David Dillner: From Feral Cats to $100 Million Deals: The Beautiful Chaos of City Management

Episode 249 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What do you do when your neighboring city walks away from the biggest economic development project in state history and the future of your community hangs in the balance?

For David Dillner, City Manager of El Dorado, Kansas, the answer came down to resilience, readiness, and a quiet kind of courage.

In this conversation, David shares his journey from a small-town Kansas upbringing and pharmacy camp dropout to becoming the first city administrator of Edgerton, just in time to navigate a political storm that nearly derailed a $100 million BNSF intermodal project. His story is a masterclass in what it really takes to lead when the stakes are high, politics are volatile, and the unexpected (like feral cats) always finds its way onto the agenda.

We explore:

• How a small-town website project sparked a career in city management

• The real value of internships and fellowships in shaping future leaders

• Failing forward: the budget presentation disaster that taught David to lead under pressure

• Resilience in the face of politics and what happens when years of work are overturned overnight

• The $100 million turnaround: how a well-timed annexation saved a major development

• Why nostalgia can kill a city, and how leaders can help communities embrace change

• The irony of leadership: approving transformative projects one minute and debating feral cats the next

Show Some Love for Our Sponsor

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

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

Paula Schumacher: From Intern to Administrator: The Power of Staying, Serving, and Shaping What Lasts

Episode 248 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does it look like to build a career and a legacy in the same community for more than three decades?

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Paula Schumacher, Village Administrator of Bartlett, Illinois, to explore a story rarely heard in local government: one of staying. From starting as a basement intern to leading the entire organization today, Paula's journey is a masterclass in patience, purpose, and the long game of public service.

They talk about how one generous mentor changed the direction of her life, what it means to lead through rapid growth, and how stability and culture are built one relationship at a time. Paula also opens up about surviving breast cancer, leading with intention, and finding grace in the ebb and flow between life and leadership.

Together, they unpack the pivotal moments and lessons that define her leadership story:

The conversation that changed everything: how a single phone call with a city manager introduced Paula to local government.

The "internship that never ended": how she grew with Bartlett through three decades of transformation from 13,000 to 40,000 residents.

Leadership that lasts: why consistency, collaboration, and humility matter more than speed or scale.

The internship revolution: how Bartlett's high school and college internship programs are shaping the next generation of municipal leaders.

The myth of balance: Paula's honest reflection on thriving through cancer, caregiving, and leadership without losing yourself.

Building the bench: why mentoring and modeling grace may be the most important leadership legacy of all.

Show Some Love for Our Sponsor

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

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

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The Coaching HabitEpisode 247 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter introduces "The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever" by Michael Bungay Stanier, and it's one of the best-selling coaching books of this century for a reason. Drawing on research with over 10,000 managers, Seth explores why the instinct to immediately provide answers might actually be undermining your leadership effectiveness.

Discover how advice-giving creates three destructive patterns: over-dependent teams that wait for your direction, overwhelming workloads as you become the bottleneck for every decision, and disconnection from real organizational challenges as you focus on fixing symptoms instead of understanding root causes.

This week in the Municipal Leadership Development Collective (MLDC), we're diving deep into seven powerful questions that can transform how city managers, county administrators, and department heads lead their teams. Seth explains how asking the right questions at the right time can help you gather better information, develop your team's problem-solving capability, and focus your expertise where it's most needed.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed by constant problem-solving, if your team seems overly dependent on you, or if you're working harder than ever but feeling less effective, this episode offers a path forward.

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

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Tansy Hayward: The Power of a Day: The Transformational Power of Mentorship in Public Service

Episode 245 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What if one day could change the entire trajectory of your life and your city?

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Tansy Hayward, City Manager of Thornton, Colorado, to explore how a single day shadowing an assistant city manager ignited a lifelong calling to public service. From her small-town roots in rural Kansas to leading one of Colorado's fastest-growing cities, Tansy's journey is a powerful reminder of the role mentorship, access, and courage play in shaping the next generation of local government leaders.

Together, they unpack the pivotal moments and lessons that define her leadership story:

• How one shadowing experience revealed the purpose and pace of city management.

• The power of mentors like Susan Sherman and John Nalbandian, who opened doors and shaped her path.

• Why leaders shouldn't be shields but bridges, inviting others into the real, unfiltered work of leadership.

• Rebuilding trust after crisis in Tacoma, Washington, and the courage to lead through tension and uncertainty.

• Finding identity and growth across regions—from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast—and what that diversity taught her about culture, community, and leadership.

Through every chapter, Tansy's story reminds us that transformation often begins with access and that leadership is less about being in control and more about being available.

Show Some Love for Our Sponsor

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

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

Episode 245 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What happens when an NFL player trades the gridiron for city hall and discovers his true calling in public service?

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ifo Pili, City Manager of West Valley City, Utah, whose extraordinary journey from professional football to local government reveals what it really takes to build thriving cities and authentic culture.

Born and raised in American Samoa, Ifo's story is shaped by a legacy of service. His father's words—"It's not OK to stand on the side and watch"—set him on a path that would eventually lead from the locker room to the city manager's office.

When chaos hit the City of Eagle Mountain, a young intern was unexpectedly thrust into leadership and turned down an NFL contract to stay and serve. What followed was a remarkable municipal career defined by purpose, growth, and heart.

• From Samoa to the NFL: How early lessons in service and sacrifice shaped a leader.

• The Intern Who Became City Manager: How crisis created calling in local government.

• Choosing Purpose Over Paychecks: Why Ifo walked away from professional football to build cities.

• Building the Firsts: From grocery stores to Google, how Eagle Mountain grew from a town of 250 to 70,000.

• Culture with Cariño: The story behind the Spanish word that transformed an entire city's identity.

• Leading Through People, Not Titles: How frontline employees became the heart of culture change.

• Falling in Love with Your City: Why emotional connection is the foundation of effective leadership.

Show Some Love for Our Sponsor

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

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

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The Ideal Team PlayerEpisode 244 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Why do some technically competent local government leaders struggle while others thrive?

This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter explores Patrick Lencioni's "The Ideal Team Player" and reveals the three character virtues that matter more than credentials in determining leadership success. Seth unpacks why hiring for competence without assessing character leaves communities with leaders who can't build trust, drive improvement, or navigate the complex human dynamics that define public service. If you've ever wondered why some of your best ideas get ignored, why your team lacks motivation, or why your technical solutions fail due to political dynamics, this episode connects those pain points directly to missing character virtues.

• The Three Essential Virtues: Humble, hungry, and people-smart and why these character traits matter more in government than private sector leadership
• The Humility Problem: How ego-driven leadership destroys trust in politically charged environments, even when leaders have the right answers
• The Hunger Gap: Why organizations stagnate when leaders and staff do only the minimum, and how drive becomes the engine for innovation despite resource constraints
• People Intelligence Over Technical Expertise: Why emotional intelligence and the ability to read situations matter more than policy knowledge in determining leadership effectiveness
• Character as Survival Strategy: How these three virtues help leaders weather political transitions, budget crises, and community conflicts
• The Compound Effect: Why individual character development transforms entire organizational cultures and community outcomes

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

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

What does it look like to lead a city when national politics dominate the headlines, communities are increasingly polarized, and residents arrive at city hall with deep mistrust of government?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Graham Mitchell, City Manager of El Cajon, California, to explore the lessons of a career that's spanned small towns, growing suburbs, and now one of the most diverse cities in the country. From his early years in Washington, D.C., watching federal leaders up close, to discovering the power of local government as an intern, Graham's journey is a case study in leadership, resilience, and impact.

We talk about:

• Fit over prestige – why bigger isn't always better, and how the right cultural fit creates lasting impact.

• Building trust with immigrant communities – from tours of city hall to restoring confidence in public institutions.

• Innovation under constraint – how budget crises led to unexpected breakthroughs in Lemon Grove.

• Politics in city hall – what happens when national polarization seeps into local councils, and how leaders can rise above it.

• Saying yes before you feel ready – the mindset that helped Graham move from intern to city manager by age 31.

This conversation is a reminder that while Washington may dominate the news cycle, it's in city halls where trust is built, lives are changed, and the future of our communities is decided.

Show Some Love for Our Sponsors

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

• Zencity – helping hundreds of local governments cut through the noise and make data-driven decisions with confidence. Learn more at info/zencity.io/winter

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

What happens when you gather Kentucky's municipal leaders under one roof? You get stories that remind us why local government matters.

In this special episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, recorded live at the Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference, Seth Winterhalter sits down for a series of short conversations with leaders serving on the frontlines of municipal life.

You'll hear from:

• Mayor Robb Adams (City of Carrollton) – on his journey from paramedic and firefighter to elected office in a small Ohio River city.

• Ashley Jackson (City Clerk, Bowling Green) – on her career path, the importance of city clerks, and her role as President of the Kentucky Municipal Clerks Association.

• Brian Traugott (KLC Chief Member Services Officer) – reflecting on more than a decade as Mayor of Versailles and his new work supporting cities statewide.

• Kathy Walker (City Clerk, Nicholasville) – on the lessons learned from nearly two decades in public service and what it takes to serve a growing city.

These conversations capture the heart of local leadership: ordinary people stepping into extraordinary responsibility to keep their communities thriving.

Show Some Love for Our Sponsor

• 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

What happens when the clerk in the back office becomes the city's CEO?

In this episode, Amber Vogan, City Manager of Bonner Springs, Kansas, shares her unexpected journey from utility billing to the city manager's chair and what it feels like to lead when you don't believe you're ready. From fighting imposter syndrome to juggling three counties, nine councilmembers, and an amphitheater that seats 18,000, her story is a raw look at the weight and reward of public service.

We talk about:

• Why imposter syndrome is common even at the highest levels of leadership.

• The unique pressures of running a "small" city with big-city problems.

• How mentors and peers can push leaders out of comfort and into growth.

Whether you're leading a city, a department, or considering the leap into management, this conversation will remind you: no leader ever feels fully ready, but the seat still needs you.

Show Some Love for Our Sponsors

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

• Zencity – helping hundreds of local governments cut through the noise and make data-driven decisions with confidence. Learn more at info/zencity.io/winter

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

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the WorkplaceEpisode 240 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Why do your best appreciation efforts seem to fall flat with your team? In this episode, Seth explores the hidden reason behind employee disengagement and turnover in local government and introduces the solution that's transforming teams across North America using insights from the book, "The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace."

• The Appreciation Disconnect: Why good intentions aren't enough when showing employee appreciation
• Local Government Pain Points: Recognizing the specific challenges municipal and county leaders face with team recognition
• The Five Languages Revealed: Introduction to Gary Chapman and Paul White's appreciation framework
• Budget-Friendly Solutions: How to improve morale without expensive programs or complicated policies
• Real Results: The measurable impact of speaking your team's appreciation language

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 relavant training from local gov leaders

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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