The Georgia Department of Transportation aims to deliver a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department prides itself on its diverse and well-trained workforce, and is proud to recognize the achievements that are a result of this culture. Recently, Engineering Georgia magazine released its inaugural listing of “100 Influential Women to Know” – women of character, integrity and purpose.  Nearly 10 percent of the listing includes women who are policy makers, work for or with Georgia DOT on a daily basis. 

The women of Georgia DOT are among the most represented in the listing http://bit.ly/2FZrMWR, which is comprised of four State Transportation board members representing various parts of the state, Georgia DOT’s Chief Engineer, an Administrator for the Program Delivery Office and a Director of Engineering. 

Among those recognized is Ann R. Purcell of Rincon who currently serves as the Vice Chair of the State Transportation Board. She represents Congressional District 1 in southeast Georgia, including the ports of Savannah and Brunswick and the entire coastline. Purcell was elected to the State Transportation board in 2013 and served as board secretary this past year, before being elected Vice Chair in August. She is a community and civic leader who served 18 years in the Georgia House of Representatives where she chaired the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, and served on numerous other committees. She is a tireless advocate for her district, and her efforts have been recognized both locally and statewide. She is a graduate of Georgia Southern College. 

Others recognized who are affiliated with Georgia DOT include: 

• Stacey Key, State Transportation Board, Congressional District 5

• Emily Dunn, State Transportation Board, Congressional District 9

• Dana Lemon, State Transportation Board, Congressional District 13

• Meg Pirkle, P.E., Georgia DOT Chief Engineer 

• Kimberly Nesbitt, Administrator – Program Delivery Office 

• Hiral Patel, P.E., Director of Engineering 

“I am so very proud and humbled to be recognized in this inaugural issue of 100 Influential Women to Know,” said Ann Purcell, Vice Chair of the State Transportation Board. “I am certainly thankful for the opportunity to serve not only those in my congressional district, but to work to make Georgia the number one state to do business. I am most honored to be among the other women not only at Georgia DOT, but also many of my colleagues honored in this issue.”

Georgia DOT and its staff of 3,800 employees are responsible for managing a budget of $3.60 billion, maintaining 48,675 lane miles statewide and delivering a sustainable and efficient transportation system that serves all of Georgia.  Entrusted with public resources, the department is responsible for not only what is done and the results achieved, but also for sharing those results. Those tasks have never been more clearly defined than by those including these recognized women and others who are driving and ultimately delivering those results.