Staff spotlight: Patty Alstetter

Patty Alstetter joined the Illinois Center for Transportation as a research projects coordinator in April 2017. In her current capacity, Patty coordinates and monitors the ICT/IDOT research projects, making certain that project information for the ICT projects funded by the Illinois Department for Transportation (IDOT) is accurate and available to everyone who needs it.

“I update online databases, documents, and the ICT website with pertinent information like date changes, meeting action items, budget information, delays, milestones met, and reports published,” says Patty.

She also responds to queries from IDOT, principal investigators, and Technical Review Panel chairs, in addition to assisting with specific editorial and financial tasks.

Patty appreciates more than one aspect of her job, especially the fact that she started at the right time to jump right into the activity. “We had new projects starting and new research ideas being identified,” she says. “That, along with a new agreement with IDOT, has kept us very busy and challenged.”

Kristi Anderson, who leads ICT’s project management team, thinks that Patty’s previous experience and positive attitude has allowed her to quickly become a key contributor to the center. “Her willingness to assist with any task and ability to adapt to changing priorities have aided in the functionality of the project management team,” says Kristi. “It’s a pleasure to work with Patty!”

Before joining the ICT family, Patty had held a wide variety of jobs where she has focused on managing people or managing projects in technology fields. Her previous employers included US Cellular, Human Kinetics Publishing Company, and Amdocs, Inc.

Patty spends most of her time outside work with her two school-age boys. She is also part of two book clubs that provide her the opportunity to get together with friends and discuss interesting topics.