{"id":2827,"date":"2019-11-20T15:58:37","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T20:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/public-safety-policy-legal-studies-educational-information\/?p=2827"},"modified":"2024-01-30T15:53:29","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T20:53:29","slug":"speaker-series-welcomes-county-administrator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/public-safety-policy-legal-studies-educational-information\/speaker-series-welcomes-county-administrator\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaker Series Welcomes County Administrator"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

St. Petersburg College<\/a>\u2019s Public Policy and Administration program held their 16th<\/sup> bi-annual Leadership Speaker Series luncheon at the Seminole Campus on Wednesday, Nov. 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Speaker Series was designed to be both informative for Public Policy students, with a featured speaker who addresses topics like leadership and public service, and also a great way for them to gain experience in the realm of networking events. Public Policy and Administration<\/a> Instructor-in-Charge Jeff Kronschnabl said that the fact that the college has supported the bi-annual program for eight years speaks to its value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor many of our students, these luncheons are their first\nbusiness lunch experience,\u201d Kronschnabl said.  \u201cThey have been fortunate\nto be exposed to leaders who bring international, national, state and local\nperspectives on government operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This semester\u2019s speaker was Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton. Burton, who recently took the helm at the County, described how an internship with the City of Cincinnati paved his career path in city and county government, and advised the students to seek out an internship. He also noted how much he enjoyed working for the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great profession,\u201d Burton said. \u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed seeing\nhow projects impact people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also outlined three principals of leadership:\nrelationships, innovation and vision, noting that they are interrelated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have to embrace change,\u201d he said. \u201cToo often we want to win a disagreement, but sometimes a conversation will create something even better than the idea you began with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susan Demers, Dean of the Public Policy and Administration\nprogram, closed out the program after an active question and answer session.\nShe offered the aspiring public servants a bit of advice about the magnitude of\nthose positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRemember, when you are working in public service,\u201d she\nsaid, \u201cthe decisions you make affect many people that you will never see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kronschnabl said Burton was a clear choice to tell his story\nof the value of community service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMr. Burton did an outstanding job conveying that message,\u201d he said. \u201cHe clearly demonstrated not only his expertise in government operations, but his approachability for our students and our program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n