The U.S. Department of Transportation is honoring Volpe Human Resources Director Sue Connors along with other employees across DOT as part of its 50^th anniversary celebration. 

U.S. DOT is unveiling a new theme each month to promote the accomplishments and efforts of the Department. February’s theme highlights the role transportation can play in establishing ladders of opportunity.

“My time with the DOT has broadened my understanding of the impact of transportation on communities and commerce, and the importance of transportation safety,” said Connors, who is being recognized as a Ladders of Opportunity longevity employee for her 34 years of federal service.

“As Volpe’s human resources director, I see how, as an employer, Volpe can help attain Secretary Anthony Foxx’s goal of ‘ensuring that the rungs in the ladder of opportunity are not so far apart,’” said Connors. “I am partnering with our Equal Employment Opportunity Office and Organizational Culture and Work Life directors to raise staff awareness of the importance of greater diversity within our workforce and implement strategies to reach more diverse and underserved candidates.”

Connors joined Volpe as its human resources officer in the fall of 2001, though her roots in transportation extend far beyond her federal service.

Both her father and grandfather were truck drivers for Drakes Bakeries, responsible for delivering Devil Dogs and Ring Dings to stores throughout New Hampshire and Maine. Conversations around the dinner table focused on the “5 Smith Driving Principles” and the importance of sustaining a safe driving record to remain employed. When the Teamster union went on strike, her family felt economic hardships in turn.

But these family discussions on the precarious relationship between employers and employees led young Connors to an interest in organizational behavior and business studies. She graduated from Yale with a degree in administrative science before receiving a certificate in management and administration from Harvard University Extension.

Connors embarked on her federal career with the United States Navy as a clerk-typist, holding progressively higher positions with the Defense Logistics Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Census Bureau prior to joining Volpe.

At Volpe, Connors collaborates with managers and the National Association of Government Employees in developing human capital policies and programs that are critical to Volpe's ability to fulfill its mission and maximize its performance. She serves as a focal point to ensure the alignment of organizational and employee needs and to strengthen employee engagement. As reflected in Volpe’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results, the programs and services provided by the Office of Human Resources have had a positive impact in helping Volpe recruit, develop, and retain such a talented workforce.

In addition to her professional achievements, Connors has been a member of the Volpe Reading Buddies team for over a decade, volunteering her lunch break to read to local second- and third-graders. She hopes to continue giving back to her community, helping shape future generations of the transportation workforce through supporting and promoting careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Learn more about U.S. DOT’s 50^th anniversary and the Ladders of Opportunity initiative.