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This is an area where balance is key many doors of opportunity and success showing the needs of our Public Works
when taken into the context of our opened for me. Through my involvement departments to those that we serve.
organization. We are built out of hard with TCAPWA, I went on to attend the If we continue to learn and grow,
work, fortitude, and resilience; we must Public Works Administration class at educate ourselves on innovation, and
not lose sight of the character we have TPWI. That leadership training provided leverage the technology that is available;
as an organization, but use it as fuel to the education and experience to serve we can effectively communicate the
guide the future successes we have as we in roles as an Administrator, Assistant resources we truly need to stay effective
transition into the future. Director, and Director of a Public Sector in the future.
As a young professional, I can recall Department. We face workforce development
walking into the office of my boss’s boss, My service and experience with challenges with changes in generational
Manny Belen. I had one question at hand TCAPWA now has come full circle. dynamics and the needs of our young
and the courage to ask it… “Hey boss, I now have the honor of being an people. If we continue to carry ourselves
I’m thankful for the opportunity I have instructor at the Public Works as the individuals that others seek, our
to work for you, but I wanted to know, Leadership & Administration class for organization and our industry will attract
respectfully, how do I position myself to TPWI. What got me in the class as a the talent that has the character and
get into your chair one day?” student, won’t be the same as what helps fortitude Public Works professionals
Director Belen, a great leader, me lead well as an instructor. Each one embody each and every day.
consummate professional, and a lifelong of those challenges is different, and each The future of our organization is
friend to this day, replied, “You have to one is an opportunity for success. bright because our membership shines
get yourself the opportunity to develop “If you aren’t evolving, you are so brightly. The most important role I see
your leadership skill set. Your job doesn’t as your leader in 2026 is to give you the
necessarily require that from you all the already extinct.” – Lewis Carroll, training and resources you need to be
time right now. But one great way you Through the Looking-Glass the most successful you can be every day.
can find that, that really helped me, was This concept illustrates the relationship As I envision the future of TCAPWA, I
TCAPWA.” As a former West Branch between evolving species, referred to as see an organization that does just that,
Director and Chapter Past President the “Red Queen” Hypothesis. The name focusing on building up our people and
himself, he knew the value added. comes from Lewis Carroll’s Through the our industry in Tennessee.
So, I took his advice. I chose to serve Looking-Glass, where the Red Queen Technology and innovation may
as the YP representative for the West says, “it takes all the running you can prove to be challenging for our most
Branch and get involved. The balance do, to keep in the same place.” In this tenured and experienced workforce,
I see for our organization is: keep the context, species must constantly evolve while practical and “hard knocks”
fortitude, courage, and character to grow to “keep in the same place” and avoid experience may challenge our freshest
and challenge yourself; even though the extinction, because their competitors and and most lively workforce members. The
work to be done (to get us where we are environment also are evolving. intersection of new ideas and solutions,
going) will look different than the work In Public Works, 99 percent of the work with historical and institutional
we did to get us where we are. we do is reactive, naturally and organically knowledge, must be done well. In this
“Every challenge is an opportunity so. Organizationally, we also have been way, we can position our organization for
reduced to minimum maintenance
success proactively in the future.
for success.” – Robert Knecht capacities: fighting workforce challenges, Share curiosity. Have genuine and
This statement reflects a growth budgeting constraints, societal and vulnerable relationships. Invest in
mindset, where challenges are viewed political influence with the “do more with each other, work toward the common
as chances to learn and grow, not as less” corporate strategy of organizational goal, and seek the greater good for our
insurmountable obstacles. By reframing leaders. communities. These principles aren’t new
adversity as a stepping stone, individuals We run so fast, just to keep up. to us, but how we do them well in the
can develop resilience, gain new skills, The future of Public Works holds future is.
and build strength, ultimately moving opportunities to equip our teams with When we embrace the challenges
closer to their goals. Embracing these information and innovative strategies ahead of us, with the character that got
opportunities is crucial for personal to more proactively manage our us where we are today, we always will
development and achieving potential. infrastructure and our communities’ be where we need to be in the future.
What happened when I took on that operations. To command the investment I’m blessed and thankful to serve you
challenge, that small step to volunteer in of our local officials and communities, we this year and hope I can inspire our
our organization? The result was that so must be able to provide hard and fast data organization for many years to come.

OCTOBER 13-15Knoxville ’26
SAVE TCAPWA/SWANA

THE DATE CONFERENCE

View online at tnpublicworks.com 7