Manatee County Tax Collector Wins Prestigious Florida Sterling Award
Manatee County Tax Collector searched for a Balanced Scorecard System but found much more with Process Based Leadership®
The Challenge
Manatee County (FL) Tax Collector is an independent constitutional officer duly elected by their fellow citizens and taxpayers in their county of residence. Tax Collectors deal with a variety of duties and responsibilities and provide a myriad of important public services that allow them to exercise valuable leadership roles in government. They direct, plan, organize, budget, set, and implement policies that affect not only their local government but also reach the state level as well. With all of their daunting tasks to complete, this organization had been searching for a strategic planning and management system.
They thought that all they needed would be a balanced scorecard system. After reviewing several scorecard vendors, Ken Burton, Jr. and his team clearly saw that they needed a total strategic solution for their organization.
The Solution
Their one obvious choice was Process Based Leadership® with the consultants of Competitive Solutions, Inc. “CSI’s Anna VerSteeg brought strategic focus to this organization with Process Based Leadership® and Visuant® software. This entire process was a true turning point to the excellence our office has achieved,” states Ken Burton, Jr.
Since working with CSI over ten years ago, Process Based Leadership® and Visuant® software brought significant accountability to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s office. “We use every aspect of this accountability system. That is the beauty of PBL® and Visuant® software. The system forces you to enter who is doing the action item and also requires a due date. There are no open-ended discussions. Communication is top to bottom and bottom to top every week,” states Ken “The scorecard software allows me to see how my office is doing at any time and from anywhere.”
The Results
Burton’s office is operating in a more efficient and focused manner. Ken said, “The people at Competitive Solutions, Inc. understand the methodology of how strategic management systems work within our unique scorecard. The staff easily walks anyone through issues. Since PBL® and Visuant® software has been up and running, we have had no problems. The processes have become second nature to the entire organization.”
In 2011, Florida Governor Rick Scott announced that the Manatee Country Tax Collector Office had won the prestigious Sterling Award. They were one of only two recipients being honored that year. The Sterling Award honors organizations that utilize proven methodologies designed to improve operations, and increase customer value and overall results. The criteria are based on the National Malcolm Baldrige standards for Performance Excellence.
“Process Based Leadership®, without a doubt, played a significant role in our Sterling journey,” Burton stated. After only looking for a balanced scorecard to implement into their organization, the Manatee County Tax Collector found much more offerings in the methodologies of Process Based Leadership® and Visuant® software. These proven processes as well as the consultants of Competitive Solutions, Inc. helped the Manatee County Tax Collector office achieve their pinnacle of success, The Florida Sterling Award.