PEMAC Member Spotlight

NicolleGuillen,EducationManagerat

PEMAC, interviewed Mimi Miller, Asset Management Analyst at the RegionalDistrictofCentralOkanagan. They discussed Mimi's role at RDCO andherexperienceinPEMAC'sAsset Management Professional Program (AMP). Mimi participated in the inaugural offering of the program, which was delivered in collaboration with Northern Lakes College and supported by FCM MAMP funding from2018to2020.

Over120municipalpractitionersfrom across Canada joined Mimi in expanding their asset management knowledgeduringthiscohortprogram. Thespecialdeliveryhasbeenoffered three times, with over 400 municipal practitionersparticipatinginoneofthe offerings.NicolleaskedMimiabouther learningjourneyandtheimpactofthe programonherroleandorganization.

NG:Pleasedescribeyour municipality.

MM: The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO is located on the unceded territory of the Sylix/ Okanagan people.This area is within the picturesque Okanagan Valley in BritishColumbia'sSouthernInterior.

The region is diverse, including thrivingurbancentresandvibrantrural communities between orchards, vineyards,andagriculturallands.The RDCO covers over 314,000 hectares adjacenttotheshorelineofOkanagan Lake. Over 222,000 people call the region home, making it the fourth-largest urban area in the ProvinceofB.C.TheRDCOasaform of local government unique to B.C. The Regional District provides services such as recreation, community park facilities, fire protection and garbage collection to homes and businesses within two electoral areas: Central Okanagan EastandCentralOkanaganWest.The RDCO is also responsible for a wide range of regional services such as 9-1-1, dog control, parks, and waste reduction for the electoral areas and themembermunicipalities.Inaddition, the organization provides wastewater treatmentservicesfortheCityofWest Kelowna, District of Peachland, and WestbankFirstNation.

NG: What is your role within the municipality?

MM: As the Asset Management Analyst includes a wide variety of tasks,suchas:

● Organization-wideasset managementcapacitybuilding,

● supportingassetlifecycle activities,

● managementoftheDistrict's Fleet,

● supportingresponsiblefinancial management,

● riskmanagement,and

● workingtowardsStrategicPlan objectives.

NG: Why did you enroll in the AMP Program?

MM: The education offered by the AMP appealed to me because the program's delivery and content are based on imparting holistic asset managementknowledge.Theprogram provides hands-on experience in strategic planning, financial planning, organizational capacity building, risk management, and asset lifecycle planning.

NG: Do you think collaboration is important in realizing value from assets?

MM: In asset management, we constantlyaskourselves-'how,given externaldemands,internaldemands, and capacity, do we realize the greatest value from assets for our communities?'Inmyopinion,realizing value from assets requires collaboration based on a process of inquiryincorporatingabroadrangeof stakeholders, including operations & maintenance (O&M) staff, finance staff department management, and customers.

Value means different things to different people. What is valued by onestakeholdergroupmaynotbethe focus of another. What matters is bringingdiverseneedsandviewpoints together in collaboration to support sustainableoutcomes.

NG:Howhasyourparticipationinthe programinfluencedyourperspective ofcollaboration?

MM: I have always believed that diversity brought together through collaboration is necessary to create thebestoutcomes.

This belief has been reaffirmed by completing the AMP program and becoming more familiar with the various systems and connections requiredtorealizevaluefromassets.

Assets and asset classes are not isolated; they are connected to systemsandprocessesthroughoutthe organization and beyond. Asset systems need to be understood, supported, and optimized to derive the greatest value for our communities.

NG: How have you been collaborating with neighbouring municipalities,regions,orothers?

MM: Generally,Ireachouttoexternal stakeholders when they are impacted byoneofmyprojects.Ialsoreachout tolearnfromtheexperienceofothers andtopartneronprojectsthatlookto be beneficial to all parties. For example, we are collaborating with member municipalities and the Municipal Natural Asset Initiative (MNAI) on two projects: a regional naturalassetinventoryandaspecies atrisk-criticalhabitatinventory.

NG: What benefits have you gained from participation in the AMP program?

MM: I have gained in-depth knowledge of asset managementrelated standards, principles, and practices, all of which are applied daily. I have also gained a strong network of professional connections thatIamgratefulfor.

NG: Is it important for practitioners to utilize training opportunities to developtheirskillsandperspectives?

Why?

MM: Yes, I believe training opportunities and developing skills keep our knowledge current. This allows us to apply the latest tools, techniques,andtechnicallanguagein ourroles.