Show Notes: Daron Jordan: Grants, Grit, and the Quiet Wins That Build Cities

Episode 205 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity

Overview

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Daron Jordan, City Manager of Paducah, Kentucky, to explore a career that started poolside and led all the way to the city manager’s seat. From selling boat stickers as a teenager to becoming the first full-time program and aquatics director in his hometown, Daron’s story is a masterclass in how local government leaders are formed, not in textbooks, but in the trenches.

Daron opens up about the emotional toll of early leadership, the challenge of always being "on," and why stepping away from local government for a season was one of the best decisions he ever made. He also dives deep into the underestimated power of grant writing and how smart, strategic funding helped him shape community development across four Kentucky cities.

This is a candid conversation about burnout, bounce-backs, and the real work of rebuilding trust—both inside city hall and out. Whether you're a department head eyeing the next level, a city manager navigating political tension, or someone who still believes in the quiet dignity of public service, Daron’s story will encourage you to keep showing up.

Episode Highlights:

The Unlikely Path into Public Leadership From night auditor to aquatics director to city manager—how one man’s winding journey prepared him to lead with both toughness and heart.

The First Seat Comes with Fire Daron shares what it was like to become a parks and rec director at 24, managing staff twice his age, and what it taught him about presence and pressure.

Burnout Before the Buzzword A raw look at the emotional cost of leadership and what Daron wishes his younger self had known about boundaries, stress, and family impact.

Grants as Growth Strategy How writing a $2,000 grant for trees turned into a multi-decade career in community development and economic impact.

Why the Quiet Wins Matter Most Patching a pothole or fixing a roof may not make headlines, but Daron explains why these are the wins that define a city’s soul.

Leading Through Resistance From “we’ve always done it this way” to Main Street cuss-outs—what it really takes to lead change in communities afraid of it.

Vision Isn’t Enough Why knowing 80% of the picture won’t help if your community only sees 15%—and how storytelling becomes the bridge between data and trust.

Connect with Daron Jordan

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daron-jordan

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

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