This week on The Clear Voice, host James Groom and Clear President Michael Boese sit down with Pey Zeigler, a graduate student at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, where she is pursuing her Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA).

Pey shares how faith, family, and hands-on experience shaped her calling to serve, including her internship with the City of College Station, Texas. The conversation explores how thoughtful internship programs, both paid and unpaid, can create opportunities for students from every background while helping cities invest in the next generation of leaders.

From lessons learned in the classroom to insights gained inside City Hall, Pey’s story reminds us that public service is more than a career path. It is a commitment to community.

🌐 Learn more about Clear Career Professionals, including current recruitments, leadership services, and contact information, at clearcareerpro.com.

🎓 Discover the Bush School of Government and Public Service and explore admissions for the Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) program at bush.tamu.edu/admissions/mpsa.

#LocalGovernment #PublicService #Leadership #Internships #TheClearVoice #ClearCareerProfessionals #BushSchool #TAMU

Public trust does not happen by accident. It is built through consistent and intentional communication. In this episode of The Clear Voice, Lara Price, a Communications Manager for a Texas school district, joins host James Groom to explore how local governments and public organizations can strengthen their connection with the community in today's digital landscape.

Lara shares practical strategies for managing communications with limited resources, using tools like AI and Canva effectively, and creating policies that balance transparency with compliance. She discusses the importance of establishing a unified organizational voice, engaging the public across multiple platforms, and addressing misinformation before it spreads.

Whether you oversee a city, district, or department, this conversation offers a real-world roadmap for improving communication, credibility, and community engagement online.

Learn more about The Clear Voice and Clear Career Professionals at https://clearcareerpro.com

Cities grow, priorities shift, and what once worked may no longer fit. In this episode of The Clear Voice, host James Groom sits down with Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese to explore one of the firm’s most impactful services: the organizational review. These in-depth evaluations go beyond checklists and templates to take an honest, relationship-centered look at how cities and departments truly operate.

Together, James and Michael discuss how Clear’s subject-matter experts draw on decades of municipal leadership experience to uncover hidden issues, identify strengths, and recommend realistic solutions that elevate entire organizations. From aligning policy and leadership practices with community goals to improving communication and rebuilding trust, they explain how even the healthiest departments benefit from periodic “wellness checks.”

Listeners will hear how Clear’s approach focuses on collaboration, transparency, and follow-through rather than criticism. Each review is tailored to the organization’s unique needs, helping leaders make meaningful improvements before problems grow. Whether it is refining management processes, improving employee engagement, or strengthening service delivery, Clear’s team provides the insight cities need to thrive in a changing world.

Discover how proactive organizational reviews help communities build stronger teams, better leadership, and a higher quality of service for the people they serve.

Learn more about Clear Career Professionals and how we help cities reach their full potential at www.ClearCareerPro.com

Not every fire is visible. In this episode of The Clear Voice, host James Groom is joined by Associate Vice President and retired Fire Chief Danny Kistner to explore the unseen pressures inside today’s fire departments. Together they examine the growing gap between community expectations and operational realities, from staffing shortages and training limitations to shifting public perceptions about what fire service looks like in modern cities.

Chief Kistner shares lessons from his decades of leadership, offering insight into how communication, education, and transparency can help departments and communities better understand one another. The conversation also highlights the importance of realistic expectations, sustainable staffing models, and community engagement in building safer, stronger cities.

To learn more about Clear Career Professionals, explore current executive recruitments, or connect with our team, visit www.ClearCareerPro.com. 

Financial wellness is not just about money. It is about leadership. Nick Daugherty, founder of FinancialCop, joins The Clear Voice to discuss how financial stress impacts performance, morale, and decision making across every level of public service. From eliminating debt to building healthy money habits, Nick explains why financial confidence is a leadership skill that benefits individuals, families, and entire organizations.

This conversation challenges long-held ideas about pay, benefits, and retirement, showing how a culture of financial wellness can strengthen teams and improve decision making across city operations.

Learn more about Nick and his work at www.financialcop.com

Explore current career opportunities and services offered from Clear Career Professionals at www.clearcareerpro.com

City Manager Austin Bleess of Jersey Village, Texas has helped secure more than 31 million dollars in grant funding for his community, but his real impact comes from the culture he has built along the way. In this episode of The Clear Voice, Austin joins host James Groom and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese to talk about what it takes to win grants, manage them effectively, and use them to strengthen city operations rather than stretch them thin.

From practical tips on preparation and data tracking to lessons in leadership and team engagement, Austin shares how purpose driven leadership can turn complex challenges into long term wins. The conversation also explores the difference between habits and practice, why culture is the foundation of every great organization, and how continuous learning keeps leaders sharp.

Whether you are a city manager, department head, or future public sector leader, this episode offers perspective on how intentional leadership creates both financial and cultural success.

Explore current job opportunities and leadership roles in local government at www.clearcareerpro.com

The latest episode of The Clear Voice spotlights the Finance Director opportunity in Rockdale, Texas, featuring City Manager Tim Kelty and Clear Career Professionals Vice President Kelly Kuenstler. They discuss how the role anchors a growing organization by managing core budgeting, accounting, utility billing, and financial reporting functions while partnering closely with the City Manager and department heads. The Finance Director leads the finance and utility billing team and supports a budget that includes a general fund of about 6.13 million dollars, enterprise funds totaling about 7.5 million dollars, sixteen departments, and over sixty authorized employees.

Rockdale’s capital and grant activity is robust. Current projects include a wastewater treatment plant improvement project of about 9 million dollars that is under construction, a 9 million dollar waterline relocation project entering construction, a Texas Department of Agriculture lift station replacement project, a downtown sidewalk project nearing completion, a one million dollar emergency generator grant for water and wastewater facilities, and active parks, planning, and housing programs. The city is also boosting funding for street rehabilitation and implementing citywide security cameras. Finance operations use Incode 9 from Tyler Technologies.

Rockdale is experiencing significant growth, with regional industrial investments and residential development accelerating local demand. The city’s population is expected to climb from around 6,000 residents to as many as 30,000 in the next two decades, with forecasts showing potential for even greater expansion. Community and council support are strong, and directors are encouraged to engage directly with the council and public.

Compensation for this position is between 80,000 and 98,000 dollars, depending on experience and qualifications, with medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid leave, and participation in TMRS.

The first review of applicants is scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025, and the position remains open until filled.

To apply for this position, send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

On this episode of The Clear Voice Podcast, James Groom is joined by Interim Fire Chief Patty Faulkner, City Manager James Fisher, and Clear President Michael Boese to discuss the leadership opportunity to become Levelland’s next Fire Chief. Listeners will hear how the city’s supportive council, family-like culture, and strong community spirit make Levelland a rare and rewarding place to serve. From stories of resilience during disaster recovery to the city’s forward-looking vision for growth, this conversation shows why Levelland is a special place to lead.

If you or someone you know is ready to take on this unique opportunity, visit www.clearcareerpro.com or our Linkedin page to apply and learn more about the position. 

Technology is moving faster than ever and it is reshaping how cities and public safety organizations operate. From cloud solutions and AI to the constant threat of cyberattacks, leaders are being asked to make decisions that impact not just efficiency but also trust, safety, and the future of their communities.

In this episode of The Clear Voice, we speak with retired Deputy Chief Ken Myers who recently founded Blue Logic Consulting Group with the goal of providing support to government agencies on the tech side. We dive into the intersection of leadership and technology, exploring how values like integrity, communication, and accountability guide the adoption of new tools. Listeners will hear strategies for building buy in, asking the right questions of vendors, and keeping people at the center of innovation.

To explore career opportunities in city management and public safety leadership, visit Clear Career Professionals.

To learn more about consulting services that help governments navigate technology with confidence, visit Blue Logic Consulting.

In this episode of the Clear Voice Podcast, we sit down with leaders from the Crisis Center to highlight the critical services they provide to survivors of abuse and the community as a whole. From coordinating with law enforcement and the criminal justice system to reduce trauma for survivors, to delivering prevention and awareness training in schools, churches, and civic groups, the Crisis Center is at the forefront of protecting children and supporting families in Matagorda and Wharton Counties.

We also talk about their current search for a Training Coordinator—a unique opportunity that offers a 32-hour workweek with full pay and benefits. This role will deliver specialized training to law enforcement and community partners, ensuring stronger investigations and better support for survivors.

The Crisis Center relies heavily on community support, and we share details on their biggest annual fundraiser: the Chicken Fried Steak Dinner and Auction coming up on January 16, 2026. With great food, a live and silent auction, music, and more, it is a fun way to support their mission and make a direct impact. Crisis Center CFS Fundraiser

🔗 Learn more about the Crisis Center, their services, and donate to their cause: Crisis Center Website