Direct from the President's desk
Insights, thought leadership and industry resources from our President, Joe DeRosa, to help our clients, mainly municipalities, counties and public agencies from the public sector to navigate and optimize their resources to deliver building department services as well as professional services (civil engineering, city engineering, capital delivery project, code enforcement, landscape architecture, traffic engineering, planning & zoning, surveying, grant writing and management, etc.) Services that our company SAFEbuilt (as well as subsidiaries Interwest Consulting Group and Calvin, Giordano & Associates, Inc.) offer. The series will also highlight important items for the our private provider sector, mainly our developers and contractor...Show more
All Episodes
Navigating Economic Change: A Perspective for City Leaders
Economic change isn’t coming—it’s already here. In this episode of From the President’s Desk, SAFEbuilt President Joe DeRosa shares a straight-talking perspective for city leaders facing workforce strain, shifting tax bases, and rising pressure to “do more with less.” Joe breaks down the mindset shift that separates cities that struggle from those that thrive—and offers three simple but powerful questions every city manager should be asking right now. If your city is at a crossroads, this episode will help you refocus, reframe, and respond with clarity. From the President’s Desk is a SAFEbuilt production. This podcast and its contents are the intellectual property of SAFEbuilt. No part may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without written permission. (c) SAFEbuilt All rights reserved.
From Rochester to Reno: How Two Cities Taught Me the Power of Reinvention
What do Kodak, Tesla, and a city’s permitting office have in common? In this episode, Joe DeRosa shares a personal journey through two cities shaped by reinvention—Rochester, NY and Reno, NV—and what their stories reveal about how communities rise, fall, and rebuild. From the loss of manufacturing giants to the rise of tech innovation, Joe explores why some cities bounce back stronger… while others get left behind. The lesson? Reinvention doesn’t start with branding—it starts with infrastructure. Whether you're a city manager, planner, or just someone passionate about the future of our communities, this episode will leave you thinking differently about how growth really happens. Built for Tomorrow is a SAFEbuilt production. This podcast and its contents are the intellectual property of SAFEbuilt. No part may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without written permission. (c) SAFEbuilt All rights reserved.
CommunityCore: SAFEbuilt’s Competitive Edge in Community Development
What gives cities a real edge in community development? In this episode of From the President’s Desk, SAFEbuilt President Joe DeRosa shares how our proprietary platform, CommunityCore, is helping municipalities modernize their permitting, inspections, and code compliance. Learn how cities across the country are using this digital tool to reduce bottlenecks, boost transparency, and move projects forward—faster. If you're navigating growth, limited staffing, or rising service expectations, this is the episode to catch. To learn more, please contact us at https://content.safebuilt.com/community-core From the President’s Desk is a SAFEbuilt production. This podcast and its contents are the intellectual property of SAFEbuilt. No part may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without written permission. (c) SAFEbuilt All rights reserved.
Retirements are Rising: Is Your City Ready?
In this episode of Direct from the President's Desk, we delve into the pressing issue of rising retirements in the public sector, particularly within building departments. As experienced inspectors and code enforcement officers retire, cities face a critical knowledge gap that threatens to slow development and increase project delays. I explore how this "silver tsunami" is impacting communities and discuss proactive strategies to address the challenge. By partnering with organizations like SafeBuilt, cities can access certified professionals to ensure continuity and maintain service levels. Join me as we discuss how forward-thinking municipalities are preparing for this wave of retirements and the importance of strategic outsourcing in preserving institutional knowledge and momentum. Is your city ready for the change? Tune in to find out.