TxDOT Innovator of the Year Award

2025 Texas Innovation Invitational

Nominations for TxDOT's 2025 Innovator of the Year are open!

Tell us how the entry satisfies key criteria to help our panel of judges evaluate the nomination.

The TxDOT Innovator of the Year Award promotes TxDOT’s culture of innovation by providing TxDOT staff with a way to recognize fellow employees who have turned their ideas into solutions and implemented innovative projects that help TxDOT address high-level challenges.

Nominations are now open for the 2025 award, which will be announced during the Texas InnovationInvitational in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 16-18, 2025.

How to nominate an Innovator of the Year

Nominations are due on May 2, 2025

TxDOT staff can download and complete thenominationform and email it to Innovative Transportation in Texas by the deadline.

Eligibility

All TxDOT staff are eligible for nomination. For 2025, the projects, ideas, or programs described in the nomination should have occurred between January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.

Evaluation Criteria

All nominations will be judged on the four Innovator of the Year Award criteria: Impact, Innovation, Performance Measures, and Originality.

Detail the individual’s initiative in developing or advancing an innovation project/idea/program.

Describe the individual’s creativity and “outside of the box” thinking and methodology used to move the innovation project/idea/program forward.

Explain how this innovation helps TxDOT achieve its goals and/or enhance employee engagement.

Describe the originality associated with the project/idea/program and how it differs from other processes, programs, technologies, or assets used within TxDOT.

Past winners

2023 TxDOT Innovators of the Year - Edgar Cuellar and Taya Retterer

TxDOT Innovators of the Year at the 2023 Short Course in College Station (l-r): Graham Bettis; Edgar Cuellar; Taya Retterer; Robert Owens; Marc Williams, TxDOT Executive Director. Edgar Cuellar and Taya Retterer of the Bridge Division won the 2023 Innovator of the Year award for outstanding initiative and creative implementation of 3D bridge models. Their innovation helps accelerate project delivery and greatly improves the bridge design process at TxDOT. — L-r: Graham Bettis; Edgar Cuellar; Taya Retterer; Robert Owens; Marc Williams, TxDOT Executive Director.

Mr. Cuellar and Ms. Retterer of the Bridge Division at Short Course 2023 in College Station accepting the Innovator of the Year award for outstanding initiative and creative implementation of 3D bridge models. Their innovation accelerates project delivery and improves the bridge design process at TxDOT.

Frequently asked questions

All TxDOT staff are eligible to submit a nomination for this award.

All 2025 nominations should be entered by completing a nomination form and emailing it to Innovative Transportation in Texas by May 2, 2025.

If you have any issues with submittal of the form, please email Innovative Transportation in Texas.

The 2025 judging panel consists of five members of TxDOT’s Leadership, representing the areas of Program Delivery, District Operations, and Planning and Administration.

The winner of the 2025 award will be announced during the Texas Innovation Invitational event in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 16-18, 2025.