Executive Office Biographies
Francis G. Ziegler, P.E., Director, NDDOT
Click on photograph to the left to download a printable version. Francis G. Ziegler currently serves as North Dakota's Director of Transportation. Ziegler was appointed Director in October of 2006, by Governor John Hoeven. He had previously served as North Department of Transportation Director of the Office of Project Development.
Professional Experience:
Francis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the North Dakota State University in 1970. Francis has worked for the Department of Transportation since 1970. Francis has served the state of North Dakota in a number of capacities, including Director of the Office of Project Development, West Region Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer (Operations), Construction Engineer, and Project and Resident Engineer.
Francis is a Professional Engineer with a background in field construction, statewide operations (construction and maintenance), planning and programming of projects, budget, environmental document preparation, and plan development.
Francis has also served on a number of civic organizations. He has been president of the Bismarck Park Board, the Bismarck Recreation Council, and the Ronald McDonald House Board. He is a member of the American Society of Highway Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers and currently the president of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO).
Francis is a native of Zeeland, North Dakota. He and his wife Jan, are residents of Bismarck; they have four children, and ten grandchildren.
Grant Levi, P.E., Deputy Director for Engineering
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to the left to download a printable version.The duties of the office include oversight of three offices: Operations, Transportation Programs, and Project development. These offices contain all seven engineering divisions. In addition, the deputy director for engineering oversees the NDDOT’s eight districts, which include 68 individual maintenance sections. The Deputy Director for Engineering working with his management team, oversees the NDDOT’s planning, pre-construction, construction, and maintenance programs.
Professional Experience:
Grant earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University in 1982. He has worked for the North Dakota Department of Transportation since 1980, holding positions in the Valley City District, the Fargo District, and at the Central Office in Bismarck. Grant was promoted to Deputy Director for Engineering in April of 1999.
Grant is a certified Professional Engineer trained in planning, programming, and pre-construction management. He currently serves on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Highway Subcommittee on Materials, Standing Committees on Highways, and on Joint Development, as well as various AASHTO task forces that deal with construction and maintenance issues.
Grant is a native of Zeeland, North Dakota. He and his wife Patty are residents of Bismarck; they have three children.
Dave Leftwich P.E., Deputy Director for Business Support
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printable version.
Dave Leftwich has been named as the new Deputy Director for Business Support. Leftwich has served as the Interim Deputy Director in this capacity since October, 2010. He will oversee seven divisions including: Financial Management, Human Resources, Legal, Communications, Information Technology, Audit Services and State Fleet Services. He will also manage Aviation Services and the Business Planner.
Professional Experience:
Dave has a degree in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo. He has worked for the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) since 1973. In that time he has worked in several divisions including: Construction, Design, Materials and Research, Technical Services, Local Government, and the Office of Transportation Programs.Dave is a Registered Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor in the state of North Dakota.
Dave is a native of Hansboro, North Dakota. He and his wife Jackie reside in Bismarck.
Linda Butts, NDDOT Deputy Director for Driver and Vehicle Services
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printable version.
Linda currently oversees the Drivers License, Motor Vehicle, and Safety Divisions at the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Besides overseeing these three divisions, she works extensively on the Enhanced Drivers License and REAL ID legislation and Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
Professional Experience:
She previously served the state from 2000-2006 as Director of the Economic Development and Finance Division at the Department of Commerce where she developed several new economic development programs and served on numerous boards and commissions. She has extensive experience in business management and economic development. In 2005, she was named North Dakota’s Small Business Administration “Women in Business Champion of the Year.”
She currently serves as the treasure of the American Association of Motor Vehicles Administrators (AAMVA), an international trade association consisting of all of the states and Canadian providences. She is also President of AAMVA Region III.
While in the private sector, she owned her own business which was twice named Outstanding Woman owned business in North Dakota. Linda is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the North Dakota Society of CPA’s and the Bismarck Rotary Club. She served on the board of the University of Mary Idea Center and is a former board member of the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce.
Butts has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics from North Dakota State University and an Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from the University of North Dakota.
She is a native of New England, North Dakota. She and her husband Alan are residents of Bismarck and have two grown children.
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