South Florida Administrator SPRING/SUMMER 2013
Newsletter of the South Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The Leader adjusts the sails. - John C. Maxwell
Notes from the Editor By Keven Mayo CONTENTS President’s Message. ................................ Upcoming Events ................................ Local Events ................................................................ Past Events ................................................................ Dear Members, Local Events ................................................................ Time is flying and the Board has had more activities than Regional/National Events ................................ time to write articles on them! We hope you were able to Get in Touch ................................................................ attend the events and appreciate the opportunities your Job Listings, Internships & South Florida Chapter offered in the fall and spring. We Scholarships ................................................................ Member Benefits ................................ worked hard to bring you events related to public administration, to provide networking opportunities, and New Members ................................................................ to recognize those who stood out in the public Board of Directors 2012-2013 ................................ administration field this year at the ASPA Awards New Ideas ................................................................ Ceremony, including the Miami-Dade County Mayor and a How to Join ................................................................ State Representative. A new Board of Directors was elected this summer which will take over in August and is noted near the end of this newsletter. The current and newly-elected board members met in July to develop a full calendar of events for the upcoming year with at least one event scheduled monthly beginning in August and going through June 2014! We plan to invite interesting speakers who are big names in the public administration arena to headline at least one breakfast, lunch and evening event, so stay tuned to the ASPA South Florida Chapter website to plan your calendar. We also plan to partner with other organizations in order to get the big name speakers and increase networking capabilities. We thank you for your support, especially everyone who volunteered during the FY 2012-13 activities and those who attended the events we prepared.
President’s Message by Charles Scurr
Reflections on My Term as President It has been my distinct honor to serve as you President this past year. This year has been remarkable for ASPA South Florida. ASPA continues to be the premier professional organization in the field of public administration and our South Florida Chapter continues to be the finest in the Nation. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Board of Directors and our Members we have achieved new heights and levels of distinction. Let me highlight a few: •
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Annual Awards Ceremony – The 2013 Annual Awards ceremony set a new standard. This year we recognized a truly remarkable group of public servants including Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart as Elected Official of the Year, Mayor Carlos Gimenez with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Ron Book with the Community Service Award, Lauren Book and Lauren’s Kids with the Non-Profit of the Year Award, Dr. Jack Pinkowski with the Public Administration Educator of the Year Award, Jack Kardys with the Public Administrator of the Year Award and Shellie Ransom-Jackson with the Chapter Member of the Year Award. We were also pleased to award the Chapter Scholarship to Ms. Meghan Grimsley. Women’s History Month – The 2013 Women’s History Month Award Ceremony at Jungle Island was a wonderful success. We were able to recognize true community leaders from the governmental, non-profit and educational sectors including the State Senator Gwen Margolis, County Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, Judge Cindy Lederman, Yolanda Cash-Jackson, Marlene Bastien and Valerie Patterson. We were also pleased to award the Natasha Seijas Scholarship award to Rachel Emas. Black History Month – ASPA, for the first time, partnered with the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) for a very successful event. Best Practices Conference – The 2013 Conference continued its strong tradition of showcasing the best practices in the field. This past year we broadened our reach holding this successful event at the FIU Metropolitan Center with FIU President Mark Rosenberg and Mr. David Lawrence as keynote speakers. Member Recognition – ASPA South Florida Members continue to excel regionally and nationally. This past year Allan Rosenbaum was elected Vice-Chair of ASPA National, Steve Bobes was elected President of SECoPA and Ines Falo-Beecher was elected to be the District 3 Representative. Membership Growth – ASPA South Florida launched an innovative campaign to recruit new student members. This effort far exceeded expectations with 137 new student members.
This past year has indeed been remarkable. I am confident that, with your hard work, dedication and support of our new President, Diane Benitez, that this next year will set yet another standard.
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Notes from Ines by Ines Beecher, ASPA District III National Council Representative What a wonderful time we had at the ASPA National Conference in New Orleans! The South Florida Chapter was well represented at the event as we attended and presented at lectures, panels, and meetings. The conference began with a welcome from the Lt. Governor and ASPA President Tom Liou. We then set about learning new methods, techniques, and the latest research on a variety of public administration issues thru panels and lectures. My favorite part of the conference is seeing my friends from across the country: touching base, exchanging information, and then being introduced to new people and adding them to my network! Networking is so helpful; you never know when you need subject experts to help you with a particular concern!
Enjoying a night on the town in New Orleans are L-R: Ines Beecher, Marilyn Balanoff, Bill Solomon, Claire Mostel and Howard Balanoff. Ines, Bill and Claire have served as President of the South Florida Chapter at least twice. The Balanoffs are from Texas State University in Austin, TX and they have been friends of the South Florida Chapter for many years. Photo by Steven Bobes
And let us not forget, New Orleans was very exciting, with magnificent food and entertainment at every corner! How I laughed when I heard about the St. Patrick's Day parade (I was in a meeting and could not attend) that potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and corn were thrown from the floats and cars to the attendees so that they could make Irish stew (you had to buy your own corned beef)! Of course, I did not believe this story until I walked the parade route later in the day and saw leftover cabbage leaves on the sidewalk!!! I was especially excited to be at the conference as I begin my first year as your National Council Representative. The National Council governs the ASPA (day-to-day operations are handled by Executive Director Toni Samuel and staff in Washington D.C.). The National Council is composed of nineteen voting members (elected by the ASPA members) and two non-voting members. The voting members are the President, President-Elect, Vice President, three members
from each of the five districts elected for three year overlapping terms, and a representative from the Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA). The non-voting members are the most recent Past President and the Parliamentarian appointed by the President. I will represent District III and in specific, the chapters of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and the LGBT and SPMP sections. My duties are to maintain contact with the chapters and sections and support you in any way I can-writing articles, updating you on Council actions and be your voice on Council matters. Here is my contact information and I am honored to represent you on National Council! Ines Beecher District III National Council Representative nesibeech@hotmail.com 954-609-6101
Upcoming Events Local Events Our events are open to everyone interested in public service, so please feel free to share the calendar of events with your colleagues, students, and professors. Visit our website: aspaonline.org/southfla for additional information. The ASPA Board of Directors is preparing a very interesting agenda for the 2013-14 year, but we are in the process of pinning down dates. Our first event will be the Chapter President’s Reception toward the end of August. We have a definite date for our first luncheon; Wednesday, September 18, 2013 from 12-2 pm at Casa Juancho where we will have an informative speaker, so please save the date. We would love for all of you to participate in the events that we organize and to take advantage of the learning and networking opportunities ASPA has to offer. Whether you want to volunteer or have any ideas that you would like us to implement, please feel free to contact the Board by sending an e-mail to aspasouthfla@yahoo.com. More information about upcoming events will be posted on the Chapter’s website and in the next edition of our South Florida Administrator Newsletter.
National/Regional Events The next big event is the Southeast Conference of Public Administrators (SECoPA) which will be held the weekend of September 25-28, 2013 in Charlotte, NC. The theme is “Fueled by the Past, Racing Toward a Brighter Future in Public Service.” The agenda is still a work in progress but you can view what is available thus far at http://www.aspaonline.org/secopa/wordpress/?p=343
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The National ASPA Annual Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. next year in celebration of ASPA’s 75th anniversary! The event is scheduled March 14-18, 2014 so you have time to make plans to attend.
Past Events Local Events Black History Month’s Salute to Unions by Seraphin Bernard, ASPA Board of Directors and Past COMTO President With a County mayoral proclamation declaring February 20, 2013, “COMTO Miami Chapter Day” are Front: Rhonda PinkneyWimberly, Kenneth Jones, Melissa Rolle-Scott Back: Derick Gordon, Valerie Neloms, Russell BenfordDeputy Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Dr. Sylvan Jolibois, Seraphin Bernard
The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Miami chapter and the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) South Florida chapter joined forces in celebrating Black History Month with the theme “A Salute to Unions” on February 20, 2013 at the Sheila Winitzer Central Administration Building auditorium. The celebrations were another affirmation for both organizations of the power of collaboration to achieve a common goal. Black History Committee Chairman Dr. Sylvan Jolibois, ASPA President Charles Scurr and COMTO President Kenneth Jones headed up an extremely successful planning and organizing team for the festivities. Ms. Melissa Rolle-Scott, Mistress of Ceremonies, presided over a diverse assembly of approximately 150 participants that included COMTO and ASPA officers and Board Members and non-member partners such as Dr. Anna E. Ward, First Vice Chair of the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust, who led the invocation. Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor Russel Benford presented a mayoral proclamation declaring February 20, 2013, “COMTO Miami Chapter Day” in
the County. Mr. Benford spoke eloquently about the importance of Black history and the County’s efforts to preserve Black heritage sites in Miami-Dade County. The guest speaker, Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 291 Treasurer Ms. Cassandra Gilbert, spoke about the cost of leadership. She illustrated this theme with her personal account of how she successfully pressed administrators to close the pay gap that existed before 2002 between paratransit (individual drivers) and bus operators. The fight cost Ms. Gilbert her seniority, but it was a price she was willing to pay for the satisfaction of knowing that her courage in taking this stand eliminated a disparity that was hurting paratransit operators. The celebrations featured a number of informative and inspirational speakers including Mr. Derrick Gordon, Miami-Dade Transit’s Assistant Director of Bus Operations. In the awards ceremony led by Carey Shepherd and Tracy Duval from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Civil Rights Office, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Florida Division, the following seven unions were recognized for their work in the Civil Rights movement:
Transport Workers Union (TWU) – Local 291 International Longshoremen’s Association – Local #1416 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Faculty of Florida – Florida International University Government Supervisors Association of Florida – Local 1100 United Teachers of Dade American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees
Each received a giraffe or a gazelle trophy – to symbolize the unions’ ability to spot danger from far away – inscribed with the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” The awards also recognized their work in helping secure civil rights, collective bargaining rights and other rights for employees. This year’s “Salute to Unions” also brought into focus the essential role labor unions continue to play in giving meaning to the many employment protections, equal access provisions, overtime rules and non-discrimination laws that are in place but not always uniformly followed. Several speakers reminded the audience that unions remain on the front lines of preserving workers’ hardearned rights because unions are usually the ones employees turn to when employment laws are violated, as well as the ones that bring employers into compliance through dialogue or, when necessary, legal action. ASPA and COMTO’s successful partnership on this year’s Black History Month celebrations will serve as a model for cooperation on other fronts in the future. By continuing to work together to organize joint events and share resources and knowledge, both organizations will be in an even better position to help preserve the historic gains made in the Civil Rights movement and to build on their successes in the days and years ahead.
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10th ASPA Annual Women’s History Month Reception by Roslyn Alic-Batson, ASPA Board Corresponding Secretary On March 28, 2013 ASPA hosted the 10th Annual Women’s History Month reception at Jungle Island. The event honored outstanding community servants who have made a great impact in South Florida. 2013 Honorees included: • • • •
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Gwen Margolis, State Senator Rebecca Sosa, Chairwoman, Miami-Dade County Commission Yolanda Cash-Jackson, Esq., Becker Poliakoff, P.A. Cindy Lederman, Circuit Court Judge Marlene Bastien, Community Activist Valerie L. Patterson, Professor, FIU
Bobbi Iberra (L) and Dr. Agatha Carballo (R) with Women’s History Awardee Cindy Lederman, Circuit Court Judge. Photo by Bill Solomon
Marlene Bastien (red dresss), received the Community Activist award. She is surrounded by (clockwise from left) ASPA South Florida Board Members Seraphin Bernard, Roslyn Alic-Batson and President Charles Scurr. Photo by Bill Solomon
Rachel Emas (blue dress) receiving the Natasha Seijas “Women in Public Service” Scholarship Award. Ms. Emas is a Ph.D. student at FIU. On the left are ASPA South Florida Board Members Glenn Joseph and Agatha Carballo, and President Charles Scurr is on the right. Photo by Bill Solomon
ASPA awarded the Natasha Seijas “Women in Public Service” scholarship to Rachel Emas, FIU PhD student in recognition of academic excellence and commitment to public service.
7th Annual ASPA South Florida Chapter Best Practices Conference Our Best Practices Conference was held on Friday, April 19, 2013 at FIU Brickell Downtown. The Conference Theme this year was “COLLABORATION IN THE SPIRIT OF THE NEW PUBLIC SERVICE”. It was designed by and for Professional Practitioners and hosted by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) South Florida Chapter & the Florida International University (FIU) Department Of Public Administration. The 2013 Seventh Annual Best Practices Conference provided a forum for practitioners, academics, and students to learn about “Collaboration in the Spirit of the New Public Service”. Proposals for panel presentations focused on: *Unions/Right to Work *Public Service Employment *Diversity & Inclusion *Citizen Engagement *Competencies for New Public Service Glenn Joseph presenting at the Best Practices Conference during the closing plenary panel discussion, “Collaboration in The Spirit of The New Public Service” Thematic Conversation on “The New Public Service.” Seated L-R are former MiamiDade County Manager George Burgess, former lieutenant governor Jennifer Carroll, and Millie Herrera, Regional Representative for US Dept. of Labor Photo by Bill Solomon
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*Emergency Management *International/ Comparative *Technology/ Social Media
ASPA Awards Ceremony by Agatha Carballo, ASPA Board Recording Secretary
On Friday, June 7th 2013 at the Annual ASPA South Florida Awards, the chapter paid tribute to outstanding public servants who had made significant contributions to our community throughout the year. Almost two hundred guests attended the reception-style event at Jungle Island, despite a torrential downpour that flooded parts of South Florida. Warm and dry inside the Treetop Ballroom, guests enjoyed a complimentary drink, hors d'oeuvres and a carving station, in a comfortable informal setting that was conducive to networking. The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart (Congressman, FL – 25th District) received the inaugural Elected Official of the Year Award. The Honorable Carlos A. Gimenez, Mayor of Miami-Dade County, was recognized with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
Awardees included: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez (left), for Lifetime Achievement; Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University Dr. Jack Pinkowsi (center), Public Administration Educator of the Year; and Florida Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (right), Elected Official of the Year
Jack Kardys, Director of Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, was given the Public Administrator of the Year Award. Dr. Jack Pinkowski, an Associate Professor from Nova Southeastern University, received the Public Administration Educator of the Year Award. Ronald L. Book was honored with the Community Service Award for his work as the Chairman of the Miami Homeless Trust, while his daughter Lauren Book received the award for the Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award on behalf of Lauren’s Kids, which is dedicated to preventing child abuse and healing survivors.
Lauren Book (center), founder of Lauren’s Kids, was honored with the award for Non-Profit Organization of the year. She also accepted the Community Service award on behalf of her father Ron Book, for his work as Chair of the Homeless Trust. Photo by Bill Solomon
Jack Kardys (center), Director of Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, was awarded Public Administrator of the Year. He is joined by L-R Alina Houdak, Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor; Mayor Carlos Gimenez; Lisa Martinez, Senior Advisor to the Mayor; and Charles Scurr. Photo by Bill Solomon
The Chapter Member of the Year Award went to Shellie Ransom-Jackson, Building and Code Compliance Department Director and Building Official from the City of Miami Gardens. And Florida International University senior, Meghan Grimsley, received the $1,000 annual chapter scholarship.
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Our South Florida ASPA Chapter Member of the Year Award went to Shellie RansomJackson (in orange suit), on stage with L-R former City of Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson, Director of Public Works and Waste Management Kathleen Woods-Richardson, and our Chapter President, Charles Scurr. Photo by Bill Solomon
Meghan Grimsley (in white), a student at FIU, was recipient of the Chapter’s Annual Scholarship. She is pictured with Chapter President-Elect Diane Benitez and President Charles Scurr. Photo by Bill Solomon
Congratulations again to all of the 2013 award recipients and a very special thank you to the event sponsors: Atkins Global; Port Miami; Ronald L. Book, P.A.; Lauren’s Kids; Sony Open Tennis; Floridian Partners, LLC; Miami International Airport; Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade; Chapman Partnership; Pacific National Bank; and Nova Southeastern University.
Regional/National Events ASPA National Conference By Michele Tantardini, student representative on the 2013-14 Board of the ASPA South Florida Chapter and FIU PhD student
The ASPA annual conference is considered the most important event of the year both for academicians and professionals in the field of public administration. Every year, the ASPA conference brings together public and non-profit professionals, scholars, and students not only from the United States of America but also from the rest of the world. The 2013 conference was held in New Orleans from March 15th until March 19th. Governance and Sustainability: Local Concerns, Global Challenges was the conference designated theme. The conference was organized around more than 150 sessions, panels, discussion groups, round tables, workshops and poster sessions. At the 2013 conference, keynote speeches were delivered by both state and federal officials including Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne of Louisiana and Gene L. Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government accountability Office. Throughout the
conference occasions for networking and discussing the future and development of public administration theory and practice were made available. The City of New Orleans and the local and academic institutions warmly welcomed conference participants. The 2013 ASPA Annual Conference has been an important opportunity to show the progress that the city of New Orleans has achieved in the process of physical, economical, and social reconstruction after the terrible catastrophe of hurricane Katrina. The ASPA South Florida Chapter was well represented and participated positively and actively at the national conference. The quality of the papers presented at the conference by the scholars belonging to the South Florida Chapter was very good resulting in a quite impressive image of our institutions. One FIU Ph.D. student received an award to participate to the conference. Other FIU students were involved as volunteers at the conference which increased the commitment of our Chapter to the National Society.
Ms. Roslyn Alic-Batson received a National ASPA award from the Section on Women in Public Administration (SWPA) Another occasion of pride for the South Florida Chapter was during the Section on Women in Public Administration (SWPA) breakfast where our Board Corresponding Secretary, Roslyn H. Alic-Batson, received a SWPA national award! Celebrating the 2013 ASPA Annual Conference is an occasion to move forward and have a look to the 2014 ASPA Annual Conference which will be held in Washington D.C. next March. A great opportunity for all the South Florida Chapter members to participate and showing the great potentials and capacity of the people of South Florida.
Get in Touch Do you have comments or questions for ASPA and the Board Members? Would you like to share your public administration experience? Please join us in the following sites: a. Twitter https://twitter.com/ASPAmembership b. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Society-for-Public-Administration-South-FloridaChapter/380262092040295 c. LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups/ASPA-South-Florida-Chapter-2514976?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr d. Govloop (must become a member to view page) http://www.govloop.com/profile/ASPASouthFloridaChapter
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Job Listings, Internships & Scholarships ASPA's online career center at PublicServiceCareers.org aids members' career development at all levels and offers the most comprehensive and useful information about careers in the field. Another source of information for local jobs and possible internships is the chapter’s Facebook page. There are also internship opportunities through a program at Miami-Dade County to get a firsthand look at operations in the public sector. They are directed to undergraduate or graduate college students (click here for further information).
Member Benefits 1. Networking - Interactions with professional public managers not only provide the basis for lasting friendships, but offers opportunities for informal consultation with skilled professionals on matters of public concern. 2. Professional Development - A series of luncheon speakers and professional development seminars on cutting edge topics enable you to develop critical technical, ethical and leadership competencies. 3. News and Views - ASPA membership is one way to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening in your community. 4. Advancing Public Service - Learning about best practices provides the opportunity to better serve the citizenry of Miami-Dade County and other parts of South Florida 5. Conference Participation - Supplementing ASPA's national and state conferences on public administration is the inauguration of a South Florida conference with informative presentations from professional practitioners and academics. 6. Visibility Among Peers - ASPA's South Florida chapter rewards excellence in public service with annual awards, scholarships, internships and other forms of personal recognition for outstanding performance. 7. Community Service - Chapter efforts are designed to provide outreach and special assistance to needy segments of our community. 8. Liaison with Educational Efforts - The chapter has established linkages with higher educational institutions to encourage students to consider careers in public service. 9. Public-Private Partnerships - The ASPA chapter is cultivating close relationships with nonprofit and private sector service providers in recognition of the changing face of the public service profession.
Member Spotlights 2 New PhDs!
Agatha Caraballo, Ph.D. Agatha is the Career Development Coordinator for the Department of Public Administration at Florida International University (FIU), where she also earned her Ph.D. in Public Affairs and Bachelor of Science in Communications. In addition, she is an adjunct instructor at FIU, teaching undergraduate Applied Statistics and Introduction to Public Administration courses. Dr. Caraballo is a board member and committee chair for several non-profit organizations. Besides serving as the Recording Secretary for the South Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), she is also actively involved in the South Florida Diversity Council and the National Council for Corporate Responsibility. Since 2011, Dr. Caraballo has served as the committee chair for the Annual Diversity Best Practices Meeting, College Diversity Summit, and Corporate Responsibility Summit. She is married with two children and resides in Miami.
Terry Murphy, Ph.D. Terry Murphy has recently resurfaced as an active member on the ASPA scene after spending a couple of years feverishly earning a Ph.D. in Public Administration at FIU. Terry previously served as President of the ASPA South Florida Chapter, and has been elected as a Board Member for FY 2013-14. He currently works as a government-relations consultant (president of Public Affairs Concepts) in Miami, and his active clients include public-employee unions. Prior to becoming a full-time Ph.D. student, Terry worked 23 years for Miami-Dade County as a Senior Policy Advisor. Little known fact: Terry was a drummer in a blues band (the Miami Blues Authority) and still loves to jam when he has an opportunity.
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New Members In each newsletter we welcome our new and renewed members. This group joined us between January 1 and June 30, 2013.
Daniel Bencosme
Janice Lacorce
Candia Regis
Seraphin W. Bernard
Martha Elena Lopez
Melissa Rolle-Scott
Joseph M. Centorino
Raul Mas
June Simpson
Nakhyeok Choi
Angela Miller
Arthur Sorey
Natali Cifuentes
Njeri L. Mwangi
Eilert Stamm
Jason Goldstein
Genesis Carolina Nunez
Gabriel Vergara
Shane P. Hackett
Naomi Ruth Parker
Ron E. Williams
Gil Anthony Hernandez-Arranz
William Perez-Borroto
Stephen Johnson
Carol Purrier
Incoming Board of Directors 2013-2014 President: Diane Benitez President-Elect: Glenn C. Joseph Recording Secretary: Bridgette Cram Corresponding Secretary: Shellie Ransom-Jackson Treasurer: Julie Ann Smith Immediate-Past President: Charles Scurr Student Representative: Michele Tantardini
National Liaisons: Ines Beecher, Allan Rosenbaum
Roslyn Alic-Batson Mohammed Alkadry Seraphin W. Bernard Agatha Caraballo Nicki Fraser Keven Mayo Terry Murphy William Solomon Lauren Villalba
New Ideas As an organization that values interaction between academia and practitioners, ASPA South Florida Chapter would like to invite you to share your ideas to improve public administration either by e-mail at aspasouthfla@yahoo.com or by attending one of our programs and talking to any of the board members.
How to Join Future members can easily join by attending one of the many events planned and complete an application form onsite, or by filling out the online application posted at ASPA APPLICATION.
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