Louisiana Transportation Research Center

The Driving Force

A transportation podcast produced by the Louisiana Transportation Research Center. Hosts Todd Blount and Garrett Wheat highlight what and who is driving change in Louisiana transportation.

Author

Louisiana Transportation Research Center

Category

Government

Podcast website

ltrc.lsu.edu

Latest episode

Jun 30, 2026

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Episodes

Episode 15: Louisiana Aviation with Josh Duplantis & Heather Henson 01.07.2025

In this special edition of The Flying Force , Todd and Garrett are joined by Josh Duplantis and Heather Henson of Louisiana DOTD's Aviation Group to explore all things aviation, including facilities, safety, emerging technologies, and more. You won't want to miss a minute of this fascinating conversation!

Episode 14: Louisiana Ports with Julia Fisher-Cormer & Molly Bourgoyne 17.06.2025

On this special episode of The Connecting Force , we begin a three-part series featuring members of DOTD's Multimodal Commerce Group . Today we interview OMC Commissioner Julia Fisher-Cormier and Director of Ports Molly Bourgoyne to learn more about the critical importance and practical operations of Louisiana's extensive port system.

Episode 13: Corey Mayeux 03.06.2025

Corey Mayeux , LTRC's Technology Transfer Engineer, joins Todd and Garrett to take our listeners on every LTRC project's journey from initial concept to completed research to final publication. Corey's unique background as both a transportation researcher and a technical editor make this a fascinating conversation!

Episode 12: Patrick Mehaffey 20.05.2025

Patrick Mehaffey , LTRC's Audio-Visual Manager, joins Todd and Garrett on this episode for a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and tools LTRC utilizes to provide world-class transportation training to thousands of men and women every year.

Episode 11: Innovative Procurement with Anna Hanks, Morgan Kelley, & Tim Nickel 06.05.2025

Three members of DOTD's Innovative Procurement group- Anna Hanks, Morgan Kelley , and Tim Nickel - join Todd and Garrett for a "crash course" on how their team is pursuing creative solutions to finance and execute road, bridge, and other infrastructure projects across Louisiana.

Episode 10: Patrick Frazier, Hannah Boggs, & Will Ritter 22.04.2025

Three members of LTRC's Internal Training Team- Patrick Frazier, Hannah Boggs , and Will Ritter - join Todd and Garrett to share more about their important work with DOTD construction personnel across Louisiana, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness. LTRC | Facebook | Linktree

Episode 09: Rebecca Rizzutto 08.04.2025

Rebecca Rizzutto , LTRC's External Training Director, joins Todd and Garrett to for an engaging conversation about our ongoing outreach initiatives to Louisiana's K-12 educators, specifically the acclaimed AASHTO Stem Outreach Solutions program.

Episode 08: LTC 25 Recap with Mark Chenevert 25.03.2025

The 2025 Louisiana Transportation Conference is in the books! On this episode, DOTD’s Contract Services Administrator, Mark Chenevert, joins Todd and Garrett to discuss several highlights from this year’s conference, as well as the reasons he looks forward to participating each time it is offered.

Episode 07: Courtney Dupre & Haley Ortiz 11.03.2025

Two members of Louisiana's Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), Courtney Dupre and Haley Ortiz , join Todd and Garrett to discuss several exciting upcoming initiatives and opportunities for local transportation officials across Louisiana.

Episode 06: Emily Wolfe 25.02.2025

Emily Wolfe , LTRC's Public Information Director, joins Todd and Garrett for Episode 06 of The Driving Force. In their conversation, Emily reflects on over two decades of change and growth at LTRC, especially in the areas of communication and publications. She also highlights several upcoming training opportunities organized and hosted by the LTRC team.

Episode 05: Kirk Wales 11.02.2025

Kirk Wales, LTRC's Structured Training Program Manager and head of our Internal Training Team, joins Todd and Garrett to discuss how he and his team contribute to the workforce development efforts of DOTD's 4,000+ statewide employees. ⁠www.ltrc.lsu.edu⁠

Episode 04: Dr. Marcus Sylvas 28.01.2025

Dr. Marcus Sylvas, LTRC's Leadership Development Program Manager, joins Todd and Garrett to share how he is engaging and equipping hundreds of DOTD leaders across Louisiana through a series of development courses. www.ltrc.lsu.edu

Episode 01: Dr. Mary Leah Coco 14.01.2025

Dr. Mary Leah Coco , LTRC's Associate Director of Technology Transfer and Training, joins Todd and Garrett for the inaugural episode of The Driving Force . In their conversation, Mary Leah provides an overview of LTRC's expansive efforts to train the transportation workforce of Louisiana and beyond. www.ltrc.lsu.edu www.ltrc.lsu.edu/ltc_25

Episode 02: Stacey Wilton 14.01.2025

Stacey Wilton , LTRC's Education Outreach Program Manager, joins Todd and Garrett for the Episode 02 of The Driving Force . In their conversation, Stacey shares about two exciting programs providing hands-on experience and opportunities to rising young engineers across Louisiana. ⁠www.ltrc.lsu.edu⁠ ⁠www.ltrc.lsu.edu/ltc_25 www.ltrc.lsu.edu/co_op www.ltrc.lsu.edu/erdp stacey.wilton@la.gov

Episode 03: Dynah Capone 14.01.2025

Dynah Capone , Director of the Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), joins Todd and Garrett for Episode 03 of The Driving Force . In their conversation, Dynah provides an overview of how she and her LTAP team are engaging and equipping local government officials across Louisiana with transportation training opportunities and resources. ⁠⁠www.ltrc.lsu.edu⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.ltrc.lsu.edu/ltc_25⁠...

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