The HaltingWinter Podcast offers insights and strategies for city managers and municipal leaders to transform their leadership, energize their teams, and revita...
158: Kristen Dorman: From Reluctant Start to Intentional Journey
Show Notes: Kristen Dorman: From Reluctant Start to Intentional Journey Episode 158 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this insightful episode of the HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter speaks with Kristen Dorman, Assistant City Manager of Warrensburg, Missouri. Kristen shares her fascinating journey from dismissing municipal government as a career ("whatever career that is, I don't want it") despite her mother being a county manager, to finding her calling in city management, and ultimately serving as interim city manager just six weeks into a new position. Their conversation explores the importance of mentorship in municipal careers, the value of creating work-life boundaries, the realities of managing different-sized communities, and how the profession must evolve to attract the next generation of leaders. Episode Highlights: The Reluctant Beginning: How Kristen initially avoided following in her mother's municipal leadership footsteps before discovering her passion for local government through a Fellowship program The Value of Mentorship: The crucial role of mentors like Zach Walker who provided opportunities for growth by including Kristen in high-level projects and pushing her to seek new challenges Size Matters in City Management: Contrasting experiences in large cities (Independence, Surprise) versus smaller communities (Pleasant Hill) and the hands-on knowledge gained from wearing multiple department director hats in smaller organizations Stepping Away & Returning Stronger: Kristen's decision to leave municipal government to work for the Alliance for Innovation and how this break helped her clarify her passion while establishing healthier work boundaries Sudden Leadership Transition: Being thrust into the interim city manager role after just six weeks as assistant city manager and navigating leadership with transparency and teamwork Work-Life Integration: Challenging the 60-70 hour workweek norm in city management and demonstrating that effective leadership is possible with healthy boundaries The Future of Municipal Management: Candid discussion about how the profession must evolve beyond burnout culture to attract younger generations who value work-life balance Leading by Example: How city manager work habits set the tone for organizational culture and the importance of modeling sustainable practices Motherhood and Leadership: Insights on how becoming a parent enhanced Kristen's empathy and perspective as a municipal leader Connect with Kristen Dorman: LinkedIn: Connect with Kristen Here Connect With Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: At HaltingWinter, our mission is to build stronger cities through stronger leaders by providing municipal leadership development services, rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. To explore how we can strengthen you and your municipality, visit haltingwinter.com. Upcoming Events: Don't miss Seth Winterhalter at the Missouri City and County Managers Association Spring Conference at the Margaritaville Resort. Register now at www.momanagers.org/191/Spring-Conference. The MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a community for city managers and administrators from around the country to find support personally and professionally as they lead thriving teams and communities. We're giving podcast listeners 20% off your subscription with a 7-day FREE trial to make sure it's the right fit for you. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you register today! --> JOIN HERE
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157: John Mauro: A Global Journey of Purpose-Driven Leadership
Show Notes: John Mauro: A Global Journey of Purpose-Driven Leadership Episode 157 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this inspiring episode of the HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter speaks with John Mauro, City Manager of Port Townsend, Washington. John shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Maine to traveling across four continents on a prestigious fellowship, and ultimately leading municipal transformation in both Auckland and Washington state. Their conversation explores the power of global perspective in local governance, innovative approaches to community engagement, and the delicate balance between addressing immediate municipal needs while planning for long-term sustainability. Episode Highlights: New England Roots: How John's upbringing in Maine and exposure to natural landscapes shaped his environmental consciousness and public service path Global Education: His transformative Thomas Watson fellowship that took him to Ghana, Bhutan, Australia, and Bolivia to study indigenous relationships with nature Finding His Purpose: John's evolution from environmental science to sustainability leadership, discovering his passion for systems thinking and collaborative governance International Municipal Leadership: Serving as Auckland, New Zealand's first Chief Sustainability Officer and navigating a complex "super city" government structure Interagency Collaboration: Transforming adversarial relationships with sister agencies like the Port of Port Townsend into million-dollar collaborative projects Infrastructure Challenges: Tackling long-deferred maintenance, including a century-old water agreement, and creating sustainable funding mechanisms for critical infrastructure Innovative Community Engagement: Using "The Bureaucracy Now" radio show and monthly coffee chats to build trust and transparency with citizens COVID Leadership: Managing municipal operations during the pandemic just months into his tenure as city manager Team Development: Building a "dream team" of department directors who are dedicated to service and tackling systemic challenges Personal Rejuvenation: Balancing the demands of public service through outdoor activities, family adventures, and maintaining boundaries between work and personal life Connect with John Mauro: LinkedIn: Connect with John Connect With Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: At HaltingWinter, our mission is to build stronger cities through stronger leaders by providing municipal leadership development services, rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. To explore how we can strengthen you and your municipality, visit haltingwinter.com. Upcoming Events: Don't miss Seth Winterhalter at the Missouri City and County Managers Association Spring Conference at the Margaritaville Resort, starting April 30th. Register now at www.momanagers.org/191/Spring-Conference. The MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a community for city managers and administrators from around the United States to find support personally and professionally as they lead thriving teams and communities. We're giving podcast listeners 20% off your subscription with a 7-day FREE trial to make sure it's the right fit for you. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you register today! --> JOIN HERE
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156: Book of the Week: Conscious Business
Show Notes: Book of the Week - "Conscious Business" Episode 156 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: "Conscious Business" Series) Episode Overview Seth Winterhalter kicks off a 5-part series exploring Fred Kofman's book "Conscious Business" and its critical applications for municipal leadership. This first episode introduces the powerful concept of conscious leadership - blending decisive action with deeper awareness to transform municipal organizations. Through an engaging story about a public works department facing multiple challenges, Seth illustrates how moving beyond traditional command-and-control approaches creates remarkable results without sacrificing decisiveness. Discover how conscious leadership provides a framework for seeing and addressing systemic issues that top-down directives alone cannot solve. Key Takeaways How effective municipal leaders blend decisive action with conscious awareness The power of listening sessions and safe spaces for authentic feedback Why understanding daily realities transforms organizational culture How conscious leadership builds the trust necessary for organizational transformation The three crucial aspects of conscious leadership every city manager needs to master This Week's Journey in the MLDC Monday: Foundations of conscious leadership in municipal settings Tuesday-Thursday: Deep dives into organizational awareness, stakeholder relationships, and proactive systems Friday: Implementation Guides & the Virtual Book Club discussion Special: Free 7-Day MLDC Trial Experience the Municipal Leadership Development Circle with full access to: All five "Conscious Business" podcast episodes Daily deep-dive blog posts Friday's Virtual Book Club discussion Complete MLDC platform resources Nationwide community of city managers and administrators No upfront commitment required Resources Mentioned Book: "Conscious Business" by Fred Kofman Weekly Newsletter - The Leader's Lens (free subscription) Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Learn More Connect With Seth LinkedIn:Â www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website:Â www.HaltingWinter.com Â
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155: De'Carlon Seewood: From Crisis to Community Renewal
Show Notes: De'Carlon Seewood: From Crisis to Community RenewalEpisode 155 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this powerful episode of the HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter speaks with De'Carlon Seewood, City Manager of Columbia, Missouri. De'Carlon shares his extraordinary journey from witnessing urban decay in East St. Louis to leading Ferguson through national crisis, and finally revitalizing Columbia through innovative community engagement and employee investment. Their conversation explores the realities of municipal leadership during tumultuous times, rebuilding fractured community trust, and creating a sustainable culture of excellence in local government. Episode Highlights: The Public Service Calling: How De'Carlon's childhood in East St. Louis and witnessing urban decline inspired his lifelong commitment to public service Hands-On Municipal Experience: The invaluable cross-functional knowledge gained through "assistant to" roles where De'Carlon served as interim department head in planning, parks, and finance Community Revitalization: Transforming the historically Black Carver neighborhood in Fulton by rehabilitating properties and creating innovative housing solutions Leading Through Crisis: De'Carlon's courageous decision to return to Ferguson after the Michael Brown shooting and the complex realities of managing a city under intense national scrutiny Navigating Federal Intervention: Practical insights on implementing a Department of Justice consent decree with limited resources in a small municipality Employee Investment Strategy: Columbia's $10 million initiative to properly value staff and address retention challenges in critical departments Innovative Engagement Approaches: Creating "Coffee with the City Manager," Citizen Academies, and Community Summits to rebuild trust between residents and local government Municipal Leadership Sustainability: Candid discussion about the personal toll of city management and practical advice for maintaining well-being in demanding leadership roles Communicating Municipal Value: Helping citizens understand the significance of local government services and the true nature of municipal budgets Connect with De'Carlon Seewood: LinkedIn: Connect with De'Carlon Here About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: At HaltingWinter, our mission is to build stronger cities through stronger leaders by providing municipal leadership development services, rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. To explore how we can strengthen you and your municipality, visit haltingwinter.com. Upcoming Events: Don't miss Seth Winterhalter at the Missouri City and County Managers Association Spring Conference at the Margaritaville Resort, starting April 30th. Register now at www.momanagers.org/191/Spring-Conference. Connect With Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com The MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a community for city managers and administrators from around the country to find support personally and professionally as they lead thriving teams and communities. We're giving podcast listeners 20% off your subscription with a 7-day FREE trial to make sure it's the right fit for you. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you register today! --> JOIN HERE
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154: Nichole Rutherford: Finding Courage When Opportunity Calls
Show Notes: Nichole Rutherford: Finding Courage When Opportunity Calls Episode 154 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this inspiring episode of the HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Nichole Rutherford, City Manager of Coos Bay, Oregon. From her beginnings as a finance assistant to becoming city manager, Nichole shares her remarkable journey through municipal leadership. Their conversation explores her unexpected path to public service, the challenges of transitioning from technical expertise to leadership, and the delicate balance between professional demands and personal life in the municipal arena. Episode Highlights: An Unexpected Journey: Nichole's path from a small CPA firm to city management, illustrates how saying "yes" to opportunities can lead to fulfilling careers in public service From Finance to Leadership: The transition from technical expertise in finance to the broader leadership challenges of city management Intentional Succession Planning: Insights into Roger Craddock's three-year mentorship approach that prepared Nichole for the city manager role Leading with Heart: How bringing compassion and humanity to government can transform municipal work culture and service delivery The Technical-to-Leadership Challenge: Nichole's candid reflections on shifting from producing tangible work to leading and influencing Family Support Systems: Thoughtful strategies for maintaining work-life balance in a position that "never shuts off" Building Professional Networks: The importance of reaching out to fellow city managers and creating a support system in what can be an isolating role Small Town Impact: Perspectives on leading in Coos Bay (population 16,000) and the unique challenges and opportunities of smaller municipalities Fresh Eyes on Old Problems: How leadership transitions can reinvigorate established processes and bring new perspectives to municipal challenges Connect with Nichole Rutherford: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nichole-rutherford-3374ba44/ About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: At HaltingWinter, our mission is to build stronger cities through stronger leaders by providing municipal leadership development services, rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. To explore how we can strengthen you and your municipality, visit haltingwinter.com. Upcoming Events: Don't miss Seth Winterhalter at the Missouri City and County Managers Association Spring Conference at the Margaritaville Resort, starting April 30th. Register now at www.momanagers.org/191/Spring-Conference. Connect With Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com The MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a community for city managers and administrators from around the country to find support personally and professionally as they lead thriving teams and communities. We're giving podcast listeners 20% off your subscription with a 7-day FREE trial to make sure it's the right fit for you. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you register today! --> JOIN HERE
The HaltingWinter Podcast offers insights and strategies for city managers and municipal leaders to transform their leadership, energize their teams, and revitalize their municipalities. Hosted by Seth Winterhalter, President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, we explore innovative approaches to balance personal well-being with professional growth while cultivating a vibrant workplace culture.
Discover how to lead with purpose, navigate complex challenges, and deliver exceptional results for your community. Each episode provides actionable advice to help you thrive in the unique landscape of municipal leadership.
Whether you're a seasoned city manager or new to municipal leadership, this podcast is your resource for personal and professional growth. Tune in and join our mission of making stronger cities through stronger leaders.
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