The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department on Thursday named two deputy directors, one who will be its first chief operating officer and the other its new chief engineer.
Lorie Tudor, assistant chief engineer for planning, will be the agency's new deputy director and chief operating officer and Emmanual Banks, now the assistant chief engineer for operations, will be the new deputy director and chief engineer.
Tudor, 54, and Banks, 50, will officially assume their new positions Dec. 1, the department said in a news release.
"We are fortunate to have good leadership at the department and to be able to announce these promotions within our own ranks," department Director Scott Bennett said in the release. "I am confident both Lorie and Emanuel will do a great job in their new positions."
The chief operating officer post is a new position in the Highway Department and will make Tudor the agency's No. 2 official. Traditionally, the chief engineer has been the second in command.
Randy Ort, a department spokesman, said the new division of responsibilities reflects the importance of new federal requirements and the department's cash flow management.
Banks, who is the department's highest-ranking black employee, replaces Ralph Hall, who is retiring after 42 years with the department. He was named deputy director and chief engineer in January.
"We are very thankful for Ralph Hall's long, successful career and his many contributions to the AHTD," Bennett said. "We wish him well in retirement."
Tudor, the department's highest-ranking woman, joined the department in 1981. She has held various titles in planning, research and program management, including assistant division head and division head of programs and contracts, before becoming assistant chief engineer for planning in 2011. She will be paid $156,754 annually.
Tudor is an active member of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and is active on several association committees. She is a registered professional engineer.
Banks began his career with the department in 1987. He served as design engineer in roadway design, advanced construction field engineer, assistant resident engineer, resident engineer, staff construction engineer, district engineer and state construction engineer before becoming assistant chief engineer for operations in 2008. His salary as chief engineer will be $151,788.
He also is active in the highway officials' association and is a registered professional engineer.
As part of the shuffling of the department's senior management team, a position of assistant chief for administration has been created. That has yet to be filled. That position will report directly to Tudor.
The three assistant chief engineers will still report to Banks under the agency's new management arrangement. They are the assistant chief engineers for planning, operations and design.
Mike Fugett is the assistant chief engineer for design. Tudor's and Banks' old positions have yet to be filled.
Metro on 11/21/2014