around
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Vol. 4, No. 2
Fall 2018
In this issue A Message from Bart 2 Richmond District Honors Those Who Served 2 Unity Day 2018 3 Secretary Valentine Suits Up 4 Are you caught up on your CESE training? 4 A Random Act of Kindness 5 Update from Workforce Management 5 Safety Solutions 6 Employee Spotlight: Carolyn Glassco 6 Sunrise on the James 7 Harding Wins Technician of the Year 7 The Buzz 8 Snow Kudos 9-10 Employee Update 11
Cover photo: Safety Service Patroller Rusty Bevan demonstrates safety service equipment to children at the Junior League of Richmond’s annual Touch a Truck event
A Message from Bart Thrasher, P.E. - Richmond District Engineer Winter is here… Are you ready? The Richmond District handled a wetter than normal summer and fall (including an unusual early December snowstorm) with the urgency and purpose that I expect from us all, and I am excited to see that same drive during the remainder of snow season. I had the pleasure of attending several dry runs this year, and could not be prouder of the intense snow preparation efforts that I have observed. I especially want to recognize the folks at Sandy Hook, Chester, Nottoway and Burnt Store Area Headquarters for their exceptional dry runs this year. They took home the gold for “best dry run” in their respective residencies, displaying the fewest equipment repair needs, the cleanest machinery and the best knowledge of their snow duties and routes. That being said, I continue to take pride in the excellent work that district employees do every day, and I am confident that we are ready for whatever winter has in store. The Richmond District is currently sitting in first place for the Chief Engineer’s Safety Excellence (CESE) award. It’s no secret that I have a competitive spirit, so it should come as no surprise that I want the district to take home the coveted cup this year. Competition aside, the CESE award program is about more than just a trophy. It is an opportunity for you and your teammates to have important input on how to make workplaces safer for the entire agency. To help the district, please make sure your training is up to date and documented, get your creative juices flowing, and reach out to the safety team if you need help submitting ideas and videos. The district held its third annual Unity Day on October 4 at the Chesterfield Fairgrounds. A change of scenery and a new lineup of games and entertainment made for a great (albeit hot) event. Our Civil Rights team and the Unity Day planning committee provided a fun, relaxing day for district staff to reconnect while enjoying food and fellowship. Many thanks to those team members for yet another spectacular event. Finally, I encourage everyone to take time to enjoy the upcoming holidays with your family and friends. We spend countless hours with one another while we “keep Virginia moving” throughout the year. Now is the time to wind down and review the joys and memories of 2018 with your loved ones. Happy holidays to all, and let’s make 2019 our best year yet! Take care, Bart On the heels of Veterans Day, the Richmond District Human Resources team invited all Richmond District employees who served in the military to gather for a veteran recognition celebration. The program began with a word of thanks from Assistant District Administrator Kevin Gregg. Following a brief video honoring those who served, employees were free to enjoy refreshments and tell stories.
Richmond District Honors Those Who Served
“Our goal is to show Richmond District veterans how much we greatly appreciate their service to the United States and
Pictured above: Kevin Gregg (left) shakes hands with veteran Richard Easter (right)
to VDOT,” said Mary-Margaret Allen, district Human Resources Manager. “We hope to continue showing our thanks beyond Veterans Day and into the whole year.” The Richmond District employs 88 veterans in various job capacities. Many thanks to all VDOT vets for serving and protecting our country. Pictured above: VDOT employees and veterans Chuck Koebel (left) and Ollie Rose (right)
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The day began with opening remarks from Ferrell Solomon, Richmond District Civil Rights Manager and Bart Thrasher, Richmond District Engineer. Entertainment and emcee services for the day were provided by comedian and former VDOT-er Kenny Lee Robinson, a.k.a. “Cornbread the Comic.”
UNITY DAY 2018
On Thursday, October 4, the Richmond District held its third annual Unity Day at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds. VDOT-ers from throughout the district gathered to once again celebrate “VDOT Unity in Every Community” and to share in fun activities, music and food with their colleagues.
From there, Unity Day festivities included games, food, a car and motorcycle show, karaoke and “Dunk Your Boss,” a new game where district employees paid for a chance to soak district leaders in a dunking booth. The National Anthem was performed by district employee Carlita Whitehead, with accompaniment by saxophonist James “Saxsmo” Gates. Many thanks to all who helped make this year’s Unity Day a great event!
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Secretary Valentine Suits Up On Wednesday, November 7, Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine paid a visit to the Richmond District Equipment Shop to learn about their daily tasks in advance of snow season. Secretary Valentine was given a tour of the equipment shop and grounds and tested her operator skills in a dump truck and motor grader. She later suited up to try her hand at changing oil in a Richmond District pickup truck, with the help of equipment shop employees Dakota Childress and Jeff Thompson. Valentine also visited the Richmond District’s on-site Mancon facility to learn the process of procuring a new oil filter for
the truck, stopping along the way to greet each shop employee with a smile and a handshake. With a little elbow grease (and a lot of mechanical grease), she successfully changed the truck’s oil and put it back in service. Many thanks to the equipment shop employees who made the secretary’s visit a memorable one. Pictured above, top left: Dakota Childress (left) and Jeff Thompson (right) help Secretary Valentine reposition an oil tray beneath a VDOT pickup truck Pictured above, bottom left: Childress and Thompson pause for a quick photo with Secretary Valentine Pictured above, right: The Richmond District Complex equipment shop crew, along with Bart Thrasher and Bryan Maul, gathered for a photo with Secretary Valentine
Are you caught up on your CESE training? The 2019 Chief Engineer’s Safety Excellence award competition is underway! Be sure to keep up with your required training and submit your safety ideas and videos for credit. Check with the Safety team to see which courses you still need to complete. Below are upcoming dates for Adult CPR with AED: January 14 (M), 22 (T), 28 (M), 30 (W) February 6 (W), 12 (T), 13(W), 26 (T), 27 (W) March 7 (R), 12 (T), 13 (W), 19 (T), 20 (W), 26 (T)
April 2 (T), 10 (W), 12 (F), 26 (F) May 13 (M), 29 (W) June 11 (T), 26 (W) Around the Cone 4
A Random Act of Kindness When their children asked why a team of Richmond District paving personnel were working out in the cold on Pouncey Tract Road, a local family sprang into action and made a batch of hot chocolate for crew members to enjoy before their shift began. We love seeing acts of kindness and appreciation towards our crews!
Update from Workforce Development The Richmond District Learning team has a wealth of updates for district employees seeking training or knowledge. New Look for the HR Workforce Development Team Site Our newly-refreshed HR Workforce Development site has launched! Please explore the site early in the new year, and seize opportunities to engage in learning that aligns with your performance and development goals. Learning Partnership Program (LPP) The Learning Partnership Program supports employee career development through the pursuit of educational opportunities from colleges, universities, and other accredited institutions, enhances an employee’s current job performance and improves opportunities for growth and development at VDOT. Quarterly Maintenance Training Academy (MTA) Training The MTA provides training to maintenance and operations staff to help them perform their jobs safely and effectively. Our Basic and Advanced programs equip our workforce with skills to meet current and future needs. The MTA is deploying technology driven solutions to leverage training and educational programs. For example, the MTA is purchasing heavy equipment simulators which provide dynamic training technology and outstanding safety results through the power of virtual training. Spring 2019 Leadership Development Program for Teammates (LDPT) Are you looking to build on your leadership skills, even though you have no direct reports? Now is the time for non-management employees to sharpen their leadership knowledge as part of the Leadership Development Program for Teammates (LDPT). The six-week program is designed to build teamwork and leadership skills in a cohort setting. The program brings together participants from all career fields representing our diverse workforce, and includes classroom courses, facilitated discussions, a job shadow, group presentations and exposure to our leadership competencies. If you are interested in participating in LDPT in 2019, talk to your supervisor about the great leadership development opportunity! Questions? If you have questions about training in the Richmond District, please reach out to Jimmy Powell, District Learning Manager, or Justin Sisson, Learning Coordinator.
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Safety Solutions For your safety needs, please check out the new Richmond District Safety team site on Inside VDOT at https://insidevdot.cov.virginia.gov/district/RIC/5XZEL/SitePages/Home.aspx. On the new team site, you will find forms, training information, and various other resource material. The page is always being updated with useful information. Our goal is for this page to be a “one-stop shop” for all your safety needs. If there is something you think would be beneficial to the Richmond District’s safety program, please contact a member of the Safety team. Thank you for your continued support to keep everyone safe! Marchel Johnson and Reggie Patterson, Richmond District Safety
it t u o Sh t! Ou
Want to recognize a colleague who went above and beyond? Do you have a great story to share? Email VDOTRVA@VDOT.Virginia.gov and you may see it featured in the next edition of Around the Cone!
Employee Spotlight - Carolyn Glassco Carolyn Glassco is a fiscal technician for the Richmond District Business Office with 15 years of service. She came to VDOT with 25 years of transportation experience, gained with the Operators of the Ports of Virginia and the private freight transportation industry within Accounting, Human Resources, Claims, Operations and Logistics. She has earned an associate’s degree, Certified Administrative Professional and Office Management designations (CAP, OM) from the International Association of Administrative Professionals, and a Virginia Contracting Associate (VCA) from the Virginia Institute of Procurement. Glassco enjoys the positive work culture that she and her co-workers have cultivated in the Richmond District Business Office, the variety and ever-changing tasks of the job and the opportunities to participate in new projects, which all make every day different. “It’s kind of like bass fishing,” says Glassco. “The body of water, the rod, the reel and the tackle are all the same, but every day is a different fishing day.” Outside of work, Glassco enjoys bass fishing. She and her husband, Tony, have participated as a team on various bass fishing tournament trails for about 14 years. Most recently, the duo tackled the Fishers’ of Men Tournament Trail and the Angler’s Choice Tournament Trail. They also earned a seed to participate in the National Tournament – Fishers’ of Men, a two-day tournament scheduled for April of 2019 at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. Glassco is always open to bass fishing reports and tips! Glassco has an adult son and daughter, and enjoys introducing her two grandsons (ages 3 and 6) to new activities and adventures which, of course, include bass fishing. Around the Cone 6
Sunrise on the James
Check out this amazing view of the sunrise over the James River from the Varina-Enon Bridge in Chesterfield/Henrico! Team members visited an ongoing bridge repair project on the bridge just in time to catch this colorful sight.
Harding Wins Technician of the Year On December 12, Amelia Equipment Shop repair technician Chuck Harding received the Technician of the Year award for the second year in a row. His 2018 plaque was presented on the heels of our first winter snow storm at the annual shop holiday luncheon by District Equipment Shop manager Bryan Maul and Assistant District Administrator for Maintenance Sean Nelson. Pictured: Bryan Maul (left) and Sean Nelson (right) present Chuck Harding (center) with his Technician of the Year award.
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The Buzz Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (MEC) Members, Its approaching midnight and the weather finally seems to be subsiding, at least in the western and central parts of our service territory. We are now trying to get our arms around how badly the system is damaged and, as we suspected, its torn up pretty bad in the places that we have been able to get to. We are definitely going to be a couple days getting everything rebuilt and back on. You’ll be surprised at the damage when the sun comes up... Already, we know of over 20 broken poles and I suspect as the sun rises we’ll find more. As you can imagine, that is one of the most time consuming repairs. As of this post, we have 194 outages effecting the service of 15,274 members. At one point we had just under 16,000 making this the largest MEC outage in my tenure as your CEO. We have been pretty much inundated with 911 calls up until now but they, too, are slowing down and we are able to concentrate on getting the lights back on. We just restored over 450 on one circuit and 377 on another, and while we’ll continue to make progress throughout the night, we’ll really hit it hard when the sun comes up. As I stated earlier, additional crews are rolling in and on the way and we’ll pound on that outage number as hard as we can go. In fact, our office staff is here at headquarters right now preparing bag lunches so that our men can take them when they leave in the morning and keep rolling all day. A big shout out to the VDOT crews who are out with us right now trying to clear roads and repairing washouts...their work allows us to get to outage causes and get the lights back on. A big thank you also to our law enforcement officers and fire and rescue first responders who help with traffic when we are pulling downed wire out of roads...or putting it back up. They are all valuable partners in our efforts to restore your service. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE remember safety first and stay away from all downed power lines and NEVER assume they are dead. We will get to them, let’s not add a tragedy to a very tough storm. Lastly, thanks again for all your supportive comments and safety well wishes...we are blessed to work for people like you. We are sorry for the inconveniences brought on by Hurricane Michael, and we vow to get your service restored as efficiently as possible. We will keep you posted, thanks in advance for your patience and understanding. Respectfully, John Lee MEC President and CEO
Thank you for the new lane configuration at Staples Mill and Bethlehem Road. It’s so much easier to navigate the intersection. Grady from Henrico Thank you to the crew working to repair Route 690, Gregory Mill Lane. I want to express my thanks and appreciation. Nancy from Amelia I would like to thank you for your very quick response in resolving the pothole regarding SR 1001005. You ladies and gentlemen are awesome. Thank you again. Robin from New Kent Thank you to VDOT crews for being there and working the roads during the winter storms last year. It is very much appreciated. Joey from Chesterfield Thank you for your crew of six hard-working men for SR 984118. They did a great job cleaning up farmers’ mud debris, filling two dump trucks. Nice work, good guys. Chuck from Hanover I called to put in a service request to have a pothole filled on I-64 west at mile marker 182. I wanted to thank VDOT for the quick response to the problem and for fixing the pothole. Charles from Richmond The crews did a wonderful job cutting back the brush on Hardiways Mill Road. Thank you. Everett from Dinwiddie Special thanks to the Victoria supervisor and staff for fixing the drainage problem I was having. It is still holding and I am truly grateful. Sandra from Victoria
What’s the buzz in your area? Do you have a coworker who deserves a shout out? Send good news stories and pictures to VDOTRVA@VDOT.Virginia. gov or call the communications team, and you may see your story in the next edition of Around the Cone! Around the Cone 8
Snow Kudos Believe me when I tell you I hear from a lot of folks during snow events specifically regarding our snow removal operations. The only comments I received during this event were very positive. I am certain you and your staff had to deal with a lot of issues since this was the first snowfall of the season and the severity was not predicted but you guys nailed it. Congrats on a job well done. Makes us all look good. Marty Williams Commonwealth Transportation Board member (At-Large Urban)
Taking a moment to thank the VDOT road crews. My family and I were in Florida last week and over the weekend due to a family emergency. We saw the weather forecast and decided to hit the road Saturday night after a family event and try to beat the storm. Unfortunately, the last 100 miles of I-95 in NC were treacherous and awful this morning as we drove through. The roads were completely untreated. I told my family I thought things would improve significantly when we got into Virginia. VDOT has their stuff together. THANK YOU. As soon as we crossed the state line we hit treated pavement! Thanks for your hard work out there in the cold making things safer! Julie Around the Cone 9
More Snow Kudos
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Richmond District Employee Update
Welcome to our new Richmond District employees
September, October and November 2018
Jonathan Andrews, Operator Maintenance - Mechanicsville Area Headquarters Lavar Briggs, Operator Maintenance - Pocahontas Area Headquarters Jessica Brockwell, Fiscal Technician - Petersburg Residency Michael Campbell, Locally Administered Project Coordinator - Richmond District Program & Investment Planning William Campbell, Supervisor Maintenance - Amelia Area Headquarters Troy Chancellor, Operator Maintenance - Sandy Hook Area Headquarters Thomas Fowler, Operator Maintenance - Sturgeonville Area Headquarters Jason Gwaltney, Operator Maintenance - Sturgeonville Area Headquarters Kenton Hockaday, Operator Maintenance - Oilville Area Headquarters Andrew Johnson, Operator Maintenance - McKenney Area Headquarters Mary McAdory, Admin Project Coordinator - Richmond District Program & Investment Planning Thurman Moss, Operator Maintenance - Montpelier Area Headquarters Cody Scott, Operator Traffic - Central Region Operations (CRO) Asset Management (transfer from Hampton Roads District) Raymond Shepperson, Operator Maintenance - Bon Air Area Headquarters Joshua Tanner, Operator Maintenance - Kenbridge Area Headquarters Russell Wells, Operator Maintenance - Prince George Area Headquarters
A fond farewell to our retirees
September, October and November 2018
David Butler, Superintendent Maintenance - Bethia Area Headquarters Harry Corum, Operator Maintenance - Sturgeonville Area Headquarters
31 years of service 31 years of service
Around the Cone is a quarterly newsletter written for, by and about the employees of the VDOT Richmond District. Amelia Brunswick Charles City Chesterfield Dinwiddie Goochland Hanover
Henrico Lunenburg Mecklenburg New Kent Nottoway Powhatan Prince George
We want to hear good news from you! Send your story ideas for the next issue of Around the Cone, the electronic bulletin boards (EBBs), or InsideVDOT News to VDOTRVA@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Around the Cone 11