A project is only as good as the staff assembled to carry it out. In state- local initiatives it is important that both levels of government be well- represented and assigned appropriate responsibilities. It is equally important that the project team have complementary skills and experience in a variety of areas including management, program, administration, technology, and customer service.

A good rule to follow in considering project team members is to identify all project stakeholders and then establish a team that represents the range of interests on this list. A well-respected leader is a critical ingredient as well. Choose one who can build bridges within this diverse constituency.

Individually, team members should:

• Be committed to achieving project goals
• Understand and be capable of carrying out their roles
• Be able to make the necessary time commitment on a day-to-day basis
• Be available for the long term
• Possess good communication skills
• Be willing to represent both their own points of view and others in the larger community
• Contribute individual expertise to problem-solving while remaining open to a variety of approaches

As a group, the team should:

• Represent all stakeholders
• Possess the needed mix of specialized knowledge (on technical, management and policy topics)
• Possess the needed mix of practical skills (organizational, political, marketing, writing, technical, etc.)
• Be able to work together toward a common goal
• Form a strong cohesive unit capable of working cooperatively to identify and solve problems.