The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is redefining how strategic communications can help drive project delivery, public trust, and organizational performance by integrating these elements into the TDOT Project Delivery Network (PDN). As Tennessee Undergoes rapid growth, TDOT has paired engineering innovation and project management discipline with a proactive communications strategy that helps anticipate project needs for public engagement, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and enables messaging alignment across all audiences. TDOT ‘s “Gold Star Communications Program” reflects a framework that embeds communications from the earliest stages of project development through final delivery. This session will share practical strategies for treating communications as a core discipline— one that reduces conflict, accelerates projects, and deepens stakeholder confidence. Attendees will gain a scalable roadmap for integrating communications into project delivery, aligning messaging with leadership priorities, and building a more transparent, proactive, and trustworthy transportation agency.

Speakers:
James Kelley, P.E., TDOT, Chief of Program Delivery
Cary Martin, TDOT, Bureau Chief of Communications and Legislative Affairs