Over the past several years, I have become increasingly involved in efforts to improve how local government serves the people of the Portland region. My focus has never been on politics for its own sake. It has been on helping government become more effective, more accountable, and more capable of delivering better outcomes for the people who depend on it.
Throughout my career in advanced manufacturing, heavy industry, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector, I have seen firsthand how organizations can achieve remarkable results by embracing clear goals, measurable outcomes, data-driven decision making, and a culture of continuous improvement. These same principles have transformed businesses, hospitals, and other complex organizations around the world. I believe they can do the same for government.
Much of my recent work has centered on improving regional responses to homelessness, behavioral health, public safety, and other complex public challenges. Rather than simply spending more money or creating more programs, I have advocated for stronger performance management, transparent accountability, better use of data, collaboration across organizations, and continuous learning so that public investments produce better results.
The podcast below explores many of these ideas and the experiences that have shaped my thinking. It provides an overview of the management philosophy that underlies much of my civic work and explains why I believe local government can become both more compassionate and more effective by adopting proven management practices.
Portland has extraordinary people, institutions, and potential. By focusing on outcomes rather than ideology, empowering public servants, and continuously improving the way government works, I believe we can build stronger communities and restore confidence in our public institutions.
I hope you enjoy the conversation and that it sparks new ideas about how we can work together to build a more effective government for everyone.
