Rick Powers Email & Phone Number

Peoria, Illinois Area

Department of Public Works. Responsible for directing the activities of three Divisions, respective Deputy Directors, and 125 employees, which include: Administration, Engineering, Traffic, Parking, Lighting, Streets, Sewers, Solid Waste, Storm Water Utility, Forestry, Fleet Management, and Facilities. Fostering and maintaining relationships with elected and appointed officials within the City of Peoria, surrounding counties, Metropolitan Planning Organization, the State legislature, State Department of Transportation, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Justice/Consent Decree negotiations, and in-turn, coordinating those efforts within the City and other Governmental agencies, along with Capital, Operational, and Utility budget administration.

Lisle, Illinois, United States

Independent Trustee

Northwest, Indiana

Responsible for oversight of approximately 500 INDOT employees, an average annual budget of $300 million, fostering and maintaining relationships with elected and appointed officials within 13 northwest Indiana counties, the State legislature, Governor’s office, and in-turn, coordinating those efforts within INDOT and other State agencies. Duties also included my oversight of Directors, and operations of respective Construction, Capital Programs, Finance, Highway Maintenance, Technical Services, and Safety Departments; 160 state facilities, 3000-plus fleet and equipment assets, 5,668 lane miles of state roads, 560 lane miles of interstate, 892 large culverts 824 state bridges, 170 snow routes, 618 traffic signals, 234 flashers, and 58,600 road signs and associated operations.

Indianapolis, Indiana Area

Responsible for auditing and enhancing the performance of the operations of the city and county enterprise. This Cabinet position is responsible directly to the Mayor. The powers and duties include: full authority to audit any department, office, or agency of the city or county deemed necessary; review and audit the financial controls and expenditures of any department, office, or agency of the city or county, any municipal corporation, the budget of which is subject to appropriation or review by the council, or the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank. Further responsible for: conducting efficiency and effectiveness reviews; establishing financial and operational performance metrics for measuring efficiency and effectiveness of a city or county entity or program; recommending to the mayor that a city or county entity be eliminated in whole or in part, or consolidated into another entity, due to ineffectiveness, duplication, or other reason; making recommendations to the mayor to increase the transparency of city or county operations; and making recommendations to the controller that any program of a city or county entity be reduced or increased as a result of the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the program.

Responsible for coordination and execution of the Department’s mission within Indianapolis/Marion County relating to improving the quality of life in the City through strategic application of Regulation. Collaborate with several agencies including the Health Department, City/County Prosecutors, Corporation Counsel, Police/Sheriff, Public Works, Public Utilities, Planning and Historic Preservation Divisions, Commissions. Provide oversight of project review, permitting processes, staff investigations of properties for code violations, and provide expert testimony to the City Council, boards, committees, media, and in court as required.  Spearheaded collaboration of all aspects of the creation of the Department of the for the City of Indianapolis, shifting the burden of the cost of services from the taxpayer to the user, freeing up millions of tax dollars for public safety, increasing service, safety and the overall quality of life for citizens. Adviser on various policies to the Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee for former Governor/Vice President.  Provided opportunities for future insurance rate decreases for businesses and homeowners throughout Marion County via increased efficiencies and technologies and an associated improved risk rating with the insurance industries.  Enhanced and integrated several key business processes that relied on third-party software systems that provide a means to support the enterprise in like-functions including, planning, permitting, licensing, inspection, enforcement, wireless/mobile offices, application-integrated mapping/GIS, Interactive Voice Response, citizen access and services, and emergency response which dramatically increased service delivery and technology integration. Established a fully mobile field staff via mobile offices that provides an additional 3 hours of resource time per employee per workday.

Indiana, United States

Served as co-chair of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, responsible for planning and executing highly specialized operations surrounding public safety, structures, licensing, Clean Zone, Lucas Oil Stadium Neighborhood geographies in accordance with applicable laws, and the unique needs of the National Football League.

Responsible for planning of fleet support and development, coordination, rating standards and supervision of personnel involved in the maintenance and repair of equipment. Implemented $10M budget, operational cost analysis. Handled equipment specification, acquisition and disposal, parts inventory replenishment and analysis and facilities management.  Managed 2,200 fleet assets operations and maintenance including personnel, administration, finances, and technologies to support equipment and associated systems along with analysis of vehicle and equipment standards.  Acted as inter-city staff management liaison; handled preparation of training programs and presentations for management and subordinate personnel.  Functioned as liaison between the City, suppliers and contractors.  Synthesized implementation, coordination and administration of the fleet management information system, life cycle management, and analysis for fleet replacement/procurement standards.

Nato Headquarters - Fleet Marine Corps Forces, Naval Station, Norfolk, Va

In my final role as an actively serving Marine, I was responsible for the supervision of personnel involved in the development, design, and improvement of facilities and material for Marine Corps bases and organizations.  Acted as liaison with Base Relocation and Closure Commission, Naval Construction Forces, general contractors, the Atlantic Region, state and local government public works/utilities divisions for site studies related base relocation and closures.  Implemented and accounted for operational budget of $650 million.  Served as international emissary and liaison for port and facilities support for Marine Corps Forces in Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operations.