Strong Leadership Delivers over $9 Million in Cost Savings

The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) was recently recognized at the Ventura County Management Council’s annual award luncheon for outstanding leadership and success in government and public service. Numerous VCPWA employees received awards and nominations from their peers within the County system. In distinction, VCPWA Director, Jeff Pratt, accepted the ‘Champion for Change’ Award, one of two awards solely selected by County Executive Officer Mike Powers.

Pratt’s accomplishments for this award include the development of a public awareness campaign to increase communication with Ventura County residents, as well as implementing Lean Six Sigma best practices in County process improvement modeling, recovering more than $9,000,000 in cost savings. Pratt was also peer-nominated by other managers in the County system in the ‘Innovation’ category for out of the box thinking, creative solutions, and finding innovative ways for cost-saving and greater workplace efficiency.

VCPWA continues to receive nationwide attention for their innovative and cost-saving projects like onsite training, permit inspection requirements for utility companies, cross connection and backflow prevention programs, asset management program and web-based construction managing software. In addition, they work to improve processes with systems such as their Process Improvement center, the “Room for Improvement,” and VCPWA’s unique customer-focused app, “VC Connect", which allows issues in the unincorporated areas of Ventura to be reported in real time. There are also internal meetings such as the annual State of the Agency and the Executive Planning Session, that seek to develop best practices and innovations within the county. Other noteworthy events include the VCPWA’s Public Works Day, and PWA’s retiree Karl Novak’s internationally recognized Raptor Program – using birds of prey to cut down on rodenticides.

“It is inspiring to work among so many recognized professionals. It brings your own service to the County and that of the entire Agency’s to a higher level,” noted Joan Araujo, Central Services Director.

With daily communication and pubic information outreach to over 14,000 social media followers, residents are kept updated and informed on upcoming and current projects from VCPWA’s five departments including Watershed Protection, Central Services, Transportation, Engineering Services, and Water and Sanitation.

Ventura County Management Council Awards and Nominations

Award Recipients:

County Executive Office Award, Champion for Change

Jeff Pratt, Agency Director

Innovation Award – Out of the Box Thinking

Tony Sheppard, IT Manager, Central Services

Integrity – honesty, openness, doing the right thing;

Charles Alvarez, Real Estate Services Manager, Central Services

Nominations:

Innovation Award – Out of the Box Thinking

Jeff Pratt, Agency Director:

Innovation Award – Out of the Box Thinking

Tony Sheppard, IT Manager, Central Services

Integrity – honesty, openness, doing the right thing

Charles Alvarez, Real Estate Services Manager, Central Services

Best Kept Secret – a person whose contribution to the County and community is often unsung.

Daniel Walsh, County Surveyor, Engineering Services

Superior Customer Services

Kristina Colton, Clerical Services Manager, Central Services

Ventura County Management Council:

One of the primary objectives of the Management Council is to recognize what’s good in government – to celebrate successes, recognize qualities that epitomize excellent public service, and promote service within our community.

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