Inside INDOT – October 2021

District Employees Honored for Going the Extra Mile

Alisa Sweazy and Gary Williams pulled off quite a feat in September. They were honored for going the extra mile by the directors in their district. The two took home the inaugural Seymour District Extra Mile Award, which was created by district directors to encourage employee recognition and generate a positive company culture where employees feel valued and appreciated. “The Seymour District Extra Mile Award is also meant to improve morale and emphasize the importance of our core values,” said Seymour District Communications Director Annie Walker. “All INDOT employees are eligible to nominate a colleague or colleagues. Nominees must be full-time staff who have worked at INDOT for one year or more.” The award will be presented in the Seymour District on a quarterly basis. Each quarter, the award will be based around a specific INDOT Value — Accountability, Innovation, Respect, and Teamwork. A nominated employee must have shown the exemplary skills and/or attributes for that INDOT Value within the designated quarterly timeframe. Additionally, each quarter a district employee will be given the Extra Mile Award for Trust. Nominations for Trust may be submitted at any time throughout the year. Also, candidates for the Trust Award may be selected from existing nominations submitted quarterly within a core value if the attributes and/or skills shown by the candidate also fall within the Trust category. All nominations are scored and ranked by the 10-member Seymour District review committee. The inaugural Extra Mile Award, representing the third quarter, was announced at the Seymour District picnic Sept. 16. A mile measures at 5,280 feet. But the pride of being bestowed the Extra Mile Award extends far beyond that, according to the award’s initial two winners. “I was shocked when they announced my name for the Accountability Award,” said Sweazy, the district’s Customer Service resolution specialist. “After the shock wore off, I had feelings of honor and pride, and I still have those feelings today.” Sweazy’s nominator cited the resolution specialist’s “unmatched” work ethic and pride along with her willingness to take on extra duties and responsibilities to help INDOT succeed.

Alisa Sweazy and Annie Walker after Sweazy wins the Accountability Award.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

“I love what I do and enjoy helping customers,” said Sweazy. “I am blessed to work alongside, and with, some of the best coworkers, who always have a positive attitude and are willing to go above and beyond when serving our customers. I believe we have a positive and trustworthy work environment. Team members encourage one another and are not afraid to step up and help someone when needed. I feel valued and part of our awesome INDOT team.” Sweazy said she shares the Accountability Award with her coworkers, who have helped her along the way. “Working at INDOT is a dream come true,” she said. “It is a true blessing. I always have a feeling of accomplishment.”

Williams, a Construction project supervisor, was equally as astonished at winning the Trust Award, saying, “I was completely surprised when hearing that I won it.” Williams’ nominator wrote: “Gary does the right thing, no matter what, all the time. He has done so for almost 47 years in Seymour District Construction. Gary expects the best but is also always willing to give his best; it is that drive that earns the trust of those he works with.” Williams noted that his work is not done in a

vacuum. His work on recent contracts included outstanding help and support from Area Engineer Ike Deburger; Construction Engineer David McManaway; and Highway Technicians Linda Obermeyer, Carol Mize, and Bob McCreary, he said. The specific INDOT Value for the fourth quarter will be Respect along with the Trust Award. Fourth-quarter nominations are due Dec. 15 and can be emailed to Seymour District Administrative Assistant Rachel Schneider. Nomination forms and Value definitions were previously emailed to all Seymour District employees, but nominators who need them may contact Schneider.

Gary Williams (top left) wins the first Trust Award (top right).

Inside INDOT – October 2021

Meet I&B Team Member Ali Haddad

INDOT’s Inclusion & Belonging (I&B) includes I&B teams in the districts and Central Office. On the Central Office I&B team is Geotechnical Engineer Ali Haddad, who is based out of the Division of Materials and Tests building on the east side of Indianapolis. Haddad, who started at INDOT in February 2019, develops and reviews geotechnical investigation and recommendation reports, assists in field investigation, provides construction support for soil and retaining walls, and prepares various types of geotechnical reports. Q: What is your personal background? A: I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1981, eight months after the beginning of the Iraq-Iran war. My mother was a professor at the university, and my father was an economist. I am an only child. Growing up in Iraq wasn’t fun, and I remember that my parents had to hide me every time bomb sirens went off. Iraq was ruled by a dictator until 2003, so there was no freedom of speech or any form of civic and political activities; criticizing the Iraqi president and his regime could have resulted in the death penalty. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering just after the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and then I started working for the U.S. Army as a civil engineer (and sometimes as an interpreter) a few months after my graduation. I mainly worked on infrastructure. After working as a civil engineer in Kuwait from 2007 to 2009, I came to the U.S. in July 2012 through the Special Immigration Visa program for Iraqis and Afghans who worked for the U.S government overseas. Indiana was my first spot, and I have made my residence here since then. I officially became a U.S. citizen in August 2018. Q: What are some differences between Iraq and the United States? A: One of the main differences is sports, as the popular sport in Iraq is soccer, while it is American football here. Soccer in Iraq, and in most countries, is called football because players are allowed to use only their legs, but this is not the case in American football. Also, in Iraq there are more street food and city markets, and less big grocery stores. One of the many common things between the two cultures is pizza, but in Iraq you can add shawarma (thin-cut meats) to the toppings. Q: What do you enjoy about living in Indiana? A: Indiana is a very nice and welcoming place. I enjoy taking my family to the Canal Walk in downtown Indianapolis, or to Eagle Creek Park and Brown County State Park. One of my favorite places is the Soldiers & Sailors Monument and the South Bend Chocolate Co. across from it in Indianapolis. Indiana was not new to me, as I had the chance to learn about Hoosiers and their culture before I came to the U.S., because one of the U.S Army officers I worked for in Iraq is from Crown Point, and one his staff sergeants is from Indianapolis. Both gave me a good impression about Hoosiers, and Americans, in general. I learned a lot from working with them, and it was not just a job, but it was more like a capacity-building opportunity to me.

Ali Haddad in the lab at the Division of Materials and Tests building.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

Q: Do you have family here? A: I live here with my wife and three kids. My parents also live in Indiana. Q: What do you like about working at INDOT? A: INDOT employees go above and beyond and do their best to provide high-quality services to Hoosiers. Most of those I work with are kind and nice, and that’s why I feel like INDOT is my second family. One of the things that I really like about our office is our holiday parties near the end of the year. It’s basically a potluck where we all share a meal from the culture/country that we come from.

Q: Why did you join the Inclusion & Belonging team? A: I joined the I&B because I want to be part of a team that bridges the gap between different cultures and creates a more welcoming work environment for all employees.

Q: What strengths/viewpoints do you add to the team to help the I&B team’s mission succeed? A: I am not sure what I can bring to the team because I am learning from each team member, but I try to be a good cultural advocate and give an idea about immigrants and newcomers to the U.S.

Q: Why do you think that Inclusion and Belonging is important at INDOT? A: It will create a healthy and diverse work environment at INDOT. From my experience in working in three different countries and from what I learned from my leadership graduate program at the University of Indianapolis is that diversity and inclusion will eventually improve productivity and — most importantly — the quality of services provided by any organization. To me, Inclusion and Belonging means respecting and celebrating all cultures by creating an environment that prevents discrimination and a hostile work environment. Bottom line, a pothole in our streets could be a result of a bad work environment, not inferior materials or bad engineering judgment. Q: What are your hobbies and dream vacation? A: I am a big fan of spy movies, talk shows, and history books. My dream vacation would be in Hawaii with my family.

During the holidays in 2020, Ali Haddad (from left); his wife, Masraa; daughter, Yanah; and sons, Zaid and Dan, enjoy a carriage ride around Monument Circle in Indianapolis. Someday, Haddad would like to take his family to Hawaii.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

INDOT Employees Achieve Important Milestones

Every month, INDOT employees achieve certifications, licenses, and academic degrees through the INDOT tuition and license reimbursement program, which reimburses workers up to $5,000 per fiscal year for these expenses. INDOT’s tuition and license reimbursement program directly supports an agency goal to take INDOT to the next level by developing INDOT’s 21st century workforce. All tuition and license reimbursements require preapproval by Talent Management. For more details, click here. This employee worked hard to achieve her desired milestone, which was realized in September 2021. Be sure to congratulate her! Name: Meagan Froman Location/Position: Hydraulics Engineer Milestone: Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) license In Her Own Words: Passing the PE exam and ultimately obtaining my PE license has been my

biggest career achievement to date, but it did not come without a lot of time and effort. Upon receiving my bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, I felt I had really accomplished something but knew the hard work and intense studying was not finished yet. While part of INDOT’s Graduate Engineer Development Program, I passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, and I felt some relief in knowing that the next exam was a few years ahead of me. Before I knew it, it was time to start studying for the PE exam. It was a daunting process to not only spend months studying for the exam but also ensuring that I was completely registered for the exam and prepared properly as the information regarding how to do this is not always the most straightforward. It truly was so helpful to have a plethora of supportive coworkers to turn to who had been through the same thing and were willing to offer advice and an abundance of study material. I would not

have been as successful without their help! Another way the agency has shown its support is through the license reimbursement program, and for that I am grateful. Now I look forward to putting my license to use and better serving INDOT and the community. Congratulate Meagan: Send Meagan your best wishes for this achievement by clicking here.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

Video Series Puts Employees in Touch with INDOT Executives

In this month’s executive staff video, Fort Wayne District Deputy Commissioner Todd Johnson talks about the district’s renewed focus on safety, its recent team picnic, and the generosity of its employees. Johnson also discusses how he challenged the district’s directors to interview employees with five questions to find out how the district gets, and keeps, so many good people. Since November 2020, INDOT executive staff has been using a monthly video chat to better communicate to our workers statewide. To watch Johnson’s video message, or the entire executive video series, click here.

Fort Wayne District Deputy Commissioner Todd Johnson talks about the many facets of the district in the latest executive staff video.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

Indiana Latino Expo Show Features District Employee

Fort Wayne District Brimfield Unit Leader Gabriela Figueroa felt “totally out of my comfort zone” while promoting INDOT to a television host, but one would hardly know it. She came through with flying colors. Figueroa talked about INDOT and her work background to a Telemundo Indy television journalist for a segment that aired in mid-September. Figueroa was INDOT’s representative for the show, produced jointly by the Indiana Latino Expo (ILE) and Spanish-language Telemundo network.

ILE normally takes place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds over two days in October but was canceled this year because of COVID-19, just as it had been in 2020. Instead, ILE teamed with Telemundo Indy to televise a series of stories about Hispanic employees who work for Expo sponsors. INDOT is one of the ILE’s sponsors. The seven- to eight-minute episodes, dubbed the “Indiana Latino Expo Show,” aired Saturdays in September and October. Twelve employees from ILE sponsors from around the state were featured. To watch a Spanish-language video of Figueroa’s interview, click here. “The closer the time got to doing the interview, the more nervous I got, but at the same time it sounded like a lot of fun, so I guess those feelings neutralized each other,” said Figueroa. While interacting with host Gloria Jimenez, Figueroa, whose parents are natives of Mexico, described her job duties in Maintenance, including clearing debris, plowing snow, picking up dead animals, and other aspects of maintaining the roads. She informed the audience how work-zone

safety is a priority of the agency. Figueroa, a six-year INDOT veteran, talked about how she worked in a factory for four years and that her INDOT job enables her to work outdoors. She urged others who are tired of indoor jobs to apply at INDOT.

Gabriela Figueroa appears in the video segment (top photo) and drives an INDOT truck in the Fort Wayne District (right photo).

Inside INDOT – October 2021

She also praised her INDOT supervisors for always showing respect and helping her in her career. She said that a Latino presence is growing at INDOT and that women are continuing to make inroads in Maintenance. The Indiana Latino Expo is a nonprofit organization dedicated to highlighting values in the community, such as family, passion, collaboration, and preservation of the Latino culture. INDOT has supported the ILE for several years via our Economic Opportunity Division (EOD). A primary function of INDOT’s EOD is certifying Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for participation on federally funded transportation projects. INDOT’s EOD also monitors the compliance functions of these projects, as well as outreach and business education. “INDOT’s EOD has long been a supporter of Indiana Black Expo, and it was felt we should support the ILE and the Indiana Latino community, as well,” said DBE Supportive Services Lead Sean Howard. “EOD’s participation has also included advertising of our On-the-Job Supportive Services Commercial Driver’s License program in a Spanish-language format at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Hoosier Lottery Expo Hall as well as general information on the DBE program. We have enjoyed our participation and look forward to continuing to support the ILE.”

Inside INDOT – October 2021

EVOLVE Expands to All of INDOT; Mentors Needed

EVOLVE is evolving to the next level. The EVOLVE Mentoring Program is an INDOT agency initiative to support early-career and new employees by offering one-on-one or group mentoring activities. Program goals are to provide support and guidance, nurture career development, and improve employee retention and engagement. “We’ve offered the program since 2014, but so far it has been mostly for engineers,” said Talent Development Manager Adam Beasley. “We want to grow the program to offer these services to all INDOT employees and disciplines, not just engineers.” To expand the program, the agency needs employees from around the state to volunteer as mentors to interested new and early-career employees. “The mentor will act as another connection at the agency and be another resource as the mentee moves through his or her career,” said Beasley. “Mentoring is relationship-based where mentors listen, give advice, and share experiences. If mentees have those additional resources, they tend to stay with the agency longer.” To find out more about EVOLVE, click here. To express interest as a mentor or mentee, click here. Mentors do not need to be current INDOT managers or directors. Also, mentors do not necessarily need to be in the same career path as the new or early-career employee. “Some matches would pair employees in the same discipline but in different locations,” said Beasley. “It would be nice for new employees to have a resource outside the area of what they do. The connection between two people is more important than the jobs they do. If a new employee connects with, and trusts, a mentor, then that employee can feel comfortable approaching the mentor with questions.” Beasley also said it is possible for an early-career employee to be matched up with a mentor in an area that they may be interested in, enabling the new employee to discover how the mentor progressed his or her career to move into that spot. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, EVOLVE offers group mentoring. Group activities will take place in the districts and Central Office, and will include seminars, site visits, and social events. Past site visits have included the Thornton Quarry in Thornton, Ill.; the East End Crossing’s Lewis and Clark Bridge; the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant in Lafayette; and others.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

“These site visits are dependent on COVID-19 right now, but normally are a full day and occur once or twice a year,” said Beasley. Multimodal Director Kristin Brier can vouch for how rewarding it is to be an EVOLVE mentor. She has mentored engineers before the current change of focus for EVOLVE to open mentoring to all INDOT employees. “At first, I was unsure about being an EVOLVE mentor, since I’m not an engineer,” said Brier. “But being a mentor has been such a great experience. Both of my mentees are smart, amazing people who have helped me learn more about the challenges that they face as well as the wider world of transportation. They have challenged me to grow as a professional, and I have reaped the benefits.”

EVOLVE site visits include bus rides (left photo) to sites such as the Freedom Bridge in Delphi, Ind. (bottom photo). Site visits are dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

INDOT Bridge Inspectors Learn the Ropes

In late September, Statewide Safety Technical Specialist Steve Harmon conducted annual rope-access training to seven eager INDOT bridge inspectors. The in-house training took place at the Ransburg Scout Reservation nestled within the Hoosier National Forest on the banks of Lake Monroe near Bloomington. Participants spent four nights lodging at the reservation during the Monday-to-Friday training. “Rope-access training is physically and mentally challenging,” said Harmon. “Inspectors don’t use ropes every day, so it takes time to grasp the material and you have to learn to trust the equipment.” Among other things, bridge inspectors look at the substructure (the foundation and columns that support the bridge from underneath) and the superstructure (beams, deck, and railing). Sometimes, an underbridge truck could be too much weight for a bridge, or a lift truck may not be an ideal option. In those circumstances, inspectors will use ropes instead. Currently, only Crawfordsville District Bridge Inspection Engineer Matt Ference and Seymour District Bridge Inspection Engineer Steve Hurst climb ropes. During the week, Harmon helped the duo brush up on techniques and maneuvers. Also, Harmon spent the week “teaching the ropes” to two employees: Vincennes District Bridge

Inspection Engineer Bawi Chawn, who started at INDOT in October 2020, and Bridge Inspection Area Engineer Jake Gould, a new hire who was in his second week at INDOT. Harmon taught them about the various equipment — their functions and how to use each element — and how to climb up and down the rope. “Once they learn the basics, we begin adding more difficult climbing techniques,” said Harmon. Statewide Safety Program Specialist Jay King assisted in the training, which included an

outdoor climbing tower as well as indoor high ropes at the reservation’s Inlow Aquatic Center. The indoor facility included a balcony, which enabled fellow climbers to observe techniques at eye level.

A view from the indoor facility’s balcony shows Steve Harmon (from left) teaching Jake Gould a high-ropes technique.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

“From the ground, it’s difficult to see much because the inspector is up high and the lower half of their body blocks the view,” said King. “It’s good for less-seasoned inspectors to go up to the balcony to see an inspector’s hand movements while switching ropes and observe which attachments they’re using for various rope maneuvers.” High-ropes training scenarios included:

• Pick-off rescue: One inspector is suspended on a rope, and it’s up to another inspector to get them down.

• Confined-space rescue: An inspector uses a pitchhead (a weighted bag) to mimic the weight of a person to rescue.

• Rope-to-rope: An inspector goes down one set of ropes and up another set

Gould is excited about what he learned. “The training was an opportunity to grow a team that INDOT has needed for a while,” said Gould. “It was a tough and tiring week with muscle aches and doing new and, sometimes, scary things. But, overall, I learned a lot, and it was a great week.” Gould also benefited from getting to know fellow inspectors, especially since he recently joined INDOT. “Coming into a new job is always hard, but a week bunking with my new coworkers is a great boost to knowing people,” he said. Climbing isn’t the only aspect of rope access. INDOT also has a ground crew. Every INDOT rope-access job includes an on-site ground-crew member to oversee climber safety.

They ensure that knots are made properly, watch that inspectors are taking the proper breaks, set up a rescue system, and more. Members include LaPorte District Bridge Inspection Engineer Christy Burlage, Fort Wayne District Bridge Inspection Technician Kirk Smith, Seymour District Bridge Inspection Technician Jessica Waggoner, and Harmon. During the training, Harmon had Burlage, Smith, and Waggoner practiced a 4-to-1 pulley system used during a rescue. The system is preassembled and stored in a bag, ready to go. But a ground-crew member needs to be able to set it up, just in case. The pulley system can pull up a conscious victim, who puts the snap ring in a harness. The ground-crew member raises the victim to the deck or lowers the victim to the ground. The goal is for a member to assemble the system in less than five minutes, which the trio consistently did after hours of practice. “You have to know how to save yourselves, especially during jobs in rural areas as emergency personnel are slower to arrive,” said Harmon.

Bawi Chawn checks the equipment.

Kirk Smith practices tying knots in the rope.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

Although they don’t climb, ground-crew members are vital. In May, Statewide Safety Director Mike Lane praised Burlage for observing that the fall protection procedures in place during a bridge inspection were putting another employee at risk. “She took the actions needed to halt the work until a work plan could be developed that would not put the inspection crews at risk of a potentially serious fall,” said Lane. Training at Ransburg Scout Reservation will likely intensify next year. “Even-year training, such as 2022, includes Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) training at the end of the week,” said Harmon. “So, there will be pressure to pass the testing for SPRAT, whether it’s Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3, depending on each inspector’s experience level. Also, there could be new equipment as well as new techniques to learn.” To view more photos from rope-access training, click here.

Scaling up and down an outdoor climbing tower is part of the rope-access training at the Ransburg Scout Reservation near Bloomington.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

Employees Find Fun on the Fairways

Golf outings new and old recently brought INDOT employees together for fun and fundraising. The Seymour District Golf Scramble may be brand new, but its future looks bright based on its turnout. Other districts may soon get involved to expand the competition. The Indiana State Transportation Workers Foundation Golf Outing, in its fourth decade, once again succeeded in raising money and boosting camaraderie and friendship among those in the transportation industry. Seymour District Golf Scramble The inaugural Seymour District Golf Scramble was a rousing success, and organizers hope that

starting in 2022 there will be two annual scrambles, including a challenge between districts. Using a traditional scramble format with four players per team, the Seymour District Golf Scramble was open to employees and family members, benefiting the Seymour District Employee Fund. Eleven teams signed up, but two teams could not participate due to a funeral-related conflict. The team of Senior Projects Director Paul Boone, Local Public Agency Director Kathy Eaton-McKalip, Right-of-Way Managing Director Jim Stark, and Eaton-McKalip’s daughter, Kristina Hunt, emerged victorious with a score of minus-13 at St. Annes Golf Course in North Vernon on Aug. 28. Three shots behind in second place was the foursome of Project Supervisor Wilbur Capes and his son, Joel May; and Highway Technicians Jeremy Capes and Steve Fleek.

Each member of the winning team received a dozen Titleist golf balls; second-place prizes were a Titleist golf hat for each member. Additionally, closest-to-the-pin winners each received a free round of golf at St. Annes Golf Course. The event raised nearly $1,200 for the district’s employee fund. “Despite the heat that day, everyone commented that they had a good time,” said Seymour District Construction Director Gary Kreutzjans, who organized the event. “It was fun to see people outside of work and get to joke around and do

Second-place finishers (from left) Steve Fleek, Jeremy Capes, Wilbur Capes, and Joel May.

Kathy Eaton-McKalip (clockwise from top left), Jim Stark, and Paul Boone.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

something other than work-related things for a change. Everyone who we spoke to said they look forward to playing again and would love to hold more than one event a year.” That just might happen. Years ago, a golf challenge took place between the Seymour and Vincennes districts. “We plan on trying to hold two scrambles each year,” said Kreutzjans. “One would be dedicated for the Seymour District and Seymour District Employee Fund, but the other could turn into a competition between Seymour and some of the other districts. We would most likely challenge Greenfield or Vincennes to a friendly competition since, geographically, they are the closest to us and most likely would be easier, logistically, to put together.” Kreutzjans added: “We don’t know exactly how it would work, but maybe we could have a traveling trophy for bragging rights. We are still working out the details and would reach out to the other districts to get a feeling for the interest.” ISTWF Golf Outing The Indiana State Transportation Workers Foundation (ISTWF) Golf Outing, which has roots going

back to 1996, took place Sept. 20 at Fort Benjamin Harrison’s Fort Golf Course in Indianapolis. A team of consultants — Kenny Franklin, Michael Guzik, John Nail, and Kyle Pearl — finished first with a combined score of 60, 12 strokes under the course par of 72. Franklin (left photo) is a former INDOT Utilities & Railroad manager. A mostly INDOT foursome finished one shot back at 11-under-par 61: Deputy

Commissioner of Construction Roland Fegan, Director of Engineering Services Jon Paauwe, Director of Innovation and Process Improvements Todd May, and former Greenfield District Area Engineer Jason Deering, now a consultant. “We had a great day,” said May. “Mother Nature was a bit unkind with some rain, but it didn’t dampen the spirit of the outing. It is always great to meet new people and rekindle old friendships for a great cause. We mixed in some great shots, made some long putts, and had our share of good luck, too. Finishing in second place is great but watch out for us next year!” The event drew 120 participants representing 30 teams. Longtime participants mixed in with newcomers. One such new foursome consisted of Chief of Staff Chris Creighton, Employee Communications Manager

The highest-finishing INDOT team finishes one shot behind the winners. INDOT members are (from left) Todd May, former employee Jason Deering, Jon Paauwe, and Roland Fegan.

Inside INDOT – October 2021

Kevin Cole, Communications Program Manager Jim Grass, and LaPorte District Communications Director Adam Parkhouse. “As a rookie at this event, I can see why it remains so popular,” said Cole. “Despite being new, our foursome felt welcomed, and we fit right in. The entire day was a lot of fun, we got to know other participants, and the cause is completely worthwhile. I encourage others to attend the event next year, even if you don’t golf very much.” The event raised several thousands of dollars. The funds go to the ISTWF, which supports the families of INDOT workers who are killed or disabled on the job.

Traffic Safety Engineer Tom Ford (from left in left photo) chats with Commissioner Joe McGuinness. Golf club headcovers include a cigar-chomping animal (bottom photo) and a fuzzy dog (right photo).