Sandpoint-Area ITD Communications Staffer Earns Statewide Vanguard Award
Heather McDaniel, a communications specialist with the Idaho Transportation Department’s District 1, has received the agency’s Vanguard Award, recognizing her contributions in work ethic, attitude, and leadership within the ITD communications team.
McDaniel manages both internal and external communications for D1, which covers North Idaho including the Sandpoint and Bonner County region. During her first two years with ITD, she maintained her communications role with the North Idaho DUI Taskforce and secured a $30,000 grant for that program.
Among her notable initiatives is Operation Clean Sweep, a one-day community event inviting the public to join District 1 crews in roadside trash collection. The effort was launched in response to seasonal spikes in complaints about litter along Interstate 90 and U.S. 95. In its first year, the program drew 928 registrations statewide. Now in its second year, enrollment has climbed to 1,853 — nearly double the original figure.
The Vanguard Award recognizes standout employees across ITD’s operations statewide. The recognition reflects broader agency efforts to strengthen community engagement alongside infrastructure management. For more on ITD’s work in the region, see the department’s recent update on Long Bridge pedestrian access in Sandpoint.
What Comes Next
Operation Clean Sweep continues to grow heading into its third year, with registration numbers suggesting strong public interest in keeping North Idaho corridors clean. ITD has not yet announced dates for the next round of events. Residents interested in local transportation and public infrastructure issues can also review coverage of recent community candidate forums where infrastructure topics were raised.