The Public Works Hot Seat Podcast

Former Public Works Director Todd Hoppenstedt joins the show to share what life is really like behind the scenes of municipal infrastructure.From training CDL drivers only to lose them to the private sector, to managing emergencies with understaffed crews, Todd explains why public works is at a breaking point — and why more leaders are making tough career transitions.This episode explores:Workforce shortages in public worksCDL training challengesPay disparities between public and private sectorsThe personal toll of emergency responseWhy infrastructure workers are invisible… until something breaksIf you work in public works, utilities, or municipal leadership — this episode will hit close to home.

In this episode of the Infrastructure Hot Seat, host Chad Smeltzer welcomes Natalie Deroock, the Senior Public Information Officer for Tucson Water. Natalie's multifaceted career journey, from academia to international diplomacy and ultimately public utilities, offers valuable insights into the intricacies of public information dissemination and community engagement.Her experiences emphasize the importance of strategic communications and the unique challenges that public information officers face in the utilities sector.Natalie shares her expertise on the essentials of strong public affairs teams, the role of transparent communication, and how proactive media relations can significantly impact public trust. She underscores the importance of understanding different audiences through cross-cultural communication, breaking down complex water utility concepts for the general public, and cultivating relationships with media and elected officials.Natalie also touches on the utility’s response to crises, such as water main breaks and the introduction of new water sources, emphasizing strategic, clear communication to manage public perception and trust.Key Takeaways:Importance of Strategic Communication: Effective public information strategies involve clear, transparent communication and proactive relationship management with media and stakeholders.Cross-Cultural Communication: Understanding and addressing the diverse ways people process information is crucial for public information officers.Learning from Crises: Experiences such as Tucson's water quality crisis provide essential lessons for future transparency and responsiveness.Youth Engagement: Involving the younger generation in civic activities and water conservation efforts helps instill lasting community values and engagement.Social Media Strategy: Utilizing social media effectively while balancing it with traditional media and owned platforms is vital for sustained public engagement and information dissemination

In this episode of the Infrastructure Hot Seat podcast, host Chad Smeltzer welcomes Nick Egger, the Public Works Director for the City of Rosemount, Minnesota. The conversation dives into Nick's extensive involvement with the American Public Works Association (APWA), his journey into civil engineering, and the ongoing and future infrastructure projects in Rosemount that are shaping the city's rapid growth.Nick shares his early career experiences and how an internship at the City of White Bear Lake pivoted his career path from mechanical to civil engineering. The discussion also covers Rosemount's exciting developments, such as the construction of a new public works and police campus and the arrival of Meta's $800 million data center. Nick provides insights into the challenges of growth, from infrastructure demands to labor shortages, and emphasizes the importance of technology and AI in the future of public works.### Key Takeaways:* **Involvement with APWA**: Nick’s 20-year journey with the APWA, including his rise to president of the Minnesota chapter, has been pivotal to his professional growth.* **Career Path**: A serendipitous internship altered Nick’s career path from mechanical to civil engineering, showcasing the importance of hands-on experience in career decisions.* **Rosemount Development**: Exciting developments, such as a new public works and police campus and Meta's major data center project, underscore Rosemount's rapid growth.* **Technology and AI**: The potential for AI and new technology to revolutionize infrastructure planning, project efficiency, and public works operations.* **Challenges and Opportunities**: Addressing labor shortages, managing budgets in times of inflation, and the importance of preemptive infrastructure planning in rapidly growing communities.

This episode of the infrastructure hot seat, hosted by Chad Smeltzer, features an engaging discussion with Dr. Amir Alavi, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. The conversation goes into the intersection of infrastructure, metamaterials, and artificial intelligence, bringing to light significant advancements and potential future implications. As Dr. Alavi shares his journey and recent developments from his research, listeners are drawn into an intriguing world where technology transcends traditional barriers across various industries.In the past year, Dr. Alavi has secured several pivotal projects focused on developing lightweight, high-performance metamaterial structures. One core discussion is about a collaborative project with PennDOT aimed at creating bridge decks constructed from prefabricated metamaterial blocks, signaling a significant shift towards sustainable infrastructure solutions. Furthermore, the episode addresses how generative AI, a cutting-edge subset of artificial intelligence, is transforming the process of designing these materials, enabling millions of potential designs to be explored rapidly.**Key Takeaways: *** Metamaterials offer scalable solutions that can be applied to civil infrastructure as well as biomedical implants, demonstrating the versatility of the technology.* Dr. Alavi's team is utilizing generative AI to significantly reduce the design process time, from millions of years of natural evolution to mere days.* The research could potentially lead to more sustainable infrastructure with reduced material usage and carbon emissions, supporting an eco-friendlier construction industry.* Fabrication remains a substantial challenge, particularly for multi-material metamaterials, that requires further innovation and collaboration with contractors.* Ongoing projects visualize metamaterial-based noise absorption walls for highways and the prospects of testing biomedical implants in vivo.

Kevin Frank is an accomplished wastewater process engineer with over two decades of experience in the field of civil infrastructure and environmental engineering. Since beginning his career in 2002 at the Scranton wastewater treatment plant in northeastern Pennsylvania, Kevin has honed his expertise in water quality and purification. He holds a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from Wilkes University and completed a master's degree at Penn State while working full-time. Presently, Kevin is a dedicated employee of AECOM, where he has worked for 17 years, lending his extensive knowledge to consulting engineering with a focus on enhancing nutrient removal processes and wastewater treatment design.

Stephanie Boyce is the currently serving Public Works Director in Mission, Kansas. With a career that took an unconventional turn, Boyce transitioned from being a school teacher to diving into public works. She started her journey in local government almost 17 years ago and climbed the ranks through various public works roles. Stephanie's commitment to learning and expanding her expertise has seen her take on critical infrastructure projects and city improvement initiatives. She has been instrumental in leveraging technology and resources to enhance city planning and operations.

Scott Andrews, City Assistant Manager of Bakersfield, California, joins host Chad Smeltzer to discuss his 20 years of experience in public service. Scott shares how he got into local government and the mentors who helped shape his career. They also delve into the role of a city manager and the importance of engaging the community. Scott highlights the exciting developments happening in Bakersfield, including the high-speed rail project and efforts to address homelessness. Tune in to gain insights into the world of local government and the impact it can have on communities.

Justin Guerra is an experienced GIS and drone program manager currently serving at the Texas Rural Water Association. After completing his civil service as a United States Marine, Guerra leveraged his military precision and discipline into a career enhancing infrastructure problem-solving. With a rich background that includes military deployment to Afghanistan and humanitarian missions in Africa, he possesses a unique global perspective on the importance of resources like water. His academic journey in geography and his hands-on approach to rural utility systems have made him an expert in GIS application and implementation, significantly assisting rural communities to elevate their standards to those of larger municipalities.

In this episode of the Infrastructure Hot Seat podcast, host Chad Smeltzer interviews Todd Saums, the Commissioner of Water Distribution with the City of Toledo, Ohio. Saums shares his journey from starting as a laborer in construction to his current role, overseeing the city's water distribution. They discuss the challenges of maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, including dealing with water main breaks and replacing lead services. Saums also touches on the importance of mentorship and the need for investment in infrastructure. Tune in to gain insights into the world of utilities and the critical work being done to ensure access to clean water.

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of the Infrastructure Hot Seat podcast, Eric Dundee shares his journey in the civil infrastructure space, particularly focusing on water and sewer operations. Listeners are given an inside look at the challenges and triumphs of managing a vital component of public works. As Eric and Chad Smeltzer discuss the intricacies of sewer district operations, they highlight the importance of effective municipal engineering in maintaining a sustainable environment. They explore topics ranging from workforce development to project management, and technological advancements that promise efficiency in public service delivery. Passion for Public Infrastructure: Eric's journey shows a shift from computer engineering to infrastructure, emphasizing the joy of creating public value. Reliability in Operations: Maintaining and advancing water treatment facilities to ensure public health speaks to the dedication required in this sector. Pollution Prevention: Discusses the complex challenge of managing various industrial wastes and the strategies employed by the MMSD to handle them. Workforce Development: Eric underlines the importance of investing in staff through training and succession planning, contributing to a strong and skilled workforce. Technological Evolution: The episode looks forward to more AI and technological tools aiding efficient infrastructure maintenance, a glimpse into the future of public works. "Your toilet is not a trash can." - A call to the public to avoid treating sanitation systems improperly. "We maintain a pretty consistent list of over 300 purchase orders." - Highlighting the complexity of managing a sewage district's operations. "What you put into it [APWA], you can get out of it." - Encouraging involvement in professional associations for career development. "For those who do a lot of procurement, you get your price, you get the order in, and then the lead time is how long it takes for the equipment to get there." - Explaining the procurement challenges faced by sewage districts.