BOZEMAN – Bozeman’s Director of Public Works Craig Woolard announced last week that he is leaving his position after nearly six years with the department.
But he isn’t going too far. Woolard has accepted a position as department chair and professor with the Civil Engineering Department at Montana State University.
For the past six years, Woolard has looked after the city’s infrastructure, managing upkeep of things like city roads, bridges and sewers.
“I’ve been very proud and very honored to work with public works staff,” Woolard said. “One thing I hope the community recognizes is that we have a really dedicated, hard-working community of people in Public Works, and they do a great job for this city, and I’m going to miss them.”
Now, Woolard hopes he can bring to his students what he’s learned as public works director in a growing city like Bozeman.
“Well, I think as the public works director, you’re exposed to really all facets of infrastructure and civil engineering, so there’s a lot of experience there that I think will be beneficial, and that I’ll be eager to share with the next generation of engineers,” Woolard said.
Woolard will finish up his time with Public Works at the end of May and will begin his duties at MSU in the fall. City Manager Andrea Surratt has appointed development engineer Shawn Kohtz to serve as the interim director.
Reporting by Kaitlin Corbett for MTN News
