“When leadership genuinely cares for their people and models that daily, it creates a great work environment.”
For our 40th anniversary, we’re celebrating the people who make Kittelson what it is! While we’re an interconnected nationwide team, each of us brings our own passion and purpose to the work we do. This month, we’re highlighting Dorret Oosterhoff, an associate administrator in our Baltimore office.
When and where did you start your career, and when did you join Kittelson?
I began my career in the Netherlands in 1990 after earning a master’s degree in communication and public relations from the University of Groningen. I graduated during a tough economy with a degree so new—my class was the first—that employers didn’t quite know what to do with it.
Before that, I had completed an executive assistant program and had to fall back on those skills. My first job was far from what I had hoped for, and I lasted less than a year. After another job and two international moves, I joined Kittelson in February 2007 as an office administrator.
How have you seen the transportation profession change since you started your career at Kittelson?
There was a shift in how safety was defined, expanding beyond just people in cars to include all road users. I remember when discussions began to include bicyclists, then later pedestrians. Over time, terms like Context Sensitive Design and Complete Streets emerged, followed by Vision Zero and, more recently, Vulnerable Road Users. It was fascinating to learn about these evolving concepts while supporting proposals.
How have you seen Kittelson grow in the last 40 years?
As an administrator, I witnessed significant growth, assisting with the opening of eight offices in my region alone. When I joined, the firm had fewer than 100 people and just a handful of offices. At first, I knew everyone’s three-letter abbreviation, but as we expanded, I eventually gave up on that and instead tracked their office locations.
What’s your background and how did you become a transportation professional?
My background is in executive assistance and communication. As an administrative professional, I gained extensive knowledge of the transportation field. My claim to fame is writing a full set of qualifications for a county bicycle planning project that, after review by a transportation planner, was submitted without changes—and we won the project. I’ve learned more about the profession than I ever expected, and I find it all fascinating.
What’s an insight you’ve gained from your time at Kittelson?
Ha, just one? If leadership truly cares about their people and demonstrates that every day, it creates a pretty darn good work environment.
What’s been the most exciting part of your career?
I had the opportunity to be involved in nearly every specialist and partner staff role at Kittelson. As the firm grew, many of these roles evolved into standalone positions—but in the early days, I carried them all. From proposals and hiring to launching Kittelson’s Facebook page in 2008, managing internal communications, licensing, office openings and moves, event planning, and everything in between, I had a hand in it all.
I’m especially proud of proposing the idea to create a firmwide helpdesk for administrators. This not only ensured equal access to support and made better use of our resources but also provided full transparency into our work while creating professional development opportunities for the admin team.
Most of all, I’m proud to have served as the unofficial admin team leader from 2008 to 2022—until the reorganization established the official Team Lead role.
What surprises you most about transportation today?
The innovative ways we collect and present data, and how that data now drives so much of the design, continue to impress me. We’ve shifted from relying heavily on written explanations to communicating primarily through graphics and images. The visual element has completely overtaken pages and pages of text, making concepts clearer and more impactful.
What are the most important transportation issues that need to be addressed?
The most important transportation issue that needs to be addressed is equity and equality in access to all modes of transportation. Ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or location, has equal opportunities to access safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options is critical for creating more inclusive communities.