Show Notes: Sandra Fournier: Filling Potholes in Heels: What it Takes for Bold Leadership in the Face of Bureaucracy

Episode 206 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity

Overview

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Sandra Fournier, the remarkable Town Manager of Mapleton, Castle Hill, and Chapman, Maine. From a teenage mother without a high school diploma to leading not just one, but three municipalities at the same time, Sandra's story is one of grit, growth, and grounded leadership.

She opens up about growing up in poverty, the power of second chances, and the pivotal moment when a compassionate town manager helped her during a time of need, planting the seed for her future in public service. Sandra unpacks the complexity of managing three towns under one interlocal agreement, how she builds trust across communities, and why transparency, empathy, and strategic foresight are her greatest tools.

Whether she's coordinating municipal services, budgeting for capital projects, or literally filling potholes in heels, Sandra embodies what it means to lead boldly while staying deeply human.

Episode Highlights:

The First Experience That Changed Everything A chance encounter with a compassionate town manager during a season of personal struggle opened Sandra's eyes to the power of local government and planted the seed for her career.

Yes, Before You're Ready Whether it was solid waste, public works, or buildings and facilities, Sandra kept saying yes to opportunities she didn't feel ready for and grew into every one of them.

Leadership in High Heels The viral moment she filled potholes in heels isn't just a photo-op—it's a reflection of her boots-on-the-ground, no-job-too-small approach to leadership.

Three Towns, One Vision Sandra unpacks the interlocal agreement that unites Mapleton, Castle Hill, and Chapman and how collaboration can work without compromising local identity.

Pandemic, Policy, and Presence Stepping into her new role just weeks before COVID hit, Sandra had to build trust, lead change, and protect her team, all while learning Zoom on the fly.

What Capital Planning Really Means Why budgeting for tomorrow is one of the greatest responsibilities of leadership and how her team paid cash for million-dollar equipment without a single loan.

Above and Below Ground Leadership From emergency services to community events, Sandra shows how strong infrastructure supports vibrant community and why both matter in small-town success.

Connect with Sandra Fournier

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-fournier

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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