Cross-Department High-Performance Teams to Address Countywide Strategic Priorities
Palm Beach County departments are joining together to drive the implementation of the county's new strategic plan. At the 2018 strategic planning workshop, the Board of County Commissioners approved six strategic priorities: economic development, housing and homelessness, environmental protection, infrastructure, public safety, and substance use and behavior disorders.
One of the major issues discussed at the workshop was how to break down silos and encourage departments to work closer together on common goals and priorities. With approval of County Administrator Verdenia Baker and the facilitation of Keith Clinkscale, director of Strategic Planning and Performance Management,
six Cross-Departmental High-Performance Teams have been organized.
Economic Development Team: Co-leaders Sherry Howard (Housing and Economic Sustainability) and Paul Connell (Parks & Recreation)
Housing & Homelessness Team: Co-leaders Wendy Tippett (Community Services), Geeta Loach-Jacobson (Youth Services) and Carlos Serrano (Housing and Economic Sustainability)
Environmental Protection Team: Co-leaders Deborah Drum (Environmental Resources Management), Megan Houston (Office of Resilience), Katelyn Cucinotta (Office of Resilience) and Ron Rice (Cooperative Extension)
Infrastructure Team: Co-leaders David Ricks (Engineering & Public Works), Ali Bayat (Water Utilities) and Megan Houston (Office of Resilience)
Public Safety Team: Co-leaders Stephanie Sejnoha (Public Safety) and Regenia Herring (Criminal Justice Commission)
Substance Use and Behavioral Disorders Team: Co-leaders John Hulick (Community Services), Dr. Twila Taylor (Youth Services) and Lauren Young (Fire Rescue)
These teams represent a new structure of intentional collaboration of county departments to work on common goals and priorities. Clinkscale facilitated the kick off of each team where the mission, goals and potential metrics of each team were discussed. Team leaders were also selected by the team members.
These are exciting times throughout the county as employees become more engaged. Cross-department communication is at a high, and employees are using continuous process improvement techniques to take Palm Beach County to another level of excellence.