September 2023

Part 3 of our workforce recruiting and retention series showcases a grass roots program the Washington State DOT launched a few years back to encourage high school students to consider a career in transportation maintenance. Pasco Bakotich, State Maintenance Engineer for the Washington State DOT explains the program, the benefits they’ve seen, and success they’ve witnessed by bringing these young adults into the maintenance family.

If you’d like more information on the Washington DOT High School to Highways program contact Pasco at BakotiP@wsdot.wa.gov
If you’d like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

Sign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO’s Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We’ll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

Part 2 of the workforce series focuses on the No Boundaries synthesis Innovation strategies in Recruiting and Retention with Sandi Sauter, Deputy Director of Operations for the Maryland State Highway Administration. This episode zeros in on recruiting and retention and steps that some states are taking to include all segments of the applicant pool. Check out the No Boundaries synthesis at this link https://maintainroads.org/responses-to-staffing-shortages-synthesis/

0:00 Intro
3:29 Sandi and the Maryland SHA
7:22 No Boundaries synthesis-recruiting
10:12 The applicant pool
15:53 The hiring process
18:42 Messaging & alternative recruiting techniques
24:48 2nd chance programs
28:35 Getting diversity in the workforce
45:01 “can we” vs “why can’t we”
53:34 tying up loose ends

Email Sandi Sauter at SSauter@mdot.maryland.gov or Kristen Seeber kirsten.seeber@ctcandassociates.com at CTC Associates who provide support to the No Boundaries Pooled Fund Study.

If you’d like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

Sign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO’s Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We’ll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!

The topic of workforce, recruiting, and retention has dominated the discussion for years, but nowadays the issue seems particularly acute. In Part 1 of a 4 part series on workforce we’re focusing on a domestic scan conducted by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) recently conducted titled Leading Practices in Strategic Workforce Management by Transportation Agencies. During the Committee on Maintenance annual meeting Bill Lambert of the New Hampshire DOT presented some of the findings and we’re revisiting his conversation with Lee Wilkinson of the Iowa DOT. Both Bill and Lee were members of the scan team and would welcome any discussion or comments. Read the final report at this link NCHRP domestic scan 19-02 and reach out to them by email William Lambert and Lee Wilkinson

0:00 Intro
6:48 Driving force for a domestic scan
11:14 Retention of workforce
13:15 Domestic scan process, some observations
20:43 employee engagement
27:15 Employee development
34:21 Employee recognition
45:13 the applicant pool & recruiting
50:09 Key outcomes
If you’d like to be a guest on SICOP Talks Winter Ops or you have an idea for an episode send an email to Rick Nelson at rnelson@aashto.org or Scott Lucas at SELucas@columbus.gov

Sign up for email notifications for future episodes and other communications from AASHTO’s Winter Weather Management Technical Service Program at https://subscribe.talkinwinterops.org We’ll never spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!