TOPEKA, KS — Carmen Bakarich has been named the Manager of Special Projects for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

She started her legal career in 1989 as a Research Attorney for Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Holmes. Then in 1991, she began at KDOT as a Staff Attorney in the Chief Counsel’s Office, focusing on construction contracts and claims. After five years, Bakarich was promoted and transferred to the Bureau of Construction and Materials.

In 2007, she was promoted to her current position of Manager of Contract Claims, taking over engineering, utility, and railroad contracts associated with highway work. She also assisted with project administration on the Gateway Project in Kansas City. Her new role will focus on improving processes and project delivery.

“I’ll be looking for efficiencies and process and program improvements that help both KDOT and our external partners save costs and manage projects with less people and resources,” Bakarich said.

The new position is effective immediately and she will report directly to Deputy Secretary and State Transportation Engineer Burt Morey. “I look forward to the improvements Carmen can bring to the agency in regards to relations with our partners, how we do business, and to deliver the IKE program,” Morey said.