Tom Sorel will remain Mn/DOT commissioner, according to an announcement made by Governor-elect Mark Dayton on Dec. 9.  

“I am very excited about this and I look forward to continuing to work in this world-class organization,” Sorel said. 

Sorel has been serving as commissioner since April 28, 2008. Before arriving at Mn/DOT, he held various positions with the Federal Highway Administration, including director of the FHWA’s Minnesota Division.

 “I would like to thank all employees for their support during these times of uncertainty. I feel very confident that we will thrive as we continue on our journey together.”

By Bob Filipczak

Julie Todora, Freeway Incident Response Safety Team, has been driving a FIRST truck for 12 years, so responding to incidents on busy state highways is nothing new for her. On Dec. 17, Todora was driving on Hwy 169 near the Cedar Lake Road intersection when she saw two cars spin off the road one-quarter mile ahead of her. Todora pulled over to help like she does dozens of times every day.

But this time was different (VIDEO). One of the drivers was already out of their car, frantically asking Todora where they were so he could relay the information to the 911 operator he was talking to over the phone. Todora asked the driver if he was alright, to which he replied yes, but said he thought the other driver was dead. Todora looked at the other car and didn’t see anyone, which meant the driver was likely slumped over.

By this time, a volunteer fireman arrived on the scene and they checked on the victim—no pulse, not breathing. They had to get him out of his vehicle and on the ground to work on him, so Todora pulled her FIRST truck into the right lane to block traffic and give them some more room. The fireman pulled out some new clothes from his car, still in their garment bags, and laid the victim on them.

While Todora retrieved the defibrillator from her FIRST truck, the fireman cut the victim’s shirt off so he could get him hooked up to the machine. Once hooked up, the defibrillator began giving them instructions.

“You don’t always go straight to shocking the victim,” Todora said. “The defibrillator reads the heart rhythm and tells you when to go.”

In this case, they needed to shock him right away. Everyone cleared away from the victim as Todora shocked him.

“Boom! I didn’t realize that thing was going to deliver a shock like that,” Todora said.

They continued CPR, asking the other driver to stay close and listen to the instructions from the defibrillator because the highway noise was making it difficult to hear. Between the second and third round of CPR, the Minnesota State Patrol showed up with airways that would help the victim breathe. Once they got the airway in, Todora said she could see the victim gasping for air and trying to breathe.

The victim’s vital signs got stronger and stronger, and at minute eight, when the fire truck arrived, he was breathing and had a pulse. At minute nine, when the ambulance arrived, he was moaning and groaning, which Todora took as a positive sign.

“CPR can be pretty hard on a person’s chest, so it’s no wonder he was in pain,” Todora said. “I later heard that he tried to pull out the airway in the ambulance and was talking by the time they got him to the emergency room.”

That might have been the end of it—a happy series of circumstances that helped save a life. But then this message appeared on the Minneapolis Star Tribune's website in response to a Dec. 18 story covering the rescue efforts:

Todora keeps a print out of the comment.

“This is the only thanks I need—one, two, three sentences," Todora said. "That’s all a person needs.”

By Chris Krueger

Two back-to-back December storms had Mn/DOT maintenance crews cleaning up from record setting snowfalls Dec. 11, while preparing for the freezing rain and snow that swept across the state Dec. 20—all before the first official day of winter.

As much as 26 inches of snow covered the Winona area Dec. 11, while the Twin Cities Metro area received 17 inches, one of the highest recorded totals in the area’s history.

Heavy snow and blowing winds created hazardous driving conditions in southern Minnesota, causing Mn/DOT and the Minnesota State Patrol to close Interstate 90 between Albert Lea and the South Dakota border for almost 24 hours. Other highways in southern Minnesota also were closed. High winds and heavy snow combined with snow-packed, slippery roads, forced the department to advise no travel in the Twin Cities Metro area.

Meanwhile, as crews throughout the state continued to clean up from the Dec. 11 storm, much of the state received an additional dumping of snow and freezing rain Dec. 20.

“There’s no doubt it has been an early, tough winter,” said Steve Lund, Mn/DOT's state maintenance engineer. “Costs during November 2010 were $6.7 million, tracking ahead of recent winters with the exception of November 2005 when cleanup ran $8 million.

“We all should tip our hats to the snowfighters and support staff—they have been going strong for quite some time now.”

By Lucy Kender, Office of Human Resources

Mn/DOT’s Community Advisors on Recruitment and Retention Solutions group marked two years of working together at its Dec. 16 meeting.

MnCARRS is a community partnership composed of employees and community leaders representing minority communities, women, veterans and people with disabilities.

“When the group formed two years ago, we thought it was going to be short term. We were hiring a large number of Transportation Associates at the Metro District and we needed help to increase the number of protected class applicants and new hires. Our focus was narrow and finite,” said Emma Corrie, workforce and business development project manager in the Policy, Safety & Strategic Initiatives Division. “Thanks to the dedication and commitment of our members, MnCARRS now meets quarterly and is a committed group with a big picture and long-term focus.

“Over the past two years, we can identify more than 50 new employees who work at Mn/DOT due to MnCARRS, Corrie added.

Commissioner Tom Sorel also addressed the group to let them know how vital their support is for the future of Mn/DOT.

“Mn/DOT’s strategic vision looks toward social, environmental and economic sustainability. In order to accomplish this, we need a workforce that represents the communities we serve,” Sorel said. “The MnCARRS effort will help us achieve our goal.”

To mark the second anniversary, MnCARRS members took a look back at their successes and a look forward to the future.

Lyle Iron Moccasin, recruiter with the American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center and MnCARRS member since its inception, said he believes strongly in the work of the group.

“99.9 percent of employment networks go nowhere, but this group has accomplished more than any other group that I have been involved with in the last 25 years,” Iron Moccasin said.

A newer member, Kelly Webb of the Minneapolis Urban League, expressed hope for the future.
“This is our chance to impact the community,” Webb said. “I hope that it is something that the rest of the country can imitate. I am excited and anticipate greatness.”

In fact, their work has inspired the implementation of MnCARRS groups at the district level across Minnesota. Every Mn/DOT district either has held or will be holding their first District MnCARRS meetings with local and regional members by Jan. 31, 2011, according to Christine Fisher, Office of Human Resources.

“The MnCARRS journey has been a successful one for us,” said Sue Mulvihill, Operations Division director. “It’s been a great relationship and we should definitely keep moving forward. The people that have been coming into our workforce through this program have really been working out well.”

A recently conducted risk assessment of the Workplace of Choice initiative has identified more than 100 strategies to deal with high-risk areas associated with WPOC—a flagship initiative that emerged from the 2009 E-Magination JAM with the goal of achieving a more productive work environment that is committed to employee development and well-being for current and prospective employees.

A risk assessment team composed of employees and champions representing a wide array of stakeholders and offices at Mn/DOT grouped the strategies by theme. The following key strategic areas emerged and will help manage the majority of identified risks:

• Employee development
• Clear communication
• Supervisory guidance and accountability
• Mentoring

“The risk-based strategic planning process for WPOC was attended by passionate folks who really believe we can do better to serve the needs of our valuable employees,” said Phil Barnes, assistant director for Policy Analysis, Research & Innovation. “I look forward to seeing the agreed upon high-payoff projects move forward.”

Future plans call for the formation of an implementation team, which will execute these strategic areas and move the WPOC initiative forward.

“The Project Management Institute’s global standards for project management provides guidance and tools for how we can create a stronger project management environment,” said Jean Wallace, Office of Project Scope & Cost Management. “Our new project management training is based on these standards—the WPOC initiative provides a great opportunity to immediately implement the tools and processes learned in the training in order to successfully deliver this portfolio of projects.”

The WPOC structure features a portfolio manager and a core team of employees who support the portfolio manager. The core team is currently developing a list of names for the implementation team and conducting risk assessments for the following E-JAM idea projects:

• Healthy snack options—Contributes to a work environment that fosters employee health, wellness and well-being
• Leadership development—Contributes to providing growth and development opportunities for current and potential employees
• Alternative and flexible work options—Gives employees an option to create flexible work schedules and allow them to work in alternative locations
• Transportation 101—Provides new employees, external partners and stakeholders with the history, background and business of Mn/DOT

“WPOC is about creating a positive workplace culture that reflects our core values and attracts like-minded, talented people to want to work here,” said Eric Davis, Human Resources director. “Everyone benefits from a workplace where people are more engaged, more productive and more invested in the success of the agency and our mission.”

The portfolio manager and core team will continue to identify additional E-JAM idea projects for possible implementation. In addition, the portfolio manager will provide updates on E-JAM idea projects and a recommended list of implementation team participants at the February 2011 Stewardship Council meeting.

“The WPOC work going on now is planting the seeds across the organization,” said Rebecca Fabunmi, Workplace of Choice project manager. “This effort will take the work of all employees—stay tuned for opportunities to get involved.”

For more information on the WPOC initiative, please contact Rebecca Fabunmi at 651-366-4808 or visit ihub/emaginationjam/workplace.html.

Employees will have access to four social media sites starting Jan. 3—Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Linkedin. These sites will no longer be blocked by filters, which means employees will be able to access them from work computers.

“This move opens up possibilities for innovation, community involvement and collaboration that we have only begun to imagine,” said Nick Thompson, Policy Analysis, Research & Innovation director.

There also are opportunities in social media beyond personal communications, according to Bob Filipczak, social media coordinator.

“Social media can open up opportunities for employees to expand their professional network and reach out to a larger community,” Filipczak said. “For example, other state DOTs have Facebook pages that employees can follow and learn from. Professional networks on Linkedin can give employees an easy way to establish ongoing connections with peers across the country.”

A social media policy is currently in place, as well as expectations and advice about using the sites. This information will be located on the iHUB in the coming weeks.  

Employees should return all pending offers of an incentive for early retirement by the deadline stated in their offer letter, according to the Office of Human Resources. All offers, regardless of circumstances, must be accepted, declined and/or withdrawn no later than 3 p.m., Dec. 30.

“This will afford the business offices and administrative managers sufficient time to process the letter and get a copy to the Minnesota State Retirement System within their office hours,” said Eric Davis, Human Resources director. “Remember, Dec. 31 is a holiday and state offices will be closed.”
 
In order to be eligible for the incentive, the law requires employees to accept or decline their offer before the end of the calendar year. The 3 p.m. deadline on Dec. 30 cannot be extended.

“Failure to accept or decline the offer on or before the set deadline will result in the agency withdrawing its offer,” Davis said. “Employees who miss this statutory deadline are no longer eligible to receive an incentive under the law—without exception.”

The November 2010 edition of New Library Materials is now available at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/library/newlibmat.html.

Check out the latest New Library Materials to read about the digitization projects that the library has completed. All Minnesota state highway maps from 1919 to 2010 are now available on the Minnesota Reflections website at: http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2Fmdt.

New Library Materials is a compilation of new titles and other resources added to the library collection during the previous month. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please contact Pam Gonzalez at 651-366-3749.  

For other information requests, contact the library at 651-366-3791 or e-mail library.dot@state.mn.us. Employees can also send requests via the “Ask a Librarian” Web page at ihub.library/asklibrarian.html or www.dot.state.mn.us/library/asklibrarian.html.