Mindy Carlson, interim director of MnLTAP, is retiring in June. She has been a long-time leader and contributor to MnLTAP, the Center for Transportation Studies (CTS), and many other programs, projects, and initiatives.
Mindy was instrumental in developing many of MnLTAP’s signature training programs, including the Roads Scholar Program. She participated in the National LTAP Association and worked closely with MnDOT, the Local Road Research Board, and other Minnesota organizations to ensure a responsive program that met the needs of local transportation agencies.
“Mindy has been an integral part of CTS for nearly 27 years,” says Gina Baas, CTS deputy director. “Her commitment to the LTAP and AirTAP programs has been instrumental to their growth. Mindy’s strength has always been in building relationships with her customers, stakeholders, and sponsors. Her passion for ensuring that local agencies and their employees had the tools and training needed to do their jobs was a driving force in the success of LTAP. We hope Mindy devotes that same level of dedication to her retirement!"
Carlson also led and participated in customized training projects, such as the recent update of the Minnesota Snow and Ice Control Field Handbook for Snowplow Operators.
“Mindy is probably best known for her work in the training area, but she was also a big contributor to our communications work,” adds Pam Snopl, MnLTAP senior editor. “Thanks to her network and knowledge, we stayed on top of the issues and addressed them in our newsletters and other materials.”
Below, Mindy shares highlights from her work and sends her farewell. Thank you, Mindy!
I didn’t start my career in a transportation field—and honestly, I didn’t think I would stay at CTS long term, but here I am saying goodbye after 27 years!
I had no idea how rewarding this job would be, but it became my passion, and it's been an honor and a privilege to serve Minnesota’s local agencies. I have met and worked with so many wonderful professionals that I will miss dearly, from my colleagues at CTS to our MnDOT partners, association members, and consultants.
Minnesota’s frontline maintenance workers and supervisors are really the ones that inspired and motivated me. Their dedication to improving their skills and knowledge impressed me and kept me finding ways to bring more activities and workshops to our program offerings.
Creating the Roads Scholar Program in 2005 was my greatest accomplishment at CTS. It’s what I’m most proud of and what I felt was the most beneficial to those who didn’t have many training and education options at the time.
I can still remember our first Roads Scholar graduate ceremony at our annual Demo Day event. I was so nervous and the crowd looked unimpressed—but after calling out the names of those first graduates, giving them their plaques and sending them on their way to the next workshop session, I had a line of 15 maintenance workers wanting to talk to me about how they could get signed up and earn their certificate. I knew then that this new certificate program was a success, and I would do all I could to make sure the training options were there for anyone who was interested.
I’m excited for MnLTAP’s next chapter and look forward to watching (from the sidelines!) the program progress under the new director’s leadership. I’m confident that Andrew Wrucke and our program director, Katherine Stanley, will continue serving all your training and technical assistance needs with the care and quality you’ve come to expect from our team. Farewell friends, and happy trails!