On June 2nd, Rotarians enjoyed an engaging and candid conversation with longtime Norfolk Rotarian and former Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller, who shared insights from his four years serving in Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration.
Introduced by Gary Bonnewell as someone who truly embodies Rotary’s ideal of “Service Above Self,” Miller reflected on his experience overseeing one of the Commonwealth’s largest and most complex operations.
As Secretary of Transportation, he was responsible for more than $11 billion in annual expenditures and a workforce of approximately 11,000 employees spanning highways, transit systems, airports, rail, Virginia Spaceport Authority, and the Department of Motor Vehicles.
While noting that he is “not a politician,” Miller said the role was ultimately about leadership and organizational management. He emphasized the importance of hiring talented people, creating a high-performance culture, and measuring results. One of the administration’s most notable successes came at the DMV, where average customer wait times dropped from 38 minutes to less than 10, call answer rates improved from 24 percent to 94 percent, and employee turnover was cut in half through organizational changes and career advancement opportunities.
Miller also discussed the challenging relationship between state agencies, elected officials, and the legislative process. He expressed concern about the increasing influence of partisan behavior and stressed the importance of civility and accountability in public service. “We need to stop putting up with bad behavior,” he said.
During a lively question-and-answer session, Miller addressed topics ranging from the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion (spoiler alert: it probably won’t finish on time) to transportation project selection. He also shared his perspective on current transportation needs across the region and the ongoing work required to keep Virginia moving forward.
As always, Rotarians appreciated Miller’s thoughtful insights, practical leadership lessons, and commitment to serving both Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth.
AT THE MEETING
Rob Sult introduced guest Danny Hobbs, a Chesapeake Rotarian, and Eleanor Schoonover introduced her daughter, Katherine. June birthdays and Rotary anniversaries were celebrated with applause and song.
President Dave Duncan reminded everyone that it is committee sign up time! Please pick your committee and share with Karen. If you don’t pick a committee, you may be assigned.
