Kirk Steudle, director of Michigan Department of transportation (MDOT), reflects on the success of the 2018 ITS America Annual Meeting, which took place at the Cobo Center in Detroit (above) from June 4-7 – and he gives those who attended an insightful takeaway message.
“It’s been great having the Annual Meeting in Michigan,” said Steudle, who is director of MDOT. “The last time we had an industry event here in Detroit was in 2014, which was hailed as one of the best World Congresses in the Americas. I’m hearing similar comments about this Annual Meeting and about how we’ve set the bar quite high for future annual meetings and what the expectations should be.”
“In keynote sessions, information from across the country, and in some cases internationally, has been shared – and people have been so engaged,” he said.
“There’s also been so much energy as I’ve walked through the exhibitor hall and there is lots of business-to-business going on, which is really is important to me.
“I also take my hat off to the MDOT staff who’ve been working at the event. They’ve been tremendous.”
“Winning the Hall of Fame Award [at the ITSA Board of Directors Meeting on June 4] is humbling,” Steudle said. “Being on the board of directors, I too voted for people and I know of all the individuals who were considered in that category as potential winners. It truly was an honor to win.”
“Hopefully those who have attended the Annual Meeting have enhanced their networks,” Steudle said. “I encourage them to continue to build upon and strengthen their new connections after they have left the event.
“If they’re new and they’re just starting out, they should understand that there’s a huge amount of people working toward the same vision,” he advises. “If they’re senior in their career and they’re networking, they have a responsibility to mentor. They need to help others along and help them to understand that this industry will do great things for the future.”
