The HaltingWinter Podcast

Show Notes: Book of the Week – Leading with My Glass Half FullEpisode 234 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode Overview

Municipal leaders face relentless pressures: staff turnover, budget constraints, political tensions, rising community expectations, and constant media scrutiny. In this environment, optimism can feel like a luxury you can't afford. But what if optimism is actually the key to solving these exact problems?

In this episode, Seth explores insights from Peter Crichton's "Leading with My Glass Half Full" and reveals why optimistic leadership isn't just a nice personality trait, it's a strategic approach that transforms organizational culture and effectiveness.

Crichton spent over 40 years in local government, including nearly 20 years as Cumberland County Manager in Maine. His approach to maintaining hope and effectiveness despite real constraints offers a roadmap for municipal leaders who want to build resilient, high-performing organizations.

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: Leading with My Glass Half Full by Peter Crichton
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Episode 233 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Sean Grayson, City Manager of Nevada City, California. Sean's path into municipal leadership didn't begin in planning or finance; it began in a firehouse. After two decades in the fire service, rising to fire chief in Rialto, California, Sean found himself twice "voluntold" into the role of interim city administrator during critical moments of transition. Those unexpected assignments reshaped his career and ultimately brought him back to lead his hometown of Nevada City.

From fighting fires to managing cities, Sean shares the lessons he's learned about crisis leadership, breaking down silos, and building trust with the community. His story is a reminder that leadership isn't about titles—it's about answering the call when your city needs you most.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sean-grayson

Tyler TechnologiesWe're also proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, the largest software company in the nation dedicated exclusively to the public sector. From financial management and utility billing to citizen engagement and digital government solutions, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently, transparently, and effectively.

Learn more at Tyler Technologies

Zencity This episode is made possible by Zencity, a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments worldwide. Zencity helps leaders cut through the noise of the "same ten people" by gathering real-time resident feedback across every neighborhood and demographic. With Zencity's AI-powered tools, decisions can be made with clarity and confidence.

Learn more at Zencity.io

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

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs like the Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDC).

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference & Expo September 23-26 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

ELGL 2025 Conference | Camp Govlife October 1-3 | Santa Rose, CA Details at ELGL

2025 City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar November 12-14 | Los Angeles, CA Details at CalCities

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 3-5 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

Episode 232 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Regan Bolli, a city manager whose journey from law school and private-sector practice to local government reshaped his entire view of leadership. What began as a difficult transition—from a world of bottom-line efficiency to one built on transparency and inclusion—turned into a career-defining shift that has changed how he leads people, builds culture, and drives impact in his community.

Regan shares the lessons learned in redefining success, putting people before performance, and creating a workplace culture where employees thrive both at work and at home. His story offers a clear challenge to every municipal leader: culture isn't built on projects or efficiency—it's built on people, integrity, and trust.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/regan-bolli

Tyler TechnologiesWe're also proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, the largest software company in the nation dedicated exclusively to the public sector. From financial management and utility billing to citizen engagement and digital government solutions, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently, transparently, and effectively.

Learn more at Tyler Technologies

Zencity This episode is made possible by Zencity, a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments worldwide. Zencity helps leaders cut through the noise of the "same ten people" by gathering real-time resident feedback across every neighborhood and demographic. With Zencity's AI-powered tools, decisions can be made with clarity and confidence.

Learn more at Zencity.io

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

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs like the Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDC).

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference & Expo September 23-26 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

ELGL 2025 Conference | Camp Govlife October 1-3 | Santa Rose, CA Details at ELGL

2025 City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar November 12-14 | Los Angeles, CA Details at CalCities

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 3-5 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The 6 Types of Working GeniusEpisode 231 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode Overview

Have you ever wondered why some aspects of your leadership role energize you while others feel like pure drudgery? In this episode, Seth explores Patrick Lencioni's framework from The 6 Types of Working Genius that explains this universal leadership mystery. Discover why your energy patterns aren't random and how understanding them can transform your effectiveness.

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 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Episode 230 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

What does it look like to lead the city you grew up in and then hand it over to the next generation? In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with William "Buzzy" Newman, longtime city leader in Henderson, Kentucky. From growing up as the son of a six-term mayor, to navigating economic transformation and social unrest, to leading through the chaos of COVID, Buzzy's story is one of legacy, resilience, and community-first leadership.

But the heart of this conversation isn't just about service—it's about succession. Buzzy shares how he mentored Dylan Ward from young engineer to city manager, and why he chose to step back into the assistant role to ensure a seamless transition. Along the way, he offers candid lessons on honesty in politics, balancing community loyalty with family life, and why mentoring the next generation may be the most important act of leadership.

LinkedIn:

Tyler TechnologiesWe're also proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, the largest software company in the nation dedicated exclusively to the public sector. From financial management and utility billing to citizen engagement and digital government solutions, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently, transparently, and effectively.

Learn more at Tyler Technologies

Zencity This episode is made possible by Zencity, a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments worldwide. Zencity helps leaders cut through the noise of the "same ten people" by gathering real-time resident feedback across every neighborhood and demographic. With Zencity's AI-powered tools, decisions can be made with clarity and confidence.

Learn more at Zencity.io

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

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs like the Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDC).

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference & Expo September 23-26 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

ELGL 2025 Conference | Camp Govlife October 1-3 | Santa Rose, CA Details at ELGL

2025 City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar November 12-14 | Los Angeles, CA Details at CalCities

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 3-5 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

Episode 229 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Jason Monroe, City Manager of Frankfort, Kentucky. Jason's journey is anything but ordinary, rising from a childhood of constant change to a career in firefighting and paramedicine, and now leading Kentucky's capital city through political pressure and organizational challenges.

From the adrenaline of the firehouse to the complexity of City Hall, Jason shares how adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to "step up" have defined his career. His story reveals why leadership isn't about titles—it's about showing up when everything feels like chaos.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-monroe

Tyler TechnologiesWe're also proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, the largest software company in the nation dedicated exclusively to the public sector. From financial management and utility billing to citizen engagement and digital government solutions, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently, transparently, and effectively.

Learn more at Tyler Technologies

Zencity This episode is made possible by Zencity, a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments worldwide. Zencity helps leaders cut through the noise of the "same ten people" by gathering real-time resident feedback across every neighborhood and demographic. With Zencity's AI-powered tools, decisions can be made with clarity and confidence.

Learn more at Zencity.io

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

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs like the Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDC).

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference & Expo September 23-26 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

ELGL 2025 Conference | Camp Govlife October 1-3 | Santa Rose, CA Details at ELGL

2025 City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar November 12-14 | Los Angeles, CA Details at CalCities

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 3-5 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

Show Notes: Book of the Week – Strengths Based LeadershipEpisode 228 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode Overview

In this introductory episode, Seth explores how local government's obsession with well-rounded leaders is actually undermining leadership effectiveness. Drawing from Tom Rath and Barry Conchie's research in "Strengths Based Leadership," Seth challenges the unspoken expectation that city managers, county administrators, and department heads should excel at everything from budget analysis to crisis communication.

Key topics include recognizing your natural leadership domain, stopping the cycle of weakness-focused development, and beginning to see team composition as the path to organizational effectiveness.

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: Strengths Based Leadership by Gallup
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Episode 227 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

What's it really like to manage a city where billionaires live behind gated estates, yet the city budget barely covers the basics? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Doug Schulze, a city manager with over 30 years of experience across Minnesota, Washington, and California. From driving a Zamboni in Sandstone, MN, to balancing the books in Medina, WA (home to Gates and Bezos), Doug's career reveals the realities, challenges, and hidden truths of municipal leadership.

This conversation dives into the misconceptions about "wealthy cities," the pressures of leading through growth and crisis, and the weight of making bold decisions even when they cost you your job.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dougschulze/

Tyler TechnologiesWe're also proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, the largest software company in the nation dedicated exclusively to the public sector. From financial management and utility billing to citizen engagement and digital government solutions, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently, transparently, and effectively.

Learn more at Tyler Technologies

Zencity This episode is made possible by Zencity, a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments worldwide. Zencity helps leaders cut through the noise of the "same ten people" by gathering real-time resident feedback across every neighborhood and demographic. With Zencity's AI-powered tools, decisions can be made with clarity and confidence.

Learn more at Zencity.io

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

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs like the Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDC).

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference & Expo September 23-26 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

ELGL 2025 Conference | Camp Govlife October 1-3 | Santa Rose, CA Details at ELGL

2025 City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar November 12-14 | Los Angeles, CA Details at CalCities

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 3-5 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

Episode 226 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Andrew Hart, Town Manager of Carmel, Maine, whose career has spanned small towns, county government, and decades of leadership across crises and change.

Andrew's story begins with early exposure to local government around his family's dinner table, where residents came to pay taxes and talk community business. At just 24 years old, his career was baptized by fire when he uncovered embezzlement in his first town management role. From there, Andrew went on to lead the Town of Union for 15 years, serve as County Administrator for Knox County for another 16, and now guide Carmel with the humility of a leader willing to mow fields, fill potholes, and build regional collaborations.

This is a journey across cities, counties, and crises that highlights the resilience, creativity, and people-first mindset required of today's municipal leaders.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-hart

Tyler TechnologiesWe're also proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, the largest software company in the nation dedicated exclusively to the public sector. From financial management and utility billing to citizen engagement and digital government solutions, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently, transparently, and effectively.

Learn more at Tyler Technologies

Zencity This episode is made possible by Zencity, a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments worldwide. Zencity helps leaders cut through the noise of the "same ten people" by gathering real-time resident feedback across every neighborhood and demographic. With Zencity's AI-powered tools, decisions can be made with clarity and confidence.

Learn more at Zencity.io

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

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs like the Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDC).

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference & Expo September 23-26 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

ELGL 2025 Conference | Camp Govlife October 1-3 | Santa Rose, CA Details at ELGL

2025 City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar November 12-14 | Los Angeles, CA Details at CalCities

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 3-5 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

Show Notes: Book of the Week – Surrounded by IdiotsEpisode 225 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode Overview

Ever walked out of a meeting thinking an intelligent colleague completely missed your point? This week, the MLDC is exploring Thomas Erikson's fascinating book "Surrounded by Idiots" and discovering why communication breakdowns aren't about intelligence; they're about fundamentally different ways of processing information.

In this episode, Seth introduces the DISC personality model through Erikson's four-color system and reveals how local government leaders can transform their most frustrating interactions by learning to speak multiple "communication languages."

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: Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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