President's Update - July 2026
Posted by [email protected] on Jul. 20, 2026 / Mountain District Executive Update / Subscribe
Mountain District Members - this month we are happy to share a report of the 2026 Annual Meeting of our District provided by our Local Arrangement Committee Chairs:
Local Arrangements Committee Report
Flagstaff, Arizona was the place to be June 10–12, 2026, as transportation professionals from across the world (as far away as New Zealand!), gathered for the ITE Mountain District Annual Meeting to enjoy one of the "coolest" places in Arizona during the hot summer months. With almost 400 attendees and a robust program of technical sessions, tours, and networking events, we highlighted the great work being done by our members. As a bonus this year, we celebrated the centennial of Route 66, creating excitement about both the past and the future of transportation. From keynote speakers to in-depth discussions on innovations in mobility and safety, the meeting was a testament to the strength and forward-thinking spirit of our community of transportation professionals.
Highlights included:
- The annual Student Leadership Summit, with 40 students in attendance
- An inspiring keynote address from Jennifer Toth, Arizona DOT Director
- The annual First-Timers Welcome event, coordinated by the DEI Committee
- A well-attended Vendor Reception to open our exhibit halls, with nearly 30 booths featuring the latest services and products in the industry
- The very popular and competitive Annual Meeting Cornhole Tournament, where prizes included custom bean bags featuring our awesome conference logo
- Informative plenary session presentations by Gordon Meth, ITE International President, and Seth Chalmers, Arizona ASCE History and Heritage Committee Chair
- ASCE National Historical Civil Engineering Landmark plaques celebrating the centennial of Route 66 being presented to the City of Flagstaff
- A technical tour of the City of Flagstaff Sign and Signal Shop and a Historic Route 66 Walking Tour
- A strong technical program with over 50 technical sessions presented by over 70 speakers during the three-day meeting
- The official unveiling of our new District, Section, Chapter and Student Chapter logos at the Annual Business Meeting
- A thrilling Student Traffic Bowl that came down to the final question, with the University of Arizona bringing home the trophy to Arizona for the first time
- An extremely well-attended Family Night at the Lowell Observatory and Discovery Center, where everyone enjoyed stargazing and the many exhibits and attractions, including an indoor slide
- Jenny Grote was recognized for her many years of dedicated service with the ITE Mountain District Bedrock Award
- Celebrating the many accomplishments of our student and professional members from across the District during our Annual Awards Luncheon
These events and highlights were only possible thanks to the contributions of the 20 dedicated members of the Flagstaff Local Arrangements Committee, who donated countless hours over the past two years to ensure that this meeting was a success. We would also like to extend our thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors, without whom these annual meetings would not be possible. In addition to providing valuable financial support, they provide opportunities to learn about the latest products and technical services that allow us to do what we do as transportation professionals: helping ensure that everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.
We hope you enjoyed your visit to Arizona’s high country, where you learned that not all of Arizona is a scorched desert landscape, enjoyed being nestled within the largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest in the world, and marveled at the wonder of the cosmos during an evening at the Lowell Observatory and Discovery Center in the world’s first International Dark Sky City. Flagstaff stands as a year-round sanctuary where rugged Southwestern beauty meets cosmic wonder and provided a unique backdrop for this year’s ITE Mountain District Annual Meeting. We’re already looking forward to gathering again next year, so mark your calendars for June 13-16, 2027, where we will be joined by our fellow members from the ITE Western District in Reno, Nevada!
David Lucas and Ellie Volosin
ITE Mountain District 2026 Annual Meeting LAC Co-Chairs
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