The following are Nick Knoke’s personal insights on the importance of the ALN meeting with his Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis. (“Rhymes with hummus,” as it says in her office, on her website, and in emails from her staff.)*
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There could not have been a better culmination of our events at the National Academies, meetings with the United Nations, and engagement with federal agency executives! Meeting directly with my one of my U.S. Senators gave me a chance to describe why and how our work has the chance to improve my community, locally and also nationally.
I am so grateful a U.S. Senator was willing to meet with me and my colleagues at the ALN who have worked hard to improve government asset management for many years.
It was encouraging that such an influential person not only listened to our positions, but understand them enough to ask good questions, and requested additional information to consider actions we recommended.
For example, the simple concept of a “Dig Once” campaign (established in Michigan) was immediately understood and recognized as a cost-saving communications approach to road and utility repair/replacement that is more efficient and convenient for citizens.
Senator Lummis also appreciated the language in MAP-21 transit legislation requiring an Asset Management Plan to receive federal funding. And she responded positively to the importance of communicating with the United Nations about asset management.
I live in Lander, Wyoming where Meghan and I are expecting our second daughter this spring. I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to share best practices and offer frameworks that can help solve some of the biggest problems facing my town, my state, the nation, and even the world.
I proudly do this work because I believe it is the right thing to do for future generations!
Nick Knoke
Director, Technology
Asset Leadership Network
