The Public Works Podcast: Bradford Kaine Episode

Title: The Venice of America: Public Works, Waterways & Resilience in Fort Lauderdale Summary: Host Shane Silsby sits down with Brad Kaine, Director of Public Works for the City of Fort Lauderdale — one of South Florida's most complex and water-rich municipalities. Recorded on location in downtown Fort Lauderdale overlooking the city's iconic canal system, Brad shares a career spanning 20+ years across Deerfield Beach, Parkland, Weston, Dania Beach, Miami Beach, and now Fort Lauderdale. From surviving back-to-back hurricanes to restructuring a 500+ person department, Brad's story is a masterclass in public service leadership under pressure. We dive into Fort Lauderdale's unique waterway challenges, the billion-dollar Fortify Lauderdale stormwater program, the innovative Prospect Lake Water Plant P3 project, and what it takes to keep the "Yachting Capital of the World" running every day. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction & Fort Lauderdale overview 1:11 – What is Public Works? Brad introduces himself 2:59 – Career origins: How Brad got his start in Deerfield Beach 5:03 – APWA involvement and the value of professional community 17:01 – Hurricane season: Surviving Francis, Jeanne & Wilma back-to-back 22:14 – A stint in the private sector with Ron Bergeron Sr. 22:14 – Dania Beach & Hurricane Irma response 22:14 – Miami Beach: Managing 220 staff in an iconic city 22:14 – Joining Fort Lauderdale: A new challenge 23:56 – APWA South Florida: Branch Wastewater Project of the Year 26:09 – Restructuring: Splitting a 502-person department 32:59 – Managing Fort Lauderdale's 165 miles of canals & the new Chief Waterway Officer 38:21 – Fortify Lauderdale: $1B+ stormwater resilience program 41:43 – Advice for the next generation of public works professionals 🔔 Enjoyed this episode? Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and share with a colleague in public works or local government. Every like and subscribe helps us shine a light on the professionals who keep our communities running every day. 💬 Have a question or content idea? Drop it in the comments — we read and respond within a week! 🎙️ The Public Works Podcast — celebrating the backbone of every city and highlighting the people that keep it running. #TPWP #publicworks #localgovernments #leadership #coastalcommunities #hurricane