Salem - The Extra Mile - June 2022

Salem District Newsletter
Volume 16 Issue 06
June 2022
What’s Inside
• Facilities Update
• Employee Profile:
Brian Phillips
• VDOT’s Very Own Pro
Mini Golfer
• 2022 Locality Award
• Capture the Moment
Superintendent David Hutchens from Martinsville AHQ is watching as Bryce Oliver
and Brian Mabe release gravel to patch Route 1160 (Coffman Drive) in Martinsville.
TheExtraMile
To help employees strengthen their
skills, the Salem District is hosting
a series of classes through the
Leadership Development Program
for Teammates (LDP-T). The six-week
program began on June 22 with
a kickoff event which included 20
participants and their supervisors.
Employees who are chosen to
participate in the LDP-T program are
strong performers in their job and
represent all VDOT career fields.
“The program builds competitiveedge
competencies necessary for
organization success,” explained
Learning Manager Guy DeMarco.
“Participants can put what they learn
each week to immediate use and as
they work toward progressing to the
next level.”
Topics covered in LDP-T courses include:
• Communication Skills
• Situational Self-Leadership
• Teamwork
• Stages of Team Development
• Conflict Resolution
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Participants of the 2022 Leadership Development
Program for Teammates (LDP-T)
• Customer Service
• Competency Model Integration
• Job Shadow Experience
• Group Project
cont. pg. 2
AN OPERATIONS
MILESTONE
By Ken King, P.E.
Ken.King@VDOT.virginia.gov
When I joined
the Salem
District in 2006
as the regional
operations
director,
southwest
Virginia only
had a few traffic
cameras and variable message
signs. I was one of five regional
operations directors hired to
help organize and expand
VDOT’s operations program.
Over the last 16 years, VDOT has
grown this program to include
five Traffic Operations Centers
(TOCs), numerous intelligent
transportation system devices
and a much more developed and
mature operations organization.
The 2023 Fiscal Year begins this
July and will mark another major
milestone for VDOT’s operations
program.
cont. pg. 2
Bedford • Botetourt • Carroll • Craig • Floyd • Franklin • Giles • Henry • Montgomery • Patrick • Pulaski • Roanoke 1

KING cont.
Going forward, we will have a
person at the assistant district
administrator level who will lead
the operations program in each of
our nine districts.
As technology continues to
evolve, we see an ever-expanding
growth of activities and operations
technologies, such as advanced
traffic signals and connected and
autonomous vehicles, that requires
a thoughtful and engaged leader
in each district. The five TOCs will
continue to serve the districts as
they do today.
I recently sat down with some of
our mountain tunnel staff who
will transition back to the Bristol
District as we make this change.
We had the opportunity to share
stories of old and recalled the
activities that took place in July
2014 when we responded to the
fire in the East River Mountain
tunnel.
This team safely evacuated
motorists quickly, restored the
flow of traffic and completed the
repairs to damaged electrical lines
and devices over many months.
We also reflected on all the
changes that have occurred over
the years and some of the major
milestones within the tunnel
program area.
Among these accomplishments
were the establishment of an
on-site fire brigade and the
Commonwealth Transportation
Board’s approval of a major
capital investment plan
to modernize the tunnel
operational controls and
enhance the fire life safety
systems.
These tunnel advancements
demonstrate the great work
that has taken place over the
years. I am sure that we will
look back on this transition
as a major milestone as
the employees of VDOT
continue to set the example
of operations excellence for
state DOTs nationwide.
-Ken
LEADERSHIP… cont.
During the program, participants will practice what they learn and put their skills to use
in their day-to-day jobs. They will also job shadow their supervisor or a leader in another
department for a couple days. The program will conclude with group presentations from
participants showing off their new knowledge.
This year’s leadership class includes:
Earl Austin, Operator, Salem Residency
Jeffery Bowers, Crew Leader, Martinsville Residency
Jeffrey Busby, Senior Negotiation Specialist, Right of Way
Jeff Butler, Assistant Hazmat Manager, Environmental
Dyllin Childs, Operator, Christiansburg Residency
Bobby Compton, Operator, Bedford Residency
Stephanie Einhellig, Administrative Assistant, District
Frankie George, Operator, Bedford Residency
Gregory Hale, Crew Leader, Salem Residency
Thomas Hodges, Crew Leader, Bedford Residency
Ryan Largen, Operator, Martinsville Residency
Tyler Layman, Crew Leader, Bedford Residency
Steven Loveday, Operator, Bedford Residency
Ethan McCormick, Operator, Martinsville Residency
Medicus Miller, Crew Leader, Equipment
Dustin Moore, Inspector, Construction
Mike Neuhs, Operator, Southwest Regional Operations
Jay Poindexter, Lead Tech, Equipment
Dickie Shepherd, Operator, Salem Residency
Larry Wade, Senior Natural Resource Specialist, Environmental
Richard Yonn, Crew Leader, Bedford Residency
Our facilities team has been hard at
work sprucing up the District Complex
by planting new pollinator bushes and
having a new gate built.
Butterfly bushes, rhododendrons,
hydrangeas, fothergilla and more were
planted in the front of the complex.
“We consulted with Performance
Reporting Manager Jim Helvey because
he is an arborist with a vast knowledge
of planting, caring for and maintaining
shrubberies,” explained District
Business Administrator Thelma Ingle.
“He helped to ensure our plants will
thrive in our environment with minimal
care as they fit our available space,
weather patterns and cold hardiness
requirements.”
Pollinator bushes were chosen to
create more food sources for bees and
butterflies to help keep them populated
in this area.
In addition, a new sidewalk and gate
were constructed to provide a safe
access point to Building B1. Employees
no longer have to access the building
through the vehicle entrance gate.
FACILITIES UPDATE
Guy DeMarco speaks to the 2019
LDP-T graduating class.
Facilities Manager Mike O’Malley (left) and Facilities
Supervisor Rodney Cole plant pollinator bushes.
2
Bedford • Botetourt • Carroll • Craig • Floyd • Franklin • Giles • Henry • Montgomery • Patrick • Pulaski • Roanoke

EMPLOYEE PROFILE: BRIAN PHILLIPS
Brian Phillips is the maintenance
supervisor for Callaway AHQ,
but he often does more than
what is expected of him like
signing up to participate in the
Salem District’s first-ever Project
Discovery Innovation Lab in
2021 and the newly formed
Safety Task Force.
As part of the task force, Brian is
actively pursuing a new first-aid
kit that is equipped to handle a
trauma injury.
“Every area headquarters has a first-aid kit, but we noticed that they weren’t
supplied with trauma-level care items,” he explained. “The new kits will include
things that can help someone involved in a chainsaw accident.”
Not only does Brian excel at work, but he also excels in his personal life too. He
is married to Jessica who volunteers with him at the Fairystone Fire Department
operating and maintaining the fire trucks. He even had a little brush with fame
through his wife’s family.
In 2018, Jessica’s grandfather, Clyde Turner, received a visit from Mike Wolfe and
Frank Fritz from the “American Pickers” television show. Mike and Frank toured the
Clyde Turner Used Car Lot which has a large collection of classic cars and other
collectibles.
Jessica’s father, Stuart Scott, who used to work in maintenance at Fairystone AHQ,
was their tour guide. They were interested in buying a 1958 Chevrolet Impala but
they couldn’t come to an agreement on the price. But at least they have a nice story
to tell! The episode, titled “Bubba Gump Picks,” aired on the History Channel on
August 13, 2018, in Season 19.
Brian and Jessica like spending time on their farm gardening and raising cattle. In their
spare time, they enjoy many outdoor activities like camping, kayaking and fishing.
HR SPOTLIGHT:
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Emergencies can happen at work
at any moment which is why it is so
important for an employer to always
have up-to-date emergency contact
information on file.
Situations that can result in the need
to access an employee’s emergency
contact information may include an
employee illness, medical emergency
and a workplace accident or injury.
To make sure VDOT has your correct
emergency contact on file, log in to
Cardinal and follow these directions.
• Click the “Personal
Details” tile
• Click “Emergency
Contacts” on the
left side of screen
• Click the plus sign to enter a
new contact
• Don’t forget to save your work
Be sure to check this area of
Cardinal regularly and make
changes as needed. Contact Human
Resources if you need help.
VDOT’S VERY OWN PRO MINI GOLFER
Right of Way Associate Clayton Craft recently won the United States Pro Mini
Golf (USPMGA) US Open for the second time. The first time he took this trophy
home was in 2010.
After becoming an avid minigolf player in the 1990s, he joined the Professional
Putters Association (PPA) and the USPMG Association and began playing in
local amateur minigolf and putt-putt competitions, then transitioned into the
state and national tours.
“Both associations offer professional and amateur-level competitions and have
tour stops all over the country,” he explained.
Clayton has also won the Amateur Putters Association (APA) National
Championship in 1995, 1996 and 2021, and he won the National Doubles
Championship in 2016.
Clayton is also the minigolf coordinator for the Virginia Commonwealth Games.
He said they are seeking players for the July 23 event in Roanoke. “If anyone is
interested in trying their skills to win a Virginia Commonwealth Games medal,
let me know,” said Clayton. “There is no specific skill level required. We are
specifically looking for new players.” For more information, visit
https://commonwealthgames.org/sports-listing/mini-golf.
Right of Way Associate Clayton Craft (left) receives the
2022 USPMGA US Open trophy.
Bedford • Botetourt • Carroll • Craig • Floyd • Franklin • Giles • Henry • Montgomery • Patrick • Pulaski • Roanoke

GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Citizens Express Gratitude for VDOT
A culvert on Route 24 was replaced in front
of my property and I wish to compliment
your crew for outstanding service. It was
completed on time. Your crew did good!
-C. Kidd, Smith Mountain Lake AHQ
Thank you to the crew that came out and
graded Autumn Drive. They did a fantastic job
and I wanted to make sure they get praise.
-R. Foote, Check AHQ
Thank you VDOT and Ken B. for the great
job they did on Deepwater Road.
-G. Simpkins, Laurel AHQ
LOCALITY OF THE YEAR
In June, Salem District awarded the City of Salem and its staff with the Locality of the
Year Award. This award is given annually to a locality that successfully administers its own
transportation projects.
The winning locality must be active in training, meetings, funding acquisition, project delivery,
and keeping projects on budget. All of these elements of project management are put into a
competitive equation and the locality with the highest total score is named the winner.
“Salem improved its Dashboard performance score from 25 percent in 2021 to 100 percent
in 2022,” explained District Planning and Investment Manager Anthony Ford. “They had
representation at all of the district’s locality events and regularly participated in the tri-annual
Project Pipeline meetings. They also submit correct and timely reimbursement requests and
have clear and consistent construction documentation for their projects.”
Thank you for spending hours cleaning the
tree on Casaloma Drive. I really appreciate
the hard work. You all did a great job.
Thank you.
-M. Mott, New London AHQ
Thank you to Darryl Hollandsworth. I am
thankful that he kept his word and repaired
Easter Creek Road. The road looks really nice.
-D. Wirt, Willis AHQ
Darrel and Rick came to assess what work
was required on Indigo Mountain Road
less than two hours after the request was
submitted. That is super awesome customer
service that you don’t see all that often
these days. I can’t wait to see the solution
they come up with.
-Anonymous, Willis AHQ
Thank you for scraping Lonely Hollow Road.
It is the best job I have ever seen.
-W. Ashwell, Smith Mountain Lake AHQ
I wanted to be sure the team that worked
on Foster Road was recognized for the great
job they did. In 35 years, I have never seen
this road look this good. I am very grateful
for the work and especially thankful for
them doing it with pride and excellence.
-R. Anderson, Montvale AHQ
Thank you VDOT for cutting the weeds on
Cooks Knob Road and the other back roads
in Ferrum. Y’all did a great job!!!
-Jennifer Saunders, Callaway AHQ
4
PHOTO: (l to r) Anthony Ford (VDOT), Dr. Ray Smoot (Commonwealth Transportation Board),
Will Simpson (City of Salem), Joshua Pratt (City of Salem), Matt King (City of Salem),
Chuck VanAllman (City of Salem), Ken King (VDOT).
Commonwealth employees are invited to
participate in a scavenger hunt and/or a
photography contest! Visit a state park of your
choice between July 1 and 25 and take your
camera. Using the provided scavenger checklist,
participants can submit their photos between
July 20 and 27. Prizes will be awarded! More
details can be found https://www.dhrm.virginia.
New Hires
Charles Adkins, Operator Fuel Truck,
District Equipment
Fred Flynn, Operator, New London AHQ
Ada Gibson, Land Use Engineer,
Salem Residency Land Use
James Hinkle, Construction Manager,
Construction
Timothy Lowery, Operator, Montvale AHQ
Mallory McGowan, Construction Manager,
Northern Construction Area
Christopher McGuire, Equipment Repair
Technician, Bedford Regional Shop
David Medrano, Operator, Carlisle AHQ
Parthavsinh Ravalji, Intern, Materials
CAPTURE THE MOMENT
EMPLOYEE UPDATES
Walter Reed, Operator, Christiansburg AHQ
Justin Taylor, Operator, Burnt Chimney AHQ
Andre Wimbush, Operator, Martinsville AHQ
Promotions/Transfers/Relocations
William Burnette, Fiscal Tech, Salem Residency
Chad Frentress, Traffic Technician, SWRO
Billy Handy, Supervisor, Patrick Springs AHQ
Curtis Harrison, Operator, SWRO Salem Sign
Jason Hitchcock, Operator, Willis AHQ
Zachary Krantz, Inspector Supervisor,
Structure and Bridge
Richard Quesenberry, Operator, Laurel AHQ
Matthew Smythers, Operator, Hillsville AHQ
Jen Ward, Senior Communications
Specialist, Public Affairs
Virginia Department of Transportation
Salem District
Office of Communications
731 Harrison Avenue, Salem, VA 24153
Nancy.Simmons@VDOT.Virginia.gov
540-387-5236
©2022 Commonwealth of Virginia