ASK THE EXPERT PANEL SERIES
Real PEOPLE. Real SITUATIONS. Real SOLUTIONS.
Trust is a two-way street. It is the foundation for every successful relationship in the workplace. When trust is absent, collaboration and communication stagnate, innovation ceases and employee engagement declines. Where trust is present, individuals and teams are more confident, committed and energized. Employees respond better to change, dare to think and work outside the box, as well as deliver smarter and faster results. For managers, trust is a vital professional component that defines one’s ability to inspire others. Employees who do not trust their managers may resort to acts of insubordination, from disdain to apathy and from resistance to rebellion. In order to foster an environment of trust, leaders must break down silos and promote transparency. Leaders must also leverage strategies that maintain integrity and avoid practices that erode trust. Hence, the key to sustaining trust in the workplace is knowing how to maintain it—again and again.
“Your WORDS and DEEDS must match if you expect EMPLOYEES to TRUST in your LEADERSHIP.” – Kevin Kruse
You should attend this panel discussion if you…
- You are looking to increase personal credibility and diffuse the “rumor mill”
- You desire to overcome micro-managing practices
- You are seeking to identify strategies that cultivate an environment of trust
- You are interested in recognizing offensive behaviors that erode trust among team members
- You want to develop tactics that break down silos and improve communication from the top down
- You are interested in learning the specific characteristics of a trustworthy manager or employee
Where's the Trust?
Location: LDC Auditorium
REGISTER NOW:
For more information, please contact Erika Johnson at Erika.johnson@houstontx.gov
Tuesday, Nov 17, 2015, 01:00 PM
Learning & Development Center | 4501 Leeland Street Houston, TX 77023
Neal Rackleff, Director, Housing and Community Development
Neal Rackleff has 20 years of successful community and economic development experience. As Director of the City of Houston's Housing and Community Development Department, Rackleff oversees the strategic investment of approximately $100,000,000 per year of federal and local funds. He is leading the Department in utilizing such resources to: a) revitalize historically underserved communities; b) eliminate chronic homelessness; and c) promote community economic development.
Prior to joining the City’s Housing and Community Development Department, Rackleff practiced law at the firm of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP, specializing in real estate development, government relations, economic development, affordable housing, and municipal and public law. Rackleff has represented non-profit, governmental, and for-profit entities in myriad financing and revitalization activities typically involving complex public/private partnerships.
Rackleff also served as General Counsel for the Houston Housing Authority, as well as Vice President and General Counsel of the Greater Greenspoint Management District and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, working on significant public/private partnerships to develop housing, parks and infrastructure.
Rackleff has a deep understanding of both federal and state housing and economic development programs. He has worked on some of the most significant revitalization projects in Houston’s history, including the redevelopment of Allen Parkway Village and the restoration and renovation of the historic Rice Hotel—a project that was key to revitalizing Houston’s central business district.
Rackleff received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Southern California Law Center and a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. He is involved in numerous civic and community organizations. In his spare time, Rackleff enjoys spending time with his wife of 26 years and their four children.
Carlecia Wright, Director, Office of Business Opportunity
Carlecia D. Wright is the Director for the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity.
In this role, she has led the City’s supplier diversity and small business programs; helping facilitate historical accomplishments, including the award of nearly $ 1 billion dollars to small, minority and women-owned businesses under the administration of Mayor Annise D. Parker.
She has also launched and implemented innovative business development policies and initiatives such as Hire Houston First, the largest local preference program in the State of Texas, and TweetMyJobs Houston!, an online job platform that has connected more than 20,000 individuals to over 100,000 jobs in Houston.
Prior to coming to Houston, Carlecia worked in New York City government where she led various policy, strategic planning and communications initiatives for the City of New York’s Departments’ of Small Business Services and Housing Preservation and Development. While in New York, she was recognized as an aspiring and emerging leader for the work she had done in city government. Carlecia is a Change Agent and Strategic Planner, as well as an avid advocate for economic development policies. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia College of Chicago and a Master’s Degree from New York University.
In 2013, Carlecia was honored by the Houston Business Journal as one of the city’s 40 Under 40 professionals. Her leadership has also brought national recognition to the City of Houston for their diversity programs. She involves herself in the Houston community by volunteering for several arts and educational organizations. She serves on various chambers of commerce boards, and the University of Houston’s College of Education Dean’s Advisory Council. She is a proud graduate of the Center for Houston’s Future and Leadership Houston.
A native of Illinois, Carlecia is the wife of Philip Wright, Jr. and mother of Kaomi.
David Cutler, Director, Houston Emergency Center
Work Experience:
- Houston Emergency Center (Director, 10 Years)
- Houston Police Department (24 years, retired as Assistant Chief of Police)
Education:
- BBA – University of Houston
- MBA – University of Houston
Specialties:
- Public Safety
- Security
- Law Enforcement
- Criminal Investigations
- Emergency Response
- Management Information Systems
- Organizational Change
- Organizational Development
Roosevelt Weeks, Deputy Director, Library Admin., Houston Public Library
Roosevelt Weeks is Deputy Director of Administration and Chief of Staff. Weeks, has worked for the Houston Public Library for over 10 years and also serves as a member of the Houston Public Library’s Executive Leadership Team.
Weeks was promoted to the Deputy Director position in 2006. In this role, he oversees policies and procedures, oversight of all audits, leadership development, training, facilities, employee relations, compensation, benefits, outreach initiatives, budgets, and financial reports. As Chief of Staff, he works closely with the Library Director in managing the Houston Public Library System and he has responsibility for overall service delivery for the Houston Public Library System.
Prior to this assignment, Weeks served as Chief Technology Officer for the Houston Public Library. He was responsible for upgrading all of the computer technology in the library, providing wireless connectivity in all 42 library locations, installing a patron reservation system and implementing videoconferencing. Prior to working for the City of Houston, Weeks worked for the Pasadena Public Library, Accenture and Aetna.
Weeks serves on a number of non-profit and city committees and has been recognized for his leadership and contribution to these organizations. He is passionate about improving technology, literacy and education, both inside and outside of the library. He also works directly with community leaders to agree on shared values, vision, and measures of success. This furthers the combined goal of ensuring a future workforce capable of the complex critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in an ever-changing competitive market.
In addition, Weeks is a member and serves on several committees within the American Library Association (ALA), Public Library Association (PLA), Texas Library Association (TLA), and Urban Library Council (ULC).
Weeks received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Texas Southern University and his Master of Library Science degree from the University of North Texas.
We are your 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