Women in Transportation Names Caltrans Director Man of the Year

Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty received the Women’s Transportation Seminar 2017 Honorable Ray LaHood (Man of the Year) Award from the Sacramento chapter for his leadership and commitment to advance women and minorities within Caltrans.

“Under Director Dougherty’s leadership, Caltrans has become a more diverse, efficient, and sustainable organization,” said WTS Sacramento Chapter President Stacey Alliguie. “Director Dougherty embodies what it means to be a leader in transportation that advances both women and minorities.”

Shortly after being appointed in 2012, Dougherty oversaw a department-wide evaluation, developed a new Strategic Management Plan, and redefined the department’s mission to emphasize diversity and sustainability. The culmination of his overhaul occurred as California’s Legislature enacted the landmark transportation funding and oversight package known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Senate Bill 1), which provides a sustainable funding source to improve California’s transportation system.

Dougherty oversees about 19,000 employees and manages an annual budget of $10.9 billion to care for the 50,000-lane-mile highway system serving the most populous state in the nation and its $2.5-trillion economy. Although transportation has historically been a male-dominated field, currently one third of Caltrans’ managers are women. The majority of Caltrans employees — at 53.4 percent — are minorities.

Caltrans Deputy Director Cris Rojas also accepted the WTS Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award on behalf of the Administration Program, which was recognized for promoting diversity and cultural awareness in the workplace. The Administration Program supports the mission-critical work of the Department through Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Operations, Procurement and Contracting and Equal Employment Opportunities. In the last year, the program has launched several initiatives to advance women and minorities, including a mentorship program that has, so far, paired 242 mentors and mentees. Caltrans also hired a career coach to assist employees through its Upward Mobility Program, which identifies steps employees need to take to move into higher paying positions.

Rojas is the lead on the Departments’ “Organizational Excellence” Strategic Goal Team and oversees the successful Mentorship Program, Leadership Interviews, recruitment and placement efforts, disability and diversity day educational events, job fairs and more. Caltrans aims to be a national leader in delivering quality service through excellent employee performance, public communication and accountability. 

The Ray LaHood (Man of the Year) Award Dougherty received was created to recognize key men that attract, retain, and advance women in transportation. Ray LaHood was Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2009 to 2013.