Idaho Transportation Department

Director – Scott Stokes
Scott Stokes, an Idaho Transportation Department veteran who joined the department in I992, became Director in late May 2022 after serving as Chief Deputy since 2007. Scott has served in several capacities, including as District Engineer in northern Idaho, and State Bridge Engineer early in his ITD career.As Chief Deputy, Stokes oversaw the divisions of Aeronautics, Motor Vehicles, Public Transportation, Emergency Management and highway bonding programs, and had primary responsibility for much of the department’s daily operations.Stokes was the co-Chair of the Strategic Safety Team, chairman of the Idaho Traffic Safety Commission, and was significantly involved in all facets of highway safety for the department. He is a leading advocate of the drive to achieve zero deaths on Idaho highways by promoting driver responsibility and accountability.

In support of ITD’s strategic goals, Stokes also is engaged in the department’s internal and external efforts to promote economic opportunity through transportation and to increase mobility for Idaho businesses and travelers.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Brigham Young University, and before ITD he worked for a private Idaho engineering firm for eight years developing community public works projects and regional commercial developments.

The Idaho Transportation Board announced Stokes as the next ITD Director on October 1, 2021, replacing Brian Ness as Director when Ness retired on May 28, 2022.

The Stokes name is revered at ITD, as Scott’s father, Eldon Stokes, was ITD’s maintenance foreman in the Salmon shed for decades, and was the department’s Maintenance Person of the Year during his tenure.

 

Chief Deputy | Chief Operations Officer – Dan McElhinney

Dan McElhinney became ITD’s Chief Deputy in late May 2022, replacing Scott Stokes in the position when Stokes ascended to Director. McElhinney became the department’s Chief Operations Officer after coming to ITD from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in August 2020 after 32 years there.

As the Chief Operations Officer, he provides leadership and support to the six District Engineers and district employees across the state in highway planning, design, construction, maintenance and traffic operations, helping to serve the traveling public and local communities.

Dan came to ITD with a wealth of experience. During his career, he dealt with many issues that the department is facing now such as rapid growth, innovative contracting and autonomous vehicles. He demonstrated a history of seeing tough projects through to the finish line, and bringing diverse stakeholder groups together.

At Caltrans, he had recently served as District 10 Director in Stockton, responsible for overseeing more than 3,500 lane miles in eight counties, leading 600 employees and managing a nearly $2 billion capital program asset management plan and an annual operating budget of more than $150 million. As District Director, Dan served as Commissioner on the Delta Protection Commission and as a Caltrans Ex-Officio member of the San Joaquin Regional Rail/Altamont Corridor Express Commission, the Stanislaus Council of Governments, and the San Joaquin Council of Governments. He previously served a six-year term as a Commissioner on the San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission (BCDC) and on the BCDC Sea Level Rise Policy Group.

Prior to accepting the District 10 position, Dan served as the San Francisco Bay Area District 4 Chief Deputy Director, where he was responsible for over 7,000 lane miles in nine counties for 16 years where he led more than 3,000 employees and had oversight for a construction program in excess of $10 billion during that time. Dan also served as the State Toll Bridge Program Manager. Previously he was a Deputy District Director/Principal Manager of the Caltrans North Region of 22 counties.

Dan is a licensed civil engineer who graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering, with Minors in Surveying and Metallurgy.

 

Chief Innovation Experience Officer – Brenda Williams
Brenda Williams brought an extensive background in human resources to the Idaho Transportation Department in October 2013 when she became the department’s Chief Human Resources Officer. She was the Area Human Resources Manager for Republic Services (formerly Allied Waste Services), in Salt Lake City, where she provided strategic leadership for multiple states. She achieved key business objectives in the areas of development, succession planning, and performance management. Republic is a Fortune 500 company that specializes in environmental services with 31,000 employees in 40 states, including Idaho.

Williams was also the Director of Human Resources for Comcast Corp., (formerly AT&T Broadband), in Salt Lake City, for multiple locations throughout the state. She was instrumental in driving employee engagement through management and employee action teams. Williams was promoted to the position after serving as Director of Staffing and Organizational Development for AT&T Broadband.

 

Chief External Affairs Officer – Mollie McCarty
Mollie McCarty was appointed to the Idaho Transportation Department’s executive team as the first Chief External Affairs Officer in November of 2021, after 23 years with the department in communication and governmental affairs positions. From 2008 to 2021, McCarty led the department’s policy and government relations efforts during several key transportation initiatives including Governor Otter’s 2011 Task Force on Modernizing Transportation Funding and the Idaho Legislature’s 2015 transportation revenue enhancement.

McCarty also served the department from 1998 to 2008 as Public Information Officer for the southwest Idaho district during the first and second construction stages of the WYE Interchange in the Treasure Valley. Prior to her service at the transportation department, McCarty managed public relations projects at advertising agency Elgin Syferd Drake (now Drake Cooper). She also worked in television and radio news broadcasting for 10 years, starting as a reporter and advancing to anchor. Her last seven years were in Boise at CBS affiliate KBOI TV.

McCarty holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, with a broadcast emphasis.

 

Chief Administrative Officer – Dave Tolman
Longtime ITD financial Controller Dave Tolman became the department’s new Chief Administrative Officer, replacing retiring Charlene McArthur. Tolman has worked in state government for 32 years, including the last 20 years with ITD as Controller. He will oversee the department’s Business and Support Management unit, plus Financial Services, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Internal Review.Tolman has been responsible for financial reporting, revenues, expenditures, payroll, and cost accounting. For the past two decades, Dave has been the finance lead for the GARVEE and TECM bonding programs and is knowledgeable in business processes and policies for all ITD programs.Beyond his role at ITD, Tolman currently serves on the State Controller’s Office Fiscal Policy Advisory Committee, Access Idaho Steering Committee for the State of Idaho, and AASHTO’s standing Committee on Funding and Finance. Nationally, he is well known for his financial acumen and is the sought-after expert in GARVEE bonding activities across the country.

Prior to joining the department, Dave worked for the Idaho Division of Financial Management and the Idaho State Controller’s Office. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Brigham Young University and a Masters of Business Administration from Boise State University.

Tolman steps in as the new CAO at a crucial time, providing valuable experience and guidance in the investment and utilization of additional funds provided by the Governor and Idaho Legislature to modernize Idaho’s transportation system and help deliver on an unprecedented program.