The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode 224 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Scott Andrews, County Manager of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, to explore a journey marked by ambition, resilience, and a deep commitment to authentic leadership.

From helping build a city center from scratch in Sugar Hill, Georgia, to navigating the complexities of COVID and social justice in Covington, and then leading in Bakersfield during cultural and political shifts, Scott's career reflects the weight—and the promise—of public service.

But his story is also profoundly personal. After the devastating loss of his first daughter, Scott founded Lead With Love and The Violet Movement—frameworks rooted in emotional intelligence, humanity, and the belief that civility and authenticity are still the most powerful tools in leadership.

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

Tyler TechnologiesThis episode is made possible 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 TylerTech.com

Zencity We're also proud to be sponsored 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 223 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity and Tyler Technologies

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Dylan Ward, City Manager of Henderson, Kentucky. Dylan's path to leadership wasn't planned; it was discovered. What began as a love of Legos, math, and problem-solving turned into a career that blended engineering precision with people-first leadership.

From inspecting sidewalks and asphalt crews to navigating multimillion-dollar projects and public-private partnerships, Dylan's story is a window into the often-overlooked but deeply impactful world of local government. Along the way, his journey through personal trials—including his son's life-threatening heart condition—shaped him into a leader marked not just by skill, but by resilience and empathy.

This conversation is packed with insight for anyone curious about the realities of local government, the surprises of public works, and the humility it takes to grow into leadership you never expected.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-h-ward

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

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

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 – How Will You Measure Your Life?Episode 222 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode Overview

What does real success actually look like in public service? In this episode, Seth explores insights from Clayton Christensen's How Will You Measure Your Life? and why traditional success metrics often leave accomplished local government leaders feeling empty and disconnected from their deepest values.

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: How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Episode 221 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ryan Pelletier, a leader who has navigated nearly every seat in local government, from small-town manager to county administrator. With decades of experience serving rural communities, he offers a rare perspective on how to bridge the tension between cities and counties and turn competition into collaboration.

From wearing every hat in a one-person town office to leading a county with dozens of municipalities, his journey is packed with lessons on trust-building, shared services, and the practical realities of leadership at every level.

• Wearing Every Hat: Why starting in a tiny town office can be the best leadership training.

• Beyond Borders: Leading in a community where international lines are part of everyday life.

• Trust as Currency: How to earn buy-in from elected officials, department heads, and neighboring jurisdictions.

• Shared Solutions: Turning costly, fragmented systems into regional wins that save money and improve service.

• The Long Game: How to lead for lasting impact in a short-term political world.

Whether you're managing a small department, running a city, or working at the county level, this episode offers practical strategies for building partnerships, navigating politics without partisanship, and finding common ground where it matters most—serving your community.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-pelletier

This episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast is made possible by Zencity—a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments around the world.

Zencity is a software that enables local government leaders to gather, understand, and act on resident feedback, going beyond the "same ten people" to actually reach residents where they're at, and incorporate that feedback into decisions large and small. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact:

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 rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Municipal Leadership.

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 220 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down for a conversation with a small-town mayor (Rick Tonini; St. Matthews, KY) whose path to leadership started with a neighbor's call to serve — literally. As a kid, he was the go-to helper for the local mayor, unclogging storm drains, spreading cinders on icy streets, and pitching in wherever needed.

That spirit of service never left. From decades as a volunteer firefighter to more than 40 years as an elected official, his story is one of consistency, commitment, and community-first leadership. But it's also a deeply personal story of resilience. After the sudden loss of his daughter, he turned grief into action — honoring her legacy through organ donation, volunteer work, and supporting others who have endured similar loss.

We talk about what it takes to preserve a small-town spirit in the shadow of a growing metro area, how to lead with fiscal responsibility without losing community connection, and why service, at its best, is about more than a job description.

This is a conversation about heart, endurance, and the kind of leadership that leaves a lasting impact long after the titles fade.

From Storm Drains to City Hall How early hands-on experiences with a local mayor planted the seeds for a lifetime of public service.

A Volunteer Firefighter for Life Why decades in the fire service shaped his perspective on responsiveness, readiness, and teamwork.

When Service Meets Tragedy The story of losing his daughter, her life-saving organ donations, and finding purpose through grief.

Preserving Community in a Metro World How to keep connection, culture, and care at the forefront in the midst of growth and change.

Fiscal Responsibility with Real Results Balancing low taxes with high-impact services and why responsiveness builds public trust.

Turning Grief into Action Serving at a soup kitchen every week for over 20 years and supporting other grieving parents through Compassionate Friends.

City of St. Matthews: Mayor Rick Tonini

This episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast is made possible by Zencity—a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments around the world.

Zencity is a software that enables local government leaders to gather, understand, and act on resident feedback, going beyond the "same ten people" to actually reach residents where they're at, and incorporate that feedback into decisions large and small. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact:

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 rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Municipal Leadership.

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 – PrinciplesEpisode 219 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Principles Series) Episode Title: When Principles Trump Politics

Episode Overview

You're sitting in a heated council meeting where three different factions are pushing completely different budget priorities. The mayor wants visible infrastructure projects for political reasons. Council members are demanding immediate tax relief. Another group insists on expanding social services. Meanwhile, your finance director is quietly pointing to long-term sustainability concerns that nobody wants to hear.

In this kickoff episode of the Principles series, Seth Winterhalter explores how fundamental decision-making frameworks can transform municipal leadership effectiveness. Drawing from Ray Dalio's insights in "Principles," we discover how having clear, tested principles—not political maneuvering or reactive responses—determines whether city managers can navigate complex challenges with consistency and confidence.

Whether you're dealing with competing stakeholder demands, crisis decision-making under pressure, or the exhausting cycle of inconsistent leadership responses, Dalio's framework offers a comprehensive solution. In this episode, we examine why the most effective municipal leaders develop clear principles before crises hit, enabling them to make better decisions regardless of external pressures or political dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• How principled decision-making creates "leadership predictability" that builds trust with staff, councils, and communities
• Why waiting for perfect political timing often creates the very problems municipal leaders are trying to avoid
• The difference between rigid rule-following and flexible frameworks that guide consistent thinking under pressure
• Dalio's approach to systematic decision-making and what it means for sustainable municipal leadership
• How to identify your core leadership principles and test them in real municipal challenges

This Week's Journey in the MLDC

• Monday: Understanding how principles provide clarity when emotions run high and consistency when circumstances change rapidly
• Tuesday–Thursday: Deep dives into radical transparency with your team, recognizing your leadership blind spots, and addressing difficult decisions quickly rather than waiting for perfect timing
• Friday: Virtual Book Club for live conversation and practical implementation

Join the MLDC: Summer Special

Now is the best time to join the MLDC, giving you access to: ✔ All five episodes breaking down one book per week for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ A community of local government leaders from across North America ✔ Our live, weekly Virtual Book Club session

➡ Join now at www.HaltingWinter.com

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Principles by Ray Dalio
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Episode 218 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity

Michael Goodrum's rise through local government was fast, relentless, and at times, ruthless. From living in his car outside a community college to becoming City Manager of Sugar Land, Texas, Michael built a reputation as the guy who could fix anything. But it came at a cost: people, trust, and even his own family.

In this episode, Michael opens up about the early years of ambition-fueled leadership, what broke him (and woke him up), and the radical transformation that followed. From chasing performance to building culture, his story is both a cautionary tale and a blueprint for what's possible when you decide to lead differently.

If you've ever felt torn between doing what's urgent and doing what's right—or if you've questioned whether you can truly lead without losing yourself—this conversation will hit home.

• The Car. The Coach. The Break. How a volleyball coach noticed a homeless student sleeping in a Nissan Sentra and changed everything.

• Ambition Without Alignment Why Michael's early success in local government came at the expense of culture, collaboration, and trust.

• The Missed Kindergarten Event The moment that forced him to confront the father—and leader—he didn't want to be.

• A Keynote That Broke Him Open How a talk by Bob Chapman (Everybody Matters) led to cold calls, tears, and a new chapter of leadership.

• What Culture Change Actually Takes From internal sabotage to shared vision: the 7-year plan to transform Sugar Land from the inside out.

• Coral Springs & The Throwaway Interview The city he tried not to get and how a brutal dose of honesty turned into a career-defining opportunity.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-goodrum

This episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast is made possible by Zencity—a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments around the world.

Zencity is a software that enables local government leaders to gather, understand, and act on resident feedback, going beyond the "same ten people" to actually reach residents where they're at, and incorporate that feedback into decisions large and small. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact:

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 rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Municipal Leadership.

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 217 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Jeff Meisel, City Manager of Bowling Green, Kentucky, for one of the most powerful and transparent leadership conversations to date.

Jeff's story isn't polished—it's lived. Born and raised in Bowling Green, Jeff never planned to lead the city he grew up in. But after uncovering a major embezzlement scandal inside city hall, he chose to stay. He chose to lead. And he's been rebuilding trust and momentum ever since.

From his beginnings as a CPA to his decade-long tenure as CFO, and now as City Manager of Kentucky's third-largest city, Jeff reflects on leadership through crisis, building a dream team, the emotional cost of public service, and how to lead with calm, clarity, and character—even in the public eye.

This is a masterclass in resilience, community-rooted leadership, and what it takes to serve a city that raised you.

• "The FBI Was Called—And I Had to Stay" Jeff shares how he uncovered fraud at the highest levels, reported it, and chose to remain and lead the cleanup.

• Built by Bowling Green, Leading for Bowling Green A rare look at what it means to serve the city that shaped you and the weight of leading your friends and neighbors.

• Crisis Leadership, Up Close What it was like to manage a team through public scandal, staff distrust, and personal exhaustion, all while raising five-month-old twins.

• From Finance to the Frontlines How a CPA learned to lead people, manage politics, and build citywide strategy without losing himself.

• How to Build a Dream Team When 7 of 9 department heads retired early in his tenure, Jeff saw opportunity and rebuilt a leadership team from the ground up.

• The Power of Quiet Rhythms Jeff shares how mowing his own lawn, playing lunch-hour basketball, and walking with his wife have kept him grounded and healthy, despite a chronic illness diagnosis.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-meisel

This episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast is made possible by Zencity—a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments around the world.

Zencity is a software that enables local government leaders to gather, understand, and act on resident feedback, going beyond the "same ten people" to actually reach residents where they're at, and incorporate that feedback into decisions large and small. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact:

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 rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Municipal Leadership.

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 AdvantageEpisode 216 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: The Advantage Series) Episode Title: Why Smart Cities Still Fail

Episode Overview

Your organization has hired the best department heads, balanced the budget, implemented cutting-edge technology, and created a strategic plan that reads like a masterpiece. Yet somehow, your city still feels stuck in quicksand—progress is slow, politics drain energy from prioritized work, and even your most talented people struggle to create meaningful impact.

In this kickoff episode of The Advantage series, Seth Winterhalter explores why technical excellence alone fails to create thriving municipal organizations. Drawing from Patrick Lencioni's insights in "The Advantage," we discover how organizational health—not just organizational intelligence—determines whether cities truly serve their communities effectively.

Whether you're dealing with leadership team dysfunction, staff confusion about priorities, or the exhausting cycle of crisis management, Lencioni's framework offers a comprehensive solution. In this episode, we examine why the most effective municipal leaders focus equally on building trust, creating clarity, and eliminating organizational friction alongside their technical expertise and strategic planning.

Key Takeaways

• How the pursuit of "smart" solutions can mask underlying organizational health problems that kill momentum
• Why even the most qualified leadership teams struggle without vulnerability-based trust and clear communication
• The difference between functional cooperation and genuine collaboration in high-pressure municipal environments
• Lencioni's four disciplines framework and what it means for sustainable municipal transformation
• How to identify whether your organization needs smarter strategies or healthier relationships

This Week's Journey in the MLDC

• Monday: Understanding the health vs. smart paradox and why organizational dysfunction persists despite technical competence
• Tuesday–Thursday: Deep dives into building vulnerability-based trust, creating crystal-clear organizational purpose, and communicating priorities until they become embedded in culture
• Friday: Virtual Book Club for live conversation and practical organizational health implementation strategies

Join the MLDC: Summer Special

Now is the best time to join the MLDC, giving you access to: ✔ All five episodes breaking down one book per week for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ A community of local government leaders from across North America ✔ Our live, weekly Virtual Book Club session

➡ Join now at www.HaltingWinter.com

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Episode 215 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ed Barrett—retired City Manager of Bangor and Lewiston, Maine—for a masterclass in what long-term, community-centered leadership really looks like. From his early days auditing performance metrics in Tucson to a 22-year tenure leading a full-scale downtown and riverfront revitalization in Bangor, Ed shares hard-won insights that challenge the myth of quick fixes and flashy solutions.

There's no magic wand in municipal leadership, but there is a path—if you're willing to commit to vision, process, and the slow, steady work of building something that lasts.

Whether you're a city manager, public works director, or rising department leader, this conversation will re-anchor you in the purpose of the profession and the practical courage it requires.

"Your job isn't to tell people what to do—it's to help them get it done." Ed reflects on his early leadership philosophy, shaped by firsthand observations of poor management and morale in Tucson's public works departments.

Leadership Isn't a Promotion—It's a Profession Why the jump from "skilled doer" to "effective leader" is a bigger leap than most cities realize and how mentorship can bridge the gap.

Strategic Patience and Political Courage How Bangor turned down short-term development wins—including a supermarket on prime waterfront land—in favor of long-term community transformation.

The Power of Tenure Ed shares why staying 20+ years in one city allowed him to see the fruit of projects that would have died with a 3-year turnover.

Build the Place, Not Just the Economy From trails and parks to libraries and housing, Ed explains why community development is economic development.

Revitalization Without Bulldozers How Bangor repurposed its vacant department stores into a children's museum, assisted living center, and University art museum—sparking a full downtown revival.

Why Strategic Plans Fail—And How to Make Them Work Ed unpacks why most strategic plans sit on a shelf and how to actually turn them into the spine of decision-making and development.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ed-barrett

This episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast is made possible by Zencity—a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments around the world.

Zencity is a software that enables local government leaders to gather, understand, and act on resident feedback, going beyond the "same ten people" to actually reach residents where they're at, and incorporate that feedback into decisions large and small. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact:

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 rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Municipal Leadership.

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