QUALIFICATIONS
For the past thirty four years I have been the Resident Engineer of the New York State Department of Transportation in Columbia County. This position has afforded me the opportunity to meet the Federal, State, County and Town officials and agencies. In my daily operations, I have worked with many of these officials and local industry, manufacturers, contractors and most important, the private individual.
As Resident Engineer I was responsible for:
• Year round maintenance of roads, bridges and all related State Maintenance facilities in Columbia County. I planned and directed all maintenance projects in the County. I reviewed and inspected all the roads in my jurisdiction as to their condition and take prompt action to remedy all unsafe conditions that may develop. I had major input into the Region for reconstruction of existing highways, bridges, and related facilities in Columbia County. We maintained an updated training program for all personnel and conduct ongoing safety and OTETA programs. I maintained a current inventory of the various material and equipment for Construction and Maintenance and prepared and arranged purchasing and delivery so that the planned work could proceed without delay.
• Complete financial control of all funds available for highway maintenance and establish and control procedures to protect the State and to expend these funds legally and economically.
• Compilation of all personnel, administrative records and files in the Columbia County Residency. I was the first stage supervisor to handle all grievances that occured in the Residency.
• Developed a schedule system in the Residency that became the model for other Residencies in the New York State Department of Transportation. This scheduling system gave us better supervision of personnel and equipment with increased productivity.
• Planned, directed and inspected Snow and Ice operations in Columbia County. Worked closely with the County Superintendent of Highways on our County Snow and Ice Agreements.
• As Resident Engineer I was ready at all times to direct operations caused by sudden emergencies; storms, floods, vandalism, fires and structural collapse. I was on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
• Direct contact with local officials, residents and the traveling public. In Columbia County the Department of Transportation was judged by my personal commitment, attitude and actions.
• Put into effect the recommendations of the Regional Transportation Maintenance Engineer, Regional Planning Engineer, Regional Construction Engineer, Regional Equipment Engineer, the Regional Traffic Engineer, the Regional Real Property Officer, Regional Personnel Officer, and the Administrative Officer as directed by the Regional Director of Transportation and the Commissioner of Transportation.
EDUCATION
College Program: 
Graduate of University of Cincinnati in 1961 - Co-op Engineering
Degree:Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
High School:Chatham High School. Graduated in 1955
Grammar School:Austerlitz Grammar School
SPECIAL TRAINING
•Professional Engineer on May 25, 1966. License #PE 042821.
•Bridge Inspectors Training Course, U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration - December 31, 1976.
•Bridge Inspectors Training Course certificate from the New York State Department of Transportation - October 8, 1976.
•Effective Discipline - November 7, 1974.
•Effective Employment Interviewing - October 16-17, 1980.
•Supervisory Briefing on Employee Assistance Program - October 23, 1980.
•Supervisory Orientation to the C.S.E.A. State Revised Performance Evaluation Program - October 27, 1980.
•Training in Time and Attendance Rules and Procedures - June 9, 1981.
•Performance Evaluation Training Part II - September 1, 1981.
•Executive Stress and Conflict Management - November 23-25, 1981.
•Functional Requirements of Highway Safety Features - March 9, 1982.
•Sexual Harassment Intervention Program for Managers - December 21, 1982.
•Defense of Claims Training for Regional Highway Maintenance Employees - June 15, 1983.
•Supervisor Safety Seminar - January 12-14, 1983.
•Management Tools for the Public Sector Manager - January 31-February 4, 1983; October 31-November 2, 1983.
•Human Resources Management - September 20-23, 1983.
•Effective Presentations - October 18-23, 1983
•Management Information Systems - December 13-16, 1983.
•Managing Finance & Legal Issues - January 17-20, 1984.
•Labor Relations - February 14-17, 1984.
•Communications in Management - March 6-9, 1984.
•Payroll & Personnel - March 18, 1985.
•Management Development Institute for Engineers, Sterling Institute's Careers in Management - March 26-29, 1985.
•Investigations Training - Part I - March 20, 1986.
•Investigations Training - Part II - April 1-3, 1986.
•Witness Training - August 7, 1986.
•Culvert Inspection Training - February 18-19, 1988.
•Aids Training for Managers, Supervisors and Union Officials - July 20, 1988.
•The Technical Manager - March 20-21, 1989.
•Rock Slope Inspection Training - May 16, 1989.
•Single Engine Excavator Evaluation - September 18-20, 1989.
•Labor-Management Conference - November 13-16, 1989.
•Examiner - Equipment Operator Instructor Exams - October 1989.
•Labor-Management Seminar - Labor Management Responsibilities in Counseling and Discipline - November 9, 1989.
•Presenter, Maintenance Management Orientation Seminar - December 13, 1990.
•Avoidable Claims Training - February 14, 1990.
•Winter Maintenance Seminar - October 23, 1990.
•Transforming Work Groups into High Performance Teams - May 5, 1994
•Performance Management Workshops - March 16, 1995
•Supervisors Training for Drug and Alcohol Testing - March 27, 1995
•How to Handle Difficult People - May 18, 1995
•Problem Solving for Managers - November 29-30, 1995
•Business Re-Engineering (Streamlining for Survival) - January 9, 1996
•Portraits of Customer Service in NYS - 4/10/1997
•ICS (Incident Command System) - 5/11/1997
•ADA Training - 8/14/1997
•Linking Strategic Planning to Performance Measures - October 8, 1997
•Recognition : Celebrating What’s Right About Employees - 3/17/1998
•Ohio Gets Results Using Total Quality Management - 5/14/1998
•Managing Conflict - 11/6/1999
•Leadership Training - Design Division - 4/25/2000
•Sexual Harassment Intervention Program - 5/4/2000
•Lessons in Leadership - Brave New Workplace - 11/15/2000
•Leadership IQ - 1/24/2001
•Consensus Building: Critical Techniques for Getting to Yes - 2/15/2001
•Using Powerful Conversations Effectively - 3/1/2001
•OZ Principle: Getting Results for Accountability - 3/23/2001
•NYS Leadership & Accountability Conference - 5/23/2001
•Lessons in Leadership - the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - 8/8/2001
•Practical Skills for Supervisors - 8/15/2001
•Eastern Winter Road Maintenance Symposium - 9/5/2001
•Recruitment & Selection - 2/8/2002
•Employee Assistance Program Supervisory Training - 8/22/2002
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO LAUNCH OF VIENI ASSOCIATES, Inc.
Firm:New York State Department of Transportation
Location: Columbia County Residency, Hudson, New York
Duration: December 5, 1968 to March 30, 2003
Description: Responsible for the operation and maintenance of all State Highways and related facilities in Columbia County. My staff included one Assistant, one TOA II, one KBS I, and a staff that fluctuated from 55 to 90 employees. In the past years between three and six engineers from other program areas within the Department were assigned to the Residency under my supervision. I designed and reviewed various projects throughout the county.
Firm:New York State Department of Transportation
Electronic Data Processing (EDP)
Location: Albany, New York
Duration: November 24, 1966 to December 4, 1968
Description: In charge of all bridge and culvert programming for New York State Bridge Design Bureau. Was liaison from EDP Bureau to the Main Office Bridge Department and all Regional Bridge Departments throughout the state. While serving in this area, I was involved with the "BEST TIES" Program. This was a joint venture between the Federal and State governments in development of total integrated bridge design system. The project we presented was a five span bridge, completely designed and plotted from beginning and end stationing, utilizing an electronic computer and improved photogrammetric equipment techniques on graphic display devices. A meeting was held April 16 and 17, 1968, with representatives of the fifty states and several other countries to present the results. This meeting afforded me the opportunity to lecture on my expertise on the abutment design program that was an integral piece of the total integrated system. It also afforded me the opportunity to meet with the heads of the Bridge Design managers of the fifty states and other countries.
Firm: New York State Department of Transportation
Main Office Bridge Dept.
Location: Albany, New York
Duration: July 1962 to November 24, 1966
Description: Began as a Junior Engineer. Was promoted to Assistant Civil Engineer. While in the Bridge Department was involved in detailing and designing bridges in various locations throughout New York State. During this tenure I gained valuable experience in Bridge Design and Inspection, implementing the use of a sloped abutment footing to prevent sliding of structure.
Firm:John Clarkson Consulting Engineers
Location: Albany, New York
Duration: July 7, 1961 to July 26, 1962
Description: Junior Engineer working on Northway project from Clifton Park to Malta. Worked on drainage and inspection of concrete pavement for the first six months. Second six months worked on a pile driving rig for the foundations on all bridges in the section of the Northway from Malta to Saratoga. Gained valuable experience on construction procedures during this time.
Firm: New York State Department of Transportation
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Duration: Co-Op Program from June 21, 1956 to January 4, 1961
Description: Student Engineering Technician as a Co-Op student at the University of Cincinnati. I spend my training period with the Department of Transportation at that time known as the Department of Public Works out of Region 8. Joe Murphy was instrumental in bringing me aboard and managing the Co-Op Engineering Program. I started as a rod man working my way through various positions in the survey party until I became party chief. As party chief I did right-of-way and stake-out survey for the Department. In my pre-Junior year as a Co-Op student, I became involved in inspection of various aspects of highway construction projects. I started as an inspector of simple culverts and worked my way into the Bridge Inspection program. My first position as Bridge Inspector was to take the slump test for concrete used in structures. I worked my way through various areas of inspection of structures. Finally, I was entrusted with the supervision of the complete bridge.
The five year Co-Op Engineering Program with the Department of Transportation gave me a great opportunity to become involved in many aspects of field inspection that are not ordinarily available to graduate students. It has given me a well-rounded education in my chosen field of engineering.
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS
• Upon Joseph J. Gleeson’s (Regional Highway Maintenance Engineer) retirement in July 1998, I was selected to be the Acting Regional Highway Maintenance Engineer for Region 8. During the course of my tenure there were many innovations that transpired.
• Initiation of the E-Team. The E-Team mission to embrace the Values of the Department of Transportation. E-Team signifies Embracing the Values of the Department of Transportation: People, Excellence, Customer Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Partnership. E-Team banners and awards were given to all members of the Highway Maintenance Division. E-Team banners were placed throughout the Region and Maintenance facilities.
• I initiated putting safety E-Team banners throughout the maintenance facility locations in Region 8, raising the conscious levels of employees to the safety concerns and to acknowledge how important they are to the Department.
• Initiated the purchasing of laptop computers for all HMS 2's and related training for all operational employees.
• In August 1999 I was the lead manager in dealing with a forest fire at West Point and had to initiate operational plans to handle the various fire conditions and the explosion of artillery shells that lay dormant on the firing range of West Point.
• In September and October 1999 during Hurricane Floyd, I was the lead person in the Region to handle this disaster. There was severe flooding and I had to coordinate with operational employees from other Regions and all Group Directors. I was the designated leader of the operation to restore the transportation system.
• I was involved in the Millennium Y2K preparedness for Highway Maintenance in Region 8.
• Compass. A precursor to Compass was STRET (supervisory training, regional evaluation team. STRET was formed in March of 1998 (Barbara Mattice, Pete Teliska, George Siletzky and myself) with the express purpose of finding better ways to prepare supervisors. STRET recognized early that change would require more than just training. In August 1998 with Phil Clarke’s approval, STRET canvassed to enlarge its membership to include at least one representative from each Group. In October, Mr. Clark changed STRET’s commission to evaluate the state of the region from a leadership perspective and to recommend a desired state. In December 1998 STRET changed its name to Compass to better reflect the change in overall mission. Compass has been a breeding ground for leadership improvement ideas, and has served as a sounding board for the Regional Director. Compass has been supportive of 3% meetings and building a sense of team within the 3%. Compass is currently engaged in leadership support activities to the Regional Director.
I then returned to the Columbia County Residency in October 1999.
Numerous times in my tenure as Resident Engineer, I have been called upon by the Director of the Transportation Maintenance Division, Mr. George M. Briggs, the first Director I worked for, and other Directors, to serve as:
• A member of the Scheduling Panel at the Statewide Resident Engineers meeting held in Glens Falls in November of 1972 presenting my comprehensive scheduling system of men and equipment for field operations.
• A member of the Equipment Advisory Board whose responsibility is to recommend types of equipment for purchasing in highway maintenance.
• I have also been involved with the development of procedures for Effective Maintenance Management of Equipment Up-Time, subsequent development of the R297 Equipment Utilization Form which is used statewide and is one of the key components for Evaluation Guides for Skills Demonstration. This manual is used for operator certification of equipment throughout maintenance operations.
• Conducted training program for Resident Engineers and other managers throughout the State on the R297 program.
• Presently, I am involved in the Maintenance Management Program and have worked on the development of the equipment portion of it. I am also a member on the standing statewide Highway Maintenance Equipment Committee.
• I was the team leader in the development and delivery of the Health Fairs held at the Residency from 1990-1994 at our facility in Hudson, N.Y.
• I have been an examiner for the Equipment Operator Instructors’ examinations held in 1989, 1996 and 2001.
• I have spoken at numerous Statewide Resident Engineers' meetings on leadership and its importance, maintenance programs and safety.
• I have been asked to make presentations periodically over the course of my 34 years, as new Resident Engineers came aboard, advising and coaching them in the development of leadership and high work performance in Residency operations.
• Since November 4, 1997, I have traveled to all the Regions in the state with the Snow University presenting an effective and efficient Snow and Ice Operational Plan to our operational supervisors and operators. I have presented motivational talks during the course of these presentations challenging our work force to strive for Excellence. The Snow University is an annual event held six times at various locations throughout the state.
• I have been a training instructor for Operational Supervisors and Crew Leaders since 1998, conducting Basic Supervision and Crew Leader Training in conjunction with the Regional Training Office.
• 1998 through 1999 I gave motivational talks to Region 8's Planning Group, Right-of-Way employees and Construction Engineers-in-Charge on striving for Excellence.
• On June 24 and 25, 1998, I spoke to Region 6 Group Directors and all Managers and Staff regarding personal responsibility, personal commitment, excellence, team, customer service (who is the customer), and accountability.
• In February 2000 and 2001, I made a snow and ice presentation to the Westchester County Superintendent’s of Highways at the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson. The thrust of the presentation was the development and implementation of an effective and efficient snow and ice operation.
• On May 18, 2000, I made a presentation to the Region 5 Safety Committee on Excellence in Safety. How important each person is to their family and the family of Highway Maintenance.
• On October 3, 2001, I was a presenter at the First Operational Employee Information Day for Region 4 held at the Batavia Holiday Inn. I gave a presentation to more than 100 operational employees on Striving for Excellence.
• On October 23, 2001, I made a presentation to more than 300 Region 5 employees at a Safety Conference in Buffalo, N.Y. on Striving for Excellence in Safety.
• On January 22, 2002, I made a presentation to the New York State County Highway Superintendent’s Association on Snow and Ice Control. The process of developing an effective and efficient high performance team in snow and ice operations.
• Due to the September 11, 2001 event, I was sent on September 13, 2001 to Ground Zero to assist in the operational rescue. On September 10, 2002, I was selected to represent the Department at the September 11 event as Honor Guard at the Ground Zero ceremony. (See memo to D. Currey - Attachment A)
• For the past three years, our Residency has been involved in the Columbia County Fair. I have been the team leader for this event which answers the question of Who, What, Where, When and How the E-Team in Columbia County operates to provide a safe and environmentally sound transportation system for all seasons of the year. (See Attachment B)
• On September 26, 2002, I will be a presenter at the Second Operational Employee Information Day in Region 4. This event will be held at the Burgundy Basin Inn in Pittsford, NY. My talk will be on Excellence. Excellence Required - Mediocrity Unacceptable.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
I am a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Hudson, NY and was the diocese representative for the eleven catholic churches in Columbia County. I met with Bishop Hubbard and the other representatives of the diocese approximately six times per year. I am the prayer group leader for the Gathering that meets at St. Mary’s Church on the first and third Wednesday of each month. We have conducted five United States Catholic Charismatic Conferences in Hudson, N.Y. I have been the leader and Chairman of these conferences. I am a Eucharistic minister of St. Mary’s Church in Hudson, N.Y. and have been so for the past twenty years. My wife and I have been involved in family ministry.
In 1968 as part of service to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philmont, NY, I was the engineer of the design team and chairman and worker of the volunteers in the construction of a 7500 ± square foot parish hall. Again, in 1984 in service to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, I was the chairman and worker of renovation on a 2500 square foot parish house.
I am past president of the Lions Club (1972/73), elected Lion of the Year in 1975/76 and also in 1976/77. I have held various positions in the Lions Club from Tail Twister to the Presidency. I was also Sight Chairman for numerous years and was involved in transporting of donor eyes from the Hudson area for the Northeast Sight Bank. These eyes had to be transported within twenty-four hours to a location designated by the Eye Bank. As sight chairman, I was also involved in the education, promotion and assisting those in need of assistance.
I have received a Distinguished Service Award from the Lions Club in 1980 and was actively involved in many of the fund raising events for Sight Conservation and Community Services.
I was a member of the BPO Elks in Hudson, NY, Lodge #787 and served as the engineer of the design and construction in the rehabilitation of the building.
I am currently a charter member of the Visually Impaired Association in Columbia County which deals with assisting the blind people in Columbia County to assist them in finding services and materials so as they may maintain and restore their quality of life.
During the course of my career, I have had many commendation letters, being recognized by many superiors to be a leader, innovator and encourager.
I was born in the Bronx, March 12, 1937 to Joseph and Rose Vieni. We moved to Austerlitz, New York, in June 1945 and I have been a resident of Columbia County since that time.
My father died in 1961 and my mother in 2003. I was raised on the Vieni Farm in Austerlitz and attended Austerlitz Grammar School. Due to consolidation of the Chatham School District, I attended Junior and Senior High School at the Chatham High School. In Chatham High School, I was a five letter man for all four years of high school and participated in football, basketball, track, baseball and volleyball. I was starting quarterback for the championship football team both in 1953/54 and 1954/55, starting forward on the basketball championship team in 1954/55, captain of the championship volleyball team in 1953/54 and 1954/55.Upon graduation of high school in 1955, I was accepted and attended the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
I attended the University of Cincinnati for two reasons - one was to be an engineer and the other was to play football. I played football during my freshman year as quarterback. I had the opportunity to play with Joe Morrison, who became an all-pro player for the New York Giants; and with Ron Kostelnik who played for the Green Bay Packers under Vince Lombardi.
While working on the Co-Op Engineering Program with the Department of Transportation during the day, I would work morning, evenings and weekends on the family farm. The work I did was milking cows in early morning and night and to perform a variety of operations required on a family farm. We had a herd or over sixty cows, chickens, pigs and a truck garden of four acres. We really lived off of the land. It was extremely hard work, but rewarding. It taught me the life values of dedication, commitment, dependability, loyalty, caring and concern for the family and those you come into contact with each day. The importance of the family - loving, living, working, playing and enjoying each other for the common goal of a happy life.
Windloft, which is the home that my wife Mary Ann and I reside in, was built in 1972 and is located on Route 23 in Claverack, N.Y. My wife and I built our home with help from our families. I have been married to Mary Ann for 38 years and we have three children - Charles Paul Vieni, II who is married to Karen Henry and they have one child - Braedon Charles; David John Vieni, who is married to Susan O’Keef and they have two children - Sophia Rose and Rocco David; and Nicole Carla Vieni, who graduated with a Masters degree in Physical Therapy in May 2002 and has received her N.Y.S. license in August 2002.
REFERENCES
