The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has appointed Lauren Eichenfels (above) – communication and public involvement planner for the Rail, Transit & Planning Division of the Montana Department of Transportation – as vice-chair of its Committee on Transportation Communications, known as TransComm.

[Above photo via the Montana DOT]

Eichenfels has over a decade of public relations experience, including work for nonprofits, government agencies, and consumer industries. She began her career at Montana DOT in 2014 as a public relations specialist in the director’s office.

She briefly left the agency for a few years to lead an earned media effort with the agency of record for the state’s tourism office, Visit Montana, then returned to take on her current role in 2020.

Eichenfels is most proud of her involvement in the department’s goal of Vision Zero; particularly the privilege of sharing the stories of Montana residents who lost loved ones tragically to fatal crashes to drive change and end serious injuries and deaths on state roadways.

She is an alumnus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, where she received a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism with a specialty in PR/advertising.

During her time as a TransComm member over the last several years, Eichenfels volunteered on several subcommittees and most recently served as the secretary to the steering committee.

She has also served as the diversity and inclusion liaison for Montana’s chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and has been recognized for her contributions to the industry with Stevie Awards in both the American Business Awards and Women in Business Awards competition.