The Chattanooga Public Works Department is officially launching the Innovation Team, known as the I-Team, which is a new strategic initiative designed to modernize city infrastructure and optimize departmental resources. Led by Operations Division Director Carol Hunter, the I-Team aims to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement by empowering employees at every level, from the front lines to the front office.
The I-Team’s three core pillars intend to bridge the gap between field expertise and executive leadership. These pillars focus on building influence by giving a voice to those who see the work firsthand, empowering "The Fixers" to implement solutions, and targeting efficiency by eliminating "friction points" in daily operations. To ensure the team remains grounded in practical reality rather than becoming "office-heavy," the I-Team utilizes a Vertical Slice membership model. This diverse cohort consists of three field experts, two technical leads, two administrative leads, and two "wildcard" junior staff members.
To respect the department's lean staffing and heavy workload, the team follows a "Lean Meeting" protocol consisting of bi-weekly, 60-minute sessions focused on action-oriented sprints. This group will follow a structured 90-day roadmap that moves from the initial selection phase to a "Friction Audit" and concludes with the implementation of a pilot process improvement. "Our best ideas don't always come from a boardroom; they come from the men and women who are out in the field every day doing the heavy lifting," said Jerramy Wood, Administrator of Public Works. "The I-Team i about cutting through the red tape and giving our 'fixers' the platform they need to modernize how we serve Chattanooga. We aren't just looking for change for change's sake—we are looking for smarter, leaner ways to build a better city."