Page 5 - TN Public WorksJan-Feb 2014 Vol. 31 No. 6
P. 5
TCAPWA Executive by Phil Pindzola
Committee
www.tennessee.apwa.net An Open Letter to
PRESIDENT: Ronnie Hammonds
Streets & Sanitation Mgr., Kingsport
ronniehammonds@kingsporttn.gov Public Works Officials
(423) 229-9397
PRESIDENT ELECT: Ken Donaldson
Director of Public Works, Columbia The educational component of the October
kdonaldson@columbiatn.com 2013 Annual Conference began with the sec-
(931) 388-8650 ond annual Public Works Forum. The speaker
VICE-PRESIDENT: Rodney Keeton panel included Shawn Lindsey, Athens; Ryan
Director of Public Works, Collegedale McReynolds, Kingsport; Bo Mills, Germantown;
rkeeton@collegedaletn.gov and Guy Patterson, Goodlettsville. All did a
(423) 396-3135 fantastic job. Each outlined their respective city’s
SECRETARY: Sharon Rollins operational methods in the service areas of street
Consulting Program Manager, MTAS maintenance, yard waste collection and disposal,
sharon.rollins@tennessee.edu garbage/trash collection, sidewalk maintenance,
(865) 974-0411 right-of-way mowing, and stormwater mainte-
TREASURER: Kenny Wiggins nance programs.
Public Works Director, Alcoa The intent was to provide various perspectives
kwiggins@cityofalcoa-tn.gov of service delivery so that each attendee could
(865) 380-4800 reflect on their own respective programs. This
WEST DIR: Manny Belen reflection may underscore that what they are
Adm. Street Maintenance, Memphis providing is the norm, or new ideas may emerge
mannybelen@memphis.gov so they can return to their communities and try
(901) 576-7127 to upgrade service levels or improve operational
MIDDLE DIR: Guy Patterson efficiencies. The feedback was overwhelmingly
Director of Public Services, Goodlettsville positive.
gpatterson@cityofgoodlettsville.org After a discussion of various operational issues, the moderator concluded with an
(615) 859-2740 overview of seven management philosophies that he has tried to live out during his 35
UPPER CUMBERLAND DIR: Tracy Meggs years of public service.
Civil Engineer, Cookeville “Make it Easy on the Guys” – A simple example of this axiom is garbage collection.
tmeggs@cookeville-tn.org If you collect household garbage with an automated system, you reduce overall and unit
(931) 520-5282 costs, increase production, enhance morale, virtually eliminate employee turnover, and
UPPER EAST DIR: Ryan McReynolds reduce liability. You do more with less, and you’ve made it easy on the guys. There are
Public Works Director, Kingsport many technological and equipment advances today that enhance productivity, are cost
mcreynolds@kingsporttn.gov effective and improve morale. This rapid upgrade in technology is the change agent
(423) 229-9470 of our times. If you or your city aren’t embracing and adapting to these changes, then
LOWER EAST DIR: Justin Holland it’s likely that your cost of service is above the norm, and you struggle with employee
Sanitation Manager, Chattanooga issues.
holland_j@mail.chattanooga.gov
(423) 757-5370 “Two Heads Are Better Than One” – If you think you know it all, then you have
HOUSE Of DELEGATES: Calvin D. Clifton just limited your organization. Michael Dell admitted he was a failure until he sur-
Mattern and Craig, Inc. rounded himself with others just as smart and motivated as he. Dell Computers became
cdclifton@matternandcraig.com a success when he assembled a team, and the team acted as one, with everyone partici-
(423) 928-3500 pating and focused on common goals.
PAST PRESIDENT: Bill Yearwood “Organizations Don’t Make the People; People Make the Organization” – Orga-
Public Works Director, Bartlett nizations should not be static, bureaucratic structures but rather dynamic entities based
byearwood@cityofbartlett.org on the talent at hand. The former usually fail or become unproductive; the latter push
(901) 385-5570 the envelope of new ideas and bring freshness to the organization. If an organization
CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR: Mark Miller focuses on employee weaknesses, not much is gained. Rather, focus on each person’s
Public Works Director, Pigeon Forge strengths and minimize the weaknesses. When people retire or change jobs, the orga-
mmiller@cityofpigeonforge.com nization takes on a different look based on the strengths and weaknesses of the new
(865) 429-7312 people. Thus, people make the organization.
TPW PUBLISHER: Judy Keller
P.O. Box 474, Loudon, TN 37774 “It’s Not About Leadership, It’s About Commitment” – Actions speak louder than
imagespublications@charter.net words. You can be the head of an organization but not necessarily lead if you are in main-
(865) 458-3560 Continued on page 29
TPW January/February 2014 5
Committee
www.tennessee.apwa.net An Open Letter to
PRESIDENT: Ronnie Hammonds
Streets & Sanitation Mgr., Kingsport
ronniehammonds@kingsporttn.gov Public Works Officials
(423) 229-9397
PRESIDENT ELECT: Ken Donaldson
Director of Public Works, Columbia The educational component of the October
kdonaldson@columbiatn.com 2013 Annual Conference began with the sec-
(931) 388-8650 ond annual Public Works Forum. The speaker
VICE-PRESIDENT: Rodney Keeton panel included Shawn Lindsey, Athens; Ryan
Director of Public Works, Collegedale McReynolds, Kingsport; Bo Mills, Germantown;
rkeeton@collegedaletn.gov and Guy Patterson, Goodlettsville. All did a
(423) 396-3135 fantastic job. Each outlined their respective city’s
SECRETARY: Sharon Rollins operational methods in the service areas of street
Consulting Program Manager, MTAS maintenance, yard waste collection and disposal,
sharon.rollins@tennessee.edu garbage/trash collection, sidewalk maintenance,
(865) 974-0411 right-of-way mowing, and stormwater mainte-
TREASURER: Kenny Wiggins nance programs.
Public Works Director, Alcoa The intent was to provide various perspectives
kwiggins@cityofalcoa-tn.gov of service delivery so that each attendee could
(865) 380-4800 reflect on their own respective programs. This
WEST DIR: Manny Belen reflection may underscore that what they are
Adm. Street Maintenance, Memphis providing is the norm, or new ideas may emerge
mannybelen@memphis.gov so they can return to their communities and try
(901) 576-7127 to upgrade service levels or improve operational
MIDDLE DIR: Guy Patterson efficiencies. The feedback was overwhelmingly
Director of Public Services, Goodlettsville positive.
gpatterson@cityofgoodlettsville.org After a discussion of various operational issues, the moderator concluded with an
(615) 859-2740 overview of seven management philosophies that he has tried to live out during his 35
UPPER CUMBERLAND DIR: Tracy Meggs years of public service.
Civil Engineer, Cookeville “Make it Easy on the Guys” – A simple example of this axiom is garbage collection.
tmeggs@cookeville-tn.org If you collect household garbage with an automated system, you reduce overall and unit
(931) 520-5282 costs, increase production, enhance morale, virtually eliminate employee turnover, and
UPPER EAST DIR: Ryan McReynolds reduce liability. You do more with less, and you’ve made it easy on the guys. There are
Public Works Director, Kingsport many technological and equipment advances today that enhance productivity, are cost
mcreynolds@kingsporttn.gov effective and improve morale. This rapid upgrade in technology is the change agent
(423) 229-9470 of our times. If you or your city aren’t embracing and adapting to these changes, then
LOWER EAST DIR: Justin Holland it’s likely that your cost of service is above the norm, and you struggle with employee
Sanitation Manager, Chattanooga issues.
holland_j@mail.chattanooga.gov
(423) 757-5370 “Two Heads Are Better Than One” – If you think you know it all, then you have
HOUSE Of DELEGATES: Calvin D. Clifton just limited your organization. Michael Dell admitted he was a failure until he sur-
Mattern and Craig, Inc. rounded himself with others just as smart and motivated as he. Dell Computers became
cdclifton@matternandcraig.com a success when he assembled a team, and the team acted as one, with everyone partici-
(423) 928-3500 pating and focused on common goals.
PAST PRESIDENT: Bill Yearwood “Organizations Don’t Make the People; People Make the Organization” – Orga-
Public Works Director, Bartlett nizations should not be static, bureaucratic structures but rather dynamic entities based
byearwood@cityofbartlett.org on the talent at hand. The former usually fail or become unproductive; the latter push
(901) 385-5570 the envelope of new ideas and bring freshness to the organization. If an organization
CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR: Mark Miller focuses on employee weaknesses, not much is gained. Rather, focus on each person’s
Public Works Director, Pigeon Forge strengths and minimize the weaknesses. When people retire or change jobs, the orga-
mmiller@cityofpigeonforge.com nization takes on a different look based on the strengths and weaknesses of the new
(865) 429-7312 people. Thus, people make the organization.
TPW PUBLISHER: Judy Keller
P.O. Box 474, Loudon, TN 37774 “It’s Not About Leadership, It’s About Commitment” – Actions speak louder than
imagespublications@charter.net words. You can be the head of an organization but not necessarily lead if you are in main-
(865) 458-3560 Continued on page 29
TPW January/February 2014 5
