Troy Body: When You've Seen the World, You Lead DifferentlyPerspective, Pressure, and the Power of Local Government

Episode 280 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What changes when you've led through war zones, natural disasters, political upheaval, and then step into city management?

For Troy Body, City Administrator of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, leadership didn't come through a straight line. His journey spans Appalachia, national media, state government, post-Katrina New Orleans, South Sudan, and multiple regions of Africa, before ultimately landing in local government.

In this conversation with our host, Seth Winterhalter, Troy shares how global experience reshaped his understanding of pressure, responsibility, and perspective and why those lessons matter deeply in city management today.

This episode is a powerful reminder that there is no single path into local government leadership, and that perspective, earned through hardship, service, and lived experience, changes how leaders show up when the work is heavy and the criticism is loud.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Ruthless Elimination of HurryEpisode 279 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

This week's MLDC book addresses what might be the most important leadership challenge you're not talking about: hurry. Not busyness...hurry. The frantic, reactive pace that's destroying your effectiveness, your relationships, and your sustainability. Seth Winterhalter introduces John Mark Comer's powerful framework and invites you to join the MLDC for a week exploring how to eliminate hurry from your leadership.

Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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

Jamie Gwynn: Leading Without Losing YourselfWork, Family, and the Hidden Cost of Municipal Leadership

Episode 278 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

Municipal leadership doesn't just test your competence; it tests your identity.

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth sits down with Jamie Gwynn, Township Manager of New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, for a deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to lead over the long haul without losing yourself in the process.

Jamie's path into city management wasn't linear or polished. From being raised in a pizza shop that doubled as a political crossroads, to struggling academically, to teaching in Baltimore through Teach for America, to stepping into the manager's chair at just 29 years old, his story mirrors the reality many local government leaders live but rarely articulate.

Together, Seth and Jamie unpack the hidden costs of municipal leadership: the pressure to always be on, the temptation to define yourself by the job, and the quiet toll leadership can take on health, relationships, and presence at home.

This is not a conversation about "balance" as a buzzword. It's about intention, sustainability, and staying human in a profession that constantly asks for more.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

Andy Pederson: Called to the Chaos Leadership, Longevity, and Managing What Never Stands Still

Episode 277 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

City management isn't a job you stumble into with a master plan.

It's a calling you discover, often in the middle of uncertainty, pressure, and moments that demand more than you thought you had to give.

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Andy Pederson, Village Manager of Bayside, Wisconsin, and President-Elect of the ICMA, to explore a leadership journey shaped not by ambition, but by presence, persistence, and purpose.

With more than 20 years leading the same community, Andy reflects on what it means to steward a city through constant change: natural disasters, infrastructure challenges, regional collaboration, and moments of tragedy that redefine perspective. He shares how small communities can move fast, why relationships matter more than structure, and how leadership is often forged in moments no one prepares you for.

This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply human, serving as an affirmation for leaders carrying unseen weight and navigating work that never stands still.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Balance is BSEpisode 276 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

If you've ever felt stretched between work and home, purpose and exhaustion, service and sustainability, well, you're not alone.

And more importantly: you're not failing.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the MLDC Book of the Week: Balance Is BS: How to Thrive in the Tension of Municipal Life & Leadership, based on his most requested keynote and the book he's currently writing.

This conversation challenges the deeply ingrained idea that healthy leadership requires "work–life balance." For municipal leaders, that myth often creates guilt instead of clarity and pressure instead of peace.

• Why balance doesn't fit the realities of local government

• How the balance myth fuels shame for leaders who care deeply

• Why tension is not a sign of failure but significance

• The shift from chasing balance to leading with intention

Seth also shares how this week's theme is being explored more deeply inside the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) through daily podcasts, blog reflections, and a private community of local government leaders across North America.

Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Live, virtual mastermind sessions ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Coming Soon!!!
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Mike Land: Why We Don't Lead Alone Culture, ICMA, and Finding Renewal in a Demanding Profession

Episode 275 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does it take to sustain organizational culture and your personal well-being when the pressure of municipal leadership never truly eases?

In this Reconnect episode, Seth Winterhalter catches up with Mike Land, City Manager of Coppell, Texas, and newly installed ICMA President, to reflect on the past year and the realities facing local government leaders across the country.

From shrinking revenues and state-level constraints to growing public pressure and organizational fatigue, Mike shares how Coppell is addressing tough financial decisions without sacrificing culture. He offers a practical look at engaging the front line, creating shared ownership in hard conversations, and using clarity, language, and consistency to lead through uncertainty.

The conversation also widens to the role of the ICMA and professional associations, not as abstract institutions, but as essential spaces for connection, renewal, and a reminder that no city manager carries this work alone. Mike speaks candidly about isolation in the role, the need for intentional self-care, and why stepping away—truly stepping away—is not indulgent, but responsible leadership.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

David Cameron: It's Okay Not to Be Okay Transparency, Mental Health, and Leading When Success Hides the Struggle

Episode 274 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

This episode is a Reconnect, a return to one of the most impactful conversations in the history of The HaltingWinter Podcast.

David Cameron was the very first full-length interview of a local government leader on this show (Episode 107). At the time, he was serving as City Administrator in Republic, Missouri. Since then, David has stepped into a much larger role as City Manager of Springfield, Missouri—leading a city of more than 170,000 residents and a workforce of over 2,200 employees.

Before replaying his original episode, Seth and David sit down for a candid reconnection that goes deeper into the realities of leadership that often go unseen.

This conversation explores the weight of local government leadership, the hidden cost of always "having it together," and why success can sometimes mask deep internal struggle. David speaks openly about mental health, the stigma leaders face around vulnerability, and the importance of creating safe spaces where leaders don't have to carry the burden alone.

Watch David's Video: "Stories of Hope"

They also discuss David's leadership philosophy as he transitions into a larger, more complex organization—empowering teams, decentralizing decision-making, and building trust at scale while maintaining strong regional relationships across Southwest Missouri.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

Bret Prebula: Leading Through Resistance Why Long-Term City Building Requires Courage, Clarity, and Conviction

Episode 273 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

In this special episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth reconnects with Bret Prebula, City Manager of Suisun City, California, before revisiting one of the most compelling leadership stories ever shared on the show.

Bret's original appearance in Episode 182 explored his unconventional path into city management, his willingness to take calculated risks, and his belief that local government must move beyond maintenance mode to truly serve future generations.

Since that conversation, Bret's leadership has been tested on a much larger stage.

In this brief catch-up conversation, Seth and Bret discuss what it looks like to lead transformational change amid public resistance, emotional volatility, and national-level attention. Bret shares how Suisun City is navigating historic annexation efforts, polarized community response, and the personal cost of leading boldly when the pressure is real.

Following the update, we replay Episode 182 in full—because the insights shared then are even more relevant now.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

Max Fisher: Finding the Calling Why the Future of City Management Depends on How We Develop Emerging Leaders

Episode 272 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does it take to discover a calling to local government, and how do today's leaders shape whether the next generation steps forward or walks away?

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Max Fisher, an MPA student and Assistant to the City Manager's Office in Levelland, Texas, whose journey into city management challenges common assumptions about leadership, experience, and preparation.

Max didn't set out to become a city manager. He set out to study history, law, and political theory. But along the way—through internships, mentorship, small-city experience, and hands-on exposure to the real work of local government—he discovered something deeper: a calling to steward places and serve people.

This conversation is as much a message to seasoned city managers and department heads as it is to emerging professionals. Max offers a rare, honest look at how internships, visibility, mentorship, and intentional development either ignite passion—or quietly extinguish it.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Art of PossibilityEpisode 271 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

What story are you telling yourself about your biggest leadership challenge right now? That your council is impossible? That your budget situation is hopeless? That your community won't support what needs to happen? Those stories feel like facts. They feel like reality. But what if they're just frames you've created, and those frames are defining what you see as possible?

This week in the MLDC, we're exploring The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the book's core concepts and invites you to join a community of local government leaders who are committed to leading from possibility instead of just managing scarcity. Because the constraints are real, but the meaning you make of them is invented.

Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Art of Possibility by Benjamin and Rosamund Stone Zander
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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