Chattanooga, TN – The Chattanooga Public Works Department officially launched its Innovation Team, known as the I-Team, a new initiative focused on modernizing city infrastructure and optimizing departmental resources.

Led by Operations Division Director Carol Hunter, the I-Team was designed to promote continuous improvement by empowering employees at every level, from field crews to administrative staff. The initiative centers on three core pillars: building influence by elevating frontline voices, empowering “fixers” to implement solutions, and improving efficiency by identifying and eliminating operational friction points.

To ensure balanced representation, the team follows a Vertical Slice membership model, which includes field experts, technical and administrative leads, and junior staff members. Officials said this approach helps keep the group grounded in real-world operations rather than becoming overly administrative.

The I-Team will operate using a “Lean Meeting” structure, holding bi-weekly 60-minute sessions focused on actionable goals. The group will follow a 90-day roadmap, beginning with team selection, moving into a “Friction Audit,” and concluding with the implementation of a pilot improvement project.

“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 Public Works Administrator Jerramy Wood. “The I-Team is about cutting through red tape and giving our ‘fixers’ the platform they need to modernize how we serve the city.”