Leadership changes at the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) are reshaping the agency's executive team as it prepares to continue managing the state's transportation system and related services. The appointments follow several senior leadership retirements and are intended to strengthen administrative, operational and transportation management functions.
ITD has appointed Laila Kral as chief deputy. Kral joins the executive leadership team after serving for 14 years with the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council, where she most recently led the agency. Prior to that role, she worked in the private sector following her graduation from Boise State University with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
Lisa McClellan has been promoted to chief of administration after overseeing ITD's Division of Motor Vehicles. Since joining the department in 2004, she has held leadership positions in both the Financial Services and DMV divisions.
CJ Kendrick will succeed McClellan as DMV administrator. Kendrick has served as the division's deputy administrator since 2024 and has more than 13 years of experience with the DMV. He is also a U.S. Army veteran who served as a flight medic in Afghanistan.
The appointments will be implemented over the coming weeks under the leadership of recently appointed ITD Director Alberto Gonzalez.
The updated executive leadership team includes Director Alberto Gonzalez, Chief Deputy Laila Kral, Chief of Administration Lisa McClellan, Chief Deputy Dave Kuisti and Chief of Operations Todd Hubbard.
The appointments follow the retirements of former Director Scott Stokes, former Chief Administrative Officer Dave Tolman and former Chief Innovation Experience Officer Brenda Williams. ITD also announced that Mollie McCarty will assume a newly created position focused on strengthening the department's statewide transportation safety efforts.
State transportation agencies play a central role in delivering highway, bridge and mobility programs. Executive leadership transitions can influence agency operations, project oversight and long-term infrastructure planning, making these appointments significant for contractors, engineering firms, local governments and other transportation stakeholders working across Idaho.
Source: Idaho Transportation Department.
