A thought for the day…
"Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean."
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German writer and statesman
IN THIS ISSUE
Notes from Mary Bogie
Regional Administrator
Every day, we’re surrounded by advice about how we can make different choices to be more conscious of where we spend our household budget. What kinds of businesses we choose to support. And perhaps how we could choose greener, more sustainable practices to reduce our impact on our local and global climate conditions.
In our personal lives we often choose to pay a little more for a product or service because it aligns with our values. Maybe it’s an electric vehicle or maybe you choose to support your local small businesses that results in a tradeoff and the broader return on our investments.
We have this opportunity in our workplace purchases, as well. It requires us to shift “business as usual” and ask questions about whether we’re doing what we can to align our behaviors with our organizational values and strategic goals.
As a government agency, we can use our purchasing practices to create opportunity in the region for our communities to thrive. And our Purchasing department and Office of Equal Opportunity have been putting additional processes in place to support our purchasing decisions and help us work more with vendors we may not have considered before. We’re working hard to make sure our purchasing processes provide a seat at the table for underutilized businesses and an opportunity for success. Through our small business programs, we’re investing in our region and supporting economic inclusion and growth.
One of these programs, the Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business (MCUB) program, is designed to allow procurement opportunities for small, Minnesota-based organizations that are owned by women, people of color, people who have disabilities, and veterans. Supporting small, historically underutilized suppliers is an integrated and important part of the procurement process at the Met Council.
We’ve also set specific goals to support inclusion and equity. The Council has established goals that at least 10% of our annual spend for goods and services and 14% of all construction projects will be completed through MCUB businesses. Reaching these goals has been challenging, and we have room for improvement to truly demonstrate more inclusion when selecting vendors.
Equity is one of the four areas of outcomes the Council has charged us to achieve in their strategic plan, and we are continually identifying how we move toward those goals – determining the behaviors and actions we need to shift. Establishing a more equitable purchasing and procurement process is one way we are committing to this vision, but that relies on all of us across the organization adjusting our practices and prioritizing this focus.
This may mean that we choose to spend more for something today because of the broader future value it supports. It’s not just about today’s bottom line – it’s about aligning our behaviors with our values for a better tomorrow. And it takes all of us to make a difference.
Being inclusive with Council purchases or contracts shows that we value spending Council funds in a way that benefits our region. The Met Council represents the community, and we benefit by spending money with the businesses that also represent our community. This all adds up to making a positive impact and helps us meet our equity goals laid out in Thrive MSP 2040. The Met Council's Equity Policy reflects our commitment to intentionally evaluating our operations, planning, and investments through an equity lens.
As we make purchases every day, we need to be mindful of each opportunity to implement our Council values in a tangible and consistent way. Procurement, Office of Equal Opportunity, purchasing staff, and project managers have a vital role to play in this effort, but everyone needs to be informed and invested for this to succeed.
It’s easy to continue to use the vendors we have always used because we are comfortable with the vendor or think it may be quicker – we must challenge ourselves to understand the value of making different choices and connecting with small, entrepreneur organizations who can fulfill our needs.
The Procurement and Office of Equal Opportunity teams are available to support you in finding suppliers and completing your purchase and have some tips for when you make a purchase, below.
We all have opportunities to make a difference. It is critical as an organization that we be more thoughtful early in the procurement process and ask, “How can I make this a more inclusive opportunity?”
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Employees should consider MCUB firms any time you make a purchase or procurement. Here are some tips and best practices you can adopt to increase MCUB commitments:
- Better understand the process:
- Familiarize yourself with using the MCUB Directory to search for firms. (More information below.)
- Familiarize yourself with Met Council policies and options such as sheltered markets that promote inclusion of MCUBs.
- Invite the Office of Equal Opportunity into the discussion early in the planning and scoping phase to incorporate equity into the purchasing or contracting process.
- Consider ways to separate out portions of work to intentionally include MCUBs. And don’t bundle work merely for simplicity if it limits who may be able to perform the work.
- Think MCUB first with any purchase. Pause before you and your team order from your usual vendor and look to see if an MCUB can provide what you need instead.
- Proactively work with Procurement staff to solicit MCUB firms.
- Proactively work with the Office of Equal Opportunity’s Small Business Unit to navigate the MCUB Directory, identify firms, and fill industry gaps.
- Help build the network:
- Actively share information about the MCUB program with businesses you come into contact with expressing your personal and professional investment.
- Notify the Office of Equal Opportunity of businesses you are aware of that could be added to the certification programs.
To identify MCUB vendors who offer the goods and services you are looking for, refer to the MCUB Directory and search by keywords such as office supplies, printing, catering, and more. The Office of Equal Opportunity manages this directory, which is updated monthly with firms with active certifications.
Review the MCUB Directory user guide (PDF) if you need help navigating and using the directory to find firms. If you have questions, email the team at MCUB@metc.state.mn.us. The Office of Equal Opportunity is also available to provide training to your work unit on the MCUB program.
Want to see how the Met Council is doing as an organization at meeting our MCUB goals? The MCUB page on MetNet can be found under the Workplace Resources dropdown in the top navigation menu of MetNet (click "MCUB Goals"). There you will find quarterly reports of our MCUB data, as well as more information on the program.
Thank you for investing in our region and supporting economic inclusion and growth! Please reach out to any member of the Procurement or Small Business Unit teams if you have questions.
The following highlights provide a summary of important information you need to know related to the Met Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The newest and most complete information is available in the COVID-19 update emailed to all staff every other week on Thursdays.
Read the most recent bulletin (Aug. 19), which includes:
- Employees who are working onsite must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 11 or get weekly COVID-19 testing, and test negative.
- Reminder: The Met Council's Face Coverings Procedure (PDF) is once again in effect. All employees who are inside Met Council facilities must wear a face covering, regardless of vaccination status.
- Our new guidance is that employees who can telework should continue to do so at least through Oct. 31. Telework transition plans need to be finalized mid-October, and implemented at the appropriate time.
- The new Telework Transition FAQ page on MetNet provides initial details on related policies and procedures, the new hybrid schedules, how to prepare for the transition, and technology and workspaces in the new hybrid setup.
- The Council and its committees, advisory committees, and work groups will continue to hold their meetings virtually through at least Oct. 31.
- Some business travel, to perform “necessary work functions,” is allowed under new travel guidance from the State of Minnesota.
Tools to help you find vaccine appointments:
COVID-19 testing:
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Join the Collaboration Business Solutions team in Information Services for a series of Microsoft Teams trainings focused on working in a hybrid workplace. These trainings are great for anyone working from home and/or frequently participating in virtual meetings who is looking to learn more about Teams and related Microsoft apps.
All Met Council employees are encouraged and welcome to take the trainings. Click the link below to download the attendance information to your Outlook calendar.
Upcoming hybrid workplace trainings (all sessions are one hour long):
- Tuesday, August 24, at 1:00 p.m.: Run Effective Hybrid Meetings
- Thursday, August 26, at 1:00 p.m.: Create Inclusive Meeting Environments
- Tuesday, August 31, at 2:00 p.m.: Collaboration and Co-authoring in Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive
- Thursday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m.: Task Management in Teams (Planner, Tasks, To Do)
- Tuesday, September 14, at 1:00 p.m.: Get Organized with OneNote and Teams
- Thursday, September 30, at 1:00 p.m.: Teams Owner Best Practices
If you cannot join live, recordings of the sessions will be available for later viewing on Stream.
More information, including descriptions for each of these trainings, can be found on the MetNet home page.
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Although the pandemic tried, it didn’t prevail over the students or Met Council staff in charge of this year’s summer internship program.
“We certainly dealt with challenges, but we can say our program gave this year’s students amazing experiences they can take forward – into their future education and future careers,” said Luis Martinez, internships program manager.
The number of interns edged up from last year, to 39 from 25 the year before. “Of course, most worked in fully remote settings,” he said. “The good news is that 30 or more will likely stay on this coming year. They’ll continue to contribute to the Met Council’s work and get valuable experience in the process.”
Among the interns, the Met Council hosted eight Urban Scholars. “They were the most diverse group of Scholars we’ve ever had, ethnically and racially,” said Luis. “Fully half of them were women."
The Urban Scholars and internship programs ended their summer sessions on August 13 and August 20, respectively.
A few of these summer interns, pictured below with their excerpts, shared their experiences at the Met Council. Read their stories in full on MetNet.
2021 summer interns Hayley Ringhand, Gordy Moore, and Hana Al'Absi
Hayley Ringhand is a soon-to-be sophomore at the University of Minnesota Duluth, majoring in chemical engineering. Her work in Environmental Services focused on digital-visual media used to track facilities and processes. “The favorite part of my experience has been working with the technology,” she said.
Her internship sometimes required her to be present at the wastewater treatment plants. “My intern experience has been wonderful,” Hayley said. “But I have to say, my least favorite part was having to stand for very long periods on the hard concrete floors. Otherwise, it’s been great.”
Gordy Moore is currently a graduate student at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, working toward a master’s degree in urban and regional planning. His second and final year there is coming up this fall.
“My internship has been a great opportunity to do something special,” Gordy said. “I’ve been able to work in the Bus Rapid Transit Projects Office in a variety of areas.” He has worked on projects that advance development of future arterial bus rapid transit lines, focusing on the METRO B Line, running between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. “The best part of my job is knowing that what I do will go out directly into the community,” he said.
Hana Al'Absi is studying sociology of law and public health at the University of Minnesota. At the Met Council, she is interning for the occupational health team in Human Resources.
Currently, she is working on a project to assess whether Metro Transit managers and supervisors – about 50 of them – perform the type of work that meets the guidelines of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Railroad Authority (FRA). This type of work includes control and dispatch, vehicle maintenance, and other safety-related work.
“These are important areas within the purview of the FTA and FRA,” she said. “I’m enjoying learning about them and even learning about new software, including PeopleSoft, AppXtender, and Adobe applications.”
“This is my first internship and professional work experience, and I love doing it. As a learning experience, it has enabled me to continue to reach my goal.”
Jonathan Bonilla has been working in the Local Planning Assistance unit in the Community Development division as an intern and Urban Scholar.
“One of my favorite aspects of my internship position is that it’s been very team-oriented, working with each other on group projects,” he said. “I really thrive in that work environment."
His assignments have stretched across a wide range of topics – all having an equity component to them. He’s been working, for example, in the area of affordable housing with a focus on manufactured housing parks, which can serve households who are priced out of the conventional housing market.
"Growing Shade" is another focus related to climate change. “It’s a tool for handling data that can point out areas in most need of planning," said Jonathan. the greatest need for planting trees. I’ve been helping create a narrative in support of it and relate it to the benefits and positive impacts trees have in our urban environment.”
He said his work at the Met Council showed there’s a wide understanding of city planning and productive exchanges of points of view. "I plan to stay connected with what the Met Council does in the future and highly recommend the internship program to others."
Reminder: Changes to storage of Teams recordings
Microsoft recently announced changes to the way Teams meeting recordings are stored and shared. As of Aug. 17, recorded meetings no longer save to Microsoft Stream. Instead, meetings created specifically for a Team Channel should save to the Team’s SharePoint site. All other recorded meetings will automatically save to OneDrive. Recorded meetings already stored in Microsoft Stream are not affected at this time, though Microsoft expects to announce more changes soon.
Review this job aid to learn how to create and view Teams meeting recordings, and how to create a meeting for a Team Channel. To learn more about Microsoft Teams, visit the Microsoft Teams page on MetNet. If you have questions about the change, submit them to this Team Channel.
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Alex Warren
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Business Systems Analyst
Information Services
Primary duties
I am part of the Enterprise Content Management team in Records Management. I will be assisting with ApplicationXtender support, records management training, and maintaining proper records according to Minnesota statutes.
Started
August 2
How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
It is a bit surreal starting without everyone in the office. I went in the first couple days and it was eerily quiet throughout the whole office space! I cannot even imagine how different it must have been before the pandemic started. It has been great getting to meet people over Teams, and I am excited to meet more in the future!
Hometown
Denver, Colorado
Current residence
St. Louis Park
Family
I have a twin brother and a little sister who are in New York City and Boston, respectively. My parents and our dog, Max, are still in Colorado. I am hoping to get a dog of my own later this year!
Education
Master of Arts in public history from Duquesne University
Bachelor of Arts in history from Marquette University
Experience
I worked with museums, archives, and nonprofits to encourage local engagement with history and cultural organizations. A few highlights include designing a 3D model of Pittsburgh’s Point Park in 1913, designing several collaborative exhibits, and curating a digital repository of materials relating to the Near West Side community of Milwaukee!
Other interests
I am a board game and card game lover! I really enjoy traveling to new cities and gaining new experiences, but that has been largely put on hold because of the pandemic. I also love trying new food and drinks at local restaurants and breweries!
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Tracy Sherbert
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Talent Acquisition Specialist 1
Human Resources
Primary duties
Assist the Talent Acquisition 2 with administrative efforts associated with bus operator recruitment and train operator promotion. Assist qualified candidates through the recruiting process by being a resource, with a consistent focus on welcoming them as they start their new career.
Started
August 2
How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
It's unusual to meet your new coworkers via a computer screen; however I understand that keeping everyone healthy and safe should be the priority. I am excited to meet them and other Met Council employees in person.
Hometown
Saint Paul
Current residence
Blaine; barely into Blaine, right on the border of Mounds View and Shoreview. It's Blaine, I promise!
Family
My husband, Jason, our four kids, and our dog named Mabel
Education
Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota
Certified Civil Mediator
Experience
I have been working in the human resources environment for most of my adult career; I have retail (Dayton’s/Marshall Field’s/Macy's) and higher education (University of Minnesota) HR experience. Recruiting, onboarding, and training are all very important. It helps to set the tone of a future employee’s excitement to join an organization. I enjoy all of it. I am very excited to learn more about the public sector/regional/county infrastructure side of human resources.
Other interests
I like to watch TV, read, and work out. I enjoy spending time with Jason and our family; your kids are even more fun as they grow older! Jason, myself, and three other couples formed a Dinner Club three years ago, and we get together at least once a month. We go out to eat and do an activity. Two rules: 1) We don’t eat at the same restaurant twice, and 2) no more than one couple has tried the restaurant before. We have found some new favorite places to return to!
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A piece of history in the prairie
Tom Humphrey, asset management director in Metro Transit, took this peaceful photo of an abandoned one-room school house on a windswept plain over Memorial Day weekend in Lebanon, South Dakota, on US Highway 212. "Kind of nostalgic when you imagine the children coming out to play for recess, one hundred or so years ago."
Looking for your cool photo!
Do you have photos to share? The Wire is always looking for the next cool photo from staff, from a close-up in your flower garden, to scenic vistas up north, to exotic travel adventures, or more artful fare like reflections and silhouettes. The only criteria is that it's a cool photo! Just email the editor at the address below.
The Wire is published every two weeks for employees of the Met Council. Everyone is invited to submit comments and story ideas. Contact the editor at TheWire@metc.state.mn.us.
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