Are you an Emerging Leader?

Mary Powers

Public Information Specialist Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Tacoma, Washington

aybe you see a management position in your future. Maybe you’re already a manager or supervisor and want to learn more about leadership. If you have worked in the field of public works for seven years or less and demonstrated an interest in advancing your career within the profession, you might want to think about applying for the APWA Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA) in fall 2012.

Here’s a glimpse of the current ELA participants, known as ELA V (5), and what they learned at their retreat in October. They are the fifth class to go through the year-long program.

ELA was founded by Ann Daniels, APWA Director of Credentialing.

This year’s retreat was hosted by Sue Hann, ELA Program Coordinator and City Manager of Palm Bay, Florida. Deana Donohue from ELA II also taught several sessions and is one of many mentors available to guide the participants in this year’s class.

ELA retreat 2011

Part of the academy requirements is that participants complete homework assignments and discuss them on monthly one-hour conference calls. Another requirement is that they attend a three-and-a-half-day retreat at APWA headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri.

Though they arrived as 16 strangers from 11 different states, they already had at least two things in common. First, they wanted to learn more about leadership in public works. Second, they applied and were accepted into the year-long program that spans from September 2011 to August 2012.

Though all of the participants are in the public works profession, their workplace structures vary. Some are from municipalities, city and county government, private industry, and others work as consultants. Some of them are already managers and supervisors, and others aspire to move up in their organization.

You don’t have to already be in a supervisory position to apply for the ELA. “You are always in a position to lead no matter where you are on the org chart,” said Hann.

Homa Mojtabai, Administrative Analyst from Santa Monica, California, said she was grateful to be included in this year’s class. “It’s rare to have the chance to pick the brains of experienced city managers and administrators. The ELA gave me the opportunity to get feedback and invaluable perspective from accomplished and caring professionals throughout public works.”

There’s always an agenda…

The retreat involved an intense agenda. The team learned how to deal directly with conflict, making the transition from manager to leader, and practiced on-camera interviews in their “Mastering the Media” session. They discussed ethics in depth using the case study of Robert Moses.

From back left to right: Brian Coopman, Tony Fitzer, Jeff Baxter, Ryan Gallagher, Nathan Hladky, Todd Marti, Tyler Smith, William Simon, Deanna Donohue (mentor and retreat host), Sue Hann (program leader). Middle (left to right): Greer Hill, Erin Jones, Homa Mojtabai, Morgan Wazlaw, Mary Powers, Michael Campbell. Front: Ryan Welsing, Matt Spencer.

Robert Moses was a controversial figure and master builder of public works in New York from 1924 to 1968. He built 658 playgrounds in New York City, 416 miles of parkways, and 13 bridges. Known for his ability to “get things done,” he occupied 12 positions in appointive offices at the same time.

A two-and-a-half-hour session covered strength-based leadership and how to build a team based on strengths. Erin Jones, Planning Manager from the City of Rowlett, Texas, Public Works Department, was introduced to this concept for the first time at the ELA retreat.

“As a young manager I have spent a great deal of time and energy trying to improve my weaknesses in an unrealistic pursuit of perfection. I have an amazing staff that individually possesses many strengths that I do not have. Prior to the retreat I struggled with feeling incompetent if I leveraged off their strengths. The weekend transformed my way of thinking and drastically changed how I will utilize my staff in the future. While I will continue to acknowledge my weaknesses and improve upon them when possible, I will focus on sharpening my strengths and those of my individual team members.”

The ELA V also got to know each other’s challenges and brainstormed troubleshooting ideas. Some people successfully overcame issues in the past that others were having in the present. They were more than willing to share ideas and what worked for them when they were in a similar situation.

Challenging the status quo

One member brought up the term TTWWADI. At first, some people in the group didn’t know what it meant. But when the acronym was unveiled, many in the group were familiar with the meaning: That’s The Way We’ve Always Done It. ELA creates a dialogue for participants to explore innovative solutions to obstacles. It challenges public works professionals to change the status quo so the industry can grow. One could say that the present and past ELA groups represent the next generation of public works.

The greatest gift is knowledge, but a present is nice too

It was not all work and no play. The group brought each other small gifts to exchange as a reminder of the bonds built during the retreat. Michael Campbell, Solid Waste Plant Supervisor from DeKalb County, Georgia, brought miniature white dump trucks. Morgan Wazlaw, Project Manager from Rincon Consultants, Inc. in Ventura, California, brought ordinance-compliant reusable bags for each member. Small plastic dinosaurs were handed out to remind the group “not to be a dinosaur” and be willing to try new things. The group also played card games that encouraged team development.

Re “treat”

To maximize their time, the group had breakfast, lunch and dinner together. On Saturday night they met for a late-night dessert at Skies Restaurant, a slow-moving circular restaurant perched high above the city with amazing views. While savoring s’mores, brownies and skyhigh mud pie, they sat captivated as one member recounted a recent experience most people will never have.

ELA V member Jeff Baxter, Superintendant of Street and Bridge Operations from Washington, D.C., played basketball with…wait for it... The President of the United States. Though he probably got tired of telling the story of the Obama Drama, team members kept grilling him with questions about his once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

Watch for the ELA V at the 2012 APWA International Public Works Congress & Exposition

The retreat isn’t the end of the ELA V group though; it’s just the beginning. The group is charged with presenting a project at APWA International Public Works Congress & Exposition in August 2012 that involves public works and sustainability. They have conference calls several times a month to plan their 50-minute presentation.

Get involved in fall 2012

If you want to get involved in the next class, ELA VI opportunities are coming up in the fall of 2012. To be considered, you need to fill out an application and write a personal statement explaining why you want to be chosen.

If you’re hesitant, chew on this advice from ELA V member Ryan Welsing, Public Works and Parks Superintendent of the Village of Richfield, Wisconsin: “Why not go out on a limb? That’s where all the fruit is.”

ELA V Gift Exchange (not pictured: frosty beer mug)

Mary Powers can be reached at (253) 798-2464 or mpower1@co.pierce.wa.us.