There’s a lot to love about Fresno. The central California county is home to some of the most spectacular natural scenery on the west coast. The ‘real and raw side’ of the Golden State is on full display here, from the trails of Kings Canyon to the towering wonders of Yosemite National Park.
In the city of Fresno, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo and Forestiere Underground Gardens are evergreen winners with tourists and locals alike, while the city itself features a thriving art scene punctuated by creative murals and street art.
“We’re a mini city in the sense that we have 33,000 customers in our county service areas.”
So many attractions mean Fresno County must be at its best whenever visitors come to town. That responsibility falls on the shoulders of the Public Works and Planning team. Headed by California native Steve White, the department is a one-stop shop for all aspects of land use, permitting, construction and much more.
A public works veteran with 15 years in the sector for the nearby City of Clovis under his belt, White says his success comes from his experience.
“I’ve learned to dig ditches, run equipment and survey, all from practical experience,” the Director tells The CEO Magazine.
“So when I say I’ve done it, I’ve done it, and that’s how I’m able to help grow our team and teach them how to do things the right way the first time.”
A unique environment
In 2016, White joined the Fresno County team and discovered the department’s logistics were unique in the sector.
“We do the planning, the construction management and the design,” he says.
Over the past year, the county delivered over 190 kilometers of paving.
“No other agency does that,” White points out. “We’re a mini city in the sense that we have 33,000 customers in our county service areas.”
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The 1.6 million hectares of Fresno County feature 120 county service areas, 582 bridges and 5,600 kilometers of road, all of which are maintained by White and his team.
“We’ve delivered about US$800 million of projects, so vertical builds, buildings, asphalt projects, road projects and bridges,” he reveals.
“We’re the unsung heroes. Wherever you go in Fresno County, you’re driving on a country road or a city road, and our mission is to provide all that without you knowing we even exist.”
Despite the under-the-radar nature of the work, it takes a village. Colleagues across the cities of Fresno and Clovis, as well as 13 other cities across the county, work together with a variety of funding sources to deliver project and after project.
And while the public may not recognize its efforts, the industry does.
“In the past nine years, we’ve received 36 awards from our peers,” White says proudly. “It’s refreshing to see our young professionals enter the industry, grow and mature their skill sets to be able to deliver pretty much from A to Z, and receive the accolades.”
Working together
With the aid of local partners such as Yarbs Grading and Paving, White’s team is able to infuse its work with top-flight resources and workmanship.
“Many of our staff have 20-plus years of experience you couldn’t buy in the open market,” he explains. “The commitment they make to the betterment of the county is so inspiring.”
The Department of Public Works and Planning’s method of operation is patterned after the California Department of Transportation way: design a project, offer it up for bid and then award it.
“We’re doing our first design-built project in the county at the moment – two libraries,” he adds. “It’s working very well for us.”
“Many of our staff have 20-plus years of experience you couldn’t buy in the open market.”
For White, satisfaction in his role stems from his childhood, when his father – himself an engineer – would take him to work sites.
“These were heavy civil projects. I was just hooked,” he recalls. “It was what I wanted to do, and I kind of fell into his footsteps, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
This has inspired the current culture of the department – if it can be done in-house, do it.
“We try to instill a sense of can-do,” White says. “Don’t bring a decision to me if you can make it. You’re empowered. We want our people making those decisions.”
Empowering communication
Aiding this approach is a fluid and collaborative communication network.
“Ultimately, let’s get it done. Minimize the issues, identify your path forward and execute it,” White reveals as he describes the workplace culture.
“Tell me what resources you need, and I’ll do my best to get them for you and keep things moving. Our department is not at all bureaucratic.”
The empowerment is, he adds, an essential ingredient for the growth of career pathways.
“Other agencies might pay better, but it’s not just about compensation,” he notes. “I’ll give them everything I can to try to keep them and then grow their career path.
“What we find is that our people want to stay, and they know they’ll get a broad brush of experience they won’t easily find in the private sector.”
“The people in the public works profession are the ones who make a difference in this county. They’re the superstars.”
And every project the department works on involves public outreach, making White’s talk of collaboration all-encompassing.
“If we’re working out where bike lanes or sidewalks should go, we’ll ask the community,” he says. “We offer transparency to the locals; this is what we’re thinking, this is the funding source and this is how we’re going to do it.
“The community wants better streets and more sidewalks. We’re right now doing exactly that.”
But White knows that no matter what the job, it’s a team effort.
“I don’t make this machine work by itself,” he says. “I have a team of phenomenally competent, qualified folks who work out of sight, out of mind.
“The people in the public works profession are the ones who make a difference in this county. They’re the superstars.”
