Page 7 - Jan-Feb 2021 Vol 38 No 6

A rousing keynote address came from • Fleet Management: Tips on Getting Factory Training for Your
motivational speaker/former University Technicians
of Tennessee Chattanooga head wrestling Attendance in the individual sessions was high at an average
team coach Heath Eslinger. In his speech on
“Leading North of Difficulty,” he explored of 25-30 persons registered for each session, not even counting
the themes of cultivating hope in the midst some municipal organizations who had multiple members in
of uncertainty as we navigate through life’s a conference room watching on a large screen. Sponsors and
Eslinger challenges (and triumphs). Selected key virtual trade show participants were acknowledged again, some
of whom with impressive corporate videos that “kicked it up a
phrases and takeaways included having a “joyous anticipation of notch.” Participants were reminded that Memphis WILL BE the
good” and changing the way we may automatically think “why site of the November 1-3 conference in 2021.
me/what if ” when dealing with adversity…instead, try switching
to forward thinking “what’s next?” In the final hour of the conference, Strong kept the door
Sponsorship Acknowledgements came before our break, in prizes coming and the spinning wheel whirling, engaging the
which we honored our Platinum Sponsors: Cannon & Cannon audience until the Grand Prize was awarded… consisting of a
Inc., CMI Equipment Sales Inc., Crafco Inc., Gresham Smith, two-day stay at Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville and
Jacobs Engineering, LDA Engineering, Pavement Technology four tickets to Dollywood’s Christmas Celebration in Pigeon
Inc., Ragan Smith, SSR, Stringfellow, Stowers CAT, and Team Forge.
Waste. We also gave shoutouts to our Gold Sponsors: Striping Hard-Working Committee Members: Making the Conference a
Service & Supply and WSP, and to our Friends of the Chapter Reality
Sponsors: BHS Concrete, Mattern & Craig, and Precision Pipe &
Products (Infrasteel). Kudos and congratulations go to all who worked so hard
The Virtual Exhibit Hall followed containing short, informative for several months to bring this conference together…and in
video presentations from our sponsors. these uncertain times due to the COVID-19 disruptions. In late
Throughout the day, Kim Strong utilized the Zoom “chat” August, Ethan Skaggs, West Branch Director, proposed replacing
function and kept us on our toes with head-scratching polling our canceled Annual Conference with a virtual one.
questions and innovative door prize drawings via the virtual
spinning wheel. The conference committee rallied around the idea and
began holding Zoom weekly conference planning meetings in
Thursday Agenda: Technical Sessions On Numerous Topics September to discuss just how to pull it all together.

Day Two, December 3, had even higher attendance, at 100 Those involved in the conference planning are (but are not
registrants. Technical sessions (web links available on page 8) limited to): Justin Holland, President; John Fox, President Elect;
spanned relevant Public Works topics, such as: Nicholas Bradshaw, Vice President; Kenny Wiggins, Treasurer;
• Virtual Tools to Solve Real World Problems John Chlarson, Secretary; Ethan Skaggs, West Dir.; Regina
• Drought Proof/Future Proof/Congestion Proof Santana, Middle Dir.; Bryon Fortner, Upper East Dir.; Eric
• Reducing Cost and Improving Solid Waste Collection Sines, Lower East Dir.; Mark Miller, Chapter Administrator;
Kim Strong, Chapter Delegate; John Anderson, Conference
Efficiency Through New Technology Committee Chair; and Klair Kimmey, TPW Magazine.
• Urban Stormwater Design: Creating Capacity by Outsmarting
And a BIG thank you to Abb Oglesby, Yolanda Dillard and
Challenges Cyndy Edmonds of MTAS, who multi-tasked, problem-solved
• Underground Asset Management: It’s Not 9 to 5, It’s 24/7 and “virtually” came up with multiple solutions that worked to
make it all happen!

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