#ELGLPopUps: Choose Your Own Adventure in MIA

Posted on September 16, 2018


In this post, you’ll hear from those who have registered for the upcoming Pop Up in Miami, Florida.

View the complete agenda and register.


Vince Roberts

City of Delray Beach, FL


Nora Emmanuel

City of Delray Beach, FL


Amanda Vilain

City of Delray Beach, FL


Herman Velasquez

Microsoft


Cathy Green

City of Fort Lauderdale, FL


Drew Newstrom

City of Fort Lauderdale, FL


Grant Gordon

PayIt


Matthew McKirahan

Senior Management Fellow – Structural Innovation – City of Fort Lauderdale, FL


Romeo B. Lavarias

Emergency Manager – City of Miramar, FL


In keeping with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” theme, what’s the biggest adventure that you’ve had either personally or professionally? 

Dealing with information overload.

What’s one specific action that an organization should take around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion? 

Change the narrative.  We’re hammering the message and it’s not working.

What’s your Mt. Rushmore (top 4) of fall activities?

Hurricane Preparedness, Revenue generation, Doing more with less and less; organizations that are fluff and no substance.

Who should we invite to appear on the next episode of GovLove?

Any organization that has a public-private partnership; the role of academia in public government, i.e. academics working with practitioners to solve real world problems.


Adam Guthrie

Community Development – Pasco County, FL


In keeping with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” theme, what’s the biggest adventure that you’ve had either personally or professionally?

Studying abroad in Spain.

What’s one specific action that an organization should take around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Allowing equal access and encouragement to training opportunities, classes, and leadership development programs.

What’s your Mt. Rushmore (top 4) of fall activities?

Not much changes in Florida but the weather is less hot which is nice.

If you couldn’t attend the Pop Up closest to you, which other Pop Up would you want to attend?

Portland

Who should we invite to appear on the next episode of GovLove?

Colin Powell


Tom DiGiacomo

Director of Business Development – PayIt


Alyssa Bohnsack

HelpDesk Support Technician – Pasco County, FL


In keeping with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” theme, what’s the biggest adventure that you’ve had either personally or professionally?

The biggest adventure I have had was going on my first cruise when I was 10 years old. I traveled to three different islands over a seven day period and it was an extraordinary experience.

What’s one specific action that an organization should take around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion?

One specific action that an organization should take around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion is getting the front line employees perspective. Often large issues like these are left to the top leadership level. Some of the best ideas come from front line employees and they might be the ones that deal with diversity and inclusion issues every day whereas our leadership often just hears about the issues.

What’s your Mt. Rushmore (top 4) of fall activities?

Pumpkin Carving, Fall Photography, making pumpkin pie, attending Haunted Houses.

If you couldn’t attend the Pop Up closest to you, which other Pop Up would you want to attend?

I would attend the Los Angeles pop up because I feel like it is a different atmosphere on the other side of the country and I could learn a lot from different people and make connections.

Who should we invite to appear on the next episode of GovLove?

I believe you should invite someone that has experience both in leading the private and public sector. The public sector often get an indecent reputation for being slower paced and not as profitable. I would like to hear from someone who has seen both sides of this and their point of view.


Cheriene Floyd

Cheriene Floyd

Strategic Planning and Performance Manager – City of Miami, FL

LinkedIn & Twitter


Melissa Bridges

Melissa Bridges

Performance & Innovation Coordinator – City of Little Rock, AR

ELGL Board of Directors

LinkedIn & Twitter


Ben Kittelson

Ben Kittelson

ELGL Board of Directors & City of Durham, NC

LinkedIn & Twitter


Jeff Horswell

GovSpend

GovSpend


Ana Colls

Ana Colls

Assistant Director, Parks & Recreation Department – Village of Key Biscayne, FL

LinkedIn


Emily Edmonds

Emily Edmonds

Senior Consultant & Grant Administrator at WithersRavenel|WR-Martin

ELGL Membership Services Coordinator

LinkedIn & Twitter


What book are you currently reading? 

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson – yes, absolutely. This book came to me at the perfect time in my life. Despite the recent overwhelm of books with bad words in the title, this one really helps you examine and re-evaluate your own reactions to the world and perceptions of yourself. Especially valuable in times of discontent like this, and when you’re examining who you are and what kind of journey you’re on.

Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?

Mystery of the Maya – has time travel, and keeps sending the reader back to the same page and place in time.

What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?

“Fear is the mind-killer, fear is the little death.” – Frank Herbert, Dune

Don’t die a lot of little deaths being afraid of speaking up, opening up, or walking up. Particularly at ELGL conferences, which are like a series of warm hugs compared to most gov conferences you’ll go to!

Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?

I tend to work on projects that cross a lot of different fields – technology, water and sewer and other infrastructure, parks, facilities, trails, health clinics. But the single thread that runs through all of them is the issue of scarcity, and how local governments choose to address it. We see it in everything from water shortages to net neutrality and internet access to food access and health. Scarcity – across all industries and sectors – is going to be the defining issue of the next five decades, both in our country and in others. I believe that how we deal with it now, beginning at the local level, will significantly impact the lives of all future generations.

Blockchain Could Make Government This Easy

What You Have to Earn to Rent a Modest Two Bedroom Apartment

2018 Land Use

Coding Algorithms

Global Water Crisis

I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I… get to meet some of the folks I’ve helped with membership issues in the last few months 🙂


Jeremy Shackett

Jeremy Shackett

Engagement Strategist, Bang The Table

LinkedIn & Twitter


What book are you currently reading? 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.

I would recommend it. A quick, powerful read that puts you into the shoes of those who are often forgotten–those on death row. The book chronicles people who were placed on death row and how they got there. Some had unfortunate circumstances that led to their crime; one was even completely innocent. All of them, however, faced a racially biased justice system and a society that did not give them support when they needed it the most. Makes you consider how we can (and should) do better.

Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?

Island of Time- has the shortest path from beginning to an end.

What’s your advice for successfully networking at a local government conference?

Get to know the PERSON.

Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now? 

Community engagement!

I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I…. can have good conversations about community engagement without being a promotional slimeball.


Mark Ogles

SafeBuilt
Business Development Representative, SAFEbuilt, LLC


Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?

Island of Time- has the shortest path from beginning to an end.

What’s your advice for  networking at a local government conference?

Engage with other attendees.

Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now? 

The interaction between vendors and local government.

I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I… meet new people.


Clarisell De Cardenas

Clarisell De Cardenas

Director of Community Engagement & Outreach – Town of Miami Lakes, Florida

LinkedIn & Twitter


What book are you currently reading? 

Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders

Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?

Mystery of the Maya – has time travel, and keeps sending the reader back to the same page and place in time.

What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?

Networking is a two way street. Some people associate networking with being pushy however it is a great way of getting to know someone in your field and learn how you can help that person and how they can help in return.

Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?

Community engagement/technology

I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if… I learn something new.


German Cure

German Cure

Administrative Services Director – Town of Miami Lakes, FL

LinkedIn


What book are you currently reading? 

Strong father strong daughter. Excellent book for coaching/mentoring one of the most important persons in your life.

Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?

Island of Time- has the shortest path from beginning to an end.

What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?

Be open and approachable.

Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?

Smart Cities

I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I…meet new people and cultivate new relationships.


Angela Hughes

Angela Hughes

Senior Management Fellow – City of Fort Lauderdale, FL

LinkedIn


What book are you currently reading?

The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism – It’s a good, a little repetitive but a good read nonetheless

Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?

Island of Time- has the shortest path from beginning to an end.

What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?

Be open, and turn off your phone so you can be present

Which local government topics are most fascinating to you right now? 

Smart Cities and Parks and Recreation

I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I… meet new people and learn something new

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