Otter Tail County has announced hiring Krysten Foster as County Engineer. Foster will begin her work with the Otter Tail County Highway Department in mid-July.
Foster grew up in northeastern Minnesota. She earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She returned to further her education at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, where she earned a Master of Business Administration. In 2020, she began a leadership position with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) as a District State Aid Engineer. Before working for MnDOT, Foster served for over six years as the County Highway Engineer for Lake County. She has a breadth of experience in transportation and engineering, serving the public sector.
“We are excited to welcome Krysten to Otter Tail County,” said County Deputy Administrator Nick Leonard. “She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from her previous positions.”
Foster has served the public in government roles for over 16 years. She has demonstrated her leadership and communication skills in her career and distinguished herself through her collaborative efforts with county and city partners. She has been recognized through awards for her enthusiasm, work ethic, and teamwork. She has successfully advanced multi-million-dollar projects through her engineering leadership and effective working relationships with government agencies.
“It has been gratifying to serve the public and work with local communities,” Foster shared. “I have heard such good things about the Otter Tail County Highway Department, and I look forward to learning more about Otter Tail County and how to best serve the people who live, work, and visit here.”
The Highway Department is organized within the Economic Growth and Community Investment Team. The Highway Engineer is the department’s leader and works closely with the Assistant County Engineer and the Highway Maintenance Supervisor. Foster will acclimate to her new roles as she works with Grotte for some time. Current Highway Engineer Charles Grotte will fill the role of Public Works Director until his retirement in 2024. “We want to thank Chuck Grotte for his years of dedicated service,” added Leonard.