Trust is not simply a leadership quality. It is the infrastructure supporting everything else in an organization.

In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom and James Hopper are joined by Dr. Gearl Loden, superintendent of Nixa Public Schools, executive coach, and author of Before It Breaks: The Seven Pillars of Trust Every Leader Must Build.

Gearl explains how trust erodes through small inconsistencies, unresolved conversations, unclear expectations, and promises that are never closed. He introduces his seven pillars of trust: character, consistency, communication, competence, care, clarity, and courage.

The conversation also explores the warning signs of “trust drift,” why silence should not be mistaken for trust, and how Gearl’s 72-hour repair protocol can prevent minor concerns from becoming organizational fractures. He offers practical guidance for new leaders, executives working with governing boards, and anyone attempting to rebuild trust after it has been damaged.

Gearl also shares lessons from more than three decades in education, including why competence alone is not enough, how leaders can better understand the people they serve, and what an old hunting beagle taught him about leadership: everything is not a rabbit.

Chapters:

00:00 A clean slate and the courage to enter the arena

Connect with Dr. Gearl Loden:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gearl-loden-lodenleadership/

Get the book:

Before It Breaks: The Seven Pillars of Trust Every Leader Must Build

Workbook:

https://masterclass.lodenleadership.com/resource

Code: CHANGINGTIMES2026

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

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In Episode #84 of The Clear Voice, James Groom sits down with Dee Maddox, founder of DMX Consulting, to talk about leadership, communication, workforce development, and what it really takes to lead people through change.

Dee brings more than 30 years of experience working with people and organizations, including a long federal career and service with NASA during the transition of the Space Shuttle Program. She shares what that experience taught her about communicating through uncertainty, taking care of people during major organizational change, and why knowing the reason for a change does not necessarily make it easier to accept.

James and Dee also discuss the evolving role of HR, breaking down silos inside organizations, helping employees understand how their work connects to the bigger picture, and why strong job candidates sometimes struggle to clearly communicate their value during an interview.

Dee also introduces her DEED Framework for leadership: Design, Education, Execution, and Documentation, with an emphasis on ownership and accountability.

00:00 - Leading Through Change

Dee Maddox on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deemaddox/

DMX Consulting on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dmxconsulting/

DMX Consulting: https://deemaddoxconsulting.com/

ATD Dallas: https://tddallas.org/page-1863843

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

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In this PositionCast™, James Groom is joined by Sansom Park Mayor Jim Barnett to discuss the city’s search for its next Chief of Police.

Mayor Barnett shares his background in Sansom Park, law enforcement, and public administration, along with what candidates can expect from the community, City Council, and city leadership. The conversation also covers the police department’s accreditation, Drone as First Responder program, K9 unit, staffing, culture, recruiting, and long-term priorities.

James adds perspective from his current role as interim police chief, including what he found when he arrived, the department’s strengths, and what the next chief will need to do to move the organization forward.

The episode closes with a discussion about leadership, accountability, retention, budgeting, and what success should look like during the new chief’s first year.

View the full job posting and apply:

View the recruitment brochure:

00:00 - Why Sansom Park Stands Out

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities

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Dr. Wes Blair, Chief of Police at Memphis International Airport, joins The Clear Voice to talk about his career across multiple states, the move from traditional municipal policing into airport law enforcement, and why wellness has to start at the top.

Wes shares how airport policing is still police work, but in a very different environment with travelers, tenants, airlines, federal regulations, security expectations, and customer service all layered together.

The conversation also turns to officer health and wellness, the old law enforcement culture that kept many people from talking about what they were carrying, and why leaders must model the same care and support they expect from their teams.

Read Wes’s article for Clear Career Professionals:

Learn more about Wes and Blair Advisor Group:

Connect with Wes on LinkedIn:

Chapters:

00:00 Why Wellness Became Personal

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities

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The City of Frisco, Texas, is searching for its next Fire Chief.

In this PositionCast™, James Groom and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese are joined by Frisco City Manager Wes Pierson, Deputy City Manager E.A. Hoppe, and Interim Fire Chief Clay Carpenter for an inside look at the department, the community, and what Frisco needs from its next fire service leader.

Frisco’s next chief will inherit a high-performing department with significant resources, talented employees, a strong command staff, and a culture built around teamwork, innovation, and high expectations. The conversation covers department operations, continued growth, EMS, emergency management, Frisco’s SAFER system, organizational culture, and the leadership qualities that will matter most in the selection process.

Interested candidates can find the official recruitment brochure, position details, and application instructions on the Current Opportunities page at ClearCareerPro.com.

00:00 – Why This Is a Unique Fire Chief Opportunity

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities

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Organizations spend enormous time and money developing leaders, but how much attention do we give to developing better followers?

Rick Chambers, author of Inspired: A Story of Leading, Following, and Changing and creator of Followership Works, joins James Groom to explore why followership may be one of the most overlooked pieces of organizational success. Rick explains how strong followers use critical thinking, self management, coachability, managing up, and constructive dissent to help their leaders, their teams, and themselves become more effective.

The conversation explores why followership is not about being a yes person, how employees can influence an organization without formal authority, and why learning to follow well can help prepare someone to lead. Rick and James also discuss respectfully challenging a boss, navigating poor decisions, building trust, knowing when it may be time to leave, and the responsibility every employee has to help advance the organization’s mission.

Rick closes with the trim tab analogy, a reminder that even someone without the title or authority can help turn the entire ship.

Chapters:

00:00 The Power of the Trim Tab

Connect with Rick Chambers:

LinkedIn

Followership Works

Inspired: A Story of Leading, Following, and Changing

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities

LinkedIn

The City of Denison, Texas, is searching for its next Director of Development Services during a period of significant growth and development.

In this PositionCast™, Interim City Manager Renee’ Waggoner discusses the opportunity, Denison’s leadership culture, the Development Services team, and what the successful candidate will need to bring to the role.

Topics include:

• Leading planning and zoning, building permitting and inspections, neighborhood services and code compliance, and historic preservation.

• Managing rapid growth while protecting Denison’s historic character, established neighborhoods, and quality of life.

• The approximately 3,200 acre Preston Harbor development along Lake Texoma and other major growth occurring throughout the community.

• Building strong relationships with employees, developers, residents, City Council, and community partners.

• The leadership style, experience, and approach Denison is seeking in its next director.

Salary Range: $150,000 to $170,000, depending on qualifications and experience.

First Review: August 24, 2026.

Learn more and apply:

00:00 Denison Is the Right Step

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities

LinkedIn

The City of Rowlett, Texas is searching for its next City Manager.

In this PositionCast™, Rowlett Mayor Jeff Winget joins James Groom, The Clear Voice host, and Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals and lead recruiter for the search, for an in depth conversation about the community, the organization, and the leadership opportunity ahead.

Rowlett is a community of nearly 70,000 residents on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The city is entering an important period of transition, with significant opportunities in economic development, organizational culture, infrastructure, capital projects, and community growth.

Mayor Winget discusses the City Council’s priorities for the next City Manager, including rebuilding trust, strengthening communication, filling key leadership vacancies, developing a positive organizational culture, and moving major projects forward. He also explains why economic development will be critical to Rowlett’s future, including opportunities at Sapphire Bay and in the North Shore area.

The conversation also explores several funded capital projects, including a new public safety building, animal shelter, and improvements to Herfurth Park.

Throughout the episode, Mayor Winget emphasizes the importance of humility, honesty, empathy, communication, and a willingness to listen. The City is looking for a leader who wants to put down roots in Rowlett, build relationships with employees and residents, and help shape the community for years to come.

The salary range is $285,000 to $315,000, with a competitive benefits package.

Applications are open through August 28, 2026.

Learn more about the City Manager opportunity and apply:

00:00 Introduction

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities

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This episode is dedicated to Zackery Mehlman, July 19, 2004 to March 22, 2021, and the more than 350,000 lives lost to the opioid crisis. May their memories strengthen our commitment to preventing further loss.

This episode includes discussions of mental health, substance abuse, fentanyl, overdose deaths, and family trauma.

Listener discretion is advised.

A community crisis cannot be solved by one department, one program, or one enforcement strategy.

Aubrey D. Paul, also known as A.D. Paul, joins James Groom and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese to discuss the experiences behind his memoir, Plano Grace. Aubrey is a retired Plano police sergeant and longtime crisis intervention leader whose career placed him at the center of Plano’s response to heroin addiction and overdose deaths during the 1990s.

Aubrey shares how law enforcement, city leadership, schools, hospitals, churches, treatment providers, and other community partners came together during the crisis. He also explains why transparency, collaboration, and treating every person with dignity remain essential when communities confront addiction, mental illness, and other complex challenges.

The conversation explores the continued fight against fentanyl, the development of crisis intervention programs, the importance of Narcan access, and the role municipal leaders play in supporting long-term solutions. Aubrey also discusses the personal loss, family struggles, redemption, and faith that shaped his life and inspired him to write Plano Grace.

📘 Purchase Plano Grace on Amazon:

00:00 Dignity and Respect in Law Enforcement

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities

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Ben Jarrett has spent his career around water, first as a professional bass fisherman, then in the boating industry, and now as a Regional Sales Director for Next Meters USA.

In this episode of The Clear Voice, Ben joins James Groom to discuss his unconventional career journey and the lessons he learned from fishing, competition, hard work, and conservation.

The conversation then moves into the challenges facing municipal water utilities. Ben explains how aging meters can miss usage, how hidden leaks can lead to unexpectedly high bills, and how smart water meters give utilities and customers faster access to accurate information.

They also discuss water scarcity, infrastructure planning, meter replacement, customer satisfaction, and the importance of selecting technology that employees can actually understand and use. Ben shares what communities should consider when moving from manual meter reading or drive-by systems to advanced metering infrastructure.

For Next Meters, the goal is simple: provide utilities with powerful technology while making smart water beautifully simple.

Chapters

00:57 Introduction and Ben’s Career Journey

03:02 From Professional Bass Fishing to the Water Industry

05:54 Work Ethic, Preparation, and Career Lessons

08:29 Meeting Your Heroes and Competing at the Highest Level

10:22 Conservation and Protecting Water Resources

12:07 Water Scarcity and the Role of Smart Metering

14:52 Finding Leaks and Water Loss Faster

16:53 Customer Satisfaction and Usage Awareness

21:13 Aging Meters and Lost Utility Revenue

23:36 Better Data for Rates and Infrastructure Planning

25:09 Moving from Manual Reading to Smart Metering

27:36 Implementing and Maintaining a Smart Meter System

31:10 Choosing the Right Metering Technology

33:25 Why Software and Usability Matter

35:58 Making Smart Water Beautifully Simple

40:41 Encouragement for Utility Professionals

Connect with Ben

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-jarrett-288969108/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 903-387-3550

Learn More About Next Meters

https://nextmeters.com/

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities

LinkedIn