12
American Traffic Safety Services Association
MEMBER
PROFILES
Women in the Roadway Safety Industry
In honor of National Women’s History Month (March 2015) and International Women’s Day
(March 8, 2015), ATSSA focuses on those individuals who comprise the roadway safety industry.
This is an ongoing series of stories about the remarkable women who work tirelessly each day to
make our roads safe for the traveling public. Whether they’re on the roadways in the “cone zone,”
serving a role in an ATSSA chapter or committee or working in another capacity to ensure
the safety of our nation’s motorists, the goal is the same for all of them—working with ATSSA
and The Foundation “Toward Zero Deaths.” With these roadway safety advocates, we can make
zero deaths a reality.
Donna Jean Parsons-Hardy,
West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT)
Donna Jean Parsons-Hardy is a mobility and safety engineer for the West Virginia Department of
Transportation (WVDOT), where she is responsible for the Highway Safety Improvement Program,
Traffic Incident Management, the Transportation Management Center, Statewide Intelligent
Transportation Systems, Statewide Lighting and the Roadside Memorial Sign Program. She is West
Virginia’s safety coordinator for the three “Every Day Counts” initiatives and the statewide highway
safety campaigns for the Division of Highways. Parsons-Hardy is a team leader for the Statewide
Roadway Departure Team of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Prior to her substantial role in the
WVDOT, she worked in maintenance and traffic operations for the Delaware Department of
Transportation (DelDOT). With a total of 19 years in the roadway safety industry, she began her
career as a project engineer in road design at the DelDOT.
In her freshman year of college, Parsons-Hardy’s roommate lost her father and sister to a car crash.
The next year, her close friend, Becky, was driving home when a drunk driver crossed the median,
causing a head-on collision. Both Becky and the driver were killed.
“I hated that feeling of helplessness and wanted to do something to prevent similar tragedies in other
families,” said Parsons-Hardy.”
Devvon Holst,
D2K Traffic Equipment & Design LLC
Devvon Holst, who is the vice president and owner of D2K Traffic Equipment & Design LLC in Naperville, Ill.,
has been in the roadway safety industry for less than two years. While she was a junior at Augustana College
(she graduated in 2014), D2K was started, and she worked there while attending school and earning her degree.
To say Holst “grew into the job” is an understatement—in fact, she’s been around the industry all her life.
For as long as she can remember, her mother, Kathi Holst, has been in the industry and brought Devvon along to
ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expos and board meetings. Being a big part of her childhood, the industry was a
sensible choice for a career. Ever since D2K opened in April 2013, each day has been an adventure and learning
experience about the industry and roadways.
Holst is dedicated to the Foundation’s “Toward Zero Deaths” goal and wants workers and families to be able to
rest at night knowing they are safe and the industry is doing everything in its power to assure they stay safe no
matter what. She vows to do whatever it takes to reach the “Toward Zero Deaths” goal and feels it is the role of
the entire industry.
“This is so much more than a career path, because the roadway safety industry is near and dear
to my heart,” said Devvon Holst, vice president and owner of D2K Traffic Equipment & Design LLC.
“Roadways around the world impact the drivers and work zone workers every day, and safety is
needed on the rural, one-lane roads and the expressways with thousands of travelers a day. I’ve made
a vow to do all I can to keep motorists who use our roadways and employees who work on them safe.”
Donna Jean Parsons-Hardy
Devvon Holst
