The HaltingWinter Podcast

The HaltingWinter Podcast

By Seth WinterhalterBusinessGovernmentManagement
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The HaltingWinter Podcast episodes

  • 403: Alex Mansfield: The Impossible Math of Local Government

    Alex Mansfield: The Impossible Math of Local GovernmentLeading When the Responsibilities Outnumber Your Resources

    Episode 403 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

    The expectations of local government never seem to shrink, but the resources available to meet them are another story. How do you lead a community when every decision involves competing priorities, limited budgets, and responsibilities that never stop growing?

    In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Alex Mansfield, City Administrator of Amery, Wisconsin, to explore the realities of municipal leadership and the difficult decisions required to turn community priorities into meaningful progress.

    Following in the footsteps of his late mother, who also served as a city manager, Alex brings a unique perspective shaped by experiences in municipalities ranging from small communities to large metropolitan organizations. He shares why understanding a community's history is essential to shaping its future, how budgets reveal an organization's true priorities, and why effective leadership requires more than simply doing more with less.

    They also discuss the challenges of economic development in smaller communities, the importance of professional relationships, and why leaders must model the personal well-being they want their employees to experience.

    ICMA Conference Session: Alex is a panelist for Supporting Small Businesses in Small Places at the 2026 ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach. The session explores creative, practical approaches to economic development for communities with limited budgets, constrained space, and fewer traditional growth opportunities. If you missed the session, look for the conference recording.

    About Alex MansfieldAlex Mansfield serves as City Administrator for the City of Amery, Wisconsin, a community of approximately 3,000 residents. A second-generation municipal leader, Alex was inspired to pursue public service by his late mother, whose career in city management demonstrated the profound impact local government can have on communities. His approach to leadership emphasizes fiscal responsibility, community understanding, strategic decision-making, and building organizations that serve both residents and employees well.

    This Episode is Sponsored by:

    Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Leadership shouldn't be carried alone. The MLDC is evolving in 2027 with practical leadership development and new, role-specific Mastermind cohorts designed to build trusted relationships with municipal leaders who understand your challenges. Mastermind applications are open now at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    1 hr 5 min
  • 402: Book of the Week: The Speed of Trust

    Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week: The Speed of TrustEpisode 402 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    When was the last time you considered why a simple decision in your organization somehow requires four signatures and six weeks? It might not be a process problem; it might be a trust problem. This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter breaks down The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey and makes the case that trust isn't a soft skill; it's an economic force with a measurable speed and cost.

    From the "trust tax" that slows everything down to the five waves that build trust from the inside out, this episode sets up a week of practical, local-government-specific applications inside the MLDC.

    The MLDCLeadership in local government doesn't get easier as you move up. The decisions get harder. The expectations get higher. And the number of people you can openly process those challenges with gets smaller.

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) gives local government leaders a place to keep growing alongside other professionals who understand the complexity of leading in local government.

    Inside the MLDC, you'll sharpen how you think, strengthen how you lead, and turn leadership ideas into practical action through:

    • Monthly Mastermind Sessions with municipal leaders from across North America • Leadership Development built specifically around the realities of local government • Practical Tools & Resources you can immediately apply with your team and organization • Ongoing Learning designed to keep you growing throughout the year

    You spend every day developing your organization, your employees, and your community.

    The MLDC is an investment in developing you.

    → Explore the Municipal Leadership Development Circle: https://haltingwinter.com/mldc/

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    5 min
  • 401: Matt Mueller: We Had to Reinvent Our City Every Four Years

    Matt Mueller: We Had to Reinvent Our City Every Four YearsLeading Through Explosive Growth from 25,000 to 70,000 Residents

    Episode 401 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

    What happens when your community grows so quickly that the organization you built just a few years ago can no longer meet its needs?

    When Matt Mueller became Town Manager of Little Elm, Texas, in 2012, the community had approximately 25,000 residents. Today, it's approaching 70,000. But managing that kind of explosive growth requires far more than building roads, hiring employees, and expanding services. It requires continually reinventing how an entire municipal organization operates.

    In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Matt joins Seth Winterhalter to explore what it takes to lead through extraordinary change. He shares why Little Elm has essentially had to reinvent itself every three to four years, how the demands of growth force leaders to evolve, and why developing the people already inside your organization is just as important as bringing in new talent.

    The conversation also explores one of the most challenging transitions in leadership: moving from being the person who gets things done to becoming the person who equips others to succeed. Matt shares why even your highest-performing employees need intentional development before stepping into leadership roles.

    Finally, Matt reflects on the mentors who shaped his career and the remarkable ripple effect of investing in the next generation of municipal leaders. From a young lifeguard discovering local government to a town manager helping shape future executives, his story demonstrates how a single opportunity can influence communities for generations.

    ICMA Conference Spotlight: Matt was a presenter at the 2026 ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach for a session titled, Legacy in Motion: Mentoring Through the Ages. Alongside three generations of mentors and mentees, the session explored how leadership lessons, professional relationships, and a commitment to service are passed from one generation to the next. Conference attendees can revisit the session recording for a deeper look at the power of mentorship in local government.

    About Matt MuellerMatt Mueller has served as Town Manager of Little Elm, Texas, since 2012, helping guide the community through a period of extraordinary population growth and organizational transformation. Originally from a small town in Oklahoma, Matt discovered his passion for local government through early municipal employment, internships, and influential mentors. His career has included service with the cities of Edmond, Claremore, and Guthrie, Oklahoma, before moving to Little Elm. With a leadership philosophy grounded in public service, continuous improvement, and developing others, Matt is passionate about strengthening the municipal management profession and preparing the next generation of local government leaders.

    This Episode is Sponsored by:

    Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Leadership shouldn't be carried alone. The MLDC is evolving in 2027 with practical leadership development and new, role-specific Mastermind cohorts designed to build trusted relationships with municipal leaders who understand your challenges. Mastermind applications are open now at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    1 hr 9 min
  • 400: Steve Mokrohisky: Culture Doesn't Care What You Say

    Steve Mokrohisky: Culture Doesn't Care What You SayWhy Behaviors Matter More Than Values

    Episode 400 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

    Every organization has a culture. But it's not defined by the values printed on the wall, the mission statement on the website, or the words leaders use to describe it. Culture is shaped by the behaviors people demonstrate, reinforce, and tolerate every day.

    Steve Mokrohisky, County Administrator of Lane County, Oregon, joins Seth Winterhalter to share how he's helped transform a complex public organization of nearly 2,000 employees by moving beyond aspirational values and making organizational culture something employees actually practice.

    Drawing from more than 25 years in local government, Steve explores why strategic planning is essential to escaping reactive leadership, how curiosity and humility make executives more effective, and why building an organization that can thrive without you may be the ultimate measure of leadership success.

    The conversation also tackles one of the most difficult realities facing city and county managers: navigating disruptive governing body members while maintaining professionalism, organizational stability, and personal integrity.

    From employee wellness and organizational trust to leadership succession and work-life alignment, this episode challenges public sector leaders to consider a fundamental question: Does your organization's everyday behavior reflect the culture you say you're building?

    Heading to ICMA Long Beach?

    Navigating difficult relationships with elected officials is one of the most challenging aspects of professional local government management. In his ICMA Annual Conference education session, "How to Deal with Disruptive Governing Body Members," Steve explores how city and county managers can respond to disruptive governing body behavior, establish healthy governance expectations, and maintain effective leadership when political dynamics threaten organizational stability.

    About Steve MokrohiskySteve Mokrohisky has served as County Administrator of Lane County, Oregon, since 2014, overseeing a regional government serving approximately 400,000 residents across 5,000 square miles. With more than 25 years in local government, including leadership roles in Wisconsin and Nevada, he has focused on organizational transformation, strategic alignment, and employee well-being. Under his leadership, Lane County has been recognized as Oregon's healthiest large employer for five consecutive years.

    This Episode is Sponsored by:

    Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Leadership shouldn't be carried alone. The MLDC is evolving in 2027 with practical leadership development and new, role-specific Mastermind cohorts designed to build trusted relationships with municipal leaders who understand your challenges. Mastermind applications are open now at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    1 hr 20 min
  • 399: Book of the Week: Give and Take

    Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week: Give and TakeEpisode 399 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter breaks down Adam Grant's Give and Take, the research-backed case that how you handle reciprocity at work predicts success more than talent or effort alone. Grant's research reveals a surprising pattern: givers show up disproportionately among both the lowest and highest performers in any organization, while takers and matchers cluster safely in the middle. The difference isn't how much you give; it's whether you give with any judgment about your own limits.

    For local government leaders especially, this is something to be mindful of. Public service attracts givers by nature, which is a real strength, but also a real burnout risk. Seth unpacks why the leaders who last aren't the ones who give the most in any single crisis or budget cycle, and why one taker on your team can do two to three times more damage than a giver can offset.

    The MLDCLeadership in local government doesn't get easier as you move up. The decisions get harder. The expectations get higher. And the number of people you can openly process those challenges with gets smaller.

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) gives local government leaders a place to keep growing alongside other professionals who understand the complexity of leading in local government.

    Inside the MLDC, you'll sharpen how you think, strengthen how you lead, and turn leadership ideas into practical action through:

    • Monthly Mastermind Sessions with municipal leaders from across North America • Leadership Development built specifically around the realities of local government • Practical Tools & Resources you can immediately apply with your team and organization • Ongoing Learning designed to keep you growing throughout the year

    You spend every day developing your organization, your employees, and your community.

    The MLDC is an investment in developing you.

    → Explore the Municipal Leadership Development Circle: https://haltingwinter.com/mldc/

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    7 min
  • 398: Michael Kovacs: Growth Isn't Free

    Michael Kovacs: Growth Isn't FreeThe Infrastructure Bill Your City Is Quietly Building

    Episode 398 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

    Growth can look like success. New homes. New businesses. New roads. A growing tax base. But every piece of infrastructure a city builds today creates an obligation someone will have to pay for tomorrow.

    In this episode, Seth sits down with Michael Kovacs, City Manager of Fate, Texas, to talk about what it means to build a city that can actually afford its future. Michael shares lessons from a career that has taken him from a small, financially distressed border community to resort towns, coastal communities, disaster recovery in Galveston, and now one of the fastest-growing areas of North Texas. Along the way, he has developed a very different way of thinking about growth, development, infrastructure, and the long-term financial health of a city.

    Michael also shares hard-earned lessons from disaster recovery, including why local governments must be prepared to take ownership of the long road back after the immediate response is over.

    At the center of the conversation is a bigger question for every local government leader: Are we building communities that future generations can actually afford to maintain?

    Heading to ICMA in Long Beach?

    Michael will be part of the ICMA education session "Maintaining, Replacing, and Funding Roads: How Much Is Enough?" The session will explore the true long-term cost of maintaining and replacing municipal streets and how communities can begin preparing today for infrastructure expenses that may still be decades away.

    About Michael KovacsMichael Kovacs is the City Manager of Fate, Texas, where he has served for more than a decade during a period of extraordinary community growth. His experience spans small-town administration, tourism and resort communities, rapid growth, emergency management, disaster recovery, infrastructure, development, and long-term municipal financial planning. Today, Michael is helping Fate think beyond the traditional suburban growth model by focusing on development patterns, infrastructure costs, fiscal sustainability, and what it will take to build a community where people can live for every stage of their lives.

    This Episode is Sponsored by:

    Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Leadership shouldn't be carried alone. The MLDC is evolving in 2027 with practical leadership development and new, role-specific Mastermind cohorts designed to build trusted relationships with municipal leaders who understand your challenges. Mastermind applications are open now at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    1 hr 9 min
  • 397: Deborah Stuart: Are You Developing Leaders or Just Promoting Employees?

    Deborah Stuart: Are You Developing Leaders or Just Promoting Employees?Rethinking the Leadership Pipeline in Local GovernmentEpisode 397 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

    What if the biggest challenge in your leadership pipeline isn't finding better people but preparing the people you already have?

    In Episode 397 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Deborah Stuart, City Manager of Mason, Michigan, to explore what it takes to intentionally develop the next generation of municipal leaders.

    Deborah shares how "stay" interviews helped her uncover what employees actually wanted from their careers and where the organization was unintentionally setting talented people up for failure. Being technically excellent at a job doesn't automatically prepare someone to manage people, navigate conflict, oversee budgets, or lead a team.

    That realization led Mason to rethink its approach to employee development, creating clearer pathways for advancement and giving employees opportunities to build leadership skills before the next position opens.

    Seth and Deborah also discuss why people sometimes need someone else to help them see what's possible, the importance of mentorship in city management, and why economic development is ultimately about relationships, not simply incentives, projects, and data.

    Deb's commitment to developing and supporting others has also earned her the Christine Burns Award from Michigan Municipal Executives two years in a row, recognizing her work to support and advance women in the municipal management profession.

    About Deborah StuartDeborah Stuart serves as City Manager for the City of Mason, Michigan, a role she has held since 2016. Her career includes extensive experience in downtown and economic development at both the local and state levels before moving into city management. She is passionate about developing people from within, creating visible pathways for employee growth, and helping emerging leaders recognize opportunities they may not yet see for themselves.

    This Episode is Sponsored by:

    Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Leadership shouldn't be carried alone. The MLDC is evolving in 2027 with practical leadership development and new, role-specific Mastermind cohorts designed to build trusted relationships with municipal leaders who understand your challenges. Mastermind applications are open now: https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    54 min
  • 396: Book of the Week: The Motive

    Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week: The MotiveEpisode 396 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter explores The Motive by Patrick Lencioni, a leadership fable built around two rival CEOs, one struggling and one quietly thriving, and the uncomfortable conversation that reveals why. Lencioni draws a sharp distinction between leaders who take the top job as a reward for hard work, and leaders who take it as a responsibility to do the difficult, unglamorous work their organization actually needs.

    Seth breaks down why this question hits differently for local government leaders than it does in the private sector, as many city managers, county administrators, and department heads didn't arrive in leadership through pure ambition, but through tenure, reliability, or simply being next in line. That path makes it easy to never stop and ask which motive is actually driving you.

    Inside MLDC this week, members are working through five specific takeaways from the book and applying them to their local government context.

    The MLDCLeadership in local government doesn't get easier as you move up. The decisions get harder. The expectations get higher. And the number of people you can openly process those challenges with gets smaller.

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) gives local government leaders a place to keep growing alongside other professionals who understand the complexity of leading in local government.

    Inside the MLDC, you'll sharpen how you think, strengthen how you lead, and turn leadership ideas into practical action through:

    • Monthly Mastermind Sessions with municipal leaders from across North America • Leadership Development built specifically around the realities of local government • Practical Tools & Resources you can immediately apply with your team and organization • Ongoing Learning designed to keep you growing throughout the year

    You spend every day developing your organization, your employees, and your community.

    The MLDC is an investment in developing you.

    → Explore the Municipal Leadership Development Circle: https://haltingwinter.com/mldc/

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    5 min
  • 395: Jennifer Miller: "No" Is the Lazy Answer

    Jennifer Miller: "No" Is the Lazy Answer Breaking Silos and Building a Culture That Solves Problems Episode 396 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

    "No" is often the easiest answer in government. It gets the issue off your desk, protects the process, and keeps things moving. But as Jennifer Miller, Deputy County Executive for Fairfax County, Virginia, puts it: "No is the lazy answer." Great leadership requires something harder: helping people understand what is possible, breaking through organizational silos, and creating a culture where people are empowered to solve problems.

    In this episode, Jennifer joins Seth to explore what she learned through more than two decades of military and federal service and how those lessons translate into local government leadership. They discuss why residents don't care whose department owns the problem, how cross-functional teams can become powerful "silo busters," why leaders must protect employees who take creative risks, and the responsibility professional staff have to enable informed decision-making. It's a conversation about moving beyond bureaucracy as an excuse and building organizations designed to collaborate, innovate, and get things done.

    About Jennifer MillerJennifer Miller is the Deputy County Executive for Fairfax County, Virginia, where she helps lead one of the largest local governments in the country. Before joining Fairfax County, Jennifer spent more than two decades serving in senior civilian leadership roles with the Department of the Air Force while also serving in the U.S. Army Reserve. Her career has spanned law, real estate, infrastructure, environmental policy, military service, and executive leadership, giving her a unique perspective on leading complex, mission-driven organizations.

    Jennifer will also be presenting the education session "Mission Driven Leadership: Veterans Building Trust and Integrity in Local Government" on Sunday, October 18th. The session will explore how military experience translates into local government leadership, how communities can better recognize the skills veterans bring, and how veterans can translate their experience for careers in cities and counties.

    This Episode is Sponsored by:

    Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Leadership shouldn't be carried alone. The MLDC is evolving in 2027 with practical leadership development and new, role-specific Mastermind cohorts designed to build trusted relationships with municipal leaders who understand your challenges. Mastermind applications are open through October 31st at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    1 hr 3 min
  • 394: Melissa Marsh: Being Capable Doesn't Mean Carrying It All

    Melissa Marsh: Being Capable Doesn't Mean Carrying It AllHow to Step Up, Speak Up, and Protect Your CapacityEpisode 394 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

    The people who rise in local government are often the ones willing to step up, take on more, and solve problems no one asked them to solve. But what happens when everyone gets so used to you carrying more that they stop noticing how much you're carrying? Melissa Marsh, City Manager of Madison Heights, Michigan, shares how her willingness to raise her hand opened doors throughout her career and why she eventually had to learn to advocate for her own value and protect her capacity.

    Melissa and Seth also talk about why high performers can become invisible, making decisions without getting trapped in bureaucracy, taking ownership of your professional development, and setting boundaries at the city manager level. Melissa also shares the story behind Madison Heights' Business Bus Tour and how getting city leaders out of City Hall and into local businesses helped build stronger relationships and trust throughout the community.

    About Melissa MarshMelissa Marsh is the City Manager of Madison Heights, Michigan. Beginning her local government career in finance, Melissa steadily expanded her leadership responsibilities across human resources, information technology, library services, and administration before becoming City Manager. Her career reflects a willingness to step up, keep learning, and take on new challenges while building a more connected and responsive organization

    If you're attending the ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach, you can also hear Melissa during the education session "The Road to Trust: How a Business Bus Tour Built Collaboration and Community" on Monday, October 19th.

    This Episode is Sponsored by:

    Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Leadership shouldn't be carried alone. The MLDC is evolving in 2027 with practical leadership development and new, role-specific Mastermind cohorts designed to build trusted relationships with municipal leaders who understand your challenges. Mastermind applications are open through October 31st at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

    Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

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

    1 hr 9 min

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The HaltingWinter Podcast tells the stories of the people who keep our communities running.

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