Engineer of the Year 2010

Joe began his career in 1978 as a Cartographic Technician with the NYSDEC but was then promoted a year later to Cartographic Technician 2 in the NYSDOT’s Main Office, and began using the Department’s first Computer Aided Design System to create digital maps, this being the beginning of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He also took computer science classes at UAlbany during this time. In 1981, Joe was promoted to a Professional Cartographer title and was directly responsible for the quality of the Department’s digital maps and maintaining the databases. Joe became a CE1 in Region 1’s Planning Group in 1983 and was responsible for implementing the first personal computers in the Region. In 1985, he transferred to Region 8 to work in the Traffic Engineering and Safety Group, and continued his education at Westchester Community College in Engineering Science. Joe was promoted to a Senior Transportation Analyst in 1992 in the Planning and Program Management Group before being assigned Region 8’s first GIS Coordinator in 1995. In 1998, Joe obtained his Professional Engineering license and was promoted to CE2 to manage the Region’s GIS Group in Design. Joe then transferred to the Maintenance Group in 2002 where he still remains. He started out as the Assistant Regional Transportation Engineer, became the Resident Engineer of Columbia County in 2005, and in 2007, he was promoted to his current position of Resident Engineer of Putnam and Southern Dutchess Counties.

Joe joined NYSATE in 1985 and has been a very active member ever since. He regularly attends dinner meetings, conferences, and has participated in Section 8’s Road Rallye, Adopt-a-Highway cleanups, and Charity Softball games and has attended various Section 8 sponsored educational trips. He has cooked, served, and cleaned at Section 8’s Annual BBQ the past 4 years and was a member of the EOY Selection Committee from 1994-1996. Joe was also Chair of Section 8’s Day of Golf Committee from 1993-2002, and continued as a Committee member until 2005. Joe was a member of the Sports and Golf Committee for both the 1997 and 2008 NYSATE Annual Conferences hosted by Section 8.

Joe and his wife, Lisa, own a 50 acre “hobby” farm (and a “fleet” of equipment to support it) in Dutchess County which they manage as open space for wildlife and recreational activities, as well as managing the existing wood lots for use as home heating fuel. They have hosted outings for underprivileged NYC children and recently have become members of the Willow Brook Trail Riders Association allowing them use of their land for horse back riding. Joe is also co-owner of his family farm in Ulster County that was, up until 2006, one of the last remaining dairy farms in the area. Joe has a strong commitment to maintaining open space and agriculture so he has resisted economic pressure to develop both properties and plans to continue to do so.

Joe and Lisa are also active members of the Town of Clinton’s Historical Society, are members of their local Parish, and are constantly active in various charity fund-raising athletic events. Joe has also enjoyed playing volleyball and basketball on a weekly basis over the last 25 years with a large number of current and former DOT employees and NYSATE members.

Past Engineer's of the Year:

• 2009, Thomas Weiner
• 2008, Keith R. Faucher
• 2007, Jean Gunsch