Jared Wiley Named Next ARDOT Director; Philip Taldo Named Highway Commission Chair

Jared Wiley will be the next director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation (Photo provided by ARDOT)

Jared Wiley was appointed as the new director of ARDOT, effective Jan. 10, during a meeting of the Arkansas Highway Commission on Wednesday.

Wiley is currently the department’s chief engineer for preconstruction, and his appointment follows the retirement announcement of current director Lorie Tudor.

Wiley began his career with ARDOT as an engineering student intern prior to being hired in 2005 as a civil engineer in the planning and research division. Following an engineering career path, he advanced through several positions before moving into his current position in April 2023.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering with an emphasis in civil engineering from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and is a Registered Professional Engineer. ​​​​​​​

“[Wiley] is a great leader and he is going to do a fantastic job,” Tudor said in the meeting. “We have such a strong staff. I’m excited for the future of this department.”

The director of ARDOT is appointed by the State Highway Commission and serves as ARDOT’s chief executive officer. Subject to the commission’s approval, the director controls and manages operations relative to the State Highway System and other transportation modes.

“I commit to building on the legacy of cooperation and collaboration that was established by my mentor, Director Tudor,” Wiley said in a press release. “She has taught me and our staff many things over her 41-year career. ARDOT is blessed with a great staff of dedicated public servants. The entire ARDOT team will continue to work diligently to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of Arkansas’ transportation system.”

Alec Farmer, current chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission, announced the appointment at the end of the commission meeting, stating the commission felt the right person was already in the department and that Wiley was the “clear choice.”

“We’re very happy with the direction the department is going,” Farmer said in the meeting. “We feel like things are on the right track. We’re making progress — there’s no reason to change course.”

Highway Commission Election

Philip Taldo of Springdale was elected chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission at the Wednesday meeting.

Taldo will replace Farmer as chairman effective Jan. 1. He currently serves as vice chairman of the commission.

Farmer officially announced at the meeting that he is stepping down as chairman. He was first appointed by Governor Asa Hutchinson in January of 2015 and will complete his 10-year term on the commission in January 2025. In March 2020, Farmer became the commission’s vice chairman, and has served as chairman for the past two years.

Taldo lives and works in Springdale where he is a real estate broker, investor and developer. He is the broker and co-owner of Griffin Company Realtors Commercial Division and Weichert Realtors – The Griffin Company of Bentonville. He is also a Northwest Arkansas native, born in Tontitown in 1950. He attended Springdale High School and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Keith Gibson, the owner, operator and president of Pinnacle Communications and Pinnacle Telecom from 1986–2021, was elected as vice chairman of the commission, and will succeed Taldo effective Jan. 1.

Taldo is a member of Northwest Arkansas National Airport Authority, Northwest Arkansas Council, ARVEST Bank Director and was appointed by Hutchinson as an Arkansas State Highway Commissioner in 2017.

“If I could just do half of what [Farmer] has done, when I get to that point, I’ll be happy,” Taldo said during the commission meeting. “I’ll do what I can with what I have to work with.”