In 2011, Jennifer Portanova’s goal in attending the Operations Academy was to apply all the new information she could to her job as a traffic engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). She completed the courses and returned to her agency with a notebook full of new ideas and plans.
Since 2011, Jennifer has been promoted several times, ultimately landing in her current position as State Traffic Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Engineer for NCDOT. Her experience at the Operations Academy helped her grasp “the complete picture” for traffic operations.
Her experience in the program transformed her into a champion for implementing TSMO strategies at her agency, and the lessons she learned were the foundation of a much-needed, new TSMO strategic plan for NCDOT.
“I attribute all goals and plans of how to become a national leader in the area of TSMO to what I learned at the OA,” Jennifer said. “It’s taken us 12 years to get where we are today, but North Carolina is now a leader in TSMO.”
Changing her agency’s culture to include TSMO practices was a challenge, but the experience helped her grow personally and professionally. “I’ve been involved in helping develop NCDOT’s first transportation manual, among many other things, and I think it’s because I attended the OA and became part of the TSMO community and leadership,” she continued.
Although she attended the Academy over 13 years ago, Jennifer still regularly applies what she learned. She continues to refine and develop TSMO community and discipline, and has become a contributor to the TSMO industry, which is constantly evolving and maturing.
She constructed NCDOT’s strategic plan for the next 10 years based on what she learned in the program. Almost all the plans have been implemented, with a focus on new areas, and causing the program to grow over 200%.
“All this groundbreaking, forward movement and development has been made possible through the skills I acquired at the Operations Academy,” she said.
Another major advantage that came from her Operations Academy experience is access to the LISTSERV, which allows transportation industry professionals around the country to post questions or request information, and receive answers, guidance and support. Jennifer still learns something daily from consulting LISTSERV, and continues to network, communicate and gather useful information from her colleagues in other states.
She found a supportive community through the program, and together, they raise the TSMO standard in the industry.
“This is one of the reasons I’ve stayed in this area of my career,” she explained. “There’s a different mindset in operations than in design or planning. I found my people through the Operations Academy and I’ve stuck with it because I love the people and the discipline so much.”
