2025 Leadership Award Recipients

Veronica has been on a transformative journey to modernize the department's Driver Safety service. Through her daily leadership, she has guided the team from outdated policies, processes and systems to becoming an industry leader in performance and metrics. Veronica sees the great value in fostering partnerships, and, by bringing key stakeholders together, she has ensured sustained performance and excellence across all aspects of the Driver Safety service.

Through his dedicated work emphasizing the Safe System Approach to reach our goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on CA’s roadways, Lee embraces and demonstrates a strong commitment to direct engagement with all stakeholders. He is continually learning and applies innovative approaches to complex challenges. Lee makes a difference in saving people’s lives through his proactive safety improvements. His work on the 21-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu has been highly regarded by the city, the county and law enforcement partners, and the Administration.

Justin provides exceptional administrative support to advance the equity work of the Commission, Caltrans and CalSTA, and he has made possible the work of the Interagency Equity Advisory Committee that advises these three entities. Despite already having a full workload, Justin took on these responsibilities at the start of the EAC in 2022. Justin helps prepare and coordinate Committee meetings, agenda preparation, and meeting minutes, among other Executive duties. Justin is professional, organized and accurate in all his work despite having to work under time pressures and across three organizations and fifteen Committee members.

Sergeant Kensey has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the sole supervisor of the Central Division Special Operations Command K9 Program throughout 2024. Under his  guidance, the team has significantly bolstered safety across Central Division roadways and communities. Sergeant Kensey has served as a CHP K9 handler since 2014 and as the CHP K9 Program Sergeant since 2022. A recognized leader and expert in K9 operations within the CHP and the broader national law enforcement community, Sergeant Kensey is regularly called upon to provide insight, direction, and training across various law enforcement disciplines. His extensive knowledge, exceptional skills, and proven abilities exemplify the finest qualities of the CHP, setting a standard for leadership in specialized law enforcement fields. Sergeant Kensey’s professionalism is beyond reproach, reflecting the highest values and expectations of the CHP and CalSTA.

Beverley performs outstanding analytical work as a program manager; however, it is her dedication and passion that truly make her stand out. Her sincere desire to make transportation better for all Californians serves as an inspiration for all. When working with the Active Transportation Program for several years,  additional funding arrived in the form of an unprecedented $1 billion General Fund augmentation to the program: Beverley committed the funds to new projects within months of it becoming available. She is collaborative, intelligent, organized and creative, while also being very humble.

Sladjana has been vital in growing the State of CA Traffic Records Program. This program includes efforts to automate traffic crash database systems, provide traffic safety stakeholders the ability to analyze and map high-crash locations and promote data sharing and integration of traffic records data systems between all traffic records stakeholders in California. Recently, Sladjana played a pivotal part in receiving new funding for the state of California from NHSTA to improve crash data reporting.

Daniel’s meticulous planning, technical expertise, leadership and ability to anticipate and address challenges ensured the successful delivery of Construction Package 4 and has enabled the Authority to continue making progress throughout the Central Valley.In every aspect of Daniel’s work, he exemplifies professionalism and a dedication to the success of the program. His contributions to constructing a high-speed rail system that is safe, accessible to all Californians and addresses climate change, is fully in line with CalSTA’s Core Four priorities.

Jason Tipton is a reliable employee with integrity and tact. The Donner Pass area frequently has major challenges, some of which can include higher traffic volumes, lack of staff retention, qualified candidates and extended equipment downtime. Jason assists with successful mass hiring events and is always willing to come up new and innovative solutions when required to make sure his operations remain successful. It’s leaders like Jason that the department relies on to get people where they need to go and to show the public that our maintenance crews are truly here to get you there.

Kim has injected energy, enthusiasm and a spirit of team support, collaboration and leadership into  the NMVB, creating numerous improvements across the organization. Kim has improved existing Core Four priority initiatives, including one which aims to significantly increase the repair rate of motor vehicle recalls in California, preventing traffic deaths on our roadways. She did this by reimagining the initial, narrowly scoped objective of addressing Takata airbag recalls and helped it grow into an education campaign for all open safety recalls in the State as well as sharing information on how motorists can have the repairs performed at no cost.

Tim lives and breathes traffic safety. He helps develop comprehensive education campaigns that promote traffic safety awareness with the goal of encouraging safe road behaviors. The Communications and Public Affairs team is the state’s traffic safety advocate and voice for the traveling public. Together with his team, Tim has been instrumental in planning and delivering engagement activities with communities most impacted by traffic safety to maximize feedback and help inform OTS’ program planning.

We have a very interesting story to tell here, so this might be a bit longer than the others. Bryan demonstrated steadfast leadership for District 9 and its Olancha-Cartago Expressway Project, the largest in Inyo County history. Following roughly 20 years of pre-construction activities, this project began construction on January 31, 2022. 1-1/2 years later, construction on the project stopped-- following the discovery of a significant concentration of cultural resources near the northern end of the project area, directly in the path of the new northbound lanes of the highway. The discovery prompted media coverage and a protest from several Native American Tribes. To move forward, District 9 would need to redesign a portion of the project that avoided cultural resources, while still delivering this long-awaited safety project. Bryan took command of the situation, guiding the Caltrans engineers and project contractors through a series of changes that created enhanced communication between Caltrans and local tribal stakeholders―and altered the design of the project in a way that reached consensuses for all parties. Following the stoppage of construction, Bryan issued binders to the tribes that detailed the project. He sought out tribal input, held weekly field meetings with tribal partners and created an environment of transparency and trust. These field meetings continue to this day, with tribal monitors assisting Caltrans inspectors and engineers assisting Caltrans inspectors and engineers with this project. Through his tenacity and leadership, Bryan not only saved the Olancha-Cartago Expressway Project but set a new path forward for District 9 and how it engages with this tribal stakeholders.

Dan is the magic behind so many of the beautiful graphics, logos and designs you see representing transportation in California. Some that you may be most familiar with include the SB 1 logo, the Core Four logo and, more recently, Rebuilding California. And I would be completely remiss not to mention that Dan was also instrumental in the development of Governor Gavin Newsom’s “California for All” logo. In addition to his great talent, Dan’s work ethic is second to none. Often on the receiving end of last-minute requests, he jumps into action and delivers creative, amazing results every time.

Jim is invaluable to California’s and the Secretary’s transportation messaging. Through his outstanding creation and delivery of videos and photos, Jim always makes sure to have a crystal-clear understanding of what the specific ask is. No two videos or photos are the same, so Jim views each and every assignment with a fresh eye and a helpful approach. Jim and his amazing team always respond immediately and constructively to every request, and we are so appreciative of their teamwork, professionalism and reliability.

Jim is invaluable to California’s and the Secretary’s transportation messaging. Through his outstanding creation and delivery of videos and photos, Jim always makes sure to have a crystal-clear understanding of what the specific ask is. No two videos or photos are the same, so Jim views each and every assignment with a fresh eye and a helpful approach. Jim and his amazing team always respond immediately and constructively to every request, and we are so appreciative of their teamwork, professionalism and reliability.

Alicia personifies keystone, and, having served at CalSTA since 2005—20 years! —is one of our original staff members. We are grateful she takes her critical role very seriously. Truly customer-service oriented, Alicia genuinely goes above and beyond to help the Secretary and staff have everything they need to do their work. She is a true process-person, and is proactive, detail-oriented, conscientious and always working with a positive outlook and solutions-based perspective. Without Alicia, we wouldn’t be operational. Tasked with many different responsibilities, Alicia’s follow-up and follow-through define how she navigates her day, and CalSTA is lucky to be on the receiving end of all her hard work.

Tameeca is a front-line staff member in a field office.  Customers consistently praise her exceptional service, describing her as "absolutely wonderful,” "all that is needed," and "kind and very helpful." Tameeca’s commitment to superior customer service is exemplified by her impressive track record and over 100 Public Service Commendations and a Certificate of Quality. Her remarkable act of heroism stands out as well: When a customer collapsed during his driver knowledge exam, Tameeca’s quick thinking and selflessness saved his life. Without hesitation, she administered chest compressions until first responders arrived. Her actions were pivotal, as the customer miraculously survived a massive heart attack. His doctor credited Tameeca, stating that without her intervention, the outcome would have been dire. Tameeca's heroism reflects her compassion and dedication to the well-being of those she serves, leaving a profound impact on her community through Core Four principles. Her role in helping to evaluate a new driver can touch Safety, Equity, and even impact the Economic Prosperity of the applicant. And saving a life is clearly a deliverable on the Safety front.

The stress of taking 9-1-1 calls is high, and Tara does an outstanding job remaining calm and professional to provide life-saving assistance on a regular basis. On January 31, 2023, CHP Fresno Area had units responding to an Officer Down call in Selma, CA. While dispatching, she continued to give out timely broadcasts in a professional, calm tone. Tara did an excellent job in this tragic event, among many others. Tara self-reflects and continually hones her listening skills, allowing callers to explain before asking questions, which assists in gathering vital information more quickly. She is highly regarded as being a dependable individual who is always ready and willing to assist when called upon to do so. She possesses outstanding multi-tasking skills, and the officers' requests are completed quickly and correctly, ensuring the highest level of safety and service to the officers and the public. Tara exhibits strong decision-making abilities, leadership qualities and remains cognizant of officer safety issues when dispatching field units. She has also trained many dispatchers statewide and exemplifies CHP Pride in the way she treats her peers, trainees, officers and the public with regular courtesy and respect.