Minnesota LTAP honored at national conference
Idaho LTAP’s Bruce Drewes (left), former NLTAPA president, presented NLTAPA achievement awards to Cheri Marti of Minnesota LTAP and Hank Lambert of Vermont LTAP. Maria Ardila-Coulson (not pictured) from Nevada LTAP also received an achievement award.
Photo courtesy FHWA
Minnesota LTAP’s directors—past and present—were honored at the Second International Symposium on Transportation Technology Transfer, held July 30 through August 3 in St. Petersburg, Florida. An integral part of the symposium was the annual conference of the National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA).
Cheri Marti, the founding director of Minnesota LTAP, received a 2006 National Program Achievement Award from NLTAPA. Marti is now the associate director of education and outreach with the Center for Transportation Studies, in which Minnesota LTAP is housed.
Marti also facilitated an interactive general session titled “Improving Technology Transfer Partnerships.” Joining her were key partners from Minnesota: Linda Taylor, Mn/DOT Office of Maintenance; Clark Moe and Cory Johnson, Mn/DOT Research Services Section; Rick Kjonaas, Mn/DOT State Aid Division; Doug Grindall, Koochiching County; and Tom Struve and Tom Colbert, City of Eagan.
Left: Jim Grothaus, Minnesota LTAP Program Director
Right: Mindy Carlson, Training and Events Coordinator
In addition, Jim Grothaus, current director of Minnesota LTAP, began his service as the six-state regional representative on the NLTAPA Executive Committee. Mindy Carlson, Minnesota LTAP’s workshop coordinator, also attended to learn the latest training techniques.
Other Minnesotans traveled to Florida for mid-year meetings of the Transportation Research Board, which were held in conjunction with the symposium. Mn/DOT librarian Jerry Baldwin and Minnesota LTAP information manager Arlene Mathison participated in the meeting of the Library and Information Science for Transportation Committee.