2026 Leadership Award Recipients

Robin began with the New Motor Vehicle Board as a law school student over 30 years ago, later joining the team as an attorney, rising to become Chief Counsel. She has dedicated her entire career to the Board and finds great meaning and purpose in her work serving consumers and communities by assuring there exists a fair and prosperous new motor vehicle marketplace in California.  She holds herself and the Board to the highest standards. As she winds down in this role, she is building a robust training and resource library for her successor. Her impact is truly remarkable, and her legacy and mark upon the organization is truly unmatched.

Tasha embodies the spirit of innovation and bold action that drives economic prosperity and equity. From the moment the LA28 Games Executive Committee was established, she was chosen to lead and build a dedicated team for Olympic and Paralympic planning at Caltrans District 7. She immediately took the initiative by forging strong relationships with key partners, including the LA Organizing Committee, the City of LA, and LA Metro. Under her visionary leadership, the planning and execution of the Games Route Network, also know as the GRN, has progressed swiftly and effectively. Her daily work is driven by her commitment to ensuring successful Olympic events in 2028 bring significant investments to California, while also respecting community needs. Her leadership has been marked by key milestones, such as securing FHWA approval, obtaining a trailer bill, and acquiring a finance letter to support the GRN. With a quarter of California’s population residing in the LA Region, and the Ports of LA and Long Beach being the busiest in the US, she is working to ensure that routine travel and commerce continue seamlessly. And traveling across the globe to help inform her perspective, she also attended the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and observation workshops to develop robust strategies for LA28.

Jon led efforts to update the CA Transportation’s Commission’s SHOPP guidelines to further safety, equity and climate objectives. The 2024 guidelines were updated to require projects to incorporate complete street elements and improve safety for all users of the state highway system, with greater public transparency and disclosure requirements. And over the past several years, he has been instrumental in making the SHOPP program more understandable to the public. At Commission meetings, he clearly explains the purpose and need of allocations for projects, including emergency projects, and how they will benefit Californians by delivering safe, sustainable and equitable improvements. Jon models how staff with technical backgrounds can effectively communicate with policymakers and the public. His efforts have undoubtedly contributed to the success of SHOPP and the betterment of transportation in California. His collaborative efforts with a diverse group of program stakeholders, Caltrans and regional agencies have been nothing short of remarkable.

Rachael exemplifies the dedication, leadership and integrity that the CalSTA Secretary's Awards seek to honor. Her vital contributions have been instrumental in the success of several of the High-Speed Rail Authority's most complex and high-profile procurements. She was pivotal in HSR’s $3.5 billion Track and Systems Construction Contract and the P3 Co-Development Agreement release. She ensures transparent, consistent and defensible contract administration practices, evaluating all contractors equally, providing clear guidance to internal teams. Her meticulous oversight, rigorous documentation and adherence to process discipline strengthen Safety. She protects public resources through strategic decision-making, early risk identification and disciplined contract oversight. As a trusted subject-matter expert, she rapidly interprets complex issues, identifies emerging risks and provides clear, strategic recommendations. Her exceptional foresight helps prevent bottlenecks, reduce risks, and maintain momentum on critical work. Her contributions go beyond the technical; she has become a central pillar of stability for procurement and contract functions, and she has strengthened the overall acquisition process.

Eric has been outstanding in implementing the Clean CA Program, ensuring equitable and strategic investments. His partnerships with local agencies have been key, while administering multiple Delegated Maintenance Agreements and demonstrating a strong commitment to CalSTA’s Core Four priorities. His leadership, strategic vision and communication skills have been critical in delivering Clean CA projects to underprivileged communities, enhancing beautification and safety. As the Caltrans District 12 Clean California Program Manager, he led his team to deliver 100% of all committed Clean California projects on schedule and within budget. He also stewards PROTECT funds for the Pacific Coast Highway climate resiliency study. He currently leads the student assistant volunteer program, coordinating with UCI faculty and Urban Planning students. His tireless work ethic, strong collaboration skills, and willingness to volunteer for any new challenge make him a vital asset.

Alexis seamlessly advances safety for all Californians on a daily basis. Her exceptional organizational skills, can-do attitude and development and implementation of data-driven traffic safety grants make her invaluable. Her expertise in complex rules is critical to grants, performance monitoring and compliance with federal and state regulations. This work supports proven countermeasures and implementation of new strategies. She also guides grantees through the entire grant cycle, from application to planning, execution and evaluation. Her determination to find solutions have been key for innovative projects like the new traffic safety collaborations by UC Irvine, the pre-hospital blood project with UCLA and the Caltrans Gen AI solution to enhance vulnerable road user safety. Whether child safety restraints, educational travel safety programs, targeted enforcement of risky driving behaviors or community-based walking assessments, her dedication makes these outcomes possible.

Vanessa has so many skillsets required for dispatching including professionalism, compassion, patience, exceptional judgment, speed and organization—just to name a few. She has been an invaluable asset to the state of California for 15 years. Her hard work, dedication and exemplary dispatching skills have earned her numerous commendations from her management. She received a Commander’s Commendation for her exceptional skills and ability to train two staff simultaneously during a high-intensity pursuit and apprehension of two murder suspects. She worked more than 748 hours of overtime in one year when the Barstow Communications Center was severely short-staffed, while using minimal leave credits over the years. She also received commendations from local stakeholders for her professional and skillful handling of emergency radio traffic in unfamiliar areas. And not surprisingly, her impact extends beyond dispatch. Her positive attitude and professionalism are well-known throughout the CHP Barstow Area Office. Her exemplary dispatching skills were evident during a high-risk pursuit with an armed suspect; extreme snow days when the computer system crashed; and a standoff with an armed off-duty sheriff deputy threatening suicide. Her assistance and patience during these incidents were invaluable, and she helped save lives. Vanessa’s dispatching and call-taking skills are of the highest caliber. Her dedication to her trainees is admirable, and her efforts to recruit and train new employees have been crucial.

Sitting within the Operations Division, Wanda’s diligent efforts have significantly benefitted the DMV and our fellow Californians, particularly those in our disabled community. When a major error in the Disabled Person Placard system caused severe backlogs and delays, her solution-oriented approach was instrumental in resolving the issue. She volunteered to oversee the successful manual processing and mailing of approximately 230,000 placards by coordinating with managers and over 100 staff members. That bears repeating: manual processing of 230,000 placards! Her strategic organization and delegation have been key in addressing other organizational challenges and eliminating backlogs. For instance, her team cleared a backlog of 25,000 items related to the Notice of Release of Liability within a month. Also, her swift action in identifying a printing and mailing error led to the correction of 40,000 customers' vehicle renewal forms. These contributions have resulted in savings for the state and customers while also reducing the time Californians spend on administrative tasks. Her leadership in customer-facing operations, such as Disabled Person Placard system and vehicle registration delivery, has improved equity and public safety. She is truly amazing and, most recently, her leadership has contributed to reducing the average processing time for various transactions to less than two days.

Alethea works at the Board of Pilot Commissioners. Through her leadership of the Pilot Licensing and Trainee programs, she ensures the licensing and annual renewal of up to 60 highly skilled maritime pilots. These professionals, known as the San Francisco Bar Pilots, navigate vessels of 750 tons or greater throughout the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and tributaries. Her management of pilot continued education, rigorous training and medical assessments maintains the highest professional standards, supporting a safe and reliable pilot workforce. The pilots safely guide more than 6,000 ship movements annually, crucial to the state's economic engine. The Port of Oakland's Seaport activity generates $90 billion in economic value and supports over 500,000 jobs. By ensuring pilots are fully qualified, healthy and prepared, she maintains a seamless flow of trade that supports California's economy and the national supply chain. During her tenure, she has made a lasting impact on the Board's core mission of ensuring the safe passage of vessels within its jurisdiction. Her attention to detail, work ethic and strong working relationships directly support the successful licensure or license renewal of more than 350 pilots. Her contributions have strengthened the reliability of the pilot workforce and advanced the department's highest priority of maritime safety. And last, but not least, she has overseen and coordinated thousands of monthly training records for 26 successful trainees who have completed the Pilot Training Program and are now licensed pilots.

Kevin is widely recognized among the community and business owners for his professional and collaborative efforts in promoting tourism. His name has also become synonymous with Big Sur, thanks to his pivotal role as a Caltrans public information officer over the past few challenging years. His work with Caltrans on the Big Sur coast has been crucial, especially with Highway 1 facing multiple closures due to mudslides, slip-outs and rock falls. As the primary Caltrans Information Officer, he handles press inquiries, community meetings, and engagement efforts during these dynamic situations. He interacts with national and international news agencies, provides tours for high-level officials, meets with community members and offers regular updates to the media. Businesses along the Big Sur coast have struggled with decreased tourism, and his communication efforts have been vital to their prosperity. He emphasizes the importance of climate-resilient infrastructure, relating repair work to both traveler and worker safety. Beyond his role at Caltrans, Kevin has demonstrated his commitment by volunteering as a Public Information Officer in Los Angeles after the devastating fires in January, receiving high praise for his work. His dedication is evident in his willingness to step into areas where he can make a difference, recognizing the importance of connected state agencies and the benefits of timely and effective communication for Californians.

Andrew is being recognized for his remarkable leadership at Caltrans and dedication to advancing safety. In 2022, he played a crucial role in negotiating legislation, transforming opposition into a driving force for statewide safety enhancements. By amending the Federal Highway Administration’s Safe System Approach, he reached over 400 local jurisdictions. Now, cities and counties develop long-term plans for bicycle, pedestrian and traffic-calming measures, ultimately reducing fatalities and serious injuries. His work has strengthened safety for all roadway users by embedding proven safety measures into local General Plans and establishing 25-year action plans. Internally, his work has advanced departmental goals by embedding the Safe System Approach statewide, supporting CAPTI implementation. Safety is not just a professional priority for him; it is deeply personal. He has an unwavering dedication to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on California’s roadways to prevent families from enduring roadway tragedies.

Desi has truly gone above and beyond in his CHP role at the Mountain Pass Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility. In addition to his job responsibilities, he volunteers his time to instruct commercial drivers on proper pre-trip inspections and common violations. His dedication has improved the safety of California's roadways and strengthened partnerships with industry stakeholders. He has been working with XPO Logistics to help design a class for commercial drivers on pre-trip inspections and common mechanical issues. Thanks to his efforts, the western states safety executives at XPO Logistics have reported an impressive 84% improvement in their safety score, and collisions have drastically reduced. As a result, XPO Logistics in the western states' region has gone from the lowest safety rating in the company to the highest. The success of this program has led XPO Logistics to partner with other inspection facilities across the nation.

Louiemay has been instrumental in connecting DMV services with vulnerable populations, including the unhoused and disaster survivors. As Outreach Coordinator, she ensures DMV efforts align with community needs by serving as a primary liaison with partner agencies. One of her most impactful initiatives was collaborating with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department to provide ID card services to nearly 100 inmates preparing to reenter their communities. This effort directly addressed the county’s top barrier to reentry services and was described as “making dreams come true,” as access to an ID card reduces recidivism by over 25%. Her work advances access to shelter, healthcare and transportation, and removes barriers to employment and public benefits. She has also made significant contributions across multiple dimensions of DMV’s mission—advancing accessibility, safety, community engagement, and operational efficiency. As a dedicated member of the Disability Advisory Committee for over 12 years, she has championed inclusion and accessibility, actively participating in fundraising efforts, and coordinating the scholarship program. Additionally, she led a regional fundraising campaign for OneLegacy, raising over $20,000, the largest single donation OneLegacy has ever received from a single entity. Her exceptional ability to mobilize teams and inspire community impact is truly commendable, and her contributions reflect a deep commitment to CalSTA’s Core Four and the communities we serve.

Ivan is involved with the San Bernardino County Special Education Local Plan Area, which coordinates services for students with disabilities. He has also partnered with nonprofit organizations, dedicated to providing persons with disabilities access to community opportunities. His dedication to Special Olympics is especially noteworthy: For eight consecutive years, he has participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and has twice completed the Los Angeles Marathon to raise awareness, generating over $2,000 in donations. He also serves on the Special Olympics Leadership Council, where he recently secured a $10,000 contribution from Wing Stop Charities to further support athletes and programs. And as if that’s not enough, he also proudly serves on the CHP’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities and regularly visits schools throughout San Bernardino County to educate students. He introduced the concept of an Honorary Police/Sheriff Recruit Program, modeled after an initiative from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. This program is designed to select individuals with intellectual disabilities and provide them with experiences in law enforcement. Even in its infancy, the concept has generated excitement and demonstrates his forward-thinking approach to building inclusion. His efforts have strengthened community partnerships, expanded inclusion, and demonstrated a commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities. A distinguished representative of the CHP, his professionalism is beyond reproach, reflecting the highest values and expectations of the CHP and CalSTA. 

In her 35 years of public service at Caltrans, Becky has made an indelible mark with her unwavering dedication to equitable community and stakeholder engagement. As a standout transportation planner, she served as Program Lead for Vision 980, a project she helped launch in 2022. Vision 980 aims to reconnect communities fractured by the construction of the I-980 freeway, a project that historically displaced numerous families and businesses. She has been instrumental in reimagining the corridor to enhance community connectivity, incorporating new land uses such as housing, business, open spaces, recreational and cultural facilities. Her efforts have led to unprecedented levels of engagement with the equity priority communities along the I-980 corridor, fostering a community-driven vision for the area. In addition to her work on Vision 980, she leads the District 4 Public Engagement Strategy team. Her team developed a comprehensive public engagement strategy, which has become a model for early public engagement across the state. She also played a pivotal role in leading the District’s Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program, securing nearly $100M in funding. Her pursuit of excellence has increased the program's impact, particularly among underserved communities. She has announced her intention to retire this year (2026), marking the end of a distinguished career. We are grateful for her outstanding service and wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.

Javier is a critical leader within the Field Operations Division at the DMV. He has been instrumental to DMV's Digital eXperience Platform (DXP), a major systems modernization project. He collaborates with Change Champions and trainers to ensure effective communication of data between team members and department leadership. Since joining our team in 2023, he has consistently contributed to finding and creating efficiencies. He created a Power Hub, a project management tool within Teams to track progress, and enhance communication, accuracy and transparency. To support the success of Power Hub, he created a comprehensive training rollout and feedback process. His contributions to the Field Office Division and DMV goals are invaluable. His ability to gather, synthesize and communicate information effectively is appreciated, at all levels. Moreover, his bright smile and positive attitude make a significant and positive impact on the team.

Dennis is a true standout in his consistent delivery of excellence. The Excellence Award is only being given out to one person this year. He is receiving recognition for his high-level dedication and professionalism in maintaining the CHP patrol fleet. His work ethic, deep pride in his craft and unwavering commitment to safety, reliability and excellence directly supports the Core Four priorities of Safety, Equity, Climate Action and Economic Prosperity. Dennis ensures that every vehicle he services meets the highest safety standards, knowing that officers and public safety depend on the quality of his work. He treats every repair with the same level of care across the fleet. Operating in extreme desert conditions, he consistently overcomes the challenges of high-mileage patrol vehicles, especially during intense heat. He goes above and beyond to keep vehicles operational, preventing breakdowns, reducing downtime and saving on repair and replacement costs. His attention to detail and proactive maintenance approach have reduced unscheduled vehicle outages, allowing officers to remain in the field. His skillful diagnostic work and rapid turnaround times have been crucial in keeping the fleet available -  and saves the department both time and resources. But beyond his technical skills, he is known for his positive attitude, strong work ethic and willingness to step up whenever needed. He communicates clearly, explains repair needs in practical terms and works collaboratively to ensure the fleet’s needs are prioritized appropriately. He embodies the quiet excellence of State service, consistently delivering high-impact work that supports both CHP’s mission and CalSTA’s vision for a safer, more efficient transportation system for all.