GrayRobinson’s recent Community Leader Forum was held on January 31, 2014 at the Orlando office of GrayRobinson featuring Noranne Downs, P.E., District Secretary for Florida Department of Transportation, District Five.
Downs is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, formerly called Southeastern Massachusetts University, with a degree in civil engineering. She was the first female to receive that degree from Southeastern Massachusetts University. Downs is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Florida.
Downs started with the Florida Department of Transportation in 1991 as a project manager and became the District Five Secretary in October 2006, managing up to a $1 billion annual district budget. As District Secretary, she is responsible for all Florida Department of Transportation operations for the nine-county Central Florida area.
Downs also serves as Chief Executive Officer for Sunrail and is a board member of LYNX, Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, Osceola County Expressway Authority and MyRegion.Org. Downs’ presentation focused on the FDOT District 5 project including Sunrail, Ultimate I-4 and Wekiva Parkway.
Through its Community Leader Forums, GrayRobinson brings together clients, attorneys and friends of the firm to hear high-profile business and community leaders and elected officials discuss issues of importance to the state of Florida.