Public Works Podcast - Joseph Blackman

Latest Episodes:

Marsha Anderson Bomar: Strategic Transportation Advisor @ GHD Apr 09, 2025

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Marsha Anderson Bomar, a strategic transportation advisor for GHD and president-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), shared her 50-year career journey, encompassing experiences in both the public and private sectors, entrepreneurship (Street Smarts and Data Smarts), and extensive leadership roles. Her presentation highlighted the importance of mentorship, effective communication, continuous learning, and addressing the engineering workforce shortage through initiatives like modernizing engineering curricula.

Danielle Wernert: Owner of Upskilled Consulting Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Danielle is the Owner of Upskilled Consulting and in the episode we discussed the skilled trades labor shortage, emphasizing effective onboarding (30-60-90 day plans, ride-alongs), mentorship, and blended (in-person and virtual) training strategies to address it. We highlighted the need for measuring training ROI through metrics like video views and skill acquisition, building internal video libraries, and utilizing exit interviews and succession planning for knowledge retention and proactive talent development. Give the episdoe and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionasl.
For more: http://www.upskilledconsulting.com/

Mike McNutt: Public Affairs and Communications Manager @ Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, CA Mar 14, 2025

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Mike McNutt: Public Affairs and Communications Manager at Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in California. In this episode he detailed his multifaceted role encompassing media relations, crisis communication, and community engagement, highlighting the challenges of building public trust amidst declining confidence in government and misinformation. He discussed strategies for effective communication during crises (wildfires, active shooter situations, the pandemic) and emphasized the importance of clear, concise messaging tailored to diverse community demographics and the unique challenges of communicating about water resources during emergencies. Give the episode a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

Ernest Stephens: Senior Executive Recruiter @ City of Seattle, Seattle Public Utilities, WA Mar 14, 2025

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Ernest is A Senior Executive Recruiter at the City of Seattle, Seattle Public Utilities in Washington. In this episode we discussed the challenges and strategies of recruiting for executive-level positions within Seattle Public Utilities, highlighting the importance of aligning candidates with the organization's mission and addressing ageism and other biases in the process. We explored strategies for attracting and retaining talent, including outreach to diverse groups and leveraging existing employees' institutional knowledge, along with the impact of salary transparency and crafting engaging job descriptions. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

Keeli Carlton: Water Policy Program Manager @ Seminole County Government, FL Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

Keeli is the Water Policy Program Manager at Seminole County Government in Florida. In this episode we discussed her role in developing holistic water policies, current projects focusing on stakeholder engagement and internal water audits, and the challenges of limited staffing and funding. Her career progression, emphasizing communication and collaboration skills honed through diverse experiences, including teaching and land management, was also highlighted, along with the importance of mentorship and proactive issue resolution. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

Adib Altallal: Water & Sewer Utilities Engineer at City of Tukwila, WA Mar 14, 2025

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Adib is the Water & Sewer Utilities Engineer at City of Tukwila in Washington. This episodes chat is regarding Altal's career path, daily responsibilities, and essential skills in the field. He highlighted the importance of communication, addressing misconceptions about public works, and the challenges of inadequate funding and aging infrastructure. Give the episode a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

Stephen Sanders: Head Trainer at The Environmental Training Center at Morrisville State, Morrisville NY Mar 05, 2025

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Stephen Sanders is the Head Trainer at The Environmental Training Center at Morrisville State, Morrisville NY. In this episode we discussed challenges in the water industry, including workforce aging, recruitment difficulties, and negative public perception. We explored solutions such as simplifying certification processes, improving community relations through clear communication, and emphasizing the industry's positive community impact. Next steps include implementing improved recruitment and training strategies, focusing on community relations rather than solely public relations. Give the episode a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

Jordan Lewis: Environmental Specialist II | Wastewater & Water Community North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Mar 05, 2025

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Jordan is the Environmental Specialist II | Wastewater & Water Community North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in Charlotte North Carolina. In this episode she detailed her career path, emphasizing the importance of internships and entry-level positions, and shared experiences highlighting accountability and regulatory work. We discussed professional development strategies, the need for better knowledge transfer between generations in the environmental field, and concerns about AI's environmental impact. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

Matthew Dawe: Co-Founder/CEO PSD Citywide Inc. Feb 24, 2025

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Matthew is the Co-Founder/CEO PSD Citywide Inc. In this episode we chat about how PSD CityWide came to fruition and what it has evolved into over the years. We cover topics like software vs hardware and also how a company can get traction with municipalities. We also discuss how one can stay fit during the rigourous travel schedule of a high-performing CEO. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.
For more: http://psdcitywide.com/

Dustin Hansen: Streets Operations Manager City of Sioux Falls, SD Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Dustin is the Streets Operations Manager at the City of Sioux Falls in South Dakota. In this episode we dive into show removal, finding and keeping talent, how to keep talent busy in extreme weather and more. We also dive into his career path and how he got into the public sector. We talk about the ups and downs of his career and what has made him who he is today. His billboard would simply read: "Be Patient." Give the episode a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

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