City Manager Unfiltered

Todd Hopwood shocked me when he explained his radical approach to mental health transparency. We discuss a system he has implemented which is designed to help him when he is struggling and needs help the most.

Frankly, it is not an approach that I would personally be comfortable practicing in my workplace. However, there is no question that his courage, leadership, and modeling of this behavior promotes greater awareness of mental health issues in the workplace and it most definitely gives employees greater assurance that their mental health concerns are valid and will be supported within the organization.

Todd is my first international guest on the show. He works for the Australian city of Wollongong as the senior manager for their Customer and Business Integrity department.

SHOW NOTES:

Todd Hopwood's LinkedIn Page

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by KUDO. Make your council meetings accessible with translated audio and live captions into 45+ languages.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Only listeners of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast can sign up for a FREE, no risk, no obligation one-month trial offer. Use this link: https://kudo.ai/cmu/

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Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

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SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

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Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Seth Winterhalter has some thoughts on work-life balance, leaders needing chaos to thrive, and the let down that achievers can feel once they accomplish major goals.

An executive coach and owner of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, Seth seeks to help city and county managers escape burnout, set boundaries, and experience breakthroughs in work-life balance.

He recently rebranded his podcast to focus on local government executives and content. He has started rolling out interviews with city managers, too. I encourage you all to check it out and will link to it in the show notes.

Also in this episode, I went "off script" and put myself on the couch a little bit. It was an unplanned detour and I thought about cutting my personal elements out of the podcast -- but I think the resulting discussion may prove beneficial to some of you so I left it in.

SHOW NOTES:

Seth Winterhalter's LinkedIn profile and website for HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions

Link to The HaltingWinter Podcast

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by KUDO. Make your council meetings accessible with translated audio and live captions into 45+ languages.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Only listeners of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast can sign up for a FREE, no risk, no obligation one-month trial offer. Use this link: https://kudo.ai/cmu/

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In my first installment of my new "Side Hustle Sunday" series, I discuss the power of leveraging real estate to create wealth with Noel Bernal.

Noel started his real estate investment journey in his early 20's before he became a public sector executive. He, along with his wife, have increased their real estate holdings over time and expanded into larger real estate transactions through syndication deals.

We both preach the importance of city and county managers adding additional income streams to their portfolio so that they can weather separations and also maintain some control over their own destiny when it comes to working in toxic environments.

Passive and secondary income streams give you options and prevent you from being trapped in soul crushing situations where you might feel forced to put up with abusive and unprofessional treatment by elected officials because you are fearful of not being able to put food on your family's table.

My initial plan is to release an episode on the first Sunday of every month featuring interviews with government employees who are working on a side hustle or highlight someone outside of local government who is engaged in a side hustle that I think might inspire you to start your own journey towards securing financial independence.

If you or someone you know has an interesting side hustle that they want to share with my audience, please reach out and contact me.

SHOW NOTES:

Noel Bernal's LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelbernal/)

Noel is the Founder & CEO of Main St. Public Financial (https://mainstpublic.com/)

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by KUDO. Make your council meetings accessible with translated audio and live captions into 45+ languages.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Only listeners of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast can sign up for a FREE, no risk, no obligation one-month trial offer. Use this link: https://kudo.ai/cmu/

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Confident. Certain. Poised. Prepared.

Jorge Garcia, a first-time city manager in Pismo Beach, California, embodies all of these adjectives.

He has spent many years readying himself for this moment -- his first assignment as a chief executive officer for a municipal corporation.

He is only one year into his tenure, but as you listen to this interview, you will come away with the impression that he's sat in "the chair" for a decade plus!

Jorge is the next generation of public sector leadership and he models a wonderful example for those aspiring to become city managers.

There are several really good nuggets in this conversation and in particular, his communications strategy with his elected officials designed to build trust and create confidence.

SHOW NOTES:

Jorge Garcia's LinkedIn profile

Pismo Beach public works director vacancy with an 11/15/2024 application deadline can be found here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pismobeach

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by KUDO. Make your council meetings accessible with translated audio and live captions into 45+ languages.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Only listeners of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast can sign up for a FREE, no risk, no obligation one-month trial offer. Use this link: https://kudo.ai/cmu/

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our friend, Daniel Rosemond, visits the show to provide an update on his legal case against the City of Hallandale Beach. In February, he had a major set back and we talk about battling through this ordeal that has now stretched out more than 8 years.

We also talk about his work with East to West Development and share some exciting news about his book, "Death of the Public Servant."

Daniel was featured in a 3-part interview series last year:

1. Episode 10: Death of the Public Servant,

SHOW NOTES:

Daniel Rosemond is the author of "Death of the Public Servant" and CEO of the East to West Development Corporation. You are invited to reach out and contact him for professional advice and consultation on affordable housing initiatives and to support him by purchasing his book.

Daniel's LinkedIn profile

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by KUDO. Make your council meetings accessible with translated audio and live captions into 45+ languages.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Only listeners of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast can sign up for a FREE, no risk, no obligation one-month trial offer. Use this link: https://kudo.ai/cmu/

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nick Loper is a legend in the side hustle and internet marketing space. He is the host of the Side Hustle Show podcast and runs the Side Hustle Nation website.

I get excited when talking about internet marketing, start-ups, passive income, and entrepreneurship. And I hope many of you do, too, as I would like to explore this topic in more earnest in the future.

Being a city or county manager is very risky. Governing bodies are churning and burning through public sector executives who are increasingly seen as disposable and interchangeable commodities.

In the past, I have talked about minimizing downside risk exposure during contract negotiations and explored the idea of side hustles and alternative income streams to augment incomes during transitions so that you are not pressured into taking an unattractive opportunity just for the sake of putting food on the table.

Please let me know if you enjoy or do not enjoy this podcast so that I can modify future programming.

SHOW NOTES:

You can find Nick Loper here:

• Side Hustle Show podcast

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by KUDO. Make your council meetings accessible with translated audio and live captions into 45+ languages.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Only listeners of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast can sign up for a FREE, no risk, no obligation one-month trial offer. Use this link: https://kudo.ai/cmu/

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Clarendon City Administrator Brian Barboza literally started at the bottom and worked his way to "the chair."

When he was a young man, recently graduated from high school, Hereford City Manager Rick Hanna took an interest and gave him an application to become an employee in the streets department. Barboza worked for the city while going to college with plans to becoming a police officer.

A fateful conversation with Hanna who pitched Barboza on the idea of becoming a city manager would forever change his life.

In this episode, we talk about how Brian worked his way up from the bottom and how important it is to have mentors and people who believe in you. 

SHOW NOTES:

You can find Brian Barboza on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-barboza-cpm-40a011172/

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by KUDO. Make your council meetings accessible with translated audio and live captions into 45+ languages.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Only listeners of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast can sign up for a FREE, no risk, no obligation one-month trial offer. Use this link:

https://kudo.ai/solutions/city-manager-unfiltered-live-speech-translation/

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

City Manager Brooks Williams brings a passionate but demanding philosophical approach to local government. He joins the program to talk about the importance of innovation and efficiency, accountability, employee development, and building strong relationships with your elected officials as he leads the City of Ferris, Texas.

Brooks recently published "Rising to Serve," which I can only describe as his personal love letter to public service and city management. The foreward was penned by the incomparable Tommy Gonzalez.

In his book, available on Amazon, Brooks sets out on a mission to reimagine public administration in this era of unprecedented change.

SHOW NOTES:

Brooks Williams' LinkedIn Page

Link to Brooks' book "Rising to Serve" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eu66Tw

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by KUDO. Make your council meetings accessible with translated audio and live captions into 45+ languages.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Only listeners of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast can sign up for a FREE, no risk, no obligation one-month trial offer. Use this link:

https://kudo.ai/solutions/city-manager-unfiltered-live-speech-translation/

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

As I predicted, the ICMA finally capitulated and settled the anti-defamation lawsuit brought forth by Michigan city manager James Freed. As part of the agreement where financial details were not releaed, the ICMA agreed to retract the censure by removing it from their website. 

The settlement was announced via a joint statement on ICMA letterhead. However, I have received overwhelmingly negative responses from the city managers in my network regarding the language of that statement. 

In this episode, I dissect the statement and compare it to the original press release issued by the ICMA when it announced the public censure of James Freed. 

And now that this matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties -- we ponder the logical question that remains: 

Now what?

SHOW NOTES:

James Freed posted the release on his personal LinkedIn page. You can read it here:

• ICMA Joint Statement

ICMA Public Statements & Court Filing

• LinkedIn Post

Additional Information about James Freed vs ICMA

• Main Reference Page

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Things are heating up in the battle between Port Huron City Manager James Freed and the ICMA over the last two weeks. The two-year saga began in June 2022 when the ICMA publicly censured Freed and stripped him of his credential. Freed countered with a lawsuit alleging the ICMA engaged in a conspiracy to defame him.

On September 5, 2024, Freed sent out an email along with a 21-page court filing. See link in the show notes.

On Friday the 6th, the ICMA issued its first public statement on the lawsuit mentioning James Freed by name and referencing yours truly indirectly.

On Monday the 9th, Freed and the ICMA once again made public statements. Freed addressed his employees at an annual luncheon and spoke about the lawsuit and upcoming trial. His remarks were about 20 minutes long and have been included in this podcast.

Additionally, the ICMA's director of advocacy pubished an article on its website. Jason Grant argued that public censures were not punitive and defended the organization. However, the final paragraph signaled to me thta the organization is preparing to settle with Freed while trying to save face. 

SHOW NOTES:

James Freed Court Filing and Public Statements:

• Freed Email Statement and Court Filing

ICMA Public Statements & Court Filing

• LinkedIn Post

Additional Information about James Freed vs ICMA

• Main Reference Page

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.