Institute News

I’m hearing the shorthand “VUCA” a good bit lately. The acronym for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity seems to reflect the world many of us find ourselves in these days.

The danger of VUCA is that these circumstances can distract us, or even derail us, from achieving our mission. VUCA can make us tentative and unclear in our communication, increase the time of decision-making, spur analysis paralysis, confuse activity with impact, or result in the urgent supplanting the important.

The University of Tennessee (UT) Center for Industrial Services (CIS) was one of three recipients of grants awarded from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA awarded $1.1 million to the three organizations to provide training and technical assistance to support small manufacturers in the SBA’s Empower to Grow (E2G) program.

“We’re excited and proud to be one of three E2G award winners across the U.S.” said CIS Executive Director Paul Jennings. “We look forward to helping small manufacturers in rural, distressed areas achieve their performance goals.

MTAS Executive Director Margaret Norris is returning to her role as a municipal management consultant with the agency. Angie Carrier, program manager for municipal management consultants, will serve as interim executive director.

“We appreciate Margaret for the eight years she served as executive director of MTAS, and the guidance she gave to the agency,” said IPS Vice President Dr. Herb Byrd. “I understand  her decision to return to her first love, serving the municipalities of Tennessee as a consultant.”

The Institute for Public Service has named Josh Suddath, director of planning and engineering for Sumner County, as the executive director of the new Center for Local Planning. Suddath will start his new role on Monday, Oct. 13. 

He has served as the director of planning and engineering since 2018 and he previously served as assistant town administrator for the town of Collierville. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and his master’s in public administration, planning and economic development, both from East Tennessee State University.

Last Friday’s (9/5/2025) Frances Hesselbein Leadership Forum email tip was on “Seeing Things Whole.” Hesselbein wrote in Leader to Leader (Vol. 2005, No. 37) that "Pulling out one piece, one action, one aspect of the leadership challenge is like playing a one-string guitar—noise but not much music."

Recently, I was talking to a group of leaders about leadership hurt. It is undeniably real but when it occurs, it is also very revealing as to the level of one’s leadership journey and maturity. I hope some of my thoughts on this subject matter will resonate with some of you.

Above is a picture of one of the thousands of apartment buildings in NYC. Hundreds look just like this one…except for one window.

Today I came across a quote from Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. The quote is: “To put everything in balance is good, to put everything in harmony is better.” So often we hear about work-life balance, and we think we should strive to achieve that. However, logistically, this is not possible.

I like to fish. Especially, fly fish.

But there’s something I like better.

I really enjoy teaching others to fish: to tie flies, build fly rods, to make a cast, a mend, a drift, a strike and a catch (and maybe release).

I like to catch fish—most any kind, or any size, sometimes “the big one.”

You might not believe it, but I enjoy even more, when people I love, or have invested in (spouse, grandkids, daughters, maybe even sons-in-law, etc.), do the catching. The joy comes with any kind, any size. But especially when they get “the big one.”