Upon approval by the Ohio Senate, Pamela Vest Boratyn will serve as the 35th Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director beginning October 1. She is succeeding Jack Marchbanks, who announced on August 9 that he was stepping down at the end of September.
Marchbanks, who has led ODOT since 2019, will continue with the Department in the role of senior policy adviser and work with Boratyn during the transition. Boratyn, who has a more than 35-year career in public service, previously worked at ODOT as Assistant Director of Business and Human Resources and as ODOT’s first woman Chief of Staff. In this combined role, she oversaw seven divisions, including IT, Finance, Legal, Communications, Policy/Legislation, Federal Minority Contracting, and Human Resources. Most recently, Boratyn has served as Deputy Executive Director of the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund.
A graduate of Miami University, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and Capital University School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctorate, Boratyn has served as legal counsel at the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, as Chief of the Transportation Section under Attorney General (AG) Betty Montgomery, Chief Legal Counsel at the Ohio Auditor of State, and as General Counsel under AG Mike DeWine, where she oversaw several divisions, including the Transportation Section. Boratyn also served as Safety/Service Director with the City of Reynoldsburg.
As one of Gov. DeWine’s first cabinet hires, Marchbanks has been with ODOT for nearly 18 years over two stints. He joined ODOT in 1996 and served through 2007 as ODOT District 6 Deputy Director. He rejoined the DOT in the same capacity in 2016, and in the 18 months leading up to him being named ODOT Director, he served as Assistant Director for Business & Human Resources.
A native of Northwest Alabama, Marchbanks received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton. He then attended Clark Atlanta (Ga.) University for graduate school and earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Ohio University.
“I want to thank Director Marchbanks for his leadership of ODOT since the beginning of my first term as governor,” said Gov. DeWine. “Jack has shared my vision for increasing safety on Ohio’s roads and making sure that our transportation system works efficiently to serve our residents, businesses, and visitors. I am also pleased that Pam Boratyn has agreed to serve as ODOT’s new director. Pam has a passion for public service and a wealth of experience in the transportation sector.”
In a message to association members regarding Director Marchbanks leaving ODOT, OCA President Chris Runyan stated: “Director Marchbanks has accomplished much in his many years in the service to ODOT and the people of Ohio. I can state that I have never experienced an ODOT Director more open to hearing the construction industry’s concerns and suggestions. There was never an unanswered call in response to my inquiries. It has been my privilege to work with Jack for three decades, and we wish him the very best as he moves on down the path of life to whatever and wherever his heart desires.”