Transportation innovator and manager Will Kempton has 40 years experience in transportation, public service, and government affairs.

Mr. Kempton has moved between public and private posts throughout his varied career, which began at Caltrans in 1976. As chief of the Office of Revenue Management, Kempton oversaw California’s capital highway budget and later, as Assistant Director in charge of Legislative and Congressional Affairs, he secured passage of numerous pieces of legislation that benefited the state.

In 1985 Mr. Kempton became executive director of the Santa Clara County Traffic Authority, managing its billion-dollar highway construction program, the first of its kind in the state.

In 1992, Kempton became a partner of Smith, Kempton & Watts, a Sacramento advocacy firm, where he consulted in programs and policies to enhance effectiveness of public and private resources. In 2002, he became Assistant City Manager of the City of Folsom, and was recruited to head Caltrans in 2004. He served as Director of Caltrans from 2004-2009, and most recently as executive director of Orange County Transportation Authority.

Mr. Kempton has been credited with rebuilding Caltrans’ reputation through rapid project delivery, moving stimulus dollars into needed transportation projects, and instilling a more businesslike approach at the state transportation planning agency.

DATE: Tuesday, April 23, 2013