On Wednesday, October 25th, the WTS Boston Programs Committee will be hosting a panel of the MassDOT District Highway Directors, led by Chief Engineer Carrie Lavallee.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
UMass Club
1 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02108
Registration for this event will close on Monday, October 16th. No shows will be billed.
Carrie Lavallee, Deputy Administrator and Chief Engineer, MassDOT Highway
Carrie was responsible for MassDOT’s expanded capital program last year that included new Federal infrastructure funding and one of the largest investments in bridges in the Commonwealth’s history.
Over the last two decades, Carrie has served in multiple roles at MassDOT starting as a Project Designer and working her way up through Project Management. Previously, she served as the District 6 Project Development Engineer helping to develop solutions to some of the most complex transportation problems facing the Greater Boston area before becoming the Chief Engineer. Additionally, Carrie has been a longtime member of MassDOT’s Underwater Bridge Inspection Team performing inspections throughout Massachusetts. Carrie is a licensed professional engineer, a certified bridge inspector, an active member of WTS International, AASHTO committees and TRB committees, and holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Francisca Heming, District Highway Director, District 1
As District 1 Highway Director, working with 56 municipalities that make up District 1, Francisca oversees a near $100 million construction program providing safe and comfortable transportation options, the maintenance of 272 state-owned bridges, and 882 miles of state highway, including 153 lane miles on Interstate 90. Francisca oversees the management of near 200 District 1 staff engaged in the design, maintenance and construction of Highway Division projects and Facilities in her District. She has worked for MassDOT for near 30 years and held key positions such as District 2 Bridge Inspection Engineer, Assistant District Bridge Engineer, and District 1 Maintenance Engineer. Francisca is an active member of WTS Boston and Leads the Emerging Professional Program in the Mentoring Committee. She is also a member of ASCE and NSPE. She holds a BS in Civil Engineering - Building and Structures - from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, an EIT and a Master’s in Civil Engineering from Norwich University, Vermont.
Patty Leavenworth, District Highway Director, District 2
A graduate of Norwich University Military College of Vermont in Civil Engineering with a Master’s Degree in Civil from WPI, Patty is currently serving as MassDOT Highway Division’s District 2 Highway Director centered in Northampton. Patty has held various positions throughout her 36-year career including District 4 Highway Director, District 4 Operations Engineer, District 3 Construction Engineer, and the first woman Chief Engineer. As Chief Engineer, Patty worked to deliver an annual $1 Billion Construction program across 351 towns and cities across Massachusetts. She was also responsible for inspecting and maintaining thousands of road and bridge assets, including the Massachusetts Central Artery and Tunnel System. In her most recent role in District 2, Patty oversees all state highway road and bridge construction, maintenance, and project development within the Pioneer Valley, including working with communities to solve transportation safety issues, improve multi-modal opportunities and employ asset management strategies such as bridge inspection, investment planning, and life cycle analysis. Patty also enjoys helping staff with their professional development, strengthening communication with municipalities and other stakeholders and customers, and building individual and organizational GRIT.
Barry Lorion, District Highway Director, District 3
Barry Lorion has been with MassDOT since 1995 and the District 3 Highway Director since 2017. During his 28 year career with MassDOT, he has served in various capacities including District Environmental Engineer, District Traffic Engineer and District Operations Engineer. He has worked on several major projects including All-Electronic-Tolling on I-90, the Ken Burn Bridge Reconstruction on Route 9 over Lake Quinsigmond in Worcester and Shrewsbury, the reconfiguration of the Kelley Square intersection in Worcester, the I-90 Acceller-8 Bridge Replacement in Southboro and the I-495/I-90 Interchange Reconstruction Project in Hopkinton. Barry has a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Prior to joining MassDOT, Barry worked as a project manager/estimator for a local heavy/highway construction company.
Frank G. Suszynski P.E., Deputy District Highway Director, District 4
Frank joined MassDOT and its predecessor agencies in 1985. Throughout his career, he has worked in District 4 in a variety of roles, including as a Resident Engineer and Area Construction Engineer for 15 years. In 2000, Frank was selected to join the Route 3 North Project Team, to undertake the widening of Route 3 from I-95/Route 128 in Lexington to the New Hampshire border. The project was one of the Commonwealth’s largest single construction contracts, valued at $285 million, second at that time only to the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. The Route 3 North Project was the Agency’s first Design-Build Project. As the Project Lead, Frank was responsible for final approval of all design plans, contract payments, and decisions affecting the design and construction of the project. After successful completion of the Route 3 North Project, Frank returned to District 4 in 2006 and served as the District Project Development Engineer until he was promoted in 2019 to his current role as Deputy District 4 Highway Director. Frank graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1983 with a BS Degree in Civil Engineering. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth. Frank is a lifetime resident of the City of Somerville.
Mary Joe Perry, District Highway Director, District 5
Mary Joe has over 29 years’ experience working in the transportation public sector. As the District 5 Highway Director she is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of over 4000 lane miles of State Highway Infrastructure to include 1200 Bridges and 1733 ancillary structures. The District is comprised of 81 cities and towns in the counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Norfolk, Nantucket, and Plymouth, which occupies over 400 square miles of coastal communities in Southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the Islands. The District oversees $280 million dollars in construction projects, 400 staff in the areas of Operations, Bridges, Construction, Highway Maintenance, Project Development, and Administration. Mary Joe brings over 40 years of progressive public and private sector experience in the management of transportation operations and business acumen. She is well-versed in Intelligent Transportation Systems, Electronic Tolls Collection, Roadway Operations, Security and Emergency Management and Records Management and has built a solid reputation for applying practical solutions to business challenges. She holds bachelor’s in business management/Computer Science from Curry College and lives in Taunton Mass.
John McInerney, District Highway Director, District 6
Mr. McInerney has over 32 years of Public Sector experience spanning among the former Mass Highway Department, Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and currently with the DOT’s Highway Division. As Highway Director for District 6, Mr. McInerney oversees the management and operations of the District which encompasses 19 Cities and Towns within the greater Boston area including the Metropolitan Highway System which encompasses the major Tunnel systems, Air Rights facilities and associated facilities. The District is comprised of approximately 400 staff members with responsibilities including design, construction, maintenance and inspection of the District infrastructure as well as support to other agencies and municipalities.