An Iowa State alumnus has been selected as the Iowa Department of Transportation’s “Outstanding Design Employee” for 1996.

Mark Masteller of Ames was nominated by his co-workers for his dedication, expertise and outstanding leadership skills, according to a press release.

His nomination read, in part, “Mark’s work not only serves to preserve the environment, but it also preserves the social and economic integrity of our state by securing the necessary permits for hundreds of miles of roadway projects.”

“He is well-liked,” Dave Skogerboe, the consultant coordinator in the design department said. “His expertise is pretty broad. He gets involved in a lot of projects.”

Masteller is the chief landscape artist in the roadside development section of the DOT.

Masteller has played an important role in the rehabilitation of the state’s rest areas and his close work with the local and state governments in developing effective vegetation programs, stated the press release.

He has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions to wetland mitigation issues.

Skogerboe said the department does a lot of projects involving the wetlands of Iowa. A wetland ranges from a simple pond to forest areas.

The department receives a lot of development projects, Skogerboe said.

“He has a big load on his shoulders to get all these wetland projects done,” Skogerboe said.

Masteller is originally from Atlantic. He received his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Iowa State. He graduated in 1978 and began his work with the DOT in 1979.

In 1989, Masteller was promoted to his current position as chief landscape architect.

Masteller resides in Ames with his wife Nancy, and his two children, Michael and Justin.