Lights, permits, action! District 1 employee honored by Film Locations in California Statewide

Published: Dec 12, 2024

Caltrans District 1's Heidi Quintrell was named the "Public Employee of the Year - State" by Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS).

FLICS honors the best location professionals in entertainment at the annual California on Location Awards (COLA) ceremony and recognized Quintrell for her work on the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson directed feature, "The Battle of Baktan Cross," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Regina Hall.

A 26-year veteran of Caltrans, Quintrell currently serves as the District 1 Permit Engineer, assisting businesses, agencies and even film productions work along the state highway system. In that role, she was responsible for guiding "The Battle of Baktan Cross" production team through the permitting process, advising them on the best highway locations to achieve their goals and coordinating with California Highway Patrol on rolling closures of U.S. 101 near Arcata.

Quintrell said, "I love problem solving and figuring out how we can make it work for them, and we have a team that wants to find a way to say yes. It was truly a fun experience."

Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine worked closely with Quintrell and nominated her for the honor.

"Heidi is a gem," Hesseltine said. "Her ability to handle any situation and do it while being so kind is unique. I greatly appreciate every time I get to work with her."

At first, Quintrell thought the email notifying her of her COLA nomination was spam. Once she confirmed, she traveled to the award ceremony held Sunday in Los Angeles. She said it was "shocking" to hear her name called and then receive a standing ovation from the production team she'd worked so closely with earlier this year.

"You do your job each day and you don't think anyone notices, but it's always nice to be acknowledged for your efforts," Quintrell said, adding that she was proud to represent Caltrans alongside other finalists, including Stephen Hirte from District 11.

Quintrell emphasized that this work has long-term benefits for District 1. "People still talk about movies that filmed here. They bring in a lot of economic activity, promote our area and help put our little corner of California on the map. That's really fun to be a part of."

California On Location Award winner Heidi Quintrell

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