From Volunteers to Leaders: Building a Supportive Committee Environment

AASHTO re:source Q & A Podcast

What's the secret to engaging volunteers and fostering a supportive, inclusive committee environment? Find out as we welcome Matt Linneman, Chief Engineer for North Dakota DOT and Chair of the Committee on Materials and Pavements (COMP), along with AASHTO liaison Casey Soneira. We discuss effective volunteer engagement, from creating psychological safety to micro-engagements that encourage wider participation. They share thoughts on succession planning, the balance between industry and academic leadership roles, and future committee initiatives, including shifts in meeting formats to boost peer exchanges and best practice sharing. This conversation underscores the importance of stakeholder involvement and the challenges of managing a 6,000-page annual publication filled with detailed materials standards. Whether you're a state volunteer, industry member, or academic, this episode offers a treasure trove of insights into the workings of COMP, now and for years to come.
Read this episode's companion article or watch the video on YouTube.

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Related information on this and other episodes can be found at aashtoresource.org.

Capitole

1. From Volunteers to Leaders: Building a Supportive Committee Environment (00:00:00)

2. Materials and Pavements Committee Overview (00:00:03)

3. Volunteer Leadership Responsibilities and Strategic Planning (00:07:03)

4. Committee Steering and Volunteer Engagement (00:13:16)

5. Effective Volunteer Engagement and Involvement (00:26:10)

6. Building Relationships and Future Initiatives (00:35:06)