Looking Ahead – Moving Forward

The Flagler College Public Administration Program hosted a one-day conference for public administration professionals today; visited this morning by St. Augustine local news reporter and Flagler College alum, Michael Gold.

The theme of the conference this year was “Looking Ahead, Moving Forward.” Dr. Joe Saviak was on hand to help the participants and presenters greet each other — renew professional acquaintances and connect with new ones.

Together with corporate partners like The Bailey Group and others, Flagler College presents the annual conference in order to bring together public administration professionals so that they can discuss the common challenges and best practices in local government in Northeast Florida.

Palatka Mayor Karl Flagg was the keynote speaker for this event that featured panel discussions and presentations by policymakers, city and county managers and senior executives from across the region.

One of the topics on the forum today was “Healthy Employees: Innovative Solutions for the Public Sector Workforce.” The Bailey Group president, Mark F. Bailey, whose company is one of only six Blue Diamond agents for Blue Cross Blue Shield in the State of Florida, was nearby to share his years of experience in planning insurance programs for local government clients. The Bailey Group has also achieved Platinum Agency status with United Healthcare and is recognized as a Premier Agent for Humana and its affiliates.

Mike Patterson, chief of fire and emergency medical services for Putnam County Government and a member of the planning committee, said, “One of the best things that we can do for our taxpayers is to pool our shared experiences to examine common challenges and identify best practices. The knowledge we share and acquire from this event can directly translate into more effective programs and efficient services provided to our citizens.”

Corporate partners for this event also included Cardiac Science, Sprint, Emergency Training Concepts, JB Coxwell Contracting, Inc. and Coxwell Disaster Recovery Services.