The APWA Reporter Series, “How Did They Do That?” comes to life in this fast-paced presentation format where members of the Leadership and Management Committee and other authors of the series, discuss their projects and innovative techniques they have employed in their agencies. Some of the discussion points may be from past articles, as well as exploring the common philosophies that drive, sustain, and but with this group we guarantee there will be some surprises and ideas you will be able to take home and easily replicate in your agency. Speakers will tell their stories by framing the problem, sharing the inspiration and explaining the solutions for each project, innovation and topic, while exploring the necessity to drive innovation in organizations. The group will explore the common drivers of innovation, identifying and addressing the obstacles, fostering the cultural influences and answering the how to sell, sustain, and excite innovative culture.

1. How Did They
Do That?
Innovation!
Culture, Philosophies,
Techniques, Obstacles, &
Solutions!
Searching for the key drivers to
organizational acceptance and
success!

2. Agenda/Narrative
The APWA Reporter Series, “How Did They Do That?” comes to life in this fast-
paced presentation format where members of the Leadership and Management
Committee and other authors of the series, discuss their projects and innovative
techniques they have employed in their agencies.
Some of the discussion points may be from past articles, as well as exploring the
common philosophies that drive, sustain, and but with this group we guarantee
there will be some surprises and ideas you will be able to take home and easily
replicate in your agency.
Speakers will tell their stories by framing the problem, sharing the inspiration and
explaining the solutions for each project, innovation and topic, while exploring the
necessity to drive innovation in organizations.
The group will explore the common drivers of innovation, identifying and
addressing the obstacles, fostering the cultural influences and answering the how
to sell, sustain, and excite innovative culture.

3. Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: Discuss and learn
about innovative methods and exciting
projects that you can replicate in your
agency

4. Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 2: Explore the steps
and the necessity to drive creative
solutions in organizations

5. Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 3: Inspire, drive, and
sustain innovation and overcome
obstacles that prevent creativity,
innovation and success

6. Introductions
•Sue Hann
•Laura Kroeger
•Jim Proce
•Wendy Springborn
•Amy Marschel

7. Jim Proce
City Manager, Anna Texas
Overview
TTHM+EF4

8. Background
2017 APWA Reporter Series “How Did They Do That?”
• Telephone Town Hall
• Surfing in Colorado
• EF4 Tornado
• Recycling/App
• Controlling Your Destiny
• Several Others…
Google it: APWA Reporter How Did They Do That

9. Innovation Defined?
• change
• alteration
• revolution
• upheaval
• transformation
• metamorphosis
• breakthrough
• new measures
• new methods
• modernization
• novelty
• newness
• creativity
• originality
• ingenuity
• inspiration
• inventiveness
• shake-up!

10. Innovation…
Great
Successes Catastrophic
Failures

11. Drawing the lines between great
successes & catastrophic failures
•Risk aversion varies
greatly…
• Work
• Family
• Life
• Agencies doing it right…
• Denver’s Peak Academy
• Irving Texas
• Nick Kittle,
Sustainovation!
This led to multiple common things that we identified.

12. Explore These Questions
• what the elements of
innovation are?
• what drives innovation?
• how to implement?
• how to sell it?
• how to get support?
• how to sustain it?
• how to get others to
innovate?
• how to ingrain it into the
culture?
• what obstacles exist?
• is innovation for
everybody?

13. Questions answered?
• Innovation out of need! Sometime reactive but out of necessity
• Not just doing it but selling it, benefits
• Fighting the obstacles, Nick Kittle calls them energy vampires
• Identifying and engaging the willing
• Getting small wins to build credibility
• Encouraging and rewarding creativity (even if it doesn’t meet
expectation)
• Talk about it constantly, familiarity build credibility
• Just do it, you can always beg forgiveness and if they don’t like it, you
may be in the wrong environment

14. Polling Question
Where do you see your self or your team as
innovators?
A. Novice
B. Learning
C. Experienced
D. Skilled
E. Master

15. Controlling
Your Destiny
Wendy Springborn
Engineering Services
Manager
City of Tempe, AZ

16. Learning Objectives
• Identify how to implement
• Identify how to get support
• Prepare to ingrain it into the culture
• Identify the obstacles
• Evaluate whether it is for everyone
This Photo by Unknown
Author is licensed under
CC BY-NC-SA

17. Identify How to Implement
• One-on-One Discussions
• Make it safe
• Provide Examples
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-
ND

18. How to Get Support
• Discuss with the Boss
• Outline Process
• Define the Benefits
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

19. Ingrain it Into the Culture
• Top-down Support
• Discuss with Training Arm of the Organization
• Peer Discussions
This Photo by Unknown Author
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-
SA

20. What Obstacles Exist?

21. Is It For Everyone?

22. Wrap-Up
• Leadership
• Provide the Tools
• Individuals
• Take Charge
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

23. Polling Question
Where is your organizational maturity with regard
to innovation?
A. Hostility toward innovation
B. Sporadic isolated pockets of innovations
C. Opportunistic innovations
D. Emergent recognition
E. WE ARE THE SUPERHEROS OF INNOVATION!

24. It’s All About
Log-istics
Amy Marschel
Public Works Supervisor
Tempe, AZ

25. Think Outside. No Box Required.
Step out of your office, take a drive through your city and ask yourself
“What resources do we have at our fingertips that are free?”

26. Identify Your Pot Of Gold.
• Compost yard
• Random rocks and boulders
• Construction projects

27. Do More With Less.
Ask your team “ How can we make a BIG impression, by repurposing
and upcycling our current resources?”

28. Start Experimenting.

29. Be Creative And Color Outside The Lines.

30. Keep Coloring.
• Repurposed
river rock
• Relocation of
unused
boulders
• Wood
planters
• Transplanted
plants from
an area
undergoing
construction

31. Color In Other Areas In The City.
Outside Council
Chambers at
City Hall
• Repurposed
river rock
• Long wood
planter
• New
compost
• Total Cost
$20 (new
plants)

32. Have Employees Put Their Special Stamp On The Project.
Employee Paul Taylor applied his artistic talents to the
project and not only are golfers saying “wow” they are asking
him to make special one of a kind pieces for them.

33. Be Inspired By Your Work And Keep Thinking.

34. Remember There Is No Box.

35. Box…What Box???
Snowmen & Snowgals made for the golf courses
to display during the holidays. Total cost $3
each…people wanted to buy them!
(Dollar store hats, scarves & balls)

36. Are You Ready To Get Started?
Apply the BANANA rule:
Box
Ask the question “ What resources are free?
Niche
Accumulate ideas
Notice what’s around you
Allow creativity to flow

37. Polling Question
Where would you rate your current organization on
innovation?
A. Enthusiasts - leading edge in the industry
B. Engaged – supportive when appropriate
C. Watchers – cautious until others prove it up
D. Unaware – need more data
E. Skeptics – bad history or failure risk averse, no

38. Surfing in
Colorado
Laura Kroeger
Urban Drainage & Flood
Control District, Denver,
Colorado

39. V2P
• Vision
• Passion
• Partnerships
How to Implement?

40. How to Sell it?
V2P
• Vision – Clear and Exciting
Create a Unique Regional Park
Experience that Celebrates the River

41. How to Sell it?
V2P
• Vision
• Passion – Beyond No

42. How to get support?
V2P
• Vision
• Passion
• Partnerships
• Identify key people
• Vet ideas
• Create Ambassadors
Grand Opening Event with all the
Sponsor Partners

43. Implement

56. River Run

57. Polling Question
Are you in alignment with your
organization/community/strategy?
• Yes (We all sink or swim together!)
• No (I am on a deserted island and I am looking for a
way off!)
• Not sure (This is a cop out answer, HINT: don’t pick
this one!)

58. Panel Discussion & Questions
• what the elements of
innovation are?
• what drives innovation?
• how to implement?
• how to sell it?
• how to get support?
• how to sustain it?
• how to get others to
innovate?
• how to ingrain it into the
culture?
• what obstacles exist?
• is innovation for
everybody?

59. Questions/Discussion?