Driving down the highway, you look up and see an electronic sign that tells you there’s a wreck ahead. Now, do you ever think about the fact someone not only installed it and connected it to a communications system to deliver that message, but also has to maintain and trouble-shoot that sign and the entire system? Meet Josh Winn, North Central Region’s newest addition to the signals and electronics team. They’re responsible for everything from traffic signals, to road weather stations, to web cameras to those electronic signs. Josh joined the Wenatchee based crew after a 5 year apprenticeship through the IBEW and a total of 13 years working for a local electrical contractor. Josh worked the construction side of many WSDOT ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) Projects during that time and when the opportunity came at WSDOT, Josh took it. “My family is growing and I was ready to give up the weeks or months of travel contract work required. Being home most every night and getting holidays off is great,” says Josh.

He’s 33 and married to April, who traded teaching school for medical transcription she can do from home while waiting the last two months for 3 year old Brodi Jayne’s new little brother to arrive. “I’ll be home for this one!”

Officially on the job since Feb. 1 as a Transportation Systems Technician-C, Josh technically isn’t a permanent employee for a few more weeks. Is the job shaping up to be what he hoped for? Josh says, “I was familiar with the construction side, but I’m really enjoying learning the system maintenance and especially the trouble-shooting. Every day brings a new challenge.”

Featured Employee Listing