UNH T2 Center, Master Road Scholars

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Master Roads Scholars

carl currier

Master Roads Scholar Ernie Ball

            Ernie Ball is an equipment operator at the NHDOT. Ernie has worked for the NHDOT for seven years. Ernie also worked for thirteen years as a truck driver at Steinbeke and Sons in Boscawen.

            Ernie feels the status of Master Road Scholar is valuable because of the knowledge he has acquired. Ernie states “There is always something new to learn because technology is constantly changing.”

            Ernie’s supervisor, Mike Reifke, is also a Master Road Scholar. He supports Ernie and others on the crew to further their education.

            Ernie has two daughters and one granddaughter. His eldest daughter lives in California and is expecting a baby girl in November. Ernie is looking forward to their visit in December.

            Ernie’s enjoys antique tractor-pulling. He loves to restore old tractors to see how they handle. Ernie owns six antique tractors, all dating between 1941 to 1953.

Master Roads Scholar Carl Currier

            Carl Currier drives trucks and operates heavy equipment in the Town of Hooksett . He has worked in Hooksett for sixteen years. Before joining the town, Carl drove trucks for Bailey Distributors in Manchester for two years and worked for Plourde Sand and Gravel as a loader operator. Carl has driven trucks since 1966.

            Carl feels that reaching the status of Master Roads Scholar is important because he has gained a lot of information on various topics from different workshops. Carl especially enjoys attending new workshops because of the value they hold in the innovative and original ideas and information they have to offer. Carl stated that despite his new status in the Roads Scholar Program, he will continue to attend workshops.

            Carl is pleased that his foreman supports the Roads Scholar Program and encourages crew members to take classes. He believes it is important for individuals to advance in their careers by gaining crucial knowledge from workshops. Maybe this has to do with the fact that his foreman is a Master Roads Scholar himself!

            Besides working hard, taking classes, and enjoying his newly earned achievement, you may catch Carl doing his favorite pastime activity: fishing.

Master Roads Scholar Kevin Hammond

            Kevin Hammond is a truck driver, equipment operator, and mechanic for the Town of Raymond Public Works Department . Prior to working in Raymond, he was a yard foreman at a pipe plant and an equipment operator for an excavator. In the mid-1980’s Kevin was appointed as Highway Agent in Epping.

            Kevin missed the job variety of Raymond and returned eleven years ago. In total, he has devoted thirty years to the Town of Raymond !

            Kevin believes the status of Master Road Scholar “holds a lot of value. I can use the information I learn in workshops and apply them to job duties when needed.” Kevin attends other workshops for state licensure.

            Kevin reports that Raymond Public Works Director, Dennis McCarthy, who is also a Master Roads Scholar, encourages his employees to take classes. Due to this support, four people from the Town of Raymond are Master Road Scholars.

            Kevin has been married for thirty years. He enjoys his job so much that he runs the back hoe at his home on weekend. He also hunts. He reports that these two activities relax him, and he likes the quiet serenity of being in the woods.
            Kevin is a certified NH firefighter, along with Dennis McCarthy and other co-workers. They mostly volunteer for the Town of Raymond in the evenings, and other surrounding towns as needed
Master Road Scholar David Lent

            David Lent, Deputy Director of Public Works in the Town of Merrimack , has served the town for the last eight years. David earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University in Pottsdam , NY in 1972. Prior to working with the Town of Merrimack he worked 10 years for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. He also worked for consulting and engineering businesses for 15 years. David has spent his entire career working in the public works field.

            David feels that his Master Roads Scholar status is extremely important to him. It allows him time to participate with staff during training. He originally took classes to determine which ones would be appropriate for his staff. Soon, he realized that he was benefiting from them despite having an engineering degree. David believes there is something for everybody in UNH T² Center workshops.

            David intends to continue participating in training classes even though he has achieved Master Roads Scholar status. His supervisor, who also takes classes, feels David’s achievement sends a powerful message to the other workers that learning is important.

            David has been married for 33 years and is blessed with a son and daughter.

Winter 2004


Master Roads Scholar Ernie Ball Ernie Ball is an equipment operator at the NHDOT. Ernie has worked for the NHDOT for seven years. Ernie also worked for thirteen years as a truck driver at Steinbeke and Sons in Boscawen. Ernie feels the status of Master Road Scholar is valuable because of the knowledge he has acquired. Ernie states “There is always something new to learn because technology is constantly changing.” Ernie’s supervisor, Mike Reifke, is also a Master Road Scholar. He supports Ernie and others on the crew to further their education. Ernie has two daughters and one granddaughter. His eldest daughter lives in California and is expecting a baby girl in November. Ernie is looking forward to their visit in December. Ernie’s enjoys antique tractor-pulling. He loves to restore old tractors to see how they handle. Ernie owns six antique tractors, all dating between 1941 to 1953.	Master Roads Scholar Carl Currier Carl Currier drives trucks and operates heavy equipment in the Town of Hooksett . He has worked in Hooksett for sixteen years. Before joining the town, Carl drove trucks for Bailey Distributors in Manchester for two years and worked for Plourde Sand and Gravel as a loader operator. Carl has driven trucks since 1966. Carl feels that reaching the status of Master Roads Scholar is important because he has gained a lot of information on various topics from different workshops. Carl especially enjoys attending new workshops because of the value they hold in the innovative and original ideas and information they have to offer. Carl stated that despite his new status in the Roads Scholar Program, he will continue to attend workshops. Carl is pleased that his foreman supports the Roads Scholar Program and encourages crew members to take classes. He believes it is important for individuals to advance in their careers by gaining crucial knowledge from workshops. Maybe this has to do with the fact that his foreman is a Master Roads Scholar himself! Besides working hard, taking classes, and enjoying his newly earned achievement, you may catch Carl doing his favorite pastime activity: fishing.

Master Roads Scholar Kevin Hammond Kevin Hammond is a truck driver, equipment operator, and mechanic for the Town of Raymond Public Works Department . Prior to working in Raymond, he was a yard foreman at a pipe plant and an equipment operator for an excavator. In the mid-1980’s Kevin was appointed as Highway Agent in Epping. Kevin missed the job variety of Raymond and returned eleven years ago. In total, he has devoted thirty years to the Town of Raymond ! Kevin believes the status of Master Road Scholar “holds a lot of value. I can use the information I learn in workshops and apply them to job duties when needed.” Kevin attends other workshops for state licensure. Kevin reports that Raymond Public Works Director, Dennis McCarthy, who is also a Master Roads Scholar, encourages his employees to take classes. Due to this support, four people from the Town of Raymond are Master Road Scholars. Kevin has been married for thirty years. He enjoys his job so much that he runs the back hoe at his home on weekend. He also hunts. He reports that these two activities relax him, and he likes the quiet serenity of being in the woods. Kevin is a certified NH firefighter, along with Dennis McCarthy and other co-workers. They mostly volunteer for the Town of Raymond in the evenings, and other surrounding towns as needed	Master Road Scholar David Lent David Lent, Deputy Director of Public Works in the Town of Merrimack , has served the town for the last eight years. David earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University in Pottsdam , NY in 1972. Prior to working with the Town of Merrimack he worked 10 years for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. He also worked for consulting and engineering businesses for 15 years. David has spent his entire career working in the public works field. David feels that his Master Roads Scholar status is extremely important to him. It allows him time to participate with staff during training. He originally took classes to determine which ones would be appropriate for his staff. Soon, he realized that he was benefiting from them despite having an engineering degree. David believes there is something for everybody in UNH T² Center workshops. David intends to continue participating in training classes even though he has achieved Master Roads Scholar status. His supervisor, who also takes classes, feels David’s achievement sends a powerful message to the other workers that learning is important. David has been married for 33 years and is blessed with a son and daughter.