AASHTO Journal. 7 June 2013
Oklahoma Department of Transportation Director Mike Patterson announced this week appointments to two of the agency’s top leadership positions, both filled by long-time ODOT employees.
Patterson appointed Tim Gatz to the ODOT deputy director position, where he will oversee the department’s project management, administrative, financial, legislative, and public information activities. Gatz has spent more than 20 years at ODOT, starting his tenure in 1990 as a drafting technician and eventually working his way up to director of capital programs and information management in 2006. Gatz is a registered professional landscape architect.
“Tim Gatz has helped implement and manage some of the department’s most successful programs and will help ensure that ODOT continues to be one of the best-run agencies in the state,” Patterson said in a statement.
Also this week within ODOT, Casey Shell was named chief engineer to lead the department’s preconstruction, construction, and maintenance efforts across the state. Shell, a registered professional engineer, first started at ODOT in 1986 immediately after graduating college as an engineer-in-training. Also working his way through the department, Shell was eventually named Division Engineer in 2002 in Stillwater.
“Casey has been involved in some of ODOT’s largest undertakings, including construction of the I-40 Crosstown, the ongoing effort to repair or replace all of our structurally deficient highway bridges and recent storm cleanup,” Patterson said. “He will continue to prove himself to be a capable leader who is committed to ODOT’s mission.”