TxDOT Innovator of the Year Award
Innovative Transportation in Texas
Nominations for TxDOT's 2026 Innovator of the Year are open
Tell us how the entry satisfied key criteria to help our panel of judges evaluate the nomination.
Nominate an innovatorThe 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 2026 award, which will be announced during the Texas Innovation Invitational in Allen, Texas, on June 15 – 17, 2026.
How to nominate an innovator
Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 1, 2026.
Download and complete the nomination form and email it to TxDOT Innovative Transportation by the deadline.
Eligibility
All TxDOT staff are eligible for nomination. Projects, ideas, or programs described in the nomination should have occurred between January 1 – December 31 of the previous year.
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.
TxDOT Innovators of the Year past winners
2025 - William McLane
William McLane, Director of Transportation Operations in the San Angelo District, received the 2025 Innovator of the Year award from Erika Kemp, Director of the Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Division, at the Texas Innovation Invitational on June 18, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas.
William McLane, Director of Transportation Operations for TxDOT’s San Angelo District (SJT), was named the 2025 TxDOT Innovator of the Year for innovations that advanced safety, operations, and workplace culture at SJT. His team’s work includes solar-powered ITS cameras on I-10, enhanced impact sensors for faster incident response, and PokéDOT cards that boost communication, recognition, and morale among field staff.
2023 - Edgar Cuellar and Taya Retterer
L-r: Graham Bettis; Edgar Cuellar; Taya Retterer; Robert Owens; Marc Williams, TxDOT Executive Director at Short Course 2023 in College Station.
Mr. Cuellar and Ms. Retterer of the Bridge Division accepted the 2024 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 nominations are submitted by completing a nomination form and emailing it to Innovative Transportation in Texas.Â
If you have any issues with submittal of the form, please email Innovative Transportation in Texas.
The judging panel typically consists of five members of TxDOT’s Leadership, representing the areas of Program Delivery, District Operations, Engineering and Safety Operations, and Planning and Administration.Â
The winner of the 2026 award will be announced during the Texas Innovation Invitational event in Allen, Texas, on June 15-17, 2026.