At Metro EDGE, we know true mentors are hard to come by these days and that our members are eager to learn what it takes to be successful. Words of Wisdom is a new series featuring some of Sacramento’s brightest CEOs, executives and leaders sharing their advice with the region’s young professionals. Flip your brain over to sponge mode and soak this up.

Kitty O’Neal
Afternoon News Anchor
KFBK
Email Kitty

Do you have a mentor?  What was his/her most influential piece of advice?

I was fortunate to have several wonderful mentors who offset the influences of a couple of negative people who somehow ended up in management.  My best bosses understood my strengths and helped me to focus on what worked for me and was best for the job as well.   There may be people who will want you to move in ways that are uncomfortable for you, but try to stand your ground or find another place to go.  You’ll have a better shot at flourishing if you’re not feeling compromised.  It’s okay to be flexible, but you’ve got to feel like what you’re doing is a good fit for you.

How did/do you handle work/life balance? Do you believe it exists?

It’s changed over the years.   When I first started out, I was all about the work, but that’s probably good because I was trying to establish myself.  I took on every job offered to me and rarely turned down an invitation to get out into the community.   I don’t regret any of it.   But as time goes by and I’ve lost loved ones in my life, it’s become quite clear that the time you spend with people you care about is critical and you’ll never get it back.

If you pay attention to yourself, I think you’ll know when you’ve overloaded yourself and it’s time to step back.  And vacations…I’m a big proponent of vacations.  You need to break away and get new perspective on yourself and the world.  Travel if you can.  I do some of my best work after coming back from time off.

But when you’re first starting out and planting the seeds of a career…it takes time and effort and there’s no way around that.

What traits/characteristics best lead to a successful career?

The ability or willingness to work hard.  Sacrifice often begets success.

Not being too willful or forceful in your own opinions when dealing with others.  Unless it’s a moral or ethical issue that requires you to stand firm, you’ve got to find a way to make things work.

Honesty—there are no shortcuts there.  And being considerate to people of every position.  We’ve had interns who have ended up in management, so you never know who you may have to answer to at some point.  But treating everyone well is just the right thing to do.  Period.

You’ve already achieved success. How do you stay motivated?

I love what I do.

How important is it to be involved in organizations outside of work (church, networking groups, philanthropy, alumni groups, athletic groups, etc.)?

You have to stay well-rounded as a person.  Outside connections, giving of yourself to help others, bettering yourself educationally and/or physically, and most importantly finding a spiritual compass will make you better at your job. You’ll be happier, too.

What do you love about Sacramento?

I love the collection of people who are so passionate about their particular areas of interest.  The arts groups, the sports fans, the foodies, the animal advocates, the nature-lovers, the history buffs, the writers, the charitable groups.   I get to work with so many of these people and are so impressed with the dedication they put into their craft, discipline, or area of interest.  They get things done, they bring color and movement, they make our city interesting and vibrant.

“I knew that research was out there, but 62 percent is really eye-opening,” said Porter, current vice chair of Metro EDGE, the Metro Chamber’s young professional program.

That number, presented by Downtown Development District of New Orleans CEO Kurt Weigle, was part of a body of research that found most young professionals across the nation pick a city based on things they value before finding a job.

“Earning a good living is important, naturally, but the best and brightest are looking for more than just a paycheck,” said 2012 Metro EDGE Chair Sean O’Brien. “Young professionals are looking for a place to live the best life they can—they want to make it count.”

What do young professionals base their locale choices on? In New Orleans the research pointed out things like diverse and unique neighborhoods, convenient housing and public transportation, and a clean environment. A vibrant arts community, access to entertainment and outdoor recreation also top the list.

“We want Sacramento to be a place where young professionals are excited to live. We want to keep our homegrown talent and attract the best from across the country. We want those who will help lead this region toward a prosperous future. That under-40 talent pool is the future of this city,” said O’Brien.

Ensuring Sacramento’s future is at the heart of Metro EDGE’s mission. The goal: to Engage, Develop, Give and Empower the 40-and-under young leaders of the Sacramento region.

Founded in 2009, membership has grown to more than 450 strong. Members come from a myriad of business sectors, ethnic groups and education levels. They have access to various professional enrichment opportunities that are offered throughout the year. EDGE-ucational Forums, networking events and philanthropic projects are among the many Metro EDGE offerings that bring young professionals together.

More than purely social, Metro EDGE provides future leaders a chance to contribute today. Since inception, Metro EDGE has logged more than 1,200 hours of community service and raised more than $8,000 in cash and in-kind services for charitable causes in 2011.

“Our members are incredibly engaged. We want to help, and we want to be a part of positive change,” said O’Brien.

The group encourages members to get involved. From city council meetings to Metro Chamber events to the Next Economy Regional Forums, our members are everywhere.

“Metro EDGE represents the voice of young professionals in the region,” said O’Brien. “We’re not going to be heard, or contribute to any kind of solution, by sitting on the sidelines.”

Not only civically active, Metro EDGE is leading the charge in taking pride in our hometown.

“New Orleans has a very unique brand. It has a culture all its own. It has swagger,” said Porter. “Sacramento desperately needs to embrace its own identity, and Metro EDGE is working toward that end.”

Porter went on by saying, “We have some of the best weather and freshest food in the nation, we’re the state capital, and we have an amazing community and family atmosphere. We all need to take some pride in how great this region is. We all need to believe it and live it every day. Metro EDGE members are doing it, and we want everyone to.”

Metro EDGE is encouraging a larger contingency of its members to join the 2012 Metro Chamber Study Mission to Denver this fall. Part of that program will be devoted to studying the Downtown Denver Partnership’s strategy to attract and retain young professionals. That strategy includes creating a vibrant center city for the surrounding region by building up downtown physically, culturally and socially.

“Young professionals in Sacramento have chosen to live here. We all have a stake in this community and we want it to thrive,” said O’Brien. “It is truly a great time to be a young professional. And it’s an even better time to be in the Sacramento region.

At Metro EDGE, we know true mentors are hard to come by these days and that our members are eager to learn what it takes to be successful. Words of Wisdom is a new series featuring some of Sacramento’s brightest CEOs, executives and leaders sharing their advice with the region’s young professionals. Flip your brain over to sponge mode and soak this up.

Kelly Brothers
Partner
Genovese, Buford & Brothers

Bio:

Kelly Brothers is not only a specialist in asset management but also a well-respected business reporter for KCRA and KFBK. Kelly joined GBB from Smith Barney, where he was a financial advisor. Earlier he was the evening news anchor at KCRA Channel 3 (NBC) as well as a radio show host with NewsTalk 1530 KFBK. His broadcast experience provides him with a powerful way to promote successful local businesses as well as sound, time-tested financial planning practices. In fact, he delivers all his reports from a fully functional news studio inside the GBB office. A dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, Kelly was named Volunteer of the Year by the Mercy Foundation, Father of the Year by the Center for Fathers and Families, and twice named News Anchor of the Year by the Sacramento Bee. Kelly is perhaps the most in-demand emcee of charitable events in Sacramento, hosting more than 50 each year. His current focus is Cristo Rey High School, a new model of values-based, college-prep education for low-income students. He is also chair of the investment committee of the Sacramento Catholic Foundation and the advance gifts chair of the Our Lady of Assumption Capital Campaign. Kelly holds a BA and an MBA in international business from Notre Dame and did post-graduate work at the London School of Business.

How did/do you handle work/life balance?

My change of career was all about work/life balance. Having gone 12 years of anchoring evening newscasts, I knew that if I wanted to really enjoy the role of “dad” I needed to be around in the evenings to coach baseball/soccer/basketball, help with homework, and attend school events. I think I have great balance, because I have the flexibility to attend the things I need to attend.

What piece of advice can you offer the young professionals in our region (age 40 and younger)?

Take advantage of the current economic conditions to get an advanced degree, build a business, buy a home. Live within your means. Work to find a career that is so enjoyable you will never want to retire, because the notion of one day just “retiring” isn’t realistic or beneficial for most people.

You’ve already achieved success. How do you stay motivated?

Four kids and the fear of paying for their college educations!

How important is it to be involved in organizations outside of work (church, networking groups, philanthropy, alumni groups, athletic groups, etc.)?

Very important. Networking is my main source of business. But you not only have to join organizations, you have to commit to real work. If you just join and attend a few meetings as a passive member, that can be a waste of time. But if you allow others to see your passion and your commitment in a philanthropic or civic setting, they will be far more likely to do business with you.

What do you love about Sacramento?

I love the weather, the proximity to Tahoe and the Bay, the neighborhoods, and the fact that even though 2 million people live in the region, I rarely go somewhere where I don’t know someone.

MacKenzie Gilmore is the 2012 Chair of the Metro EDGE Regional Action Committee. She was in the City Council Chambers during the March 6 meeting and shares below what it was like to be there.  

Last night I had the opportunity to be a part of a public forum that has the potential to help move our region forward. The Sacramento city council met to vote on moving forward with the next phase of an Entertainment and Sports Complex (ESC). I had never attended a meeting like this before and was surprised to hear that I should arrive around 4:30 for a 6:00 meeting. But when I arrived the lobby was already swimming with people, both for and against the proposal. A sea of white shirts with “5 VOTES” printed on them, people in business suits with leather portfolios, and a woman behind me in tie dye and Birkenstock’s. The excitement and tension in the room were palatable. Individuals filed out forms indicating their desire to speak, and people waited patiently as the line steadily grew out the door and down the street. As the time drew closer Kevin Johnson appeared, thanking the crowd for their participation and shaking hands (including mine!). Finally we moved thru security and into the room.

First up was a presentation from City Manager John Shirey walking us thru the term sheet, a working outline of how the partners, the City of Sacramento, the Kings, and AEG Facilities, would work together for design, cost sharing, revenue participation, and a host of other topics.

Next came the opportunity for public comment. Those against the proposal discussed the fundamental objection to using public funds, belief that we should focus exclusively on being the State Capitol, and a desire to put the matter to a public vote.

The people who came to speak in favor of the measure were staggering. The vice mayor of Rancho Cordova came with a resolution from her city council asking for support of the measure. Metro Chamber chair Stan Van Vleck asks the members to “take a risk”. Legendary announcer Lee Perkins (Kevin Johnson was taken aback when he came forward) said we need to do this to “see the twinkle is kid’s eyes at events”. Scott Vandenberg, general manager of the Hyatt Regency discussed the power of drawing in convention business, Mike Ault from the Downtown Sacramento Partnership spoke of the ability to create more connection within the region, and Mike Testa from the Sacramento Convention and Visitor’s Bureau considers this a “transformational project (that will) enhance the city’s identity”.

Others suggested we can strive to be “more than just a city in between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe”. The president of the Stagehand’s Union asked that we consider the creation of jobs. One fan was wearing a classic Kevin Johnson Phoenix Sun’s jersey .  One put on a hard hat and broke into singing “We can Build This Dream Together”. 

Our Metro Edge Chair, Sean O’Brien said the new facility would be “a catalyst for change” and reminded them that “in 5, 10, 15 years, we will be the leaders of the region…We can’t afford to lose young professionals to other cities.”

At this point it’s pushing 9 PM. Nor council members are asking clarifying questions on the term sheet and their final statements. Although each member starts off my saying they will be brief, none speaks for less than 10 minutes.  Finally, just after 10 PM, it came time to cast the votes. The tension in the room rose dramatically, despite the late hour. Council Member Rob Fong made the motion to vote and one by one the City Clerk called the members’ names and the votes were cast. Angelique Ashby, “Yes” Sandy Sheedy , “No”.  Steve Cohn, “Yes”. Rob Fong, “Yes”. Jay Schenirer, “Yes”. Kevin McCarty, “No”.  Darrell Fong, “Yes”. Bonnie Pannell, “Yes”. All eyes are on Kevin Johnson as his name is called, he leans  back in his chair and called out “YES!” and the room erupted. Mostly in cheers.

This is a step forward – not a binding agreement. But as an EDGEr I was so proud to be a part of the process to determine the destiny of our region.

If you’re interested in joining the Metro EDGE Regional Action Committee, email MacKenzie here!

Erika Bjork, co-chair of Metro EDGE’s Regional Action Committee shares the #1 reason you need to be at next Tuesday’s City Council Meeting – more than just a new entertainment and sports complex is on the line.

** UPDATE: Sign the petition to vote YES here

One doesn’t have to be a sports fan to understand that the March 6 Sacramento City Council vote has broader implications than if the NBA’s Sacramento Kings remain in the River City. This vote will decide if bands like the U2 or Beyoncé will ever perform in Sacramento and if families will have a place to take their children to see Disney on Ice. More importantly, the vote will decide if Sacramento finally wants a catalyst to trigger redevelopment in downtown.

Sacramento has long been an icon of prosperity and manifest destiny from its early days during the 49er Gold Rush to serving as the capitol of the ninth largest economy in the world (at one point we were the sixth). In the 1990’s it served as a place for young couples eager to buy homes and start families to prosper during skyrocketing real estate prices in the Bay Area.

Unfortunately, the current image of Sacramento is a place with one of the highest mortgage foreclosure rates and a local economy still dependent on government jobs. Forbes recently voted it “one of America’s most miserable cities.” Sacramento right now is an underdog – but who doesn’t love an underdog.

In a recent poll, 46 percent of young professionals picked work-life balance over their careers. Key factors include culture, arts, number of people under 35, nightlife, cost of living, commute time, entertainment and sports. It is for these reasons that cities such as Austin, Portland, Salt Lake and Denver always rank high. With its amazing recreation, tree-lined streets and vibrant dining scene, Sacramento provides for nearly all of these factors. But nightlife and entertainment are two key areas where this city is lacking.

Recently, Metro EDGE held a “Business of Basketball” mixer to talk about the $422 billion dollar industry of sports. More than 120 people attended to learn the economic and cultural impact a sports team has on a city. Sacramento Kings SVP of marketing and broadcast Craig Amazeen and Sports Illustrated writer Sam Amick spoke about the impact professional sports have on a city. Because of our sports team, the Sacramento Kings, 1.9 million people exposed to Sacramento through the national TNT TV broadcast, 1,200 people employed by Maloof Sports and Entertainment, and the team has the potential to bring $7 billion to the local economy as a result of redevelopment of the Railyards.

Other cities, including nearby San Francisco, have demonstrated the value of sports on a culture and economy. Since the opening of AT&T Park in 2000, the China Basin district of San Francisco has seen a boom in development and revenue. This once vacant and industrial waterfront now serves as home to over 1,900 housing units and provides thousands of jobs through new campuses for UCSF and Salesforce.  San Francisco has also realized the power of sports during the SF Giants World Series win. An increase in tourism to $485 million took place in 2010 and local businesses saw a boost of 75 percent in business during Giants home games. Some credited the tourism boom to simply people watching the series on national TV and seeing the amazing weather in October. Culture, tourism and revenue are the reasons San Francisco is bringing America’s Cup to the bay which will result in over 8,840 jobs and $1.4 billion in revenue; third only in economic impact to the Olympics and World Cup. But one key influence of the new ballpark has been the recruitment of young professionals living in the area. SF Giants CEO Larry Baer recently stated at the State of the Downtown Breakfast that 48 percent of Facebook’s employees live and commute from San Francisco specifically because of the quality of life provided in the South of Market neighborhood.

Power Balance Pavilion (formerly ARCO Arena) was opened in 1987 and built for less than $40 million; the lowest of any NBA venue. The venue holds 17,317 for a basketball game and has featured concerts including entertainment legends U2, The Eagles, Prince, Rolling Stones, Bette Midler, Garth Brooks and Elton John. In its heyday, more than 200 events a year would be held at the arena. But, Power Balance Pavilion is also one of the oldest venues in the NBA – and it shows. Known for horrible acoustics and lack of loading docks, major performers have acknowledged they won’t return, providing the Oakland Coliseum and San Jose’s HP Pavilion the closest arenas for a Sacramento audience. In 2009, NCAA declined for the first time in 15 years to bring March Madness to Sacramento because of its “shabby conditions.”

Next Tuesday’s city council vote will determine if the City will lease its parking to a private operator to secure approximately $200 million for the construction of a new entertainment and sports complex (ESC) in downtown Sacramento. Cities such as Pittsburgh and Chicago have taken similar steps with mixed results. Advocates support the initiative as a means to generate investment for the ESC without increasing taxes; a key criteria set by Mayor Kevin Johnson early in the process. If approved, the private parking agreement would be a 50-year lease and include some exceptions to county and metered parking. Some have raised concerns associated with selling these rights, noting the general fund could be affected by as much as $9 million each year or that the City will sell short this potential future revenue. However, it should also be considered that a new ESC would create 3,700 construction jobs and 400 more permanent jobs that are currently housed at Power Balance Pavilion, $11.3 million annually in fiscal benefits during the construction period alone and bring 3.1 million visitors to downtown once doors open.

With a March 1 deadline for NBA teams to file for relocation, Anaheim and Seattle have both expressed an interest in the Sacramento Kings. The March 6 vote is a make or break situation. A “no” vote would all but end the process and signal the departure of professional sports from Sacramento, let alone a primary tenant should the city ever be able to build a venue in the future. Considering Sacramento is one of only 30 cities to currently be home to a NBA team and its lack of corporate support for a NFL or MLB team, the likelihood of bringing another professional sports team to Sacramento could be decades away.

More importantly, this vote may represent what type of city Sacramento wants to be in the future. Perception alone of a declining city can drive young professionals away. As the underdog, Sacramento may need to take a risk and beat the odds to be a thriving environment for young professionals as well as all its residents.

____________________________________________________________________________________
Info for Tuesday’s City Council Meeting2012 at 6:00 p.m.
City Hall, 915 I Street, First Floor, Downtown Sacramento

Tuesday, March 6,

Watch Live Online or on Metro Chamber Channel 14

Note: Speaker slips are located inside the chamber should you wish to comment. Public comment allows for individuals to speak 90 seconds on agenda items for public record. It is highly recommended you arrive early to hold a place in line should you wish to speak.

Here are the players and their contributions to a city-owned $400 million downtown entertainment and sports complex (ESC):

AEG – A world-renowned entertainment group that built Staples Center and turned the O2 into one of the most successful venues would operate and manage a new sports complex. Unconfirmed reports show that the city is asking AEG to contribute up to $40 – $60 million towards the project.

City of Sacramento – The city of Sacramento would own the new ESC and it would be built on land donated or acquired by the city. The city is expected to contribute close to $200 million towards the development and building of the venue, but also reap a lion’s share of the revenue through property, income and sales taxes generated by the downtown development.

ICON venue group – Known for building fan-friendly and affordable sports complexes including Denver’s Pepsi Center, ICON would build a new venue. ICON has partnered locally with David Taylor to build the downtown project.

Maloof Sports and Entertainment – Maloof Sports and Entertainment is the entity that owns and operates both the Sacramento Kings and Power Balance Pavilion. Led by majority owners the Maloof family, local ownership also includes Joe Benvenuti, Bob Cook, John Kehriotis and Dave Lucchetti. Recent reports speculate the Maloofs  will contribute nearly $150 million towards the project.

NBA – Since the failed Q and R measures in 2006, the NBA has stepped in to lead negotiations between Sacramento and the Sacramento Kings. Commissioner Stern has taken an especially active role including embedding NBA marketing and sales staff in the Sacramento King’s office following the Maloof’s initial attempt to ask the Board of Governors to approve relocating the team in 2011.

Sacramento Railyards – The 240-acre Railyards would serve as the location of a new ESC. It is the largest urban infill sites for a metropolitan of its size in the country and also in a prime location to link mass transit in a modern transportation hub. Inland America finalized a deal with the city for a 24-acre parcel that would be home to a new ESC.

Think BIG Sacramento – Led by executive director Chris Lehane, Think BIG Sacramento is a regional initiative to create jobs and economic growth through a Sacramento ESC. This volunteer coalition led by key leaders, business executives and citizens has been a primer driver towards public awareness and economic impact reports.

At Metro EDGE, we know true mentors are hard to come by these days and that our members are eager to learn what it takes to be successful. Words of Wisdom is a new series featuring some of Sacramento’s brightest CEOs, executives and leaders sharing their advice with the region’s young professionals. Flip your brain over to sponge mode and soak this up.

Mike O’Brien
President & Co-Publisher
Sacramento Magazines Corp
mikeob@sacmag.com

Think back to when you were 25, or maybe 35, and just starting out in the business world. What was it like?

It was fun trying new things. When I was 24 I started a bike rental business serving motel/hotel guests along Lake Tahoe’s West and North shores, borrowed money from family and friends, bought 25 bikes and a trailer, secured agreements with lodging owners, did some marketing and delivered the bikes upon request. I lost money but paid back my loans and got to enjoy the lake.
Being in the media world of radio advertising, beginning at 25, was also a good fit. My enjoyment of people and commercial writing and voicing, and creating business proposals blended to be a great job and experience for me.
After helping an RV dealer with successful radio campaigns, I started an RV show at 26 and rented the SJ Fairgrounds for it. As the show began to take off I realized I’d bitten off more than I could handle, as I was employed selling commission-based radio ads during the day and getting an MBA at night at Santa Clara University. Fortunately I was able to sell the show to as big promoter before I lost control. The show did OK, and I got ‘royalties’ of 25 cents per attendee. It was a big deal!

Is there anything you wish you could go back and tell your former self?

Yes- don’t assume that because you are inexperienced at something that you cannot help lead others, and help them to succeed and excel.

Did you receive any cherished advice from a mentor?

Yes, my first sales manager, Max, when teaching me how to get appointments with prospects, said “It’s simple: call business owners, and tell them you have a great idea for their business, and want to meet with them to tell them about it. That way you’ll get the appointment” I said “OK, but what’s the great idea?” Max responded, “Well, once you get the appointment you’ll have to come up with one!” (He was right.)

What are three things you wish you’d known as you embarked on your career?

1. Don’t prejudge yourself, OR career options. They will not be what you think they are. Try out different jobs, and give yourself time with them before determining that you can or cannot do them.
2. At various points in my career my management responsibilities required that I manage folks with other skills sets, including journalists, production and tech managers. Despite not having specific knowledge in certain areas, you need not, should not defer to these folks in making decisions. Rather, you can help them to see the overall goals and lead them to higher performance levels.
3. Sometimes the best balance makes you feel like you are giving less than 100% in each area. Don’t let it get you down. Being an employee, manager, friend, significant other, spouse, buddy, hobbyist, parent, athlete, cardio-superstar, etc., etc., etc. and keeping all things in balance is a huge task. So don’t get down; regularly look at each part.
4. Find out what you like, and don’t like. In my career I enjoy working with many different types of people_ writers, salespeople, numbers-types, left-brain right-brain. I get to try to help pull things together. However, DON’T rule out what you don’t like. You’ll need to know some of it, and will find that you DO have skills in, and enjoy areas you thought you didn’t.

Did you have a mentor? If so, what was the most importance piece of advice they gave you?

My late, great Southern Uncle Bobby: “If you can’t have fun, don’t do it!”

How did/do you handle work/life balance?

It’s a constant challenge. Doing better as I get older; give yourself some room at times.

Do you have any suggestions of books, articles, websites, etc. that might help a young professional?

Keep reading; expose yourself to new writings; don’t just read papers or magazines (except Sacramento Magazine of course!) read books, fiction and non.

We get the feeling like we’ve been here before. In case you haven’t heard, Sacramento has, yet again, been named one of America’s Most Miserable Cities by Forbes. Below, 2012 Chair Sean O’Brien gives the writer his feedback.  

Hey there Kurt –

I’ve felt truly miserable a few times in my life. Once I ate some bad mussels for dinner. (the funny thing is – I was in San Francisco I swear)  Around 2 a.m. I awoke and had horrible food poisoning. I was sick for two days and it was miserable.  Once I was in a horrible car accident, they thought I had internal bleeding and things didn’t look good. My mother was crying at my bed side and there was nothing I could do. That was miserable.

It’s hard to argue against the fact that the above are two pretty solid examples of misery. I survived both and am looking pretty good. I believe Sacramento will enjoy the same fate.

I work in finance and I’m a numbers guy (my poor writing didn’t give it away?) so I get that you looked at crime, unemployment & property taxes, put them into a spreadsheet and determined your misery index. I understand that Sacramento is not without its problems but I’ve got to tell you that we are not a miserable city. Not even close. We worked hard during the boom, built Sacramento up and we now are facing challenges like everyone else in this world.

I admit the 2002 Western Conference Finals brought a few tears to my eyes (I’m a sensitive guy) but my beloved Kings have never made me feel miserable. You say we might not miss them? That’s crazy. I’d like direct you to the March 2011 SBNationarticle by Tom Ziller. To quote Ziller, “The Kings have sold out all 41 home games in 17 of their 26 seasons in the Sacramento. Think about that: The gym was packed in every game for an entire season 17 out of the 26 years the team has been in town. (All of this comes despite a .438 winning percentage since the Kings moved to Sacramento.)”

Sacramento is a town where people are taking action to foster positive change! I urge you to look at Metro EDGE, the Sacramento Metro Chamber, SARTA, SACTO, Valley Vision, and others! The list could go on and on. There are talented and engaged people in Sacramento who are working on making our future the best it can be. It will be a bright future and I know Slamson, Evans and Mayor KJ will agree.

Let’s stop looking through this, “miserable,” lens and look at the long term.  Pessimists are correct at any given point in history but never the long term. You’re a New Yorker and maybe you don’t understand the strength of a Californian. You might think it’s all sunshine, beaches, and ski slopes for us best coasters. I’m almost positive you’ve never been to Sacramento so let me tell you that we’re a pretty resilient bunch out here. I believe what you, and many others, call “miserable” is a walk in the park for a Sacramentan!

When you’re ready to call and apologize I will consider taking your call. But don’t call me this Thursday night – I’ll be with more than 100 Kings-loving young professionals who make up Metro EDGE – cheering for our Sacramento Kings!

SOB
Sean O’Brien (Gotta love my initials)
2012 Chair of Metro EDGE

The Regional Action Committee is the political arm of Metro EDGE.  The goal of the committee is to keep Metro EDGE members informed and engaged in current issues affecting the Sacramento region and more specifically the lives of young professionals and future business leaders. Read below to be kept in the know! 
 
On January 20, two public policy professors came together at the Metro Chamber to discuss the proposed “Checks and Balances Act of 2012.” Dr. Barbara O’Connor (Sacramento State University) and Professor Robert Benedetti (University of the Pacific) gave the crowd thier take on the act, which recommends a variety of changes to our city’s charter and governance structure, which is more than 100 years old.  

 The complete draft of the proposal can be found here. The highlights of the Checks and Balances Act of 2012 include:

• Would make the mayor the chief executive of the city, rather than the city manager
• Would have a City Council President preside over council meetings, rather than the mayor, which would free up the mayor’s time by allowing him to not have to manage the nitty gritty of the meetings
• The mayor would propose a budget that gets approved by the council
• Would create new processes for transparency and public input
• Would create an Independent Redistricting Commission
• The proposal would automatically sunset in 2020 if not re-approved by voters

It was made very clear that this proposal has changed quite significantly from the Strong Mayor initiative in 2008. The full report has a chart that compares them directly.

Professor Benedetti described how California has chosen an interesting governing system (for all across the state) where we have both city managers and mayors – a “dual executive system”. This model has plusses and minuses. Since the city manager is not elected, Prof. Benedetti argued that is important for the mayor to have more authority since that person is more accountable to the public.

A key emphasis that both professors made was that the role of the mayor should be as a figurehead that can create a regime to run the city not just through government but through partnerships with the private and nonprofit sectors too. They argued that the mayor should be the “chief negotiator” and his time should be available for those type of tasks rather than the day to day tasks of running city council meetings – instead he should focus on being the “aggregator for the city’s vision and use the bully pulpit to set the tone for the city pursue bigger ideas”.  Another key point that was discussed heavily is the public’s current distrust and distaste for government. Both professors felt that the changes in this proposal would be helpful in increasing transparency and accountability.

There were several questions by audience members about why we should reform the charter instead of making smaller tweaks along the way that don’t constitute “charter reform”. There were a variety of questions about the redistricting commission logistics. A few others asked about delaying reform until the next census, what’s the rush type of concerns. Both professors concluded that we cannot wait for a perfect proposal and this was a step in a good direction that we should take advantage of.

Supporters of the initiative would like to get it placed on the June 5, 2012 ballot. If approved by voters, it would take effect in November 2012.

Interested in learning more? Want to get involved? Conact the Chairs of the Regional Action Committee and they can let you know how to do just that. Contact: MacKenzie Woodard or Erika Bjork.

Get to know the amazing people who make up Metro EDGE with this 15 Minutes of FAME (Faces At Metro EDGE)! Enjoy!

Lisa Porta, PE
CH2M HILL
EMAIL LISA

Tell us about your current position?
I work at CH2M HILL, a global full-service engineering consulting and design firm. I joined the firm 4 years ago, starting at the headquarters in Denver, before moving to Sacramento in 2009. I am a water resources engineer, primarily working on water supply, water quality, and groundwater studies involving numerical models.

Prior to that?
This is my first job out of graduate school.

What is your educational background?
I obtained a BS in Biological Systems Engineering from Texas A&M University, and a MS in Environmental Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

What is the best part of your job?
The challenging projects and the people I work with. I am surrounded by smart, passionate, dedicated, and fun people. The opportunities to work on really cool projects and the amazing network of young professionals we have across North America. Also, I feel like I am doing something to help make this world a better place.

What do you love about living here?
The quality of life and the diversity of activities with being so close to mountains, ocean, wine country, rivers, lakes, parks, and other fun cities. I also love the great food! And Sacramento has so much potential for us young professionals; I am happy to be part of such a bright and energetic group of people.

What is one thing that might surprise people about you?
I have a slight accent and people have a hard time guessing where it is from. So here is the secret: I grew up on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, and I have a German mother
and an Italian father. I moved to the US 10 years ago.

When you aren’t in the office where can we find you?
Supporting local businesses in downtown/midtown, at Pipeworks climbing gym, or exploring NorCal (the various wine countries, the Bay Area, the Sierras and ski resorts). I am also an active member of the Engineers Without Borders Sacramento Valley Professional Chapter.

MacKenzie Gilmore is the 2012 Chair of the Metro EDGE Regional Action Committee. She recently began a new job and shares below how her experience at last year’s Executive Insight event helped her focus on what she wanted in a job and in herself.  

At some point in every young professional’s life, there come various points when it’s time to make a change.  It could be that we’ve outgrown our position.  It could be that the environment is no longer conducive to our development.  It could be that we just need a change of pace.  The problem becomes determining just want to do next.  That is the position I was in toward the end of 2011.  I knew it was time for a change, I knew the parts of my job that I didn’t enjoy, and I has a sense of what I might want to do.  But I really couldn’t clearly articulate any of it, which isn’t exactly a strong answer in an interview as to why you want the job, nor is it a great explanation to your spouse why you should make a change.

That changed when I attended the Metro EDGE Executive Insight event last fall.  Among the executives I had the opportunity to speak with was Mike Heller.  He spoke, as did others, about the need to have passion for what you do each day, work hard but still find balance, and give back to your community.  But then it happened.  Someone at my table asked Mike about how he chose who he wanted to partner and work with on projects.  And he said he wanted to work with savvy, sophisticated partners.  He didn’t want to have to explain the basics of his business, defend his hard work if things didn’t go according to plan, or justify his decision making.  That was it – the thing that was missing in my current role: the opportunity to work with the savvy, sophisticated side of my business.  Suddenly I could clearly explain to my husband why I wanted to shake things up for our family, articulate in an interview why I wanted to make a change, and clarify in my own mind what had been bothering me in my job. 

And it worked.  I started my new job last month and eagerly look forward to the next Executive Insight event as an opportunity continue to learn and grow along with other young professionals in Sacramento.