Former Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Ananth Prasad, P.E., has been selected as Florida’s 2023 Transportation Hall of Fame inductee by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida.
Prasad has over 30 years of public and private sector experience in the transportation industry, including five years as National Transportation Practice Leader at HNTB, a national infrastructure solution firm, and 22 years with FDOT where he held the governor-appointed position of Secretary of FDOT from 2011—2015.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Ananth for close to 20 years – first as his supervisor and later as an industry peer,” said Kevin J. Thibault, P.E., F.ASCE, former FDOT secretary. “From the first time I met him in 2004 when he was the FDOT Director of Construction, to his advancement through the department to his private sector work, I immediately saw his passion for his work and his focus on providing transportation solutions for the people of Florida. I am fortunate to call him my friend as well as an industry expert. It is no surprise that he would be chosen for Florida’s Transportation Hall of Fame, as he truly is the epitome of making a difference for the state.”
Prasad was recognized as one of Florida’s most influential business leaders by Florida Trend Magazine in 2021 and 2022 and was also named to the inaugural “2023 Construction Power 100” by City & State Florida.
“Ananth Prasad has been a true leader, innovator, and consummate professional. His decades-long advocacy for the transportation industry, both at a state and federal level, has been visionary and his follow-through has been remarkable,” said Ram Kancharla, vice president for planning and development for Port Tampa Bay. “His leadership in multiple aspects of the transportation industry has resulted in generational impacts throughout the State of Florida. His strategies during his tenure as the Secretary of Transportation clearly demonstrated his commitment to improving the infrastructure of the state. He continues to make significant contributions to the industry to ensure that a sustainable, robust, and modern system is developed and maintained. The state is fortunate for his ongoing stewardship.”
“Ananth Prasad is one of those rare individuals who is both a technically advanced engineer and a politically astute industry advocate,” said Sally Patrenos, president of Floridians for Better Transportation. “His career trajectory, from FDOT engineer to Florida’s Secretary of Transportation and now respected leader and voice of the Florida construction industry, exemplifies his drive and enthusiasm for the industry he serves. We congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition!”
Prasad was named to the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships Inaugural Top 10 P3 Transportation Infrastructure Pioneers in 2017, and he currently serves as the president of the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FBTA).
“We are thrilled to announce Ananth Prasad as the 2023 Transportation Hall of Fame inductee,” said Lisa Staes, associate director of CUTR. “Ananth’s leadership and tireless efforts have transformed the state’s infrastructure, making it more efficient, safe, and accessible for all. His dedication to innovation and collaboration has paved the path for a better future for Floridians and visitors.”
Prasad will be inducted into the Florida Transportation Hall of Fame on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at the CUTR Transportation Achievement Awards at the University of South Florida’s Marshall Center.
