Show Notes: Wesley Young: From Comfort to Calling: Choosing the Hard Path of Local Impact

Episode 203 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Overview

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter welcomes Wesley Young, City Administrator of Willard, Missouri, for a conversation that’s part memoir, part masterclass on finding purpose in public service.

Wesley’s journey spans continents, careers, and courageous decisions, from growing up in England and overcoming dyslexia to building a life of service in the American Midwest. Along the way, he chose the hard path: leaving the safety of state government for the unpredictable frontlines of local leadership.

Whether you’re in the early days of your public service career or decades in, this episode will remind you why the work matters. It's about grit, gratitude, and the quiet power of doing the right thing—especially when no one's watching.

Episode Highlights:

You Are the Cavalry How stepping into city management—especially in a small town—means wearing every hat and learning to lead without a net.

Legacy Over Ease Why Wesley left the comfort of state employment to chase local impact and how his young son’s words confirmed it was the right move.

Underdog Energy From being labeled “lazy” due to dyslexia to writing 22,000 lines of code to improve performance reviews, Wesley shares what it means to prove people wrong and build systems that serve others.

Faith, Family, and the Work That Lasts How personal loss, fatherhood, and a quiet moment in a car shaped the values he brings to city leadership.

Breaking Down Bureaucracy Insightful reflections on the complexity of public infrastructure and the public’s perception gap around local government services (like paying $5 for bottled water but resenting a $1 utility rate increase).

A Call to the Next Generation Advice for Gen Z: Don’t just point out what’s broken—fix it. Wesley shares how change happens from the inside out and why bold ideas belong in city hall.

Connect with Wesley Young

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wryoungmpa/

About Our Sponsor: Zencity

This episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast is proudly sponsored by Zencity—a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments around the world.

Zencity is a software that enables local government leaders to gather, understand, and act on resident feedback - going beyond the "same ten people" to actually reach residents where they're at, and incorporate that feedback into decisions large and small. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact, click the link below.

Learn more at Zencity.io

Connect with Seth Winterhalter:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Municipal Leadership. 

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

Seth's Upcoming Keynotes:

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference & Expo September 24 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 4 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

The MLDC

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is where municipal leaders grow together through weekly podcasts, curated book insights, and a nationwide peer community focused on real leadership, real culture, and real conversations.

Secure Your Seat with our Summer Special: Join the MLDC