New City Manager Penelope Culbreth-Graft wants to help midmanagers work their way to the top, the operative word being “work.”    She picked seven up-and-comers for the first incarnation of “Team Squared.”   The city manager is worried. She’s afraid the city, like cities across the country, will lose up to 50 percent of its talent as baby boomers retire in the next five years.   Hence, the city’s best strategy might be to build leaders from within.   “We have to look for leaders for our future,” she said.   Many lower-level managers fear additional responsibility or are ill-prepared, she said. She wants to help them get over those humps.   As a byproduct, Culbreth-Graft’s program harnesses the drive of those who are energized, eager to stand out and willing to take on more work.   Fleet finance manager Nick Kittle and team members Vicki Phillips from accounting and Brian Kelley from engineering are leading a “green” project.   They’re documenting what the city does to recycle and reduce energy use, and other Earth-friendly measures. Next, they’ll find ways to expand those programs and start new ones.   “We have 40 team members and have subcommittee teams getting to work on problems that revolve around the green project,” Kittle said. They’re looking for ways to encourage commuting (by bicycling, ride-sharing, telecommuting) and organizing a green fair.   That project and others focused on youth empowerment and the City Auditorium that Team Squared members have taken on are areas City Council wants to explore. But they don’t fall neatly into any department’s bailiwick. Meeting once a month, the team works across those departmental barriers.   They pick up knowledge about self-assessment and how to deal with the prickly areas, such as the media. Toward that end, Team Squared this week invited newspaper reporters, including yours truly, for a chat.   During the hourlong session, they asked how to get coverage of “good news” stories, what makes something newsworthy and what motivates reporters to dig deeper. They also inquired about deadlines and what pitfalls to avoid.   Kittle figures that to be a good leader he needs to know how to capitalize on the media, which he labeled “the voice.”   “The way we provide information to that voice is critical in how the message is shaped,” he said. “If there are complicated issues, making sure what’s said is clear and understandable is critical.”   The six-month pilot class ends in August, at which time we’ll drop in for an update.   Other team members are Kim King, parks; Eileen Gonzalez, human resources; Todd Dodge, budget; and Valorie Jordan, community development.   CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazettedev.gazette.com

In a scene from “Made in L.A.,” a Los Angeles garment worker named Lupe addressed a crowd at a rally. The film, about sweatshop workers, will be shown as part of Cinema Latino Film Festival. Photo by (JOANN LO)