Leadership Award
Ken Towcimak
Florida Department of Transportation
 This Award recognizes Ken Towcimak, Director, Office of Right of Way,
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), for his leadership. He
demonstrates vision, values and clearly defined expectations and
motivates employees by creating and sustaining an environment of excellence.
Director Towcimak is leading the FDOT Office of Right of Way on a journey
that can well be described as a quest for excellence. Mr. Towcimak began his
leadership of the Office of Right of Way with the initial task of refocusing the
staff 's procedures and practices, having inherited an operation with numerous
federal aid ineligibility notices. Under his leadership, the FDOT Office of Right
of Way became the first program to successfully pursue and implement a self
certification program. Implementing the self-certification program indicates
Mr. Towcimak's ability to achieve a clear commitment of staff and resources.
A further indication of his abilities are his successful efforts to create and
maintain a two-year comprehensive training program for entry-level right of
way professionals. Additionally, he created and maintains a two-year
comprehensive training program for appraisal staff. Also, as part of an ongoing training regimen, District
Managers are surveyed annually for professional development needs.
Mr. Towcimak is the FDOT Office of Right of Way's focal point to integrate right of way considerations in his
agency's culture. He currently is part of the FDOT team that is pursuing environmental streamlining initiatives with
federal, state and local government agencies. Mr. Towcimak also provides leadership at the national level through
his Chairmanship of the AASHTO Subcommittee for Right of Way and Utilities.
Leadership Honorable Mention Awards
Wyoming Department of Transportation
 This Award recognizes the Wyoming Department of
Transportation's Right of Way Program for leadership in
excelling and delivering despite challenging circumstances.
The challenge began in fiscal year 2001 when promotions and
retirements caused the Wyoming Department of Transportation's
Right of Way Program to lose half of its staff. During the Office's
efforts to restaff, the number of parcels acquired by the office
went up 80 percent between 2000 and 2001 and 180 percent
between 2000 and 2002. Not only did the parcels acquired
increase dramatically over a two-year period but the Right of Way
Department also met the challenge of delivering projects in the first part of the year rather than throughout the
customary full year.
As a result of teamwork, creativity and a clear commitment from the staff, the Wyoming Department of
Transportation's Right of Way Program met the challenges facing them and continues to accept and meet new
challenges.
Contributors:
Wyoming Department of Transportation - Right of Way Program
Woodrow Wilson Bridge Right of Way Management Team
 This Award recognizes Woodrow Wilson Bridge Right of Way
Management Team for the Team's ability to creatively meet challenges
and succeed through teamwork, innovation, and creative decisionmaking.
The Team coordinated and integrated right of way activities between the
Maryland State Highway Department (MDSHA), the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT) and other project partners.
The replacement of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is one of the largest
undertakings by both MDSHA and VDOT. In addition to numerous design,
environmental and construction issues, the project presented a multitude of
right of way issues. These issues included a relocation schedule reduced to
15 months and then compressed further to 11 months for the relocation of
400 families and 11 businesses in a historic part of Virginia.
The Right of Way Management team used a collaborative effort to ensure that right of way on the multi-billion
dollar bridge project was successfully delivered. The team crafted efficient, cost-effective solutions to meet the
challenges posed by the project and successfully partnered to meet these challenges.
Contributors:
William R. Bryant | Janis Gramatins | David R. Holsinger | Barbara A. Middleton | William G. Miller | Wanda S. Najjar | Murray C. Piper | Mamie Smith
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