About the Program

The WASHTO Emerging Leaders Program is designed to increase the leadership skills of high-performing employees who aspire to senior positions in transportation agencies.

The program has ­five goals:

  1. To improve leadership skills and knowledge
  2. To provide training for future leaders
  3. To build team-building skills
  4. To provide networking opportunities with people in other WASHTO states
  5. To provide mentors to help the emerging leaders grow and succeed in their careers

Before my WASHTO Emerging Leader Training, I didn’t see myself as a leader.  The program helped me see my true potential.  In my career at the Utah DOT I’ve done a good job of building roads and bridges, but now I want to do a better job of building people.  Thanks for showing me the vision of great leadership!

– Sam Grimshaw, Utah

Each WASHTO member state may nominate two people to participate in the two-year Emerging Leaders Program. Travel for the Emerging Leaders Program consists of two WASHTO Annual Conferences and two events that occur outside of the WASHTO Annual Conference.

WASHTO will cover the $2,800 cost of each participant who attends the two events that occur outside of the WASHTO Annual Conference for the 2018 to 2020 Emerging Leaders Program, a total of $100,800 for 36 participants from 18 states. This includes the cost of lodging, daytime meals, transportation to and from airport, incidentals, training materials, and activities.

The WASHTO member state will cover the cost of airfare or mileage for the two events that occur outside the WASHTO Annual Conference, and the travel and registration fees for two WASHTO Conferences that occur during the Emerging Leaders Program.