Not one to miss

By: Tim Gregorski

Using the moniker "The Best Show in Public Works" comes pretty easy for the American Public Works Association when describing their 2000 International Public Works Congress and Exhibition.

Scheduled for Sept. 10-13 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, the APWA Congress put together an eclectic mix of special events, sessions, workshops, as well as over 400 exhibitors to make up the event.

ROADS & BRIDGES takes a brief look at the elements that make up "The Best Show in Public Works."

The Second Annual Emerging Public Works Leaders program on Sunday, Sept. 10, is a one-day program designed to bring public works employees, with less than five years experience in the field of public works, together with experienced public works employees.

Limited to the duration of the Congress and Expo, the goal of the program is to provide a mentor/coach-mentoree relationship during the Congress and to help individuals understand the world of public works and encourage the development of these types of relationships away from the Congress.

During the Congress, three general sessions are scheduled. The first, America on the Verge of the Suburban Century, led by Ray Suarez, senior correspondent on The NewsHour and author of the book "The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration: 1966-1999," is slated for Sunday, Sept. 10, between 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Suarez will discuss how tomorrow’s neighborhoods will support a more blanched relationship between design and society and how these neighborhoods can support both young and old citizens.

The next session, The X Factor: Managing & Motivating Generation X, is led by Claire Raines, an award-winning author and organizational consultant.

Raines will provide insight into the work orientation and motivation of employees in their twenties and thirties. The session is slated for Monday, Sept. 11, between 10-11 a.m.

Finally, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, between 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., the session entitled Courage, Determination, and Service to the Community headed by Tori Murden takes place.

Murden, the first woman and first American to row an ocean, and development director for Louisville’s Muhammad Ali Center, will entertain attendees with tales from her historic Atlantic crossing as well as discuss the importance and rewards of giving back to the community.

Three Pre-Congress Workshops have been scheduled for this year’s event and take place Saturday, Sept. 9, between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The sessions are Surviving a TDML Project: Practical Advice for Municipalities; Maintain a Competitive Edge in Fleet Management; and Self-Assessment Using the Management Practices Manual: A Tool for Improving Operations and Management.

On the flip side of the Congress & Expo, two Post-Conference Workshops are scheduled between 1 - 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Unlike the Pre-Conference Workshops, the Post-Conference Workshops are free to all Congress attendees and spouses. The Workshops are It’s All Possible: How to Get the Life You Really, Really Want and Sentence Aerobics.

During lunch hours on Monday and Tuesday, informal roundtable discussion groups will be held on the exhibit area floor. During these discussions, a variety of current technical, professional and management topics will be explored.

In response to member demand for some dedicated time to share and swap "real life" stories, this year’s show has designated time for one-on-one discussions with industry peers, according to the APWA Congress show guide.

Scheduled as 50-minute education sessions, they will be held at various times throughout the week and categorized under a specific public works-based topics.

At the APWA Congress, more than 400 exhibitors will be on hand displaying public works equipment services currently available in North America. The Exposition area is open Sunday - Tuesday. Hours are: Sunday 11:45 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Monday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; and Tuesday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

For more information on the APWA International Public Works Congress and Exhibition Program, please contact APWA, 2345 Grand, Suite 500, Kansas City, MO 64108-2641, or phone 816/472-6100; fax 816/472-1610; www.apwa.net.