WTS Arkansas, WTS Mississippi host virtual event on industry trends

For decades, Garver has partnered with departments of transportation across the country, including those in Arkansas and Mississippi, to update the highways, bridges, interchanges, and more that enhance the safety and efficiency for travel through all communities.

This week, Garver and the leading executives of the DOTs in Arkansas and Mississippi all came together for a virtual event featuring insights on the future of the transportation industry in both states. Garver Director of Transportation Jerry Holder, PE, moderated the event titled “Driving the Future: A conversation with the women leading Arkansas and Mississippi’s DOT.” The event featured Holder along with Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) Director Lorie Tudor and Mississippi Director of Transportation (MDOT) Executive Director Melinda McGrath and was broadcast to a virtual audience consisting of more than 200 industry professionals.

Hosted jointly by WTS Arkansas and WTS Mississippi, the event centered around important issues facing the transportation industry today, the effects of COVID-19, and how Tudor and McGrath each rose to the top of their respective organizations.

On how she was able to ascend to the top of her organization, Tudor said: “My philosophy has always been to give it all I got. Just give it all I got. I’m just going to pull my load and if they don’t pull theirs, I’ll grab it and pull theirs as well because I’m determined to make it and do the best job I can. I didn’t know where make it was going to end up, but I was going to give it the best job I could."

On why students should consider careers in transportation, McGrath said: “There are so many new technologies coming on board and there’s going to be better and quicker and longer-lasting ways of doing things. You have an opportunity to really chart your own path.”

In addition to partnerships with ARDOT and MDOT to provide innovative infrastructure solutions, Garver has been integrally involved with WTS, an international organization dedicated to building the future of transportation through the global advancement of women, in several states. Because it believes in the WTS mission, Garver served as a founding corporate partner for WTS in both Arkansas and Mississippi.

Garver’s contributions to the infrastructure in Arkansas and Mississippi have been expansive since the company’s founding in 1919. For ARDOT, Garver led design services for the I-40 at I-430 interchange in Central Arkansas, the I-540 and Bobby Hopper Tunnel in Northwest Arkansas, and others. For MDOT, Garver provided design services for the I-269 South Loop in DeSoto and Marshall counties, I-59 S-Curve, among others.

To learn more about what Garver’s Transportation Team can do for you, visit our Transportation services page.