Producer Breana Miller interviews Chief Plumbing Inspector John Bowman about his work experience in the plumbing trade, the common types of inspections that Plumbing Inspectors handle, and what homeowners need to consider before deciding to begin any plumbing-related DIY projects.

Have questions for any John? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode

Producer Breana Miller calls Division staff members—some of whom are previous guests—to answer listener-submitted questions related to the Lead Hazard Control Program, the importance of verifying your contractor’s license credentials, the necessity of building permits, the zoning compliance requirements for in-home daycares, and an explanation of why we use the Develop901 Citizen Portal. The final question is answered with second-time, in-studio guest Deputy Director Nidia Logan-Robinson.

Have questions for any of the featured staff members? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode

Producer Breana Miller interviews Division Director John Zeanah about about the Memphis 3.0 Plan, the comprehensive plan for the City of Memphis, and why having a comprehensive plan--and consistently updating it--is important when considering future development and growth in Memphis. John also details the significance of community input for the Memphis 3.0 Plan and what implementation of this comprehensive plan actually looks like for city residents.

Have questions for John? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

For the first episode in the Inside the Division Spotlight Series, Producer Breana Miller interviews Finance Manager Brenda Gipson about her experience working for Shelby County Government, her experience in handling finances for a joint city and county division, and how the Develop 901 Citizen Portal has become a key element of her daily duties. Brenda brings her accounting experience from private industry to her current position in government accounting and finance.

Have questions for Brenda? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Producer Breana Miller interviews Senior Elevator Inspector Grant Pazderka and Elevator Inspector Josh Norman about elevator inspections that occur throughout Memphis and Shelby County in new construction and in already occupied buildings. Grant and Josh also share their experiences in working on elevators and their continued focus on elevator safety for both riders and technicians.

Have questions for Grant or Josh? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode

Deputy Administrator Jeffrey Penzes interviews fellow Deputy Administrator Chip Saliba about his knowledge and experience in permitted land uses and local zoning provisions. Chip explains why zoning is a necessity for orderly development and how entreprenurs and developers can save themselves money and time by doing their duediligence concerning approved property uses.

Have questions for Chip or Jeffrey? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Producer Breana Miller interviews Chief Building Inspector Kevin Dulin about the importance of building inspections and how inspectors sometimes act as a final check for other trade inspections. He also discusses his years of experience as a building inspector and how his role has changed over the past few years.

Have questions for Kevin? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Building Official Rita Anderson interviews Assistant Fire Marshall Dr. Angelo Lamar about fire safety and prevention and how the Memphis Fire Department collaborates with DPD during the permit review process.

Have questions for Rita and Dr. Lamar? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Construction Enforcement Administrator Ron Bethea interviews Chief Electrical Inspector Bo Cates about the importance of electrical inspections, for both residential and commercial projects; the significance of growing the Electrical trade; and the necessity of confirming your contractor's licensure before beginning any new project.

Have questions for Ron or Bo? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Producer Breana Miller sits down with local architect Tony Pellicciotti to discuss the widely anticipated Sterick Building project, the signifiance of adaptive reuse for older Memphis buildings, and what it's like to work with the Division of Planning and Development to make a project come to fruition. 

Have questions for Tony? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Producer Breana Miller interviews Division Deputy Director Nidia Logan-Robinson about her work in leading the effort for the implementation of the Develop 901 Citizen Portal, the online permit system used by the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development. She also takes time to discuss the need for more young professionals to join public service career fields as well as construction and trade career fields as the need for more job candidates in these careers grows.

Have questions for Nidia? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Producer Breana Miller interviews Steve Shular, Special Assistant to the City Mayor, about the work he does with the 311 Department and local neighborhood associations to help keep Memphis beautiful and safe for its residents.

Have questions for Steve? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Housing Administrator Scott Walkup interviews Program Manager Anita Tate about the Shelby County Department of Housing's Lead Hazard Control Program, discussing the harm caused by lead paints to children and how this program is helping residents in Memphis and Shelby County with remediation to make for a safer and healthier future for many families.

Have questions for Anita or Scott? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Producer Breana Miller interviews Mechanical Inspector Arthur Hammontree about what types of projects are often inspected by the Mechanical department and how inspections help to ensure safe buildings and structures.

Have questions for Arthur? Email them to [email protected], and you'll get an answer on a future episode.

Join us each month for new episodes of The Building Beat to find out what you can do in our corner of Tennessee.