District News Headquarters
Holly Garrison, GIS/ITS; Alanna Jarvis, Port of Entry-Cheyenne I-25; Jordon Lackey, Financial Services-Disbursements; and Jordan Remley, Right of Way-Administration.
Driver Services-Policy and Records; James Garland, Traffic; Nicole Harvey, Driver Services-Policy and Records; Job Lopez, Materials-Bituminous; Margaret Mordahl, Planning-Programming; April Patrick, Employee Safety; Joshua Walther, Patrol-Operations.
Promotions and Transfers
Service Awards
Nathan Bell, Patrol-Capitol Services Protection; Wesley Bybee, Materials-Administration; Caleb Decroo, Materials-Bituminous; Sabrina Ernst, Budget; Kathryn Everett,
Sarah Meyer, Bridge-Engineering Design – 20 years; Ronald Hartwig, GIS/ITS – 15 years; Daniel Tolman, IT-Administration – 15 years; Nathan Smolinski, Emergency Communications-Administration – 10 years; Damion Aldana, Motor Vehicle Services-Registration/Title – 5 years; and Vincent Martini, Driver Services-Policy and Records – 5 years.
Welcome
Bell
Retirements
Ernst
Mordahl
Walther
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Tolman
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Aldana
Martini
Russell Howe retired Sept. 9 from Construction Staff as a Senior Staff Technician. He leaves WYDOT with 40 years of service to the state. Howe began his career in February 1981 as a temporary micro-graphic records technician. He moved Howe into a job with the Wyoming Highway Patrol in Overweight Loads. Howe was with Overweight Loads for 26 years before moving to Maintenance Staff in Cheyenne. He moved from Maintenance Staff to Construction Staff in 2008. When not at the office, Howe can be found on the basketball court officiating games, bicycling, woodworking or playing softball. Shannon Ratliff retired Sept. 2 from Patrol-Operations as the highway patrol lt. colonel with 30 years of service to Wyoming. Ratliff began his career with the WHP in August 1991. He attended Lander
Valley High School, Casper College where he graduated with an associate degree in law enforcement, and the University of Wyoming, graduating with Criminal Justice Administration. Ratliff has also been a part of the Wyoming Army National Guard beginning in March 1985. In his spare time, especially now in retirement, he enjoys hunting, fishing, camping and all types of winter sports. John Samson, WYDOT’s lone agonomist and “roadside beautification specialist” packed away his wildflower seeds on Sept. 3, to retire after 27 years of service. He retires from the Environmental Services Program. Born on a farm in eastern Nebraska, Samson continued his affinity for agriculture by attending the University of Nebraska where he received a dual degree in Agronomy and Ag Economics. Later, he received his Master’s degree during which time he had the opportunity to work with some of the country’s best known experts on re-vegetating highly erodible lands, establishment of indigenous plant materials and climate change. After working for the Soil Conservation Service in Nebraska, Samson’s knowledge of re-vegetation practices led him to Wyoming. Since his favorite “entertainment” was hiking in the beautiful Wyoming mountains, the agronomy job at WYDOT was a perfect match for him. For 27 years, Samson was instrumental in re-vegetating all roads that were cut or renovated across the state of Wyoming. During his employment, he established not only native grasses, but also showy wildflowers along roadsides for many miles. One of his favorite accomplishments is the establishment of the beautiful and iconic Palmer Penstemon in the high steep rock cuts in Telephone Canyon between Cheyenne and Laramie. Anyone who was lucky enough to travel with Samson was quick to acknowledge that they had received a crash course, albeit comprehensive, on native grass and wildflower identification. Samson never met a plant that he did not know and appreciate. Wyoming’s roadsides are certainly more spectacular due to his knowledge and efforts. n
Ratliff
November 2021
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Interchange 17
