2008 Woodie Awards
Oppenheimer: A man with a plan
Joel Cohen
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News
It was a surprise to me. I didn't want to teach it; I wanted to learn it. But I used it as an opportunity. ... At the end of the presentation, I felt it went really well. The person in charge of training said, "You should do it for the younger staff." I started doing it for other groups, and I realized it was something I loved to do.
DBK: How has your motivational speaking helped you in your time as an engineer and in your time as the MTA consultant for the Purple Line?
Oppenheimer: Long before I was doing training talks, I took a love to public involvement for projects. Delaware was doing a study in 1985; I had six years of experience, and I found I loved going out and talking one-on-one with the public, and when it was a subject I really understood, I really loved doing it.
DBK: How does it feel to be the frontman for one of the most controversial topics both on the campus and throughout the region?
Oppenheimer: The thing I love most about planning is trying to guide people to make a good decision, something that, in the long run, will be valuable to future generations. When I think I see something good, it is fun to be a part of the strategy of getting from planning to seeing it on paper, then to the actual tracks.
DBK: Crime is a serious issue on the campus and in the surrounding community. How do you think having a Metro station running through the center of the campus will effect this situation?
Oppenheimer: I don't believe the Purple Line will introduce any additional crime than is already introduced through the current bus system. We are only replacing those buses and creating a better and cleaner system.
DBK: One concern some officials have with the Campus Drive route for the Purple Line is that it may divide up the campus. How do you think the Purple Line will impact the walk around the campus?
Oppenheimer: The whole concept of a Campus Drive alignment is coordinated with the Master Plan of the university, which is to take all automobiles off Campus Drive, and I think we would be doing a great service to the university, helping them achieve the Master Plan sooner and, if anything, taking 70 percent of the cars off [of Campus Drive].
DBK: How has your motivational speaking helped you in your time as an engineer and in your time as the MTA consultant for the Purple Line?
Oppenheimer: Long before I was doing training talks, I took a love to public involvement for projects. Delaware was doing a study in 1985; I had six years of experience, and I found I loved going out and talking one-on-one with the public, and when it was a subject I really understood, I really loved doing it.
DBK: How does it feel to be the frontman for one of the most controversial topics both on the campus and throughout the region?
Oppenheimer: The thing I love most about planning is trying to guide people to make a good decision, something that, in the long run, will be valuable to future generations. When I think I see something good, it is fun to be a part of the strategy of getting from planning to seeing it on paper, then to the actual tracks.
DBK: Crime is a serious issue on the campus and in the surrounding community. How do you think having a Metro station running through the center of the campus will effect this situation?
Oppenheimer: I don't believe the Purple Line will introduce any additional crime than is already introduced through the current bus system. We are only replacing those buses and creating a better and cleaner system.
DBK: One concern some officials have with the Campus Drive route for the Purple Line is that it may divide up the campus. How do you think the Purple Line will impact the walk around the campus?
Oppenheimer: The whole concept of a Campus Drive alignment is coordinated with the Master Plan of the university, which is to take all automobiles off Campus Drive, and I think we would be doing a great service to the university, helping them achieve the Master Plan sooner and, if anything, taking 70 percent of the cars off [of Campus Drive].
Submit a letter to the editor or post a comment below.
Be the first to comment on this story