Newsmaker: Eric Ankney

Noteworthy: Ankney received the Star of Excellence Award, the highest recognition for employees of the state Department of Transportation. Thirty recipients statewide were honored at an awards luncheon at the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg on May 11. PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards estimated the winners collectively saved taxpayers more than $8.6 million due to their efforts.

Age: 47

Residence: Donegal Township.

Family: Wife, Tammy; two daughters, Erica, 20, and Samantha, 13

Education: Ligonier Valley High School

Occupation: Highway foreman II for PennDOT District 12, which includes Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Before joining PennDOT in 1995, he worked for his father's trucking company, based in Rector, and for Derry Construction.

Background: PennDOT officials said Ankney, who oversees highway maintenance and repair projects in Fayette County, is a creative problem-solver who keeps job quality and cost savings as his top priorities. “Being a highway foreman in the field requires a leader with a level head who is able to analyze multiple situations across a large geographic area, and make split second decisions to protect and enhance the safety of the traveling public. Eric Ankney is just such a leader,” PennDOT officials said in announcing the award. Ankney saved the district $70,000 by efficiently managing the supplies and man hours for his seal coat crew.

Quote: “I didn't even know I was that far under cost,” he said. “That's just how we got the job done.” Ankney said the credit deserves to be shared: “I got the award, but a lot of it has to do with the guys on the crew.”