ITE Journal - May 2020 - 20

Midwestern District Administrator
T. E. "Tom" Campbell, P.E. (F)

In celebration of its 90th anniversary, ITE is recognizing each of its District

Retired Assistant State Traffic Engineer -
Minnesota Department of
Transportation (1962-2014)

Administrators throughout the year in a series of profiles. Each month this

Education
Bachelor of Civil Engineering -
University of Minnesota
Professional Affiliations
ITE Member since 1966; Fellow since 2003
Minnesota Surveyors and Engineers
Society (MSES) - Served as the
100th president in 2000
ITE Awards and Achievements
NCITE Distinguished Member, 1998
NCITE Transportation Professional
of the Year, 2008
Midwestern District
Distinguished Member, 2018
ONE ITE Involvement
Campbell plays an active part of the sixmember ONE ITE Transition team, melding
the Midwestern District (minus the MOVITE
Section) into the new Great Lakes District.

"For more than four decades,
Tom has made numerous contributions to ITE at all levels,
including dedicating his time to
serve as the Midwestern District's
Administrator since 1999. He has
done an outstanding job advising the Midwestern Board in its
governance of the District, and I
have enjoyed learning from him
and working alongside him over
the last four years on the board."
- Martin M. Gugel, P.E., PTOE (F),
Midwestern District
Immediate Past President
20

May 2020

i te j o urnal

column will also feature historical facts and figures on the various Districts,
including important dates and people throughout their history.
Tom Campbell has the singular distinction of serving the longest term of any of ITE's District
Administrators-22 years and counting. He fondly recalls to ITE Journal how it came to fruition.
"Since I didn't have to attend our District board meeting in Branson, MO, USA in June of 1999-I
previously attended board meetings while I was the District Director from 1995-1997-I was
able to participate in the District meeting golf event. Upon completing the 18th hole, our foursome walked directly into the scheduled 'conference ice breaker.' Doug Differt, who was part of
the board at the time, walked up to me and said, 'TC, have I got a deal for you!' He always greeted
me that way when he wanted me to be part of the LAC of some type of conference, committee,
or important meeting, so I knew something was up that meant 'extra work.'"
He continues, "It was a five-year commitment that could be terminated by either the board
or myself or extended by the board." That was more than 21 years ago, and Campbell has been
the only administrator the District has had.
Speaking to him about ITE and the Midwestern District, one gets the impression that he
doesn't necessarily want to talk about things, so much as he wants to make them happen. At
that 1999 board meeting, the board decided that they needed a non-voting administrator that
would be required to attend all board meetings.
"I am not the guy that wants to stand in the front of the room with a microphone; I like to
work in the background to help put all of the pieces together to get things done," Campbell said.
His first order of business was to update the bylaws, which have been amended and
updated over the years due to the evolving structure of the District and ITE. Campbell recalls a
big change that occurred in 2004-2005. Up until 2004, all the four officers-treasurer, secretary,
vice chair and chair-were appointed on a Sectional rotation basis (four Sections) and served
for one year. In 2005, the District developed an election process where it voted for the entry
position of secretary/treasurer (on a Sectional rotation basis). That person then moved up to
vice president, president, then past president, effectively serving for four continuous years.
Campbell believes that was a pivotal moment for the District. "That was the start of our conversion from a strong Section/weak District to a strong Section/strong District," he notes.
More changes occurred in 2018. The workload involved in the secretary/treasurer "entry"
position seemed to be a lot of work for one
person, so they split the secretary/treasurer
into two separate offices. Now, officers serve
on the District Board for five years, further
enhancing the continuity of leadership.
Campbell attends all meetings as a
parliamentarian and provides past historical
information and institutional knowledge.
Throughout the year, he keeps in close conTom with Jeanne Kennedy and Susan Neel at the tact with the board and, on top of the various
2019 Annual Meeting in Austin, TX, USA.
officer duties, answers or find answers to

ITE Journal - May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ITE Journal - May 2020