Jordan Peters, Right-of-Way Agent and "Keen" Cyclist

On May 26th, Jordan Peters, an Agent in the Bureau of Right of Way (ROW), left his home in Keene at 2:00AM to arrive at work in Concord by 5:50am.?May was Bike Month and NH Department of Transportation employees were encouraged to bike, walk, carpool, or telework.?Cycling to work was practice for Jordan who is getting ready for both a 70-mile race and a 100-mile race.??

The orange colored and amber-lighted NHDOT vehicles observed on NH roads are a common sight and act as a constant reminder to job hunters that providing ‘transportation excellence’ is always a viable career option, Jordan says. ?When he began seeking out job opportunities, the DOT was one of the first agencies he looked at.?The prospect of a stable career with upward mobility is initially what drew Jordan to the State of NH. The 20, 30 or even 40 and 50 year-long service records you see NHDOT employees retiring with is emblematic of a healthy life-work balance that prevents burnout. The benefits package encourages and allows employees to live the life they want outside of work. Jordan is convinced that it’s nearly impossible to find benefits in the private sector that rival those found with the State of New Hampshire.

Jordan has been working for the DOT for about a year. When he started, people who knew he was coming from the private sector all told him that it would be a bit of a change from what he was used to. “The speed at which government works is quite the stark contrast from the world where ‘time is money’. When public money is on the line, a lot of people have a say on how it gets spent.” ?Jordan advises new hires to remember that there might be some ‘growing pains’ when transitioning to public service work. “Also, be on time! Timeliness is important and it does not go unnoticed,” he says.

Jordan’s primary role within the NHDOT is negotiating for and acquiring the necessary property rights for NHDOT and its contractors to complete highway improvement projects. This includes acquisition of temporary and permanent access rights as well as whole and partial land purchases to ‘clear’ the Right-of-Way. He also assists and advises those displaced by public projects in finding replacement homes or businesses.

His favorite part about working for NHDOT is being able to build a rapport with those affected by construction projects. Jordan says that a particular useful skill is being someone who is decent at finding commonalities with strangers.?At many times people feel unduly injured by construction projects. “It’s easy for them to assume that agents of the State are there solely to protect the State’s interests,” Jordan says. “On the contrary, it is my duty to build a relationship with them, so they trust the advice they are being provided has no purpose other than helping them maximize the benefits they are entitled to.” He is most proud of the Ossipee project, given the contentiousness of the project without a single condemnation. He is also proud of how hard he’s worked in the previous year to become the best he can be in his role of Right-of-Way Agent. Having an ability to build those relationships has helped Jordan to deliver assistance more effectively.

In his role of ROW Agent Jordan meets with new landowners, tenants, and business owners. It’s professionally satisfying for him to break down barriers built on assumption and past experiences to prove that he is there to help them. When asked what he’s gained from working at NHDOT, Jordan jokes, “No excess weight yet, thankfully!”?He’s always had more ‘physical’ jobs in the past and enjoys working outside. ?Having one that involves more desk-based work was initially (and somedays continues to be) very challenging for Jordan. However, a better understanding of what drives him professionally has grown and he’s added a sense of appropriate boundaries to set between his personal and work lives. Prior to working for NHDOT, Jordan would give all of himself all the time to his job, many times to his detriment.?However, being able to now develop healthy boundaries has been integral to his long-term job satisfaction. He also enjoys the breadth of personalities he works with. It keeps work fresh and interesting and it’s never hard to find someone with a fun story or something new to learn.

Thus far, his favorite project has been working alongside a brewery in Derry that is relocating to another part of town. He has built a good relationship with the owner and feels that they work together very well. “Fostering trust and respect between us allows me to be the best advisor I can be for the business and that has also gifted me the privilege of sharing in the small victories as the move advances toward completion,” Jordan says.

A typical day for Jordan begins at 4:30am when he feeds their dogs, Nellie and Bey, and lets them run around. He listens to podcasts during his hour-long drive and arrives to commence his workday at 6:30am. Jordan has been working on 2 relocation assignments: one a residential displacement and the other a business relocation. He has also been working on acquiring property rights for upcoming projects in Plaistow, Kingston, and Jaffrey. Typically, 1-2 days each week he will be away from his desk,?meeting with landowners, collecting signatures, and distributing compensation or reimbursement checks, “which helps change it up. At 4:30pm I head back to Keene and because I am secretly 90 years old,” he winks, “I will in bed by 8-9pm.”

One of the best parts of Jordan’s work at NHDOT is knowing his duties for the day are done once he leaves for home. Unlike previous roles where it wasn’t uncommon to be taking calls or answering emails into the night, his work life and family life do not overlap which is key to preventing burnout and enjoying his work. He feels lucky to have many pursuits and interests that fill his time. When he does have some extra time, it’s typically spent cooking, reading, “poorly attempting nature photography, and over-caffeinating” himself. His partner is employed as a third shift emergency room physician assistant, so whenever they are both home and awake at the same time, they try to maximize their time spent together.?One day a week Jordan also works at a local bike shop in sales; helping new and seasoned cycling enthusiasts find a bike they can get excited about exploring the world with. Jordan is an avid hiker, runner, skier, and cyclist and tries to fit in 3-5 days of activity a week throughout the year. He and his partner also love and care for 3 horses, 2 dogs, and a cat which, he laughs, “has been very effective at helping ward off any prospect of long-term financial stability.”

Jordan advises prospective NHDOT candidates to take the time to research and understand the role you are applying for and tailor your applications and interviews for that role. Having a genuine interest in transportation infrastructure (which as road users we all have a vested interest in) helps make you a more attractive candidate.

3 career lessons he’s learned are:

1.???Always keep learning. Many employees have vast amounts of knowledge and are willing to share it. Benefit from that willingness.

2.???Remain humble; there is always someone with more experience and arrogance stifles growth.

3.???It’s possible to be a dependable and competent employee while maintaining healthy work boundaries. Historically this has been very difficult for me to practice.