thrilled to spend time with his new grandson, Alister, and values the time spent with his family, including his daughter Mariah and son Emil.

Please join me in congratulating R.J. on this well-deserved promotion. We look forward to the continued success of META under his leadership.

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Andrew May, broadband media specialist

Andrew May is Caltrans’ new broadband media specialist.

Andrew joins the department after 15 years serving communities locally and internationally in various educational settings. He began his career as a high school teacher specializing in English and the humanities.

Most recently, Andrew worked as the marketing and communications director for a local private school.

With an extensive background in English education and teaching, marketing, writing, community-building, and storytelling, he brings an abundance of knowledge, passion, and skill to the Caltrans Public Affairs team and the mission to connect all Californians with reliable broadband services.

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Rebecca Parnianchi, media public records coordinator

Rebecca Parnianchi has joined Headquarters Public Affairs as the media public records coordinator with the CPRA unit.

Before joining Caltrans, Rebecca worked for Intel, where she developed and executed global communication strategies across multiple departments.

Her most recent role involved planning and implementing a comprehensive internal communication program for the Sales, Marketing & Communications and Corporate Strategy & Ventures teams. In this capacity, Rebecca managed content and developed communication plans in alignment with Intel corporate strategy, brand, and legal guidelines, creating clear and effective communications for employees and customers worldwide.

Prior to joining Intel, Rebecca worked as a producer at ABC10, where she produced impactful broadcast and digital campaigns. Her role required close collaboration with clients, ad agencies, and public figures, ensuring high-quality, engaging content for broadcast and online platforms.

Rebecca holds a bachelor’s in digital media technology from Pacific Union College and master’s in marketing from the University of Phoenix.

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Toniell Smith, Headquarters Public Affairs assistant public information officer

Toniell Smith has joined Headquarters Public Affairs as an assistant public information officer.

Toniell is a dedicated professional with over 10 years of experience in customer service. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a degree in family and consumer sciences.

Throughout her career, Toniell has been promoted to various roles, including management positions, where she honed her leadership and communication skills.

She is excited to transition into the Caltrans Public Affairs team as the assistant public information officer, where she aims to leverage her background to contribute to the department while further developing her personal skill set.

In her spare time, Toniell enjoys staying active and spending quality moments with her family, friends, and dog, Zander.

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Richard Stone, SHOPP programming office chief

Richard (Rich) Stone is the new SHOPP (State Highway Operation and Protection Program) programming office chief.

In this role, Rich oversees programming actions for preservation, repair, rehabilitation, and operational improvements for state highway system assets through the statewide SHOPP program.

With 25 years of experience at Caltrans, Rich brings extensive knowledge and expertise to this position. He served as the district liaison for Districts 7, 8, 11 and 12 in the SHOPP Programming Office. In this role, he was crucial in preparing book items for allocations and amendments and reviewing emergency projects.

Before his work in the Division of Financial Programming, Rich held various positions in Traffic Operations, Construction, and Office Engineering. He began his Caltrans career in District 3 as an office engineer, specializing in project management and design.

Outside of work, Rich is passionate about traveling, exploring new countries, and sampling diverse cuisines. He also enjoys cooking, gardening, and building and repairing computers.

Rich earned his engineering degree from Oregon State University. At home, he cherishes time with his wife, Amy, their daughter, Katie, and their son, Andrew, who is currently attending college.

Please join me in welcoming Rich to his new role. We look forward to his leadership and contributions to the continued success of the statewide SHOPP.

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Obituaries

John Allison, retired Caltrans executive

Note: The following obituary appeared in the Appeal Democrat (Marysville) last summer.

John Allison passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 16 at home, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 81 years old. He lived a long and full life and will be greatly missed.

He was born in Fresno on Sept. 3, 1942, to Margery and Clarence Allison. He had four brothers and two sisters: Robert, Margery "Susie", Carol, Charles, Richard and Ron. He graduated from Central Union High in 1961 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Fresno State University in 1972. He went on to earn a master’s in administration from San Bernardino State University in 1975.

After high school, John went to work for the California Division of Highways, and eventually joined the U,S, Navy Construction Battalion (aka the Sea Bees) in 1965 with an honorable discharge in October 1968.

He returned to work with the Division of Highways (now Caltrans) in Fresno and went on to have a long and prosperous career with the state. He transferred throughout the state to San Bernardo, Marysville and back to Sacramento as he promoted through the organization. He held positions of maintenance director of District 3, chief of structures in charge of Engineering Services, and finishing his career as chief of research statewide. John retired from Caltrans in 2003 after 38 years of service.

In 1989 he married the love of his life, Marie Gilbert-Allison. They enjoyed 35 years of marriage, friendship and love.

His passion was bass fishing. In retirement John and Marie spent their time fishing, playing golf, traveling and working in the yard.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Marie Gilbert-Allison, his children, Mark Allison of Aventura, Florida; Kimberly Allison of Phoenix, Bryanne Taylor (Brian Taylor), and Jacoby Gilbert both of Yuba City; five beautiful grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

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Donald Ernest Lampman, retired employee

Note: The following obituary appeared on the Paso Robles Daily News website on Nov. 29.

On Nov. 6, retired Caltrans worker Donald Ernest Lampman (94) finished his earthly course and went home to be with the Lord he loved, Jean (his wife of almost 68 years), his parents, and numerous other friends and family. What a day of rejoicing that must have been, although we who remain will miss him dearly here.

Don was born in Long Beach on Jan. 17, 1930. He moved to Atascadero when he was 2 years old, attended school here, and graduated from Atascadero High School in 1947. Following his graduation, Don worked at Atascadero Ford, attended Cal Poly, and served some time in the Army National Guard, before enlisting in the Navy in December 1950. He served aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Princeton as a radio repairman during the Korean War.

After being discharged from the Navy, Don went to work for the California Division of Highways (now Caltrans) until he retired. During this time he met his future wife, Doris Jean Clutter, at the feed store where she was working. He had gone there to get supplies for his mom, and after leaving he said that he had met the girl he was going to marry.

They wed in Ohio, where Jean was originally from, on Nov. 26, 1955. Their first home was in Solvang to be near Don’s work. They then moved to Santa Barbara, where their only son, James Donald Lampman, was born on March 8, 1957. They also lived in Grover City before building a house and moving back to Atascadero in the early 1970s, where they lived the rest of their lives.

Selflessness is a word that comes to mind when thinking about Don. He was constantly lending a helping hand to friends and neighbors, as well as any stray cat or dog, that he and Jean encountered. He also was a very generous donor to many, many charities that he faithfully contributed to year after year.

He was well known for his genius in all things mechanical, and for recreation he built several cars, dune buggies, a camper, and even a tractor as a teenager from parts salvaged from the nearby local landfill. He was very adventuresome, from taking friends dune buggying at the Pismo Dunes, to taking the camper he built on trips, or going on motorcycle adventures with friends ranging from the hills in Pozo or Ballinger Canyon in California to the mountains of Ouray, Colorado. Don liked to challenge himself to see if he could reach the top of difficult climbs with his motorcycle, often choosing the most rigorous trails.

Don is survived by his son, James Lampman, his cats Twerps and Campie, as well as several very close friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, his mother, Grace, his father, Ernie, and an older brother who died as an infant.

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Bettie Anne Rutan, retired employee

Note: The following obituary appeared on the Lost Coast Outpost website on Nov. 6.

Retired Caltrans employee Bettie Anne Rutan, 89, died quietly in her home in Eureka on Oct, 4. She maintained her love of family, profound sense of gratitude, and poise through her final days. Her deep faith filled her with hope and an abiding peace.

Bettie was born on Dec. 3,1934, in Roanoke, Alabama, to Naomi and Lamon Bailey. She spent her early years in rural Alabama. Her earliest memories included adventures following her adored older brother, Pete, and attempts to contain her mischievous baby brother, Tom.

When she was 11 years old, her family decided to leave their small town in Alabama and move to Petrolia, where her maternal aunt and uncle lived. Bettie often recalled the train trip west, her young head full of dreams about living in sunny California. She laughed about her disappointment upon arriving at the family’s ranch in Petrolia, where it rained every day for six weeks straight.

When her father went to work for the Hammond Lumber Company, she moved with her family to Crannell. After a partial year at Little River Elementary School, Bettie was enrolled in Arcata High School, even though she was only 12 years old. She graduated at age16 and spent a year in Tujunga with a paternal aunt and uncle. She enrolled in community college and enjoyed great times with her cousin Maddox and friends.

Bettie fondly recalled the sweet smell of orange groves which stretched for miles at that time around Los Angeles.

Bettie returned to Humboldt County where she met Kenneth Cringle. They married in 1954. The large, loving Cringle clan became her family and she cherished those relationships to her last days. The addition of their daughters Brenda, Pamela and Daphne brought great joy to Bettie; children, especially babies, were one of her passions. Her greatest sorrow came with the loss of their 5 week old infant son, Kenneth Randall.

She married her second husband, JR O’Connell, in 1964. They enjoyed many camping adventures with the girls, she expertly prepared the bounty of fish and game he brought home, and cheered for him as he raced stock cars at Redwood Acres. She even entered and won races herself!

Bettie began her work career in Arcata at a log scaling station in the early 1950s and recalled with pride working on one of the first computers in Humboldt County — it filled an entire room. She entered data using a card punch system. In the 1960s Bettie re-entered the workforce as an employee of the state of California, first for the Employment Development Department and later as a bookkeeper for Caltrans.

In 1979, Bettie married Don Rutan. She often said that she “finally got it right” as they enjoyed 29 years of adventure. Most of those years they lived in the Sacramento area where Don worked. They bought a property that had a pool, a large vegetable garden, and a horse pasture and barn. Their grandkids learned to swim in the pool, rode bareback on their horses, and developed a love for the taste of fresh tomatoes and corn from the garden.

Nana and Papa’s home is central in every grandkid’s childhood memories. Those years of simple pleasures with family were some of Bettie’s happiest.

Bettie’s green thumb was well known. Don took pride in her ability to grow anything, inside or out. He treasured her quick wit and remarkable memory. An animal lover to the end, she enjoyed many pets throughout her life and there was almost always a special dog by her side. She was an amazing cook=. Her southern roots were often recognizable in flaky biscuits, homemade creamed corn and large bowls of gravy common at her table. None of these culinary delights included a recipe so daughters had to watch carefully to learn the secrets.

Music was a constant in her life and she loved to dance, especially with Don. They attended numerous jazz festivals over the years but their favorite was the Redwood Coast Dixieland Jazz Festival in Eureka.

Bettie was a lifelong sports fan, knowing team players, stats, and standings. She and Don created and shared memories taking the grandkids to sporting events, as well as watching all of them compete in various sports. While each season or different grandchild brought interest in different games or competitions, none compared with baseball.

Bettie’s love of the game began as a young girl at her Dad’s side, listening to the Brooklyn Dodgers. In her adult years the Giants were her team through good and bad. Her baseball card collection was enormous and well-cataloged. Naming her final doggie companion Buster Posey was not a surprise to those who knew her devotion.

Bettie and Don enjoyed many travels - driving across the country, Sacramento to Florida, cruising through the Panama Canal, sunsets in Tahiti, Barbados, and several Hawaiian islands, parasailing in the Bahamas, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and always the many drives to visit their children’s homes for holidays, celebrations and grandkid time.

Her enthusiasm for travel did not diminish after she lost Don. She took a cruise to Alaska with Pam, enjoyed a road trip on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with her daughters, and visited Kaitlin and the memorials in D.C. In 2013 Jim’s Mom, 80 year old Maureen, bought a week long stay for two at a safari lodge in South Africa. She immediately invited 79-year-old Bettie to be her traveling companion. Brenda and Jim felt compelled to be guides. The trip evolved into a three week adventure that included four countries, numerous game drives, and Victoria Falls.

In 2006 Bettie and Don decided to retire to Eureka, where they both lived the rest of their lives. They loved their house in Eureka and the community and family to which they returned. Bettie loved her greenhouse, her flowers, and the times that she could gather children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in her home. She always had bowls of candy, toys for kids, and hot coffee ready for visitors.

Bettie was preceded in death by her son Randy, her husband Don, and brothers Pete and Tom. She is survived by her three daughters: Brenda Yarnall (James, who she called “my boy”), Pamela McNaughton (Peter), and Daphne Aguilar, her grandchildren: Brent Gaylord (Bekah), Kaitlin Yarnall (Shikhin), Ryan Gaylord, Morgan Aguilar, and Megan Yarnall (Will), and her great-grandchildren: Romeo, Alina, Douglas, Sophie, Cylus, Carter, Neila, Isla, James, Madeline, and Samira. Also her sisters-in-law, Barbara Bailey and Sharon Bailey.