The sustained pace of change in the water sector has led utilities around the world to explore new approaches to utility management and operations. It also highlighted the need for a sustained practice of seeking out new processes, technologies, and skillsets that equip utilities to address these challenges and opportunities. Since its launch in 2015, the Utility Innovation Network (UIN) has engaged over 130 utilities from North America, South America, Australia, and Europe as well as industry-leading professional associations and research foundations of WRF, The Water Tower Institute (TWTI), American Water Works Association (AWWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), and the North American Clean Water Association (NACWA) to translate public and private sector practices in innovation management to the utility sector. By equipping utilities to better lead applied research and innovation efforts, the UIN hopes to accelerate the pace of development and adoption of new solutions to water sector challenges. Over the last ten years, the UIN has published guidance documents and tools to create a “how to” series for utilities seeking to build a culture of innovation, launch innovation programs, strengthen existing programs, empower their workforce to innovate, improve the value of external partnerships, and better communicate the impact of innovation. Louisville & Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (Louisville MSD) has been a key member of the UIN for many years leveraging the resources to launch and create a culture of innovation within their organization. In 2018, Louisville MSD began the development of Blueprint 2025, their strategic business plan. With the Executive Director’s direction and a recognized opportunity for improvement, innovation became integrated into the organization’s vision and a critical success factor for the next five years. This became the catalyst for establishing a formal internal innovation program led by their Chief Innovation Officer. This session includes two segments that will provide an overview of the UIN resources including WRF Project 4642 Fostering Innovation within Water Utilities, WRF Project 4907 Leading Water and Wastewater Utility Innovation and TWTI-21-01 Building an Innovation Narrative and the results of a decade in innovation research, as well as insight into how Louisville MSD has put these concepts into practice. Louisville MSD will highlight the development of their innovation program vision and goals, encouraging staff to generate and develop new ideas, and communicating and reporting innovation progress and success. Session participants will leave with greater awareness and understanding of sector resources related to utility innovation management and practical methods for implementing them within their organization.