Page 14 - July-Aug2023 Vol41 No2

MEMPHIS By Robert Knecht
PW Spotlight: Robert Knecht

Memphis Public Service Director

First, tell us about yourself, your career, river cruise lines. Significant recreational experience
anything you are willing to share. and tourism growth is associated with this from APWA
I am married to my beautiful wife, project, and the cruise lines all wish to to your
Mendy, a native Memphian, and we have make Memphis a premier destination. This work in
three children; Kristen, Kyle, and Jordan, expansion will allow several cruise ships your City or
as well as five grandchildren. I moved to to dock simultaneously at the Beale Street vice versa,
Memphis in 1994 after proudly serving Landing Dock and improve operational how have
in the U.S. Air Force, and am a veteran of accommodations during lower river levels. you been able to take your experiences
Operations Desert Shield/Storm. I grew up How long have you worked in Public from your City to the rest of the APWA
in Cocoa, FL but was born in Ottumwa, IA. Works? What have your previous jobs community?
I have a bachelor’s degree in civil been and what responsibilities did you There are several examples that I would
engineering from the University of have? highlight, as I am always evaluating best
Memphis, and a master’s degree in business I have served as Public Works Director practices to identify how we can improve.
administration from the University of since 2015 and previously was Deputy Strategically you need to be evaluating
Phoenix. Director for five years. I have been with your performance, metrics, data, and
Share your official title and what duties Public Works my entire 20-year tenure service level agreements to deliver services
you perform currently. How many staff with the City of Memphis. As Director, and improve customer services. I also
you have, and what departments and I am responsible for all aspects of Public have been working diligently to improve
work your team does. Maybe highlight a Works services, operations, budget, and employee engagement. We developed a
few new projects you are implementing or regulatory compliance. Public Works Emerging Leaders Program
working on. How did you find out about APWA, and with the goal to target and improve
I am Public Works Director for the how did you get involved initially? When the leadership, interpersonal skills and
City of Memphis, responsible for the did you join APWA? engagement at all the supervisory and
third-largest city division with a staff of I have been involved with APWA since managerial levels. This idea mirrors the
nearly 900 employees. We are responsible 2003, when I became employed by Public concept that APWA has created.
for most of the core services provided to Works. I have been a proud member and Conversely, we have made tremendous
citizens, including Wastewater Collection participated in many events. improvements in how the division is
and Treatment and Stormwater Collection, During your time with APWA what leveraging technology to improve our
ROW Maintenance, Street Sweeping, Street involvement have you have? Positions, operational efficiencies and effectiveness.
Maintenance, Memphis City Beautiful, and papers, presentations, committees, Our ESRI GIS utilization has become a
the Ordinance Enforcement Operations conferences attended, certifications, major capability, yielding some amazing
such as Commercial & Residential Code classes, etc? benefits. It also allows me to use various
Enforcement, Grounds Services, and I have been participating in the APWA dashboards to track and monitor
Environmental Enforcement. Big Cities and Counties Group since operations. We have been showcasing this
The Public Works division manages two the time that the group was formed. with local TCAPWA and with the Big
Enterprise Funds, which combined with its This group is expanding to be a more Cities and Counties group.
General Fund responsibility, create a total “global” organization, and I have been Lastly, Public Works has been fortunate
annual O&M budget over $225 million, excited to work with all the other Public to partner with Google Cloud and Spring
along with over $2.0 billion in planned Works Directors on some key initiatives. M/L for the last three years on several
capital improvement programs (CIP). We continue to advocate for more Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine
One of the largest current projects is participation. Learning (ML) projects that have created
a $325M modernization and upgrade What roles do you currently have in the ability to gather information on an
for the T.E. Maxson Wastewater and APWA, TCAPWA? incredible scale.
Treatment Facility (WWTF), which has I am actively involved in the Big Cities From my perspective, an ideal scenario
been in service since 1975. This project and Counties group mentioned above. for Public Works organizations envisions
is a major upgrade investment, for which How does your City/Company support the ability to be more proactive versus
Public Works successfully secured a $151M your work in APWA? reactive, such as not having to rely on
WIFIA loan. We encourage involvement, and cover citizens to contact us to make us aware
I also am overseeing a $35M project to memberships costs for the division. We of an issue. These AI/ML capabilities will
improve the docking and landing facilities also send staff every year to PWX and transform how Public Works operates and
on the Mississippi River that will serve Snow Expo. maintains infrastructure, plus so much
the expanding number of ships from the How have you been able to transfer your more!

14 TPW July/August 2023