Maddie Woods Earns Sustainable Transportation Professional Accreditation
February, 2023
Otak has a tradition of lauding members of our staff who go above and beyond, earning certificates that prove their commitment to delivering new and innovative insights into projects. And when one of us does this in the name of sustainability, we’re especially excited to give them the kudos they deserve.
This is the case with Maddie Woods, who recently earned her Sustainable Transportation Professional accreditation.
Meet Maddie
Maddie joined Otak four and a half years ago as a Project Coordinator out of our Colorado office. Her early involvement with our Green Otak (GO) Committee and passion for sustainability saw her quickly ascend through the committee to oversee much of its operations. She was dubbed our official Sustainability Coordinator in Summer 2021, and played a key role in the development and implementation of our new Sustainability Action Plan. Maddie’s pursuit of sustainable transportation practices through Greenroads makes her even more of an asset.
What is Greenroads?
According to the Sustainable Transport Council, Greenroads is a rating system developed to measure and manage the sustainability of transportation projects. The rating system assesses sustainability across five core areas and twelve additional requirements for projects that want to be certified. This assessment tool aims to encourage the reduction of environmental impact and resource use of transportation projects as well as improvements in safety, mobility, and access.
Why Greenroads?
Maddie originally wanted this certification to aid in supporting Otak Projects, namely the Laporte Avenue Bridge Improvements project for the City of Fort Collins.
With Dan Beltzer as project manager of our structural group, and with support from Kevin Dooley for Transportation and Infrastructure, the client was interested in pursuing certification with the help of Otak, and sought to bring accredited professionals onboard the project. Maddie saw her opportunity to not only aid in serving the client, but also reinforce her credibility as a sustainability professional: “I was eager to learn more about transportation projects, and with Greenroad’s focus on doing that sustainably plus the influx of money coming to sustainable construction through the new Infrastructure Bill, resilient transportation is really the future.”
Going Beyond Business as Usual
When asked about how sustainable projects should be conducted in the future, Maddie had aspirations of sustainability being integrated into projects from the very beginning. She explains, “Business as usual often implies that sustainable choices are additional costs rather than necessary aspects of a project amidst a climate that is shifting. I’d like to see sustainable choices become business as usual.”
The Value Add
The principles behind Greenroads certifications truly are the future of transportation projects across the United States, and Maddie has certainly added value to every project she works on moving forward.
Otak is proud to have Maddie on our sustainability team, and her continued success in project work is a testament to how deeply committed she is to the practice.
Learn more about sustainability at Otak and how it’s a critical part of “Our Why.”