The connector: employee newsletter of the Georgia Department of Transportation [Fall 2009]

News for Employees of the Georgia Department of Transportation

Fall 2009

Atlanta Flood of 2009 Pg. 6
GDOT Aviation Programs Office Pg. 12

www.dot.ga.gov

CONNECTOR | Fall 2009 1

Table of Contents
2 Letters of Praise 4 DOT Employees Roll Up Their Sleeve to Fight Flu 5 14th Street Bridge Reopens Ahead of Schedule 6 Cover story: Atlanta Flood of 2009
Cover photo: Left to right Bob O'Daniels State Bridge Inspection Engineer Stephen Strickland Bridge Inspection Technician 3 Joe O'Daniels Bridge Inspection Supervisor Shon Reynolds Bridge Inspection Supervisor
8 Garden Club of Georgia Honors Maintenance Employees 9 Births/Sympathies 10 Ocilla Businessman Sidney Ross and State Representative
Bobby Eugene Parham Elected to State Transportation Board
10 Governor's Awards 14 State Charitable Contributions Program Goes Digital 14 Promotions 15 GDOT Launches Web sitew 16 Service Anniversaries
w w w. dot. g a . g ov

Making the Connection
In the few months I've been here at GDOT, I've witnessed firsthand many examples of your commitment to quality work and to customer service. I'm pleased to announce that other state agencies and the Governor's Office recognize this commitment as well. In this issue of the Connector, you'll read about several employees receiving awards for their outstanding job performance and superior customer service. You'll also see what our efforts mean to Georgia citizens just a few of their letters are published here. And the story of this issue's "Everyday Hero" makes us all proud! But it's not just the award winners that have a positive impact. In this issue you'll read see the results of months of work on the 14th Street bridge and the event to celebrate its official opening almost four months early. Additionally, you'll also read about the courageous work of our staff during and following the unprecedented storms that wreaked havoc on communities and families in metro Atlanta. We continue to perform inspections on bridges and roadways and issuing alerts to motorists when necessary. Despite all of the challenges GDOT has faced this year, the Department continues to work toward our mission. We are committed to ensuring that our roads are safe; and the extraordinary work our employees perform every day offer the best examples of that commitment. So enjoy this issue of The Connector, and know that, every day, you make a difference in the lives of Georgia citizens.

A Publication of the Georgia Department of Transportation
Division of Communications
C o m m u n i cat i o n s Karlene Barron Division Director
C r e at i v e D e s i g n S e r v i c e s Carla Murphy Program Manager
Cedric Mohr Project Manager
Photographer
Monica Luck Marketing & Promotions Specialist
D i s t r i ct C o m m u n i cat i o n s
Teri Pope District One Cissy McNure District Two
Kimberly Larson District Three
Craig Solomon District Four
Mohamed Arafa District Six
Mark McKinnon District Seven
Contributing Writers
Crystal-Paulk Buchannan Monica Luck Paul Marshall
Shelly-Ann Simpson

Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr.

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Letters of Praise

Everyday Hero
E dward Maurice Jones is a Technical Service Engineer with Pit and Quarry in District 6. One day last May, he traveled down to OMR in Forest Park to turn in samples and paperwork. On his way back to the Area Office in Calhoun, he stopped for lunch in Marietta. As he was getting back on I-75, he noticed a portfolio lying in the middle of the ramp. Not only did Jones retrieve the portfolio, he determined its owner's identity, called him, and took the portfolio to him. The owner, an attorney, was very grateful.
Congratulations to Maurice Jones, GDOT's Everyday Hero!
Ihave been dealing with Mr. Korey Murray of District 5 on a project recently and I want to commend him on his helpfulness, promptness, and knowledge of his specific duties he performs. In over 25 years of dealing with government agencies in approval processes all over the country I have never dealt with anyone of his caliber.
He is certainly an asset to the DOT and I just wish everyone I deal with in the future could be like Mr. Murray.
Bobby Booth Milan, TN
W e wanted to express a heartfelt thank you to Keisha Fields. She came out and assisted one of our customers on I-285 right before the Ashford Dunwoody exit. Our customer was in a little red BMW and had a flat tire. She was seriously panicked and not sure what to do. She said that it was like your driver just dropped out of the sky and saved the day. She said that Fields was very courteous and polite. She tried to get Fields to accept a tip, to show her gratitude, but Fields would not take it.
Our customer wants to be sure that Fields gets recognized for the service that she gave that day. Times are hard right now and this customer had a lot going on

that day. Then her tire went, she thought what else, but when Fields showed up, she not only fixed our customer's tire, but she brought a smile to her.
Thank you again for the service that you are out there providing!!!
Carrie Stull Tom Houlihan Agency State Farm Insurance Suwanee, GA
T his morning while on my way to work I blew a tire. I haven't been stranded on the road for a very long time. Panic swept over me at the thought of trying to change a tire on the side of interstate 75 @ 6.30 a.m. with cars rushing by at 65 mph. It wasn't that I could not get it done. But the inherent danger of the situation scared me. I called 511 and a HERO showed up within a few minutes.
I immediately felt safer and he proceeded to help me get the tire changed. The repair was fast, and before I knew it I was back on the road. And he told me to have a nice day. I did not say thanks enough. I hope he sees this and know the man in the red dodge really appreciates the fact that he was out there to help me.
Thank you very very much. God bless the HERO department.
D. Brian Sloan Parts Manager Landmark Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep
Y ou cannot know how much I appreciate the recent repaving of Highway 341 between Roberta and Fort Valley. I live in Fort Valley and work at a farm located just off Highway 341 in Crawford County and the daily journey had become quite an adventure. The old pavement was so rutted that I would be afraid for my life on rainy days due to puddling in the ruts and the real possibility that I or someone I might be meeting on the road hydroplaning. Trying to pass a vehicle on normal days

was also an adventure and more than a little dangerous due to the extreme hump in the middle of the highway when combined with the nasty ruts in each lane. Again, thank you so much for completing this project. I've never written a thank you note to a government entity but I don't think I've ever been this appreciative before especially about something so basic as road work.
Vicki Hollingsworth Fort Valley, GA
Ibroke down while on I-75 in Georgia alone with 3 children. Paul Kaspereen (Department of Transportation District Six) stopped to see if he could help. I was very grateful to have someone stop who I trusted and who was so kind and willing to help. He took time to check my situation out and decided that I could make it to a repair place. He led me there, took time out of his busy schedule and went in to talk to the men for me. Paul also told me that I could call in the future for help if I ever broke down in Georgia. I was REALLY pleased with his service and kindness. Georgia has some wonderful people!
Martha Glick
Ilive in South Carolina and travel to Emory University Hospital approximately every 4-6 months for health care. Every time, my family and I stop at the I-20 West Welcome Center to see if any hotel discounts are available and make room reservations.
Today I was very surprised when the staff greeted me, asked how I was doing, and told me I was looking well! They even remembered the hotel I prefer to stay at, and your employee Maggie told me that she thought the hotel had a new discount rate that we could take advantage of!
That the staff would remember me when I stop by once every six months (or longer, if I am doing well) AND remember me well enough to inquire

2 www.dot.ga.gov

about my health AND the hotel I like to stay at is VERY impressive! You have two great employees in Maggie and George, and they represent the state of Georgia very well! With much thanks,
Steve Catoe Bethune, South Carolina
D ear HERO Management, On September 28, 2009, my son, a 17-year old, had a flat tire suddenly on Exit 95 on 285-W after dark, around 7:45 P.M. He called the HERO service while I drove to his location. Initially, my son had suggested that he change the tire, as we thought he could do so quickly. However, after hearing the particulars of his location, I was concerned that it could be quite dangerous for him to try to do so without any help. As I arrived on scene a few minutes later, and the HERO unit arrived just a few after that. Even with fairly light to moderate traffic, the intersection was dangerous, and I was very relieved to have the HERO unit there. The operator, NEAL SAM, HERO unit number 8550, quickly set up the area and changed the tire within just a few minutes. I was amazed that, even though he had all of his lights on with the arrow pointing traffic around, that cars still were traveling in the far right lane at high speeds.
I offered NEAL SAM, or SAM NEAL (couldn't tell if he listed his last name first) a small tip (twice). He declined it both times.
This is the first time we ever used the HERO service, and it was an excellent experience. We were very thankful that, even though we have AAA service, we had a service that was far superior in terms of safety capabilities. The professionalism was top-notch also.
Thanks,
Al & Tracy Williams Dunwoody, GA

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GDOT Employees Roll Up Their Sleeve to Fight Flu
Department launches Web page on protecting against H1N1
By Carla Murphy

employees and managers may be viewed on MyGDOT at www.mygdot.dot.ga.gov/H1N1/Pages/default.aspx.
Meanwhile, the Roll Up Your Sleeve campaign, launched with the support of Governor Sonny Perdue, encourages state employees and all Georgians to take preventive measures in slowing the spread of seasonal flu and novel H1N1. GDOT employees, who presented their Cigna or United Healthcare insurance card, were offered season flu vaccinations along with tetanus and hepatitis vaccinations. H1N1 vaccinations were not available to employees.
"We join the governor in urging employees to protect themselves against the flu through the measures offered by the Department of Community Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," says Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. "And offering the flu shot at our Midtown office is one of the ways we are encouraging them to be proactive before and during the peak flu season." Along with brochures and information on their Web site, the DCA offers a PSA that employees may view by visiting: www.dch.georgia.gov/rollupyoursleeve.

How Do I Protect Myself Against H1N1?

Lowell James receives a flu shot at One Georgia Center The Georgia Department of Community Health administered flu shots to employees as part of their "Roll Up Your Sleeve" campaign.

Get a seasonal flu vaccine. Get an H1N1 flu vaccine. Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alchoholbased rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of the used tissue, then clean your hands. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home for 24-48 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Your fever should be gone WITHOUT the use of a fever-reducing medicine. Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from spreading the virus.
Symptoms for H1N1

G DOT employees joined agencies across the state in rolling up their sleeves to fight seasonal flu. Employees were offered an opportunity to take advantage of free flu shots at One Georgia Center in September, as the Department of Community Health kicked off its Roll Up Your Sleeve campaign. Additionally, GDOT also has urged employees to protect themselves against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. The Human Resources Office recently developed a comprehensive plan for employees, including information on symptoms for H1N1 and information outlining employees' responsibilities should they be impacted by seasonal flu or H1N1. The information for

Fever Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Body aches Headache Chills Fatigue Vomiting and diarrhea (in some cases) Respiratory symptoms without fever (in some cases)

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"Delivering such a project in Midtown Atlanta requires a tremendous collaborative effort by Georgia DOT, the Federal Highway Administration, Atlanta Regional Commission, City of Atlanta, our contractors, utility companies, neighborhoods and the thousands of motorists who have been disrupted on a daily basis for more than two years,"
Vance C. Smith, Jr. Georgia DOT Commissioner

14th Street Bridge Reopens Ahead of Schedule
Ceremony celebrates partnerships to connect communities and university
By Carla Murphy
T he new 14th Street Bridge in Midtown Atlanta opened in September nearly four months ahead of schedule, offering yet another example of Georgia's DOT's commitment to delivering projects on time. The bridge opened following a dedication ceremony which included Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. and Georgia DOT Board members.

The new wider and longer bridge features dedicated turn lanes with additional storage capacity, raised landscaped medians and sidewalks. Pedestrian improvements on 14th Street begin at Fowler Street continuing across the bridge to West Peachtree Street.
"Delivering such a project in Midtown Atlanta requires a tremendous collaborative effort by Georgia DOT, the Federal Highway Administration, Atlanta Regional Commission, City of Atlanta, our contractors, utility companies, neighborhoods and the thousands of motorists who have been disrupted on a daily basis for more than two years," said Georgia DOT Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. Work on the $88.5 million 14th Street Improvement Project began in spring 2007 with utility relocation taking nearly two years to complete. Crews began removing the 14th Street bridge over the Downtown Connector in spring 2008, while simultaneously building two new exit ramps from the interstate: southbound to 10th Street, which opened in June, and northbound to 17th Street, expected to open in early 2010.

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Atlanta Flood of 2009
GDOT Deploys Resources to Ensure Motorists' Safety
By Carla Murphy
W hen historic floods hit metro Atlanta in September impacting travel on major interstates and bridges the Georgia DOT deployed as many resources as necessary to ensure safe travel for motorists and pedestrians. The Department implemented an early emergency plan, ensuring that adequate staff was positioned to respond to potentially dangerous roadway concerns. "The flood was an incredible ordeal," Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. said following three days of torrential rains in metro Atlanta. "So many people experienced complete devastation. However, in the midst of this terrible storm I saw rays of hope through the hardworking men and women of the Georgia DOT, going above and beyond to ensure the safety of our citizens. We've got a dynamic team over here; and I couldn't be more proud of everyone at GDOT." GDOT staff worked with federal and state agencies, city and county governments and our many partners to ensure that interstates, state roads and bridges were safe. That work included everything from inspecting damage to asphalt and bridges, providing updates on road closures to responding to a record number of 511 calls. Through September 21, the Department had contributed the following:
Over 550 GDOT maintenance employees dedicated exclusively to flood recovery and storm cleanup 11 bridge inspection teams and two dive teams deployed for underwater inspection, ensuring safety of bridges 8 preliminary damage assessment teams working with the
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 7 GDOT media liaisons working around the state to provide
hourly updates on road closures, openings and recovery efforts

Over 6 dozen interviews given to media outlets around the nation. 4 major interstates closed, and by mid-day Wednesday, September 23, 2009, all interstates inspected and reopened GDOT crews opened 17 of the 19 bridges that were closed;
only two remain closed. More than 122 state and local roads closed Georgia DOT Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. spoke with Vice President Joe Biden during his visit on September 25 about statewide roadway conditions
GDOT Underwater Team Takes Dive to Inspect Bridge
When the Georgia Department of Transportation made the important decision to close the State Route 166 Bridge over Anneewakee Creek, it came after an exhaustive examination and review by experienced bridge inspectors, engineers and a team few people may have known were on staff at the Department underwater divers. It was a GDOT underwater team that made entry in the flood waters to inspect the SR 166 bridge foundation to check how much soil had eroded. Their work, combined with assessments by inspectors, resulted in the early closing of the bridge during the height of the three-day storms. In fact, inspections by the divers confirmed the creek bed had eroded 10 feet since the flood. Additionally, the foundation soil around the bridge columns eroded in one case more than six feet which undermined the bridge support structure. After staff compared findings from both teams of inspectors against the bridge plans, it was recommended the bridge remain closed for a full replacement. "While we understand that closing the bridge is inconvenient for motorists, the Department determined very early that the damage was too extensive for vehicles or pedestrians to travel," said Smith. "Safety is paramount for the Department, and our assessments indicated that this bridge needed to be replaced." Considering the bridge was constructed more than 50 years ago and with considerable damage to the bridge's structure, Georgia DOT recommended to the Federal Highway Administration on September 30th that the bridge be replaced; and FHWA concurred. While the work of GDOT's underwater team is welldocumented throughout the Department, it is mostly familiar to those responsible for inspecting bridges. The Department conducts underwater bridge inspections when a bridge is in three or more feet of water -- essentially water deeper than a wading suit. For the SR 166 bridge, the water was not deep enough to require tanks, but the inspector wore a full wetsuit and snorkel.

6 www.dot.ga.gov

W hen the Georgia Department of Transportation made the important decision to close the State Route 166 Bridge over Anneewakee Creek, it came after an exhaustive examination and review by experienced bridge inspectors, engineers and a team few people may have known were on staff at the Department underwater divers.
Mike Clements, P.E. State Bridge Maintenance Engineer

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Garden Club of Georgia Honors Maintenance Employees

By Rick Parham

Kathryn Litton, of the Garden Club of Georgia, presents the statewide award to Robert McLaughlin of District 5.

T hose beautiful wildflowers motorists enjoy while cruising along Georgia's highways don't always spring up on their own. The flowers often are planted by work crews courtesy of the Georgia Department of Transportation. Since 1974, GDOT has partnered with the Garden Club of Georgia in providing resources to plant more than 1,500 acres of wildflowers throughout the state, from the mountains to the coast to the Southwest plains.
The Garden Club of Georgia is an advocate for the program, administered by the Office of Maintenance and its Landscape Architects and each GDOT district's Roadside Enhancement Coordinator.
In support of the program, the club annually presents awards to GDOT personnel recognizing outstanding effort in the Wildflower Program. Club representatives tour each district during the spring, accompanied by the district Maintenance Foreman. A panel of Club judges then selects district winners and from that group, a statewide winner.
The District and the Statewide winner receive monetary awards, made through an endowment from Cason and Nancy Callaway and known as the Virginia Hand Callaway Awards, named for the person who pioneered the wildflower program.
This year, the Garden Club represented by Roadside Chair Kathryn Litton selected Robert McLaughlin of District 5 as the Statewide winner. At a meeting of the State Transportation

Board in September, McLaughlin was recognized for his Wildflower Program efforts. He was accompanied by co-worker Chad Hartley. Jeffery Walker is the District 5 Roadside Enhancement Coordinator.
McLaughlin was presented with a check for $500 from the Garden Club. Litton also cited other district winners: Johnny Westmoreland of District 1; Rodney Humphries of District 4; Roger Evans of District 6 and Latoya Scrutchins of District 7. District winners received $200 each. Not all districts participated.
In addition, Litton presented a check for $10,000 from the Garden Club of Georgia to Commissioner Vance C. Smith Jr., made payable to the GDOT Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Fund. The money will be used on roadside beautification throughout the state. Among the resources to support roadside enhancement, Georgia has introduced two wildflower vehicle tags the Blackeyed Susan and the Purple Coneflower, sales from which have generated more than $3.7 million since 1999 that has been used for the wildflower program.
Those tag receipts purchase seeds that do well in all Georgia soils and require minimum oversight. GDOT personnel choose the wildflower sites and seed mixes for best results.
So the next time you're driving along a state route and your spirits are brightened by a colorful plot of wildflowers, give a mental "thumbs up" to GDOT.

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Births
Congratulations to...
Office of Maintenance Andy Doyle on the birth of his son, Jesse Cooper Doyle.
Office of Materials & Research Robert Turner on the birth of his granddaughter, Ava.
Office of Traffic Safety & Design Thomas Fambro on the birth of his grandson, Jordan Thomas Fambro.
District 1 Jeremy Wilbanks on the birth of his daughter, Ryleigh. Ken Simpson on the birth of his daughter, Amanda Grace.
District 2 Corey Forrest on the birth of his son. Barry Woods on the birth of his grandson. Brandi Martin on the birth of her daughter. Sherry Kowtko on the birth of her grandson. Thomas McCullough on the birth of his son. Bruce Gerald Anderson Jr. on the birth of his son.
District 3 Sue Ferrell on the birth of her granddaughter, Megan Leigh Johnson. Teresa Renfroe on the birth of her granddaughter, Kaylee Grace Landers. Audry Gooch on the birth of her grandchild, Olatonade.
District 5 Jackie Smith on the birth of his daughter, Alecia Delois. Joel Anderson on the birth of his daughter, Ainsley. Robbie Skipper on the birth of his twin daughters, Mallory and Alyssa.
District 6 Tim White on the birth of his grandson. Richard Baird on the birth of his daughter. Keith Day on the birth of his granddaughter.
Our Condolences to...
Office of Acquisitions Thomas Hester on the loss of his son.
Office of Innovative Program Delivery Alicia Rainwater on the loss of her mother.

Sympathies
Office of Maintenance Roger Hardenbrook on the loss of his father.
Maintenance Activities Unit Donald Wishon on the loss of his father. Renee Bennett on the passing of her brother-in-law. Curtis Lewis on the loss of his mother. Morticia Wilson on the passing of her grandmother.
Office of Materials & Research John David Graham on the loss of his father. Cynthia Jordan on the passing of her grandmother. Darrell Norris on the loss of his mother. Loren Petruny on the passing of her father. Mike Stubbs on the passing of his father. Robert Turner on the loss of his mother.
Office of Urban Design Linda Shivers on the loss of her mother. Ben Buchan on the loss of his mother-in-law.
District 1 Brenda Williams on the loss of her mother. Jean Levin on the passing of his son. Larry White on the loss of his brother. Linda Hill on the loss of her father. The family of Walt Grizzle.
District 2 The family of David White. The family of Myrna Gilmore. Renee Hollie on the loss of her grandmother. Danny Ely on the loss of his mother. John Durst on the loss of his mother.
District 3 The family of Aubrey Thomas "Tommy" Harp. The family of Felton Towles. The family of Joe Carroll.
District 5 The family of Larry Griner. The family of Carl Len Hillyard. Rick and Roger Hardenbrook on the passing of their father, Mark E. "Buddy" Hardenbrook. Wallace Grant on the loss of his mother. Lee Harvey on the passing of his father.
District 6 The family of Mark McCargar.
District 7 Cassandra Ford on the loss of her father-in-law. Raleigh Walker on the passing of his mother.
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Ocilla Businessman Sidney Ross and State Representative Bobby Eugene Parham Elected to State Transportation Board

O cilla business man Sidney Ross joined the State Transportation Board following his election by a caucus of state representatives and senators from the 8th Congressional District this summer. He fills the remaining three years of the term of retired board member Larry Walker.
Ross, a Georgia native, owned the road building company Ross of Georgia until 2007. Also elected to serve on the Board was State Representative Bobby Eugene Parham, who was elected board by a caucus of

state representatives and senators from the 12th Congressional District. He is filling the remaining four years of the term of retiring Board member Raybon Anderson.
Parham is a pharmacist from Milledgeville who began his public service on the Baldwin County Commission. He was first elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1975 as a Democrat and served in the House of Representatives for 18 terms.

OEL & OMR Team Up for Governor's Award
By Crystal Paulk-Buchanan
T he Georgia Department of Transportation was selected to receive the Tourism Champion Partner Agency Award at the Governor's Tourism Conference at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. The award is for the "Discovery, Education, and Heritage Tourism of the Old Federal Road in Georgia" project.
The Federal Road was associated with the most significant historic events in Georgia during the 19th century. The Federal Road through Georgia was the path of Westward Expansion, Indian Removal, the Gold Rush, and the Civil War.

The GDOT and a dedicated team sought to commemorate the state's first transportation project by highlighting the history of the Federal Road. As Georgia continues to develop, elements pertinent to the interpretation of the road are lost. The need to identify important sites and record the history of the resource for posterity was paramount. Cultural heritage belongs to everyone; the study provided an opportunity to address the needs of many stakeholders. The past is crucial to understanding present, and learning how this transportation corridor and historic events shaped the lives of our customer, the citizens of Georgia, was the primary goal.
The Federal Road project was innovative in its approach to document and preserve the heritage associated with the Federal Road, develop heritage tourism, and provide economic and educational opportunities that would augment the historic and cultural values of local governments and communities.
The project's heritage tourism resulted in a photo-documentary (on loan at Carter's Lake Recreational

Visitor's Center), a rack card, audio CDs, and signage for an automobile driving tour. These products, including a podcast, were developed and are marketed and distributed in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Team: Georgia Department of Transportation, Office of Environment/Location Georgia Department of Transportation, Office of Materials and Research Federal Highway Administration, Georgia Division University of Mississippi, Center for the Study of Southern Culture University of Mississippi, Center for Archaeological Research Kituwah Preservation and Education Program, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

G o v e r n o r ' s

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District 3 Wins Governor's Customer Ser vice Award
By Kimberly Larson

District 5 Bridge Manager Receives Award from Governor's Office of Customer Ser vice
By Erica Fatima

C ongratulations to District 3's District Control Center and Signal Shop team on receiving the Governor's Customer Service Award for Outstanding Process Improvement.
The District has been able to use the control center to perform triage on signal complaints, to dispatch engineers and field resources and to handle other general customer requests. The control center utilizes a new database program that was developed and has access to the schedules of engineers and technicians. With the Macon Transportation Management Center in an oversight role, they also perform triage on customer service requests. In doing so, they have saved 20 percent in fuel costs and established a more efficient response to general requests and a process for handling complaints and call- backs for customers. Additionally, they have developed a more effective preventive maintenance program, and better planning for engineers and field personnel. During a time of budget constraints, this work unit is able to increase production while further decreasing costs.
"Michael Presley and his team members have done an outstanding job, which has resulted in significant savings for the Department," said Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. "We are proud of their work and pleased that the Governor has recognized their performance."

D ewayne Mosley, District Five Bridge Manager, has received the Governor's Commendation for Excellence in Customer Service Award. The award recognizes actions and accomplishments that enhance the public image of customer service or improves the way customer service is provided in a way that directly benefits the citizens, customers and/or employees of the state of Georgia.
Mosley was honored for performing his normal job duties at the highest level and for performing his assignments with excellence. He has over 20 years of service with the Department, serving the majority of that time with the Bridge Division. District Engineer Glenn Durrence stated, "Dewayne is a committed employee who works hard every day; he gives it his all. He is a true representative of all the hardworking men and women of the Department who also give their best every day."
Identified as a real "go-getter," there are no tasks too small or large for Dewayne. He is responsible for repairs to bridges, bridge culverts, cross drains, concrete pavement and other concrete structures throughout District 5.
The Governor's Office of Customer Service measured several criteria before determining the winner; noting that the nominee's performance should reflect all five of the state's commitments to our customers: courteous, helpful, accessible, responsive and knowledgeable. Dewayne most notably reflected the five state customer service commitments when he assisted the Secret Service during the G8 Summit with the installation of over 5,000 feet of barrier wall at strategic locations throughout Glynn County in less than two weeks. And recently, he repaired a bridge span on Interstate 95 at the Florida line, working 18 hours a day for three days.
"Dewayne strives to make repairs in the most economical and efficient manner while always keeping employees and motorists safety as top priority. He exemplifies an outstanding work ethic, and his strong commitment to customer service is reflected in all that he does," Durrence stated.

Left to right: Katie Christopherson, Director for Continuous Improvement, Governor's Office of Customer Service; Mike Thomas, GDOT Director of Field Services; Dewayne Mosley, GDOT District Five Bridge Maintenance Manager; Dewayne's wife, Teresa; Glenn Durrence, GDOT District Five Engineer; Joe Doyle, Director of the Governor's Office of Customer Service.

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"GDOT Aviation has been a partner with us for well over a decade. In our airport we've had some litigation and the office and their staff stuck by us all the way. Carol was with us every day. Over the years Aviation has really helped us with our grant funding...

"If a community or region doesn't have an adequate airport, they often miss opportunity for economic development."

GDOT Aviation Programs Office Keeps Business Flying High

Without their involvement, we would never have been able to do what we've done with our airport. They've been the most responsive team we've ever dealt with in state government. I don't think local governments would be able to do what they've done without GDOT Aviation's help. You said partner? That's a true statement. That operation is vital to our continued prosperity and development here in Covington. I'll bet if you asked 100 people in the airport business in Georgia, they'd tell you the same thing. "
Steve Horton City Manager, City of Covington

By Monica Luck
M ention the word "airport," and most people think of large commercial airports such as Chicago's O'Hare, or the world's busiest, HartsfieldJackson in Atlanta. But there are many smaller airports, both public and private, that accommodate hundreds of small planes and thousands of flights every year. Georgia has 104 publicly-owned airports spread across the state. Keeping all of them well-maintained and properly licensed is important to Georgia's economic growth and development. GDOT's Office of Aviation Programs, based near Fulton County Airport west of downtown Atlanta, partners with local governments to do just that.
"[Former Commissioner] Wayne Shackelford always said, `Business prospects don't arrive in a town on a Greyhound bus they fly into the airport,'" said Carol Comer, Aviation Programs Manager. "If a community or region doesn't have an adequate airport, they often miss opportunity for economic development." A local airport is not the sole reason a business chooses to locate

in a community, but not having one is often the sole reason a business chooses not to locate in the area, she added. GDOT does not own any of these small airports, so sustaining solid relationships with the local governments who do own them is an essential part of Aviation Programs' work. Comer's team maintains comprehensive knowledge of all state and federal requirements, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and Department policy. They inspect every airport on a two-year cycle to ensure each one is safe, and provide technical assistance and guidance to airport sponsors needing funds from the FAA's State Block Grant Program as well as the state Airport Aid program.
Comer's team takes pride in their work. "We're airport people," she said. "There's such a sense of accomplishment when we complete an expansion project at an airport. And there is tremendous satisfaction when we get news, months later, that a new business or industry has located near there, bringing 100-plus jobs, and the company selected that community in part because the airport would accommodate their corporate aircraft." A typical day for the Aviation Programs team begins early. It often includes meeting with an airport owner to discuss upcoming projects and provide advice on how to compete for funding. A couple of team members may hop in the

plane to attend a preconstruction meeting at an airport in south Georgia. Then it's off to conduct a safety inspection at another airport nearby. The team looks for opportunities to accomplish several tasks within the same area at the same time. But they usually arrive back at the office by the end of the regular workday.
In the last 10 years, the Department has updated its statewide aviation systems plan, improved 70 percent of the statewide system, and accomplished its primary goal: every citizen in the state is within a 45-minute drive of an airport that

can accommodate 95 percent of corporate aircraft flying today. The Aviation Programs team has been so successful that it is only four airports away from achieving its second goal: every citizen in Georgia lives within a 30-minute drive of a business-class airport with a 5500+ foot runway. Having this accessibility has truly helped Georgia connect to the global economy, Comer said.
"We appreciate the support from the Department and especially the opportunity to work with so many talented, dedicated and knowledgeable

individuals in our field districts and area offices," Comer said. "And we're especially pleased with the work of our staff this year in partnering with the local governments to meet minimum state licensing standards." Typically, only about 70 percent of the airports meet the minimum standards on initial inspection. The airports then have to take corrective action, and must be reinspected. "This year, 90 percent of the airports met the minimum standards on initial inspection. That saves everybody money," Comer added.

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CONNECTOR | Fall 2009 13

State Charitable Contributions Program Goes Digital
Employees Encouraged to Give Online
By Shelly-Ann Simpson
T he State Charitable Contributions Program (SCCP) is going online. The annual yearly program, which allows state employees to help create a brighter tomorrow by providing resources to improve the quality of life in communities across the state will this year be online from the Team Georgia Connection Web site.
In years past, employees received an individual pledge card and a campaign brochure. This year, only brochures will be distributed statewide; and employees are asked to go online to make their contributions.
Employees will enter one- time contributions information online into the online enrollment tool, print a document detailing their contributions, and then submit that document to their SCCP coordinators. Employees also may choose to pay with a credit or debit card, while all others payments should be turned into coordinators.
To learn more, visit the Team Georgia Website found on your desktop, click on the image of the boy with the dog and follow the instructions.

Promotions
Office of the Commissioner Charis R. Madaris to Administrative Assistant to the Commissioner
Office of Construction Liaison David William Middleton to Engineering Contract Audit Leader
Office of Environment/Location Eric A. Duff to Transportation Environmental Plan Manager 2
Office of Innovative Program Deliver y Darryl Duane Vanmeter to Transportation Engineering Administrator
Office of I.T. Infrastructure Benjamin Eric Sockwell to Systems Administrator 1

Office of Maintenance Ethridge Troy Goff to Bridge Inspection Technician 3
Vinson Thomas Tanner to Bridge Inspection Supervisor
Joseph Wayne O'Daniels to Bridge Inspection Supervisor
Office of Program Deliver y Jason W. Mobley to Assistant Project Manager
Office of Right of Way Russell H. Nelson III to Review Appraiser
Daniel A. Langston to Review Appraiser
District 1 Matthew D. Needham to Area Engineer
Todd McDuffie to Assistant District Engineer
Alden C. Hunter to Asphalt Maintenance Engineer

14 www.dot.ga.gov

New Teen Driving Web Site Takes Class
By Paul Marshall
Sharpen your pencils and take copious notes. Teen Driving Safety 101 is now in session.
Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for young drivers ages 15 to 20. Teens are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers. Nearly 200 teens are killed every year in motor vehicle crashes on Georgia roads.
This past summer, with a new school year fast approaching and the Web abuzz with social networking giants MySpace and Facebook, GDOT needed its own Web site to educate teens about safe driving habits. Some basic essentials quickly emerged. It had to be eye-catching, easy to navigate, and

Enter Clayton County teacher Steven Price and the awardwinning Web team of Riverdale High School's Technology Student Association (TSA). Since becoming TSA instructor in 1998, Price's students have earned numerous honors and garnered national recognition. Some of its members have earned such a reputation for excellence that their own school system hired them to help redesign and rebuild the Clayton County Schools Web site, which has since won two national Best of the Web Awards.
Launched in time for the new school year, GDOT's Teen Driving Safety Web site is filled with safety tips, driving laws, and links to travel resources like NaviGAtor and 511. There's even a section on Prom Night and homecoming. The site owes much of its sleek look and feel to one star student: webmaster Osayande Imarhiagbe, or "Osay," who graduated from Riverdale High School last year and now studies medicine at Emory University.
Check out the new site at: www.clayton.k12.ga.us/teendriving.

informative. But who would build it? The answer was obvious. Who better to design a Web site on teen driving than teenagers?

CONNECTOR | Fall 2009 15

Service Anniversaries

10 Years
Adams, Edward D. Akins, Brenda D Akins, James D. Baggett, Drew H. Batten, Christine Hanley Bell, George H Bentley, Danielle Jayne Beverly, Robert Jason Boyd, Kimberly Brooks, Andrew Butler, Jeffery Eugene Caldwell, John R Carter, Dennis L Carter, Jesse H Farmer, Marvin Grady Freeman, Rodney Fuller, Nancy Ann Griffin, Ralph S Helms, Selena Hester, Thomas D. Ison, Tony Jeffery Issa, Moussa Jackson, Lillian Washington Jackson, Tunisa L.M. Johnson, Calvin H Johnson, Portia Pilar Joseph, Desmore A. King, Ricky Lamb, Franklin J. Lewis, Danny A Lowery, J. T. Mansfield,James Brian Medlock, Vicki A Morris, Linda G. Moss, Trythane Melissa Mulkey, Charlie B Perez, Nadine Pamela Pomfret, James E. Presley, Steve T. Respert, Michael Anthony Reynolds, Corbett S Sapp, William C. Saulsbury, Pamela L. Sewell, John Robert Shaw, James E Stanley, Bennie Neal Steed, Knarvie L Stephens, Peronica Elaine Thomas, Leighton David Vickers, Derrick E Watson, Donna B Watts, Clarence W. Weaver, Margaret Ann Wilson, Malcolm Allen Woods, Christopher N.

15 Years
Armstrong, Charlie James Barrow, Sharmelda J. Boodram, Carl S Brett, Donna D Carlan, Randall Dale Carter, Coby B. Carver, Howard K. Coxwell, John Wayne Dockery, Bradley W. Duff, Eric A Ebodaghe, Funke Abby Eller, Jeffery H. Fennell II, Howard Franklin Ford, Clinton B. Fowler Jr, Samuel Douglas Glisson III, James Lester Johnson, Herman C. McCoy, Clayton Leon Morin, Melanie C. Nichols, Laurie A. Oquinn, Lonnie Andrews Osborne, Gayle H Phillips, Kevin Truitt Pinckard, James Keith Reeves, Keith Lamar Richardson, Billy Lane Saxon, Bradford W. Shirley, Robert Martin Shivers, Linda G Wadley Jr, Everette Weaver, Victor Porter Wesley, Terri Lynn Wiley, Arnita Wood, William Douglas
20 Years
Atkinson, Alan R. Braswell, Jerry Carmichael, Michael Carter, Joseph F. Cautela, Daphne W. Dickerson, John W. Garren Jr, Russell J. Grovner, Curtis L. Gunder, George W. Johnson Jr, Robert R. Johnson, Jessie Kirkland, George Anthony Marshall, Davida L. McKinney, William B. Mitchell, James T. Moses, Deryl Len Partain, Philip E. Pedersen, Rodney Dean

16 www.dot.ga.gov

Perry, Eddie Dewayne Pirkle, Margaret Bryson Powell Sr, Jimmy D. Reeves Jr, Henry Ricks, Donald Robertson, Steven Glenn Robinson Jr, Kenneth E Ryan, Patrick T. Ryan, Rodney Michael Searcy, Kent Sheppard, Michael B Tomlin, James C Turnley Jr, Hugh B Veal, Troy V. Walker Jr, Ronald C. Weaver, John Allen Wegener, David Ross Westcott, Linda Mae Whitworth, Kenneth R. Williams, Timothy Q.
25 Years
Alexander, Nancy J. Baxter, Norris Cecil Belcher, Anthony C. Cheek, Kenneth Lewis Cheeks, Carla T. Clark, Kathy M. Collins, Anthony Joseph Cooper, Rickey H Darden, James Edward Durrence, Thomas C. Garrison, Donna K. Hasty Jr, Aubrey G. Haynes, Willie C Ivery, Karon Lamar Lott, Rickey Edward Maddox, Harry A. McDuffie, Todd Mercier, Vanessa Q Mizell, Carl Wesley Muirhead, John T Pitts, Edward Redding, Willie C. Relihan, John C Roberson, Robby B Sanders, Ronnie Shealey, John D. Singleton, William R. Stevens, Jimmy L Thornton, Angie P Wilson, Stephen G Wright Sr, Edward P Yarbrough, Mark Evan

30 Years
Benefield, Charles A Bennett, Evelyn Renee Brown, Ricky L Burden, Gene E. Chastain, Randall E Crim, David C Duffey, David Lee Garrison, Curtis N Hampton, John G Henry, Stephen T Jacks, Timothy Allen Murphy, Jimmy R Nicholson, Marvin L Osby, Doris Clarke Roberts, Brian T Robinson, Larry Smart, Sheree Taylor, Danny R Tench, John W Walls, Jerry F Whitfield, Jerome Wiggins, Norman G Williams, Roy D
35 Years
Scott, Janice S

www.dot.ga.gov

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