ASK THE EXPERT PANEL SERIES
Real PEOPLE. Real SITUATIONS. Real SOLUTIONS.
Accountability is the agent, cause or source of events that leads to results. It involves a process of seeing, owning, solving and acting; and requires a level of ownership that includes making, keeping and answering personal commitments. Organizations realize positive results, such as improved morale, reduced performance gaps, fulfilled expectations and ultimately, an increased ability to execute its objectives by creating and sustaining a culture of accountability. Accountability is the low-hanging fruit that impacts every task and defines how productively individuals work together, how much ownership individuals assume and how leaders measure performance. Building a culture of accountability fosters a sense of reality, ownership, commitment, solutions to problems and determined action that employees’ exhibit in their daily work to achieve desired business results.
“It is not only WHAT WE DO, but also WHAT WE DO NOT DO, for which WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE”- Moliere
You should attend this panel discussion if…
- You are searching for effective ways to drive change and inspire an accountability-based culture
- You are seeking objective methods to communicate expectations and hold individuals accountable to their role
- You are aspiring to eliminate barriers that are impeding team productivity
- You are pursuing practical reward incentives to promote positive behaviors and improve performance
- You are aiming to recognize the key characteristics and traits of highly accountable people
Want Positive Results? Improve Accountability!
Location: LDC Auditorium
REGISTER NOW:
For more information, please contact Erika Johnson at Erika.johnson@houstontx.gov
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2015, 01:00 PM
Learning & Development Center | 4501 Leeland Street Houston, TX 77023
Rhea Brown Lawson, Ph.D, Executive Director, Houston Public Library
Dr. Lawson serves on a number of professional and civic boards and committees including the Texas State Library Systems Act Advisory Board, Urban Libraries Council Executive Board, and the Heritage Society Advisory Board. Dr. Lawson is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Texas in the College of Information/Department of Library and Information Science. She holds a BA from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, an MLS from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Terry A. Garrison, Fire Chief, Houston Fire Department
Terry A. Garrison was confirmed by council, on September, 15, 2010, as the 35th Fire Chief of the City of Houston, having been selected by Mayor Annise Parker.
Garrison began his firefighting career in 1977 with the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) and retired in 2007. He worked in various capacities for the PFD including fire/arson investigator. He rose to the rank of assistant chief of the operations division. Garrison’s experience in the PFD also included recruiting, public information, management, training in both emergency medical services and fire operations for members and dispatch. He also acted as a representative for the PDF for the Japan Rotary Exchange.
Garrison served as fire chief for the City of Oceanside, California from early 2007 to late 2009. He was responsible for leading 130 members serving 187,000 residents. Most recently, Garrison served as interim chief and assistant chief for the Daisy Mountain Fire District in Arizona, which borders north Phoenix.
Garrison is an educator. He served as a Fire Science Instructor from 1996-2004 and Department Chair/Instructor of the Fire Science Faculty at Phoenix Community College. He co-authored Chief Brunacini’s Fire Command 2nd edition Workbook which outlines incident command procedures, and is sold worldwide and has taught at symposia and conferences for many years.
Garrison was the president and creator of Fire Smart Kids, a company that teaches children fire safety education through the use of the Fire Smart Kids board-game.
Garrison has served as an Observer/Controller with the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)/National Emergency Response & Rescue Training Center (NERRRTC) in locally simulated WMD emergencies exercises throughout Texas from 2000-2007.
Garrison received his Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science Management from Ottawa University and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. He also completed the Certified Public Manager program from Arizona State University, and attended Harvard’s, JFK School of Government. Garrison has additional certifications as an Incident Safety Officer, Teaching Certificate, Arizona Law Enforcement Peace Officer, and Helicopter Commercial/Flight Instructor.
He is a member of the American Academy of Certified Public Managers, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association, the California Fire Chiefs Association and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association.
Garrison served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter crew chief, receiving an honorable discharge. He has operated as a commercial helicopter pilot and flight instructor.
Lourdes Coss, MPA, CPPO, Chief Procurement Officer, Strategic Procurement Division, Finance Department
Lourdes Coss has served as the Chief Procurement Officer of the Strategic Procurement Division since 2013. Ms. Coss has over 25 years of experience in public procurement. She has served in procurement leadership positions for the City of Chicago, the Public Building Commission, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Cook County. She held appointments on various boards including, the Power Alliance, the Business Enterprise Program Council and the National Institute for Governmental Purchasing.
Her many accomplishments include approximately $100 million in cost savings, value-add transformations, procurement legislative changes and the implementation of public policy related to financial ratings, negotiation guidelines, performance evaluation and many others. Ms. Coss holds a BSS (magna cum laude) from the University of Puerto Rico and an MPA from Florida State University. She is also a Certified Public Purchasing Officer.
Frank Carmody, Deputy Director of Operations, Administration and Regulatory Affairs
Frank Carmody’s background is in Management in both the Public and Private sectors. Following active duty military service, he gained extensive entrepreneurial experience as President of a commercial printing and electronic imaging company that he co-founded and co-owned. Concurrently, he was a member of an Army Reserve unit that conducted staff training seminars, classes, and exercises for client units. After selling the printing company, he conducted financial and operations analysis for companies throughout Texas and Louisiana.
In 2006, he joined the City of Houston as a Division Manager with the Health Department, and two years later moved to the newly formed Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department as an Assistant Director, where he was responsible for Payroll, Records Management, Asset Disposition and Strategic Alliances. In 2011, 311 was added to his Division.
We are the Center for Excellence!
Website: http://www.houstontx.gov/ldc/
Location: 4501 Leeland Street, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 832-395-4900
Facebook: facebook.com/COHLDC
Twitter: @cohldc