Reflections on CTS at 40: Pam Snopl

It’s hard to write a reflection about CTS without getting a little personal. I was still in my twenties when I was offered a part-time editor job with CTS, and I had no idea what a transformative moment it would turn out to be. Now I’m retired, and I look back with pride at an amazing 35-year run.

CTS began as a small unit in what was then the Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering. From that quiet start, CTS grew into a nationally known center, home to research programs, education and training offerings, and much more. 

In the early days — before websites and e-newsletters — we printed and mailed the CTS Report and annual reports. Over time we built a communications team, established our branding, and developed essential resources, keeping pace with the latest techniques and technologies. We also added publications for new programs, such as newsletters for MnLTAP and AirTAP.

One thing, however, remained constant: our commitment to quality, value, and innovation. Leadership set high expectations, and staff delivered. We were indeed “driven to discover” (and coordinate and write and so on), and the work week could get a little crazy at times.

Yet we also made lifelong friendships and supported each other through milestones large and small — like the day we drifted into the hallway when we learned that [Minnesota music legend] Prince had died. During four decades of CTS, we gathered to get through this thing called life, and in the process we made an impact not just on transportation, but on each other. 

CTS grew, and we did, too. When I was hired, I didn’t know a roundabout from a traffic circle. I didn’t know what stakeholders were or how important it is to bring them together. CTS opened up a new world for me and provided the professional development I needed to learn and flourish. I ended up a CTS lifer, but because there was always something new under the sun — research findings, communications tools, and people — the job never got stale. 

So as CTS turns 40, I’m very grateful for what it meant for me personally and for the many benefits it delivered to Minnesota and the world. And the best part? There’s so much more to come. 

July 2026

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