July 11, 2023

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New IS model will lead to better service

Craig Bantz Chief Information Officer The Information Services (IS) department is proud to announce that later this month we will be launching a new way of working with the rest of the Met Council: our Service Portfolio Management (SPM) model.   The SPM model adjusts how IS works with the Met Council by ensuring we are aligned with business needs with clearly defined expectations for service delivery and costs. This agreement allows IS to make sure we’re delivering the right combination of technology to meet those needs and doing so with transparency and accountability.  To better understand this new model, it helps to understand a service vs. a tool or technology:   Services are ways of delivering value to the business, and they define and deliver business outcomes at defined costs.   Technologies are used to deliver the business outcomes, but the technology may change over time to support these outcomes.   For example, a service might be email with the outcome being, “we have the ability to send and receive email.” But the service would not be Outlook – that's a technology, the tool supporting that service.  With this new approach to IS work, two new roles have been created to deliberately focus on supporting end user needs for each service: the service owner in the IS department, who coordinates the delivery of the service, and the business representative, who represents the business’s vision for the service.   The business representative and the IS service owner work together to create terms for the service, which are documented in a formal service agreement. This ensures that the business only pays for what is desired, agrees with the costs in advance, and has clear metrics for measuring success.    Thank you so much to our service owners in IS and business representatives across the Met Council who have been working hard to formalize service agreements and build relationships essential to the success of SPM.   Not all services will go into this model at once. They will be staggered throughout the next year as service owners work closely with business representatives. As services go into effect, there will be additional communications and outreach so you have all the information about services that impact you, including who the service owner will be for any questions you might have!  With this new model, the IS Service Desk will be the primary point of contact helping resolve requests and issues and get them to the right people within IS.   This will be the biggest change for most staff to adopt: If you previously would go straight to someone you know in IS to ask a question or report an issue with a technology, as we grow into SPM, and your services move into this new model, you should transition to contacting the IS Service Desk. They will make sure your issue is handled by the right people and in a timely manner for services transitioned into the model.  With the single point of contact at the IS Service Desk, it will be easier to report problems, track statuses, and see larger trends at play in order to improve service delivery for services transitioned into SPM.   The SPM model will benefit staff across the Met Council who need support from IS by making it easier to seek help from our department for any kind of issue or request. We are working hard to structure the IS department and align our work and processes so we can provide the best service possible to the rest of the Met Council.  This is a work in progress, and in IS we are continually improving as we learn more about issues our colleagues across the Met Council are experiencing and how to better meet business needs.  Look for more information about the SPM rollout in the July 25 issue of The Wire.

A thought for the day...

"Once you have a clear picture of your priorities – that is your values, goals, and high-leverage activities – organize around them."
– Stephen Covey (1932–2012), author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

In this issue

• Great Day in Transit now a monthly event
• Share your stories and news tips
• Back up contacts and photos on Met Council mobile devices

Great Day in Transit now a monthly event

Round two of what will become a new monthly effort to bring Met Council employees out onto the system, Great Day in Transit, is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, from noon to 6 p.m.   The success of the first event demonstrated our collective commitment to improving conditions on transit. “These events are for our communities and frontline staff. Having visible presence at some key locations shows that we are listening, working to make a difference, and care about each other and our work,” said Metro Transit Community Affairs Director Sophia Ginis. “Spending an extended period of time observing a single station will also improve our work, as we brainstorm creative ideas and possible improvements. We need your help to stay committed to this effort.”  Employees are encouraged to spend time on the system connecting with riders, reporting facility repair needs, and greeting frontline staff. Pictured right, Eli Miller, transit control center supervisor, Metro Transit, engages with a community member during the first Great Day in Transit on June 21. New locations have been added for the event Wednesday, July 19. Sign up using the button below!

Share your stories and news tips

We want to share the great work you’re doing in the region. Send us your news tips! If your team has a cool initiative or accomplishment to share, or if you've had a meaningful interaction with community members, we invite you to send us your story – it might make for a great news story! By sharing these stories with the Communications team, we can celebrate your achievements, inspire others, and shine a spotlight on the positive impact and great work we're accomplishing together at the Met Council. These stories could be shared internally or externally. Send your stories or news tips to TheWire@metc.state.mn.us

Cybersecurity

Back up contacts and photos on Met Council mobile devices

As we announced in May, starting this summer, Information Services staff is working with Met Council employees who have company Apple cell phones and tablets to upgrade their software. As part of this change, it unfortunately means the devices need to be wiped and any contacts and photos not backed up will be lost in the transition. 

Quick reminders

Summer career enrichment classes begin July 12

​Register now for summer career enrichment classes. These are freestanding classes and not part of a certificate program. Registration is open; classes start Wednesday, July 12. Fall classes are also open for registration! Find a variety of classes available this fall to sharpen skills and learn something new before the end of the year. Find summer and fall class details on MetNet.

Webinar on the cost of preventive care July 19

Learn more about the cost of your preventive care benefit Wednesday, July 19, by attending the next virtual Benefits series event. The webinar will focus on why many of us don’t utilize the free preventive care visits within the health and dental plan.

Guest speakers will include the plan administrator, HealthPartners, and our benefit consultant, AON. The discussion will include the financial costs, as well as health costs. 

Benefits series: The cost of preventive care 
Wednesday, July 19
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Microsoft Teams

These events are open-house style, so join as you can and bring all your questions. An Outlook calendar event has been sent out.

Ask HR session on Perform tasks July 27

The Met Council’s performance management system calls for the creation of annual performance and development goals at the beginning of the year. Managers and supervisors are expected to meet with their employees on a regular basis to discuss performance throughout the year, with a final review​ at the end of the year.

To help with this, Human Resources is holding an Ask HR session for managers and supervisors to discuss these topics:

• Approve or edit goals mid-year
• Check-in completion task
• Rating tasks
• Approve ratings as next-level manager
• Journal entries

Ask HR: Perform Tasks
Thursday, July 27
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Microsoft Teams

The Outlook calendar invitation has already been sent to managers and supervisors.

News briefs

Council members reappointed to redrawn districts

The Minnesota Legislature completed the statutory requirement to redraw Metropolitan Council districts as part of the 2023 legislative session. As a result of these new district boundaries, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointments to the Met Council’s redrawn 16 districts. 

All 16 Council members, who began terms this March, were reappointed to represent their respective new districts, although the number for their district may have changed.

All terms with the new districts were effective July 3 and expire Jan. 4, 2027.

Cool photo!

An evening stroll in Stillwater

Missy Vanghen, P-card and travel administrator, Finance, and her husband, Greg, celebrated their 13-year wedding anniversary last September with dinner at Phil’s Tara Hideaway and a walk along the St. Croix River near the Stillwater lift bridge, where they captured the sunset sky painted pink.

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, to more artful fare like reflections and silhouettes. The only criteria is that it's a cool photo! Email the editor at TheWire@metc.state.mn.us.

Meet new staff

Tina Folch Pronunciation: FOL-ch  Pronouns: she/her/hers Principal Contact Administrator Information Services

Primary duties
My role is to provide procurement and contracting expertise to the Information Services technical staff in obtaining the goods and services they need for operations. As the position is new to the department, I will aid in building strategies to obtain best value and increase efficiencies in managing contracts and equipment acquisitions.

Started
June 5

How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
Everyone that I have encountered has been very welcoming and well adapted to this virtual environment. However, I still love to connect over coffee or lunch. If you would like to meet with me in person downtown St. Paul, my office day is Thursday.

Hometown
Hastings

Current residence
Still in Hastings! (I love my river town.)

Family
I am a proud hockey and football mom to my two sons in college, Chase, 22, and Brenden, 19. I became engaged to my fiancé, Joel, a couple of weeks ago while we were vacationing at the Grand Canyon. 

Education
St. Catherine University
Bachelor of Arts, political science and history

Hamline University
Master of Public Administration and Management

Additionally, I maintain certifications as a public procurement officer, project management professional, and emergency manager.

Experience
Having spent 16 years working for the State of Minnesota, I became an expert in contracts management, grants, and procurement while I worked across the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Most recently, I came from the City of Red Wing, where I spent eight years as the citywide contracts administrator and purchasing agent.

Other interests
My interests center largely around serving my community as a city council member and other local groups. Additionally, I love getting my hands dirty while flower gardening and doing home renovation projects (I don’t sit still very well).

Luis Estevez Research Manager/Manager of Data Development and Analysis Community Development

Primary duties
I'm responsible for the Data Development and Analysis work unit operations on the Research team in the Community Development division.

Started
June 5

How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
I feel quite comfortable working in this new job environment. It presents new and exciting opportunities for collaboration and communication. I am coming from academia where we were heavily engaging on online education for the last 10 years.

Hometown
Oaxaca, Mexico

Current residence
Saint Cloud

Family
I enjoy spending time with my wife and two kids. We love to go to places together.

Education
National Autonomous University of Mexico
Master of Urban Planning

Texas A&M University
Master of Urban Planning

Texas A&M University
Doctorate of Urban and Regional Science

Experience
My experience includes being the director of the School of Public Affairs Research Institute at St. Cloud State University and more than 20 years of experience as a practitioner, researcher, and educator in regional planning, housing, land use regulations, and research methods.

Other interests
I enjoy running, cooking, and exploring new places.

Salute to service

Hearty congratulations to the following Met Council employees who celebrate major service milestones this month. This recognition includes Robert Street employees and Regional Administration employees working off-site. Read Insights and ES Update for recognition of Metro Transit and other Environmental Services employees.

The staffing updates are shared when they are made available by Human Resources.

Years of service

30 years

Bonnie Kollodge, Senior Public Relations Manager, Regional Administration

10 years

Claudia Fuentes, Outreach Coordinator, Regional Administration

5 years

Alexis Baker, Labor Relations Program Manager, Human Resources
Sheila Greene, Occupational Health Specialist, Human Resources
Hilary Lovelace, Senior Planner, Community Development
Amanda Lovelee, Senior Outreach Coordinator, Community Development
Mark Lundgren, Principal Engineer, Environmental Services
Laura Vedder, Contracts and Procurement Assistant Director, Procurement

New staff

Bryce Fischer, July 3, Applications Developer 3, Information Services
MacKenzie Young-Walkers, July 3, Senior Planner, Community Development
Blane Iffert, July 17, Compliance Specialist, Metro Mobility

Departures

Nicole Gibbons, HRA Coordinator II, Community Development
Douglas Wilton, Liability Claims Representative 2, Risk Management

Retirements

Karen Neis, July 8, Administration and Communications Director, Environmental Services
Peter Jacobs-Andresen, July 22, Systems Engineer 3, Information Services

A bi-monthly publication for Metropolitan Council employees

Everyone is invited to submit comments and story ideas. Contact the editor at TheWire@metc.state.mn.us.