Show Notes: Kevin Phelps - From 'Near Bankruptcy' to Entertainment Powerhouse: Reimagining City Identity in the DesertEpisode 170 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Overview In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter interviews Kevin Phelps, City Manager of Glendale, Arizona. Kevin shares his remarkable journey from private sector entrepreneur to transformational public sector leader. With a business background that began with opening the Northwest's first video store chain (which even attracted FBI attention!), Kevin brings unique insights about applying private sector speed and accountability to government operations. Under his leadership, Glendale transformed from near-bankruptcy to financial prosperity by reimagining its identity as an entertainment powerhouse while developing a culture that enables innovation and calculated risk-taking in municipal government.

Episode Highlights:

• Private to Public Sector Journey: How Kevin's entrepreneurial background, from video store owner to convention center developer, shaped his approach to public service
• Financial Transformation: The strategic shift that took Glendale from "financial straits worse than any city except Detroit" to nearly $300 million in reserves without raising property taxes
• Strategic City Differentiation: Why Kevin rejected competing with Scottsdale or Chandler on their strengths and instead leveraged Glendale's unique assets to create an entertainment-focused identity
• Speed as Competitive Advantage: The BMW dealership story that taught staff how delays cost taxpayers $100,000 per month in lost revenue
• Facilitators vs. Regulators: Transforming the development culture from regulatory obstacles to solution-finding partners
• White Claw Success Story: How Glendale used a detailed Gantt chart and relationship-building to complete a million-square-foot facility in just 282 days
• Risk Management Philosophy: "I've never terminated anybody here in Glendale for making a mistake. The only time I've had to make actions on personnel is because of how people treated other people."
• Chief Culture Officer: Kevin's perspective that his most important role is shaping organizational culture rather than managing operations
• Breaking Bureaucratic Silos: Rewarding department directors based on how much they help other departments, not just their own success
• Work-Life Boundaries: Why Kevin banned weekend email chains and encourages staff to turn off city communications after hours
• Strategic Leadership Transition: Kevin's thoughtful approach to stepping down at Glendale's peak rather than during decline

Connect with Kevin Phelps:

• LinkedIn: Kevin Phelps on LinkedIn

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 as he keynotes the 2025 APWA South Carolina Chapter Annual Conference in Spartanburg, June 23rd-26th. Register here: https://southcarolina.apwa.org/event/2025-annual-conference/

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