Department official nominated for 'influential' award

One of the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s top officials was recently named as a nominee for a Women of Influence award. Airports Planning and Programming Manager Christy Yaffa was nominated under the Government, Military and Law category, which also includes Wyoming Deputy State Treasurer Patricia Arp; District 8 Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Laramie County; and Wyoming Army National Guard Brigadier General Tammy Maas.

“Christy has been instrumental in the development of the Wyoming airport classification system, the Priority Rating Model for Wyoming airports, the original and ongoing development of the Wyoming Aviation Capital Improvement Program as well as many statewide system planning efforts for Wyoming,” Aeronautics Administrator Amy Surdam said. “She has been a strong advocate and supporter of the WYDOT Aeronautics intern program. This program has helped many young aviation professionals develop a career in the aviation industry. Many of these interns have gone on to work in both the public and private sectors and some have become recognized leaders themselves.”

Yaffa, who also served as the department’s interim Aeronautics Division administrator during 2016 and 2017, has been with the department since June 1994. She began as an assistant airports planner after graduating from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a degree in aviation business administration.

The awards, given by the Wyoming Business Report and Connect to Women, will be announced Aug. 24-25 at the Cheyenne Radisson Hotel.

The Women of Influence awards are given in several categories including Lifetime Achievement; Banking and Finance; Business and Business Services; Education; Energy and Utilities; Government, Military and Law; Health Care; Hospitality; Manufacturing and Technology; and Nonprofit. Two new categories were added this year: Best Mentor and Best Company to Work for. Eighty-five people were nominated this year, the fifth year of the event.

Previous year’s events have been featured on Wyoming PBS’s Wyoming Chronicle.

Yaffa’s 2017 nomination is not her first. She was nominated in 2016 as well.

Surdam was also nominated for the Women of Influence award under nonprofits for her work on the Children’s Museum of Cheyenne in 2016 and 2014.