From his own background, Harri Palviainen, the new Urban Development Director, is keen to see the city's businesses succeed and thrive. As part of the city's comprehensive development, he also considers it important to enable a variety of housing options to suit people's different life situations.
Harri Palviainen has been the city's Director of Urban Development since December 2021. As his title suggests, the Director of Urban Development is responsible for developing the vitality of the city together with his organisation. He is fascinated by the city's development potential, enabling growth and positively influencing the environment in which people and businesses operate.
- In Järvenpää, my field of work includes promoting the vitality of the city in a very diverse way. In addition to business development, the job involves promoting the city's growth and living conditions from the perspectives of housing, the environment, transport links, services and events in the city. We also look after the city's infrastructure.
Palviainen holds a Master of Arts degree in Computer Science and Business Administration from the University of Turku. Before that, he trained as an IT technician at EVTEK. His career started as a technical expert in software engineering. After technical roles, his career path has progressed to managerial and leadership positions in business, sales, marketing, service operations and product development in both national and international companies. He has also served on the management team of the University of Applied Sciences and trained as a vocational teacher. As a professional manager, Mr Palviainen has accumulated a wide range of expertise in strategic and operational management.
In his previous job as Managing Director of Business Joensuu, he got to develop the business and entrepreneurial world extensively, after which the caravan brought him to Järvenpää as City Development Director.
As a leader, Palviainen believes it is important that the direction is set together. The big picture must be clear.
- I describe myself as a people leader who wants to be authentic and transparent. I believe in people, in the vision and skills of different people. Everyone does it their own way, but everyone is an expert and a professional in their own field. When necessary, I spar, get people to think and share my views.
Business and housing at the forefront
For Palviainen, the stability and success of businesses in the city is a matter close to his heart. According to Palviainen, the development of the business environment is based on a new urban strategy that focuses on sustainable and controlled growth, vibrant city life and timely assistance.
- Entrepreneurship is specifically related to sustainable and managed growth. We have growing, employing and small businesses, some of which are going global. This is where we as a city need to be able to support businesses.
- Businesses are also helping to create a vibrant and smooth-running city life through their services. The city must be an attractive environment for business. It must also be able to help businesses to find networking opportunities, for example.
Palviainen also believes it is important to enable different types of housing for people in a wide range of life situations. He cites the construction of the future Ainola regional centre, which will combine a variety of housing and services.
- Affordable and adequate housing supply in the city is important. Indeed, housing prices are more affordable here than inside the ring roads. At the same time, we are close to excellent transport links and nature - we have to take care of them.
Palviainen is mainly contacted by companies and associations, but it is also possible for citizens to contact Palviainen with a low threshold.
- We want to hear people's thoughts and opinions on planning and other ideas for the development of the city. If I don't know the answer, I can point you in the right direction.
Palviainen would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the managers and employees of the key areas and departments in the Urban Development Service Area, whose skills and expertise together enable the creation of a more vibrant city.
- The city must also be able to develop as an organisation. This is an opportunity to do things successfully, so that residents, businesses and visitors to the city can be satisfied.
Similarities between management, business and the music world
In her free time, Palviainen likes to exercise to balance the demanding work of management. Palviainen has also been involved in the world record in open water swimming, where the most people ever in the world were in the water at the same time. In addition to his family, music in its various forms is an important part of his life. As a hobby, he has also collected autographs of many artists' legends who have touched people with their music, of which he has accumulated several dozen.
- In our music room you'll find autographs of Bruce Springsteen, Elvis and Michael Jackson . The collection also includes young new talent that we hope will develop in the direction they want - and some may become future legends.
Palviainen also says that he is finishing a book on leadership, in which he will combine the world of music, which he loves, with the theme of leadership. More on this later.
The story was originally published in Järvenpääduunissa-tarinoi, which features Järvenpää City employees and the impressive work they do for the people of Järvenpää. The story is written by Ari Minadis, a communications expert.