TDOT Civil Rights Office Honored with National Awards
TDOT Director Selected to Chair Civil Rights Council

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is proud to announce that its Civil Rights Office has earned two awards from the Southern Transportation Civil Rights Executive Council. The awards were announced at the recent 2007 Southern Transportation Civil Rights Training Symposium, comprised of eight southern states.

“I am extremely proud of everyone working in our Civil Rights Office,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “They have made great strides in improving all areas associated with civil rights, and have taken our programs to the level they are now – award winning.”

The 2006 Best Practices Award was presented to the TDOT Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, which serves as an administrative advisory committee to TDOT’s Civil Rights Office Affirmative Action Program. Under the leadership of the Affirmative Action Program Director, Sherree Y. Hall, this group has been instrumental in reviewing and contributing to the development of the program, with a primary focus on problems and solutions.

The 2006 Superior Accomplishment Award in a Non-Supervisory Role was presented to Lee Rice, an Affirmative Action Specialist in the TDOT Civil Rights Office. This award is given to an individual who has clearly demonstrated ethical leadership, integrity, pride and excellence. Mr. Rice was instrumental in the implementation of TDOT’s External Equal Employment Plan.

In addition, Cammie Davenport Woodle, Executive Director of the TDOT Civil Rights Office, was named Chair of Southern Transportation Civil Rights Executive Council for the next two years.

“Our staff has made, and will continue to make, considerable contributions in the field of Civil Rights and Affirmative Action,” said Davenport Woodle. “These awards are proof that TDOT is setting an example for other states in the southeast to follow.”

The mission of the Civil Rights Office is to ensure equal employment opportunity within TDOT, to level the playing field of disadvantaged business enterprises by promoting and providing opportunities to participate on TDOT projects/activities and to plan, implement and provide guidance to prevent discrimination in federal aid programs and activities.