District News

from Interchange – June 2023

Game and Fish

Headquarters

Welcome

Justin Boling, Fuel Tax-Uniformity; Taryn Cline, Driver Services-Policy and Records; James Deines, Right of Way-Appraisals; Maria Henschel, Driver Services-Policy and Records; Justyn Hoadley, Equipment-Mechanics; Randy McCormack, Facilities Management-Building Maintenance; Andrew Nash, Office Services-Mailroom; Luke Rerucha, Motor Vehicle Services-Registration/Title; Willie Rhyne II, Motor Vehicle Services-Registration/Title; Cheryl Spagnol, Facilities Management-Custodial; Tracey Walker, Fuel Tax-Administration; Robert Wenger, Traffic; and Seth Wilkinson, Office Services-Mailroom.

Promotions and Transfers

Katherine Bradfield, Traffic-Administration; Hannah Jankovsky, Right of Way-Property Management; Tyler Matheney, Patrol-Safety and Training; Tiffany Romero, Aeronautics-Airports; Jordan Walla, Right of Way-Property Management.

Service Awards

Charles Bauer, Construction Staff –30 years;

Joshua Walther, Patrol-Operations – 20 years;

Duard Dilday III, Maintenance Staff – 15 years;

James Olsen, Port of Entry-Cheyenne US 85 – 10 years;

Brian Wyza, Emergency Communications-District 1 Radio Shop – 10 years;

Meghan Hecht, Driver Services-Policy and Records – 5 years;

Ming Jiang, Bridge-Engineering Design – 5 years; and

Tyson Rein, Patrol-Commercial Carrier – 5 years.

Retirements

Dennis Johnson, field data collection and lab analysis specialist in the bituminous section of the Materials Lab in Cheyenne, retired in April with 20 years of service to the state.

A few years after graduating from East High School in Cheyenne, Johnson spent eight years with the U.S. Navy. Johnson started with WYDOT in 2002, and spent his entire career with the Materials lab.

Debbie Jones, supervisor at the Driver Services policy and Records department in Cheyenne, retired in April with a little more than 25 years of service to the state.

Jones is from Greeley originally, but graduated from Central High School in Cheyenne. Through her career at WYDOT, she worked as a hearing and record review specialist, a trainer analyst, a help desk supervisor, and in the renewals department, among others.

Trooper Craig O’Dell, based out of Cheyenne, retired in April after 14 years of service to the state. O’Dell served with Troop O, which oversees security at the Capitol building and Governor’s mansion, among other tasks.

Luke Reiner retired as director of WYDOT in April after four years of service to the agency. As director, Reiner spent time prioritizing employee safety, recruitment and retention, and overall agency operational responsiveness and support. During his time as director, he also served as chair of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Special Committee on Freight.

Before starting with WYDOT, Reiner retired as the Adjutant General for Wyoming. He was responsible for the Wyoming Military Department, the Wyoming Air and Army National Guard, the Wyoming Veterans’ Affairs Commission and the Oregon Trail State Veterans’ Cemetery.

Dale Roberts, equipment fabricator and mechanic based in Cheyenne, retired in April with 19 years of service to the state. Roberts first started with WYDOT in 2004 with the radio shop in Cheyenne, and also spent part of his career as a mechanic and in the rigging shop.

District 1

Welcome

Travis Casner, Cheyenne Traffic-Striping; and Jaxon Penfield, Traffic-Signing.

Promotions and Transfers

Timothy Arthur, Cheyenne Mechanics; Chad Bracken, Rawlins Patrol; Freddy Crosier, Arlington Maintenance; and Kyle Diffenbaugh, Cheyenne Construction.

Service Awards

Steven Cook, Laramie Construction –35 years; and Austin Barker, Patrol-Cheyenne – 5 years.

Noreen Schirmer, D1 District Clerk, is presented her one year medallion by DE Ralph Tarango.

Retirements

Frederick J. Dappen, a highway maintenance technician based out of Wheatland, retired in April after seven years of service to the state.

Congratulations

Recently, two Casper shop technicians passed their Fundamentals of Service tests. Logan Mason passed welding and administrative procedures. Andrew Mathison passed his rigging test to achieve master technician status.

Mike Chesnut, Medicine Bow Maintenance Foreman, 20 year service award, presented to him by D1 District Engineer Ralph Tarango, District Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton, and WYDOT interim Director Darin Westby.

Charles ‘Chuck’ Dunlap, Laramie Mechanics Shop Foreman, retired after 22 years. Dunlap was presented a metal sign for his service.

District 2 Welcome

Kjell Elisson, District 2 Administration; Emma Scott, Casper Construction; and Kevin Slone, Shirley Rim Maintenance.

Service Awards

Alan Cormier, District 2 Construction Staff – 40 years; Richard Underwood, District 2 Traffic Staff – 35 years;

Jeff Goetz, District 2 Administration – 15 years; and Lexi Bath, Port of Entry-Lusk – 5 years.

Shop technicians in Casper received their FOS certificates. Logan Mason on the left and Andrew Mathison on the right.

Mechanic Sam Keck, of Wheatland, was also awarded an FOS certificate for his accomplishment in administrative procedures to attain the level of master technician.

Briefs continued on page 26

Technician Zach Freouf with the Torrington WYDOT shop has passed four of the Fundamentals of Service tests –Engines, Electrical, Hydraulics and Power Trains.

District 3

Welcome

Michael Hines, Labarge Maintenance; Natasha Jensen, Driver Services-Rock Springs; and Indiana Rosewood, Patrick Draw Maintenance.

Promotions

and Transfers

Shawn Dunn, Traffic Afton-Striping; Brandon Deckert, Evanston Patrol.

Service Awards

Carl Eggleston, Afton Maintenance –20 years; Jennifer Hoffman, Kemmerer Construction – 20 years;

Zachary Keetch, Cokeville Maintenance – 10 years; and Timothy Johnson, Rock Springs Construction – 5 years.

Promotions and Transfers

Brian Blakeman, Sheridan Maintenance-Guardrail; Seth McKee, Sundance Mechanics; Nicholas Shoemaker, Newcastle Construction; and Louis Tegdesch, Sheridan Patrol.

Service Awards

Scott Keyworth, Sundance Mechanics –5 years.

District 4

Welcome

Kevin Ashton, Buffalo Construction; Gavin Bailey, Sheridan Traffic-Striping; Bram Harper, Sheridan Traffic-Striping; and Renee Schilling, Sundance Maintenance.