Employee Profile: Henry Benner of District 2

Asset Management Coordinator Henry Benner focuses on efficient use of resources in his District 2 job.

By District 2 Public Affairs

As an Asset Management Coordinator, Henry Benner acts as a link between state goals and the actual construction happening in our district. He helps turn long-term plans into a specific list of projects that are properly scoped, funded, and scheduled.

A major focus of his work is supporting a 'fix-it-first' approach — prioritizing the repair and preservation of our existing roads and bridges to keep them safe and reliable. He is involved with the strategic allocation of funds, verifying that project budgets are accurately programmed and that spending stays on track throughout the project lifecycle.

Using specialized tracking tools, Henry follows these projects from the initial idea all the way through to construction, ensuring we hit our performance targets while spending taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible.

Henry started his career at Caltrans 25 years ago. For the first 20 years, he worked in Construction primarily out of the Red Bluff field office. Henry was fortunate to spend much of his career in the Feather River Canyon and in the mountains around Lassen and Lake Almanor helping to improve our highway system.

He has enjoyed working on a variety of different projects as a Resident Engineer, but the Lassen Lodge Safety Realignment and the Redding to Anderson Six-Lane projects were two of his favorites. Both projects presented unique challenges but were incredibly rewarding upon their completion.

After Construction, Henry worked for three years in Roadside Maintenance. He was involved with surveying, designing and constructing Minor B projects. This was a fun position, as he oversaw every phase from start to finish, developing and building these smaller projects from the ground up.

Henry also worked as the district’s constructability reviewer and rotated through Design and Surveys.

Henry was born and raised in Red Bluff and still resides there. Henry and his wife have two adult children. One graduated from college last June and the other will finish in June of this year. Their son lives in San Diego, and their daughter is currently in the Reno/Tahoe area. They enjoy spending time at both locations as often as they can.

Now that they are empty nesters, Henry and his wife take every opportunity to enjoy the mountains, whether on the ski slopes or hiking a new trail.

Henry says his family especially enjoys visiting Yosemite National Park.

How do you spend your time when you aren’t working?

“My wife calls me a ‘project guy,’ I always have a few things in the works. I enjoy building and creating, whether it’s woodworking, landscaping, or bringing old cars back to life. One project that’s particularly special to me right now is restoring my great-grandmother’s '50 Chevy pickup alongside my dad.

“I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors. Between snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking, I have just enough hobbies to stay active and out of trouble all year long.”

What’s the greatest bit of advice you’ve ever been given?

“Show up, work hard, treat people well-and don’t forget to enjoy the process.”

What is your favorite movie or TV show?

“ ‘Forrest Gump’ is my favorite movie because it’s the ultimate underdog story. It has a great soundtrack and it’s a powerful reminder that no matter what life throws at you, the best response is to just keep moving forward.”

What is your favorite travel destination?

“Yosemite is our favorite California destination. My family, parents and sisters, meet there regularly, keeping a long-standing family tradition alive in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.”

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

“I have always liked building things. That interest evolved from early aspirations in architecture to a rewarding career in engineering. I’ve been fortunate to spend my time at Caltrans doing work I truly enjoy.”

Who is your favorite singer or band?

“I’m all over the map with music, from '80s rock and '90s grunge to country. We attend live shows whenever possible and seeing Zach Bryan at Golden Gate Park last August was a standout. The energy of 75,000 fans was incredible, and he put on an unforgettable show.”

What are your favorite things about working at Caltrans District 2?

“I’ve always liked being where the action is, and for me, that meant years in Construction. District 2 is a beautiful place to work, but the hardworking people are what make it special. My new role in Asset Management has been a great next step; I’m really enjoying the collaboration and the chance to solve complex problems as part of a team.”