Ifo Pili: From Gridirons to Government: Building Cities and Culture with Cariño

Episode 245 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What happens when an NFL player trades the gridiron for city hall and discovers his true calling in public service?

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ifo Pili, City Manager of West Valley City, Utah, whose extraordinary journey from professional football to local government reveals what it really takes to build thriving cities and authentic culture.

Born and raised in American Samoa, Ifo's story is shaped by a legacy of service. His father's words—"It's not OK to stand on the side and watch"—set him on a path that would eventually lead from the locker room to the city manager's office.

When chaos hit the City of Eagle Mountain, a young intern was unexpectedly thrust into leadership and turned down an NFL contract to stay and serve. What followed was a remarkable municipal career defined by purpose, growth, and heart.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• From Samoa to the NFL: How early lessons in service and sacrifice shaped a leader.

• The Intern Who Became City Manager: How crisis created calling in local government.

• Choosing Purpose Over Paychecks: Why Ifo walked away from professional football to build cities.

• Building the Firsts: From grocery stores to Google, how Eagle Mountain grew from a town of 250 to 70,000.

• Culture with Cariño: The story behind the Spanish word that transformed an entire city's identity.

• Leading Through People, Not Titles: How frontline employees became the heart of culture change.

• Falling in Love with Your City: Why emotional connection is the foundation of effective leadership.

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Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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