District Briefs

Headquarters

Welcome

Robert Bates, Right of Way-Property Management; Jacob Bustos, Management Services; Keith Griego, Driver Services-Policy and Records; Peter Higgins, GIS/ITS; Odilia Hunt, GIS/ITS; Adam Martin, Emergency Communications-Administration; Jesus Martinez, Emergency Communications-District 1 Radio Shop; Ephraim Ogu, Highway Development-Project Development; Kaitlyn Pettus, Driver Services-Policy and Records; Pedro Rampolla, Patrol-Support Services; Lisa Riggs, Driver Services-Policy and Records; Carol Sargent, Financial Services-Revenue; Wade Weaver, Planning-Counter Shop; and Leann Weltz, Driver Services-Policy and Records.

Promotions and Transfers

Shannon Brown, Patrol-Dispatch; Lea Enstad, Right of Way-Administration; Amy Jacoby, Right of Way-Administration; Rocky Meyer, Planning-Counter Shop; Colton Parish, Right of Way-Engi- neering; Payton Thomas, Traffic; Emily Worthan, Right of Way-Property Management; and Tika Zipp, Financial Services-General Ledger.

Service Awards

Douglas Crabtree, Geology – 35 years;

Shane Poteet, Highway Development-Photogrammetry/Survey – 20 years;

Lloyd Thomas, Bridge-Engineering Design – 20 years;

Steven Berg, Materials-Bituminous –15 years;

Vickie Calaway, Bridge-Engineering Administration – 15 years;

Susan Elliott, Executive Administration – 15 years;

Alliek Tomlin, Driver Services-Cheyenne – 15 years;

Whitney Wise, Materials-Concrete-IA – 15 years;

Bruce Witt, Aeronautics-Flight Operations – 15 years;

Samantha Cheshire, Patrol-Dispatch – 10 years;

Timothy Dolan, Aeronautics-Airports – 10 years;

Janelle Kelley, Bridge-Engineering Design – 10 years;

Alison Helgoth Ragan, Grants and Contracts-Administration – 10 years; Andrew Wallerstein, Facilities Management-Security – 10 years; and Keren Pittman, Employee Safety – 5 years.

Retirements

Michael Bowen, buildings and grounds manager for WYDOT Headquarters in Cheyenne, retired in May with 25 years of service to the state.

Michael Kelley, skilled trades manager II with Facilities Management at Headquarters in Cheyenne, retired in May with 17 years of service to the state. In his spare time, Kelley enjoys outdoor activities like fly fishing, hunting, camping, boating and shooting sports.

James “Jim” Messer, senior staff technician with Headquarters Construction Staff in Cheyenne, retired in May with 41 years of service to the state. Born in South Dakota, Messer attended the University of Wyoming. He started with WYDOT in the Materials Lab doing quality control, and also spent some of his WYDOT career as a temporary construction worker in Cheyenne.

Cheryl Porter, grants and programming specialist with the Aeronautics program, retired in May after 16 years of service to the state. Porter graduated from Regis University, and had some experience with the Department of Education before joining WYDOT as a fuel tax examiner. In her spare time, Porter enjoys reading, digital scrapbooking and bicycling.

WYDOT bids Capt. Dan Wyrick a fond farewell

By Mark Horan

A retirement celebration for Wyoming Highway Patrol Capt. Dan Wyrick was held in Cheyenne on June 9.

Wyrick was a dedicated member of the Wyoming Highway Patrol for 19 years. Serving with distinction in the Commercial Carrier Section, he had a significant impact in the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the communities it serves.

Wyrick started his career with the WHP in 2004, where he was initially stationed as a trooper in Big Piney. He then transferred to Lander in 2006. While there, he became a Motor Carrier Trooper, igniting his passion for commercial vehicle education and enforcement.

In 2015, Wyrick was promoted to the rank of lieutenant of the Commercial Carrier Section. He became instrumental in training members of the WHP and beyond in commercial vehicle size and weight education and enforcement.

Wyrick was promoted to the rank of captain of the Commercial Carrier and Ports of Entry Section in 2021.

During his illustrious career, Wyrick was recognized as the Wyoming Safety Person of the Year from the Wyoming Trucking Association and served as the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Region IV President.

He demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety and professional excellence throughout his tenure. Over the years he fostered strong partnerships within the trucking industry in Wyoming and at the national level.

At the retirement ceremony, WHP Col.

Tim Cameron presented Wyrick with a plaque that read as follows:

“The Highway Patrol is forever grateful for your 19 years of service, your dedication and hard work. Your work ethic has greatly contributed to the WHP’s success. Congratulations on a well-deserved retirement. You will always be a part of the WHP family.”

Cameron noted that he frequently relied on Wyrick’s expertise in the world of commercial vehicle enforcement.

“We will fill Dan’s position, but we will not replace the person,” Cameron said.

That sentiment was echoed by many other individuals from public and private sectors in Wyoming and across the region who attended the ceremony to offer Wyrick their gratitude and best wishes.

In his final radio sign off, Wyrick thanked his wife and family, as well as his law-enforcement family.

“It has been a pleasure and honor to serve the great state of Wyoming for the past 19 years,” he said.

Wyrick and his wife will relocate to Northern Wyoming. His retirement plans include lots of fishing.

Promotions and Transfers

Brandon Cook, Cheyenne Construction; Diego Fronza, Rawlins Construction; Matthew Mayfield, Laramie Mechanics; and Brian Rushing, Elk Mountain Mechanics.

Service Awards

Clyde Harnden, Traffic-Electrical – 40 years; and Shawn

District 1 Welcome