In Episode #74 of The Clear Voice, host James Groom sits down with Justin Atherton, President of Training and Operations at Proactive Leadership, bestselling author of How to Get to the Damn Point, and a nationally recognized leadership and investigative interviewing instructor.

Drawing on nearly two decades of experience in corrections, patrol, investigations, SWAT, supervision, and leadership development, Justin shares practical strategies for becoming a more effective communicator and leader. The conversation explores why clarity builds confidence, how supervisors can coach employees without creating dependence, and why emotional regulation goes far beyond the traditional concept of emotional intelligence.

James and Justin also discuss cognitive interviewing, building rapport, avoiding memory contamination, creating organizational buy-in, and helping employees develop the confidence to make sound decisions on their own.

Whether you work in law enforcement, local government, human resources, investigations, or another leadership role, this episode offers practical tools for communicating more clearly and leading more effectively.

Topics discussed include:

• Why clarity is a leadership obligation

Chapters

00:00 Preview

Learn more about Proactive Leadership:

Purchase How to Get to the Damn Point:

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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 episode of The Clear Voice, we highlight the Chief of Police opportunity in Pampa, Texas. Host and recruiter James Groom visits with City Manager Shane Stokes and Assistant City Manager Dustin Miller about the community, the police department, the city’s leadership culture, and the type of servant leader Pampa is seeking for its next Chief of Police.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Pampa Chief of Police Opportunity

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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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Denison, Texas is searching for its next City Manager, and this PositionCast™ gives candidates a closer look at the community, council, staff, and leadership environment behind the opportunity.

In this episode of The Clear Voice, host James Groom is joined by Mayor Robert Crawley and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese to discuss Denison’s historic character, award-winning downtown, access to Lake Texoma, strong community partnerships, and major development momentum.

The conversation also explores what the next City Manager will need to bring to the role, including communication, financial acumen, growth management, relationship building, humility, listening, and the ability to lead a strong staff without micromanaging.

Denison is a growing North Texas community with a historic Main Street district, a service-first culture, and a major opportunity ahead through the Preston Harbor development. Candidates interested in helping guide that next chapter are encouraged to review the full posting and brochure.

Full posting and brochure:

Chapters:

0:04 Welcome to The Clear Voice and the Denison Opportunity

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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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In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom sits down with Matt Wright, Human Resources Director for the City of Buda, Texas, to talk about employee retention, organizational culture, and the human side of public service.

Matt brings a unique perspective to the conversation after transitioning from a long career with the Austin Police Department into municipal HR. The discussion explores why good employees leave public sector organizations, why culture often matters as much as compensation, and how leaders can better serve the employees who serve the community.

James and Matt also discuss the importance of organizational justice, procedural fairness, emotional regulation, and treating employees with dignity and respect. From public works crews fixing water lines in the Texas heat to police officers serving the public after a difficult interaction with a supervisor, this conversation focuses on how internal leadership directly affects external service.

Matt’s key takeaway for leaders is simple but powerful: you get to decide how you show up in your next interaction.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and why good employees leave

02:50 Culture, retention, and feeling valued

05:13 Balancing community expectations and employee needs

07:48 Public Works and the unseen work of local government

08:09 Recognizing employee disengagement before they leave

12:52 Matt’s transition from policing to municipal HR

22:20 The human element in public service leadership

24:31 HR as service to the people who serve the community

28:08 Organizational justice, fairness, and internal culture

32:50 Dignity, respect, and emotional regulation in leadership

35:10 Push versus hold: slowing down leadership reactions

38:12 Using AI to improve communication and understanding

41:18 Matt’s future aspirations and leadership growth

42:37 Final takeaway for leaders

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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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In this episode of The Clear Voice, guests Debbie Munoz, Executive Director of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, Dan Wattles, former TMRS Director of Governmental Relations, and Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals, join host James Groom to discuss an important executive leadership opportunity with TMRS.

TMRS is recruiting for its next Director of Governmental Relations, a role that sits at the intersection of public policy, relationships, pension governance, and public service. This position plays a critical role in protecting the retirement system that serves Texas cities, public servants, retirees, and their families.

Throughout the conversation, Debbie and Dan explain why governmental relations at TMRS is about much more than monitoring legislation. The right person must build trust before session begins, understand how policy changes can impact the system, work closely with internal departments, and maintain strong relationships with state and federal stakeholders.

Dan shares his experience serving in the role and describes TMRS as one of the most rewarding positions of his career. Debbie also discusses TMRS’s organizational culture, the importance of collaboration, and the kind of energetic, engaged, mission-driven leader she hopes to bring into the organization.

For candidates with governmental relations experience, public policy knowledge, strong relationship-building skills, and a passion for public service, this is a rare opportunity to help protect one of the most important retirement systems in Texas.

Learn more and apply for the TMRS Director of Governmental Relations position here:

https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/tmrs-director-of-governmental-relations-posting

00:00 Introduction and Why This Role Matters

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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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La Marque, Texas is looking for its next City Manager.

In this PositionCast™, Mayor Keith Bell joins The Clear Voice host James Groom and Clear Career Professionals recruiters Brad Stafford and James Hopper to discuss the opportunity, the community, the council’s priorities, and the leadership qualities needed for La Marque’s next chapter.

Known as the Gateway to the Gulf, La Marque sits along the I-45 corridor between Houston and Galveston, offering a unique blend of hometown community, regional access, economic development opportunity, and strong local pride.

This conversation covers:

• The type of City Manager La Marque needs

For leaders who can manage people, build trust, communicate clearly, and lead with steady accountability, La Marque offers a meaningful opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Learn more about this role and apply through Clear Career Professionals.

00:00 Opening: Getting La Marque Back on Track

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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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In Part 2 of our conversation with Jim Devlin, we pick up with his transition from Police Chief to Assistant City Manager and what that move has taught him about leadership, succession planning, relationships, and service beyond the badge.

Jim talks about the natural progression from leading a department to helping lead an organization, the importance of collaboration across city departments, and why relationship building remains one of the most transferable skills in local government. He also shares thoughts on mental health and wellness in city management, the value of professional development through the Texas City Management Institute, and the importance of regional partnerships in serving communities well.

The episode closes with Jim’s advice for emerging public servants: know yourself, build relationships, stay humble, strive for excellence, and remember that people may forget the programs and projects, but they will remember how you treated them.

Chapters

00:00 - Welcome Back to Part 2

Connect with Jim Devlin on LinkedIn:

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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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In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom and Michael Boese sit down with Bryan Lockerby to discuss leadership, law enforcement, city management, organizational assessments, and the lessons learned from more than four decades of public service.

Bryan shares perspective from his career in Montana law enforcement, including leading the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation, working with rural agencies, managing complex public safety challenges, and transitioning into city management. The conversation also covers leadership clarity, decision-making, mentorship, organizational health, and why strong systems matter long after individual leaders move on.

Chapters

00:00 Leadership Principles and Opening Thoughts

Learn more about Bryan Lockerby and Lockerby Leadership Group:

https://bryanlockerby.com/

Services:

https://bryanlockerby.com/services/

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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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In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom is joined by Joseph Lujan, author of Reflective Resonance, A Quiet Spark Approach to Authentic Leadership, and creator of the CAMP OUT Method.

Joseph shares his perspective on authentic leadership, generational change in the workplace, employee motivation, and the importance of leaders staying consistent, self aware, and emotionally present. The conversation explores how workplace culture has shifted since COVID, why autonomy and trust matter, and why leaders must be willing to reflect on their own influence before trying to improve the people around them.

Joseph also discusses his background in county probation, federal probation, and leadership, explaining how working with people under supervision shaped his understanding of human behavior. He shares practical lessons about individualizing leadership, building trust, avoiding robotic communication, and helping employees feel seen, valued, and heard.

The episode also breaks down Joseph’s CAMP OUT Method, which focuses on consistency, authenticity, mindfulness, purpose, optimizing leadership, upshifting, and transforming leadership practices. These concepts provide a practical framework for leaders who want to grow, strengthen their teams, and create healthier workplace cultures.

Joseph’s final takeaway is simple but important. Leaders need to show up authentically and genuinely. Employees notice more than leaders sometimes realize, and the way leaders communicate, respond, and carry themselves can shape the culture around them.

Resources

Reflective Resonance Website

Reflective Resonance Worksheets

Reflective Resonance Book

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Reflective Resonance and Authentic Leadership

00:02:47 Workplace Culture After COVID

00:05:20 Autonomy, Trust, and Accountability

00:07:32 Employee Motivation and Finding Purpose

00:10:05 Joseph Lujan’s Leadership Journey

00:12:53 Emotional Intelligence and Human Behavior

00:15:12 Common Leadership Failures

00:17:43 The Story Behind Reflective Resonance

00:22:11 Consistency in Leadership

00:24:14 Authenticity and Effective Leadership

00:25:31 Mindfulness in Leadership Communication

00:28:54 Purposeful Leadership and the Why

00:31:09 Optimizing Leadership Through Reflection

00:33:35 Upshift and Transform

00:36:15 Continuous Growth and Feedback

00:39:21 Final Takeaway, Showing Up Authentically

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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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Mayor Alejandro Flores from Los Fresnos, Texas joins The Clear Voice for a PositionCast™ focused on the City Manager opportunity there.

Los Fresnos is a growing South Texas community with strong local identity, respected schools, regional access, and major opportunities ahead. In this episode, Mayor Flores discusses his connection to the community, the City Council’s priorities, the organization, and the type of leader who can be successful in the role.

The conversation highlights responsible growth, infrastructure planning, budget management, communication with council, staff relationships, community involvement, and the importance of preserving the close community feel that makes Los Fresnos special.

Kent Myers, the recruiter for this search, also provides context for candidates. He discusses the stability of the organization, the strength of the existing staff team, the long tenure of the outgoing city manager, and the opportunity for the next City Manager to help guide the city through meaningful growth.

This PositionCast™ is designed to help prospective candidates better understand the community, the organization, the role, the City Council’s expectations, and the leadership fit needed in Los Fresnos.

This role can be found at https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/los-fresnos-city-manager-posting

Chapters

00:00:00 Cold Open: Why Candidates Should Look at Los Fresnos

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

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