Mark McAvoy: The Purveyor of Possibility Why Modern City Management Requires Courage, Creativity, and a Culture of Listening

Episode 263 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Mark McAvoy, City Administrator of Liberty Lake, Washington, to explore a leadership journey shaped by storms, service, and a deep commitment to innovation. From answering emergency calls during a Category 5 hurricane as a high school senior to leading one of the Northwest's most vibrant small cities, Mark's path offers a compelling look at what modern municipal leadership truly requires.

Mark shares how formative experiences in Galveston, the Air Force, Houston's massive permitting ecosystem, and fast-growing cities in Texas prepared him to lead a community where vision, culture, and community identity matter as much as infrastructure and economic development.

He also offers clear-eyed insight into the challenges city managers face today—housing, infrastructure, fiscal resilience, and the emergence of AI—and why listening must become a cultural expectation, not a performance.

Whether you're a city manager, department head, or emerging leader in local government, this conversation is a practical and inspiring reminder of the courage, creativity, and clarity required to help communities thrive.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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