12/04/2017

Happy December MTAS:

Wow, can you believe it is already December? Each year I marvel at how quickly time seems to fly by.

I’m starting this Mustard with a celebration. Mitchell Moore’s grandson, Houston Troup, plays high school football for Donelson Christian Academy in Nashville. He was honored by the Tennessee Titans as the high school player of the week a couple of weeks ago. Below is a picture commemorating the moment. Houston is the one holding the trophy (third from the right). Congratulations to Mitch and his grandson!



Let’s keep the celebrations going: Happy Birthday to John G. who celebrated another year on November 29 ^th , and Happy Work Anniversary to Sharon who rolled over the “first day on the job” mark on November 26 ^th . Thanks to both of you for sharing your lives with us.

More congratulations are also deserved. IPS was successful in its Level 2 application to the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. This is the first time the Institute has applied as a single entity for the agencies. Way to go IPS! The feedback report should come this month and I look forward to diving into it to see where opportunities for improvement exist. If you’d like to know more about TNCPE and what it’s all about, please click on this link:
https://www.ips.tennessee.edu/2017/11/30/ips-receives-tennessee-center-for-performance-excellence-commitment-award/

In other news, we have a new employee starting January 1. Angie Carrier has been hired to fill the vacant management consultant position covering East Tennessee. Angie comes to us from Johnson City where she works as Development Services Director. Before that, she worked as city administrator in White House, TN and town administrator in Dandridge, TN. Angie is very involved with ICMA and TCMA and was honored by TCMA in 2004 as the City Manager of the Year. As you know, Mitchell has been filling the gap; and I so much appreciate him taking great care of my customers during this transition period.

We still are in the process of filling the business manager position, a training coordinator position, a training consultant position, and with Jeff’s move to TCMA in January, another management consultant position. This has been a busy time for HR.

Three MTAS teams met last week in Memphis to help with the MTAS strategic plan that will fit within the IPS strategic plan. I look forward to getting the feedback from all of the teams and combining that information into one document (with your help of course). We’re talking about our future, and that’s exciting stuff for me. I hope you can share in my enthusiasm.

While still on that subject, a hearty thanks and shout-out goes to MTAS staffers who are serving on IPS strategic teams and doing more than double-duty: Abb and Cyndy (training facilities), Rick (non appropriation revenue), John G. and Richard (succession plan), Elisha and Steve W. (diverse hires), and Frances (marketing strategy). Abb and Elisha are also serving as chairs of their respective committees. I know this takes time away from your more direct work with cities, and I appreciate your commitment to giving us direction to serve them in even better capacities going forward.

Also, the biennial customer satisfaction survey concluded in November and as soon as I get the results, I’ll share them with you.

Here’s some information on a free webinar this week. I’ve heard the instructor speak before and she’s quite impressive. Check it out:
Managers Forum: What It Takes to Innovate with Peggy Merriss, City Manager for the City of Decatur, GA (Alliance for Innovation webinar – free to MTAS staff and all TN cities)
Dec. 7, 2017 | 1 pm – 2pm eastern

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8451808829568495105

I have almost hit the halfway mark in meeting with each staff member. With Armintha’s help, I hope to get appointments scheduled this month with everyone else (or come darn close given the administrative closing at the end of the month). Everyone has been so gracious and giving of their time and input; this means so much to me (and it will help me do a better job for you).

Okay, that’s more than enough for this week. I hope you can find opportunities to take advantage of in your own corner of MTAS.

Sincerely,
Margaret