The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode 185 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Christopher Gilbert, Township Administrator of Springfield Township, Ohio, to explore how customer service isn't just a frontline task, it's a leadership philosophy. With a background in engineering and a passion for systems, Chris shares how he led a cultural shift across the organization that made public service smoother, faster, and more human.

For Chris, the goal isn't just "better service." It's building trust by making every city interaction feel respectful, responsive, and frictionless. This conversation is a masterclass in what it means to lead from the inside out—designing teams, training, and systems that turn municipal values into resident experiences.

• More Than Manners: Why Chris's customer service initiative focused on culture, not scripts and how that changed everything

• Removing Friction: How Springfield redesigned internal workflows to make city services easier to access and navigate

• Cross-Department Consistency: What it takes to build a shared service philosophy across multiple teams and touchpoints

• Leadership Through Systems: Why good leaders don't just solve problems—they create structures that solve them over and over

• Transparency as a Trust Strategy: How showing residents what's happening behind the scenes strengthens public confidence

• From Tactical to Strategic: His journey from city engineer to city manager and how technical skills gave way to people-first thinking

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-gilbert

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 Leadership.

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 South Carolina APWA Chapter Annual Conference June 24 | Spartanburg, SC Details at SCAPWA

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Conference & Expo September 24 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 4 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is where municipal leaders grow together through weekly podcasts, curated book insights, and a nationwide peer community focused on real leadership, real culture, and real conversations.

Secure Your Summer Special and Start Your FREE 7-day trial Join the MLDC

Episode 184 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In this vulnerable and deeply reflective episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator of Ann Arbor, Michigan—a seasoned leader with decades of executive municipal experience and the hard-won wisdom that comes with it.

Milton doesn't speak in buzzwords. He speaks in truth about the emotional cost of leadership, the isolation that often accompanies it, and the quiet weight leaders carry while holding their communities together. This conversation offers more than professional advice—it's a powerful reminder of the humanity behind the title.

If you've ever felt unseen, stretched thin, or unsure whether the work you're doing is truly making a difference, this episode is for you.

• "I didn't come to keep the seat warm." Milton shares what it means to take a leadership role seriously and why forward momentum is a responsibility, not a bonus.

• The Emotional Weight of Leadership From carrying team burdens to managing public pressure, Milton speaks openly about the isolation leaders rarely admit.

• Loneliness at the Top Why leadership doesn't protect you from struggle and why sharing that truth can actually make you stronger.

• Reclaiming the Identity of Public Service Milton reflects on how the pride and perception of municipal leadership have changed and why it's time to reignite the mission.

• Presence Over Visibility A subtle but vital distinction: real leaders don't just show up—they connect, engage, and make people feel seen.

• The Power of Listening and Learning Milton shares how being fully present with residents and staff creates trust and resilience in times of uncertainty.

• Advice for Aspiring and Current Leaders "Don't seek the title. Seek the transformation you can help bring about."

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/milton-dohoney-jr

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 Leadership.

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 South Carolina APWA Chapter Annual Conference June 24 | Spartanburg, SC Details at SCAPWA

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Conference & Expo September 24 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 4 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is where municipal leaders grow together through weekly podcasts, curated book insights, and a nationwide peer community focused on real leadership, real culture, and real conversations.

Secure Your Summer Special and Start Your FREE 7-day trial Join the MLDC

Episode 183 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Citizens, Not Customers (Part 1 of 5: "The New Public Service" Series)

In this opening episode of our latest MLDC series, Seth Winterhalter challenges one of the most common assumptions in local government leadership: that residents are customers and cities are service providers.

Drawing from The New Public Service by Janet and Robert Denhardt, Seth explores how this mindset, while well-intentioned, can unintentionally reduce civic participation, strain trust, and disconnect leadership from the very people it serves. In contrast, a citizen-centered approach invites collaboration, dialogue, and shared responsibility.

This episode will reset your frame and offer practical ways to lead with your community, not just for them.

• Residents are not consumers of city services—they are co-creators of community

• Treating people like customers centers transactions; treating them like citizens centers shared values

• "Public interest" isn't discovered through surveys—it's shaped through dialogue

• The goal of government isn't just efficient service—it's meaningful engagement

• Leadership in this framework shifts from "fixer" to facilitator of shared purpose

• Real trust is built when people feel included early, not just consulted late

Monday: Citizens vs. customers Tuesday: Serving, not steering Wednesday: Valuing people over productivity Thursday: Engagement over control Friday: Integrity and trust as culture-shaping leadership tools

This week only, unlock:

• All 5 podcast episodes in The New Public Service series

• Daily written reflections to help you implement what you're learning

• Friday's Virtual Book Club for live peer discussion

• Full access to the MLDC platform + national leadership network → Start your 7-day free trial now at HaltingWinter.com

• Book: The New Public Service by Janet & Robert Denhardt

• MLDC: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle

• Weekly Newsletter: The Leader's Lens

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

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Episode 182 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In this bold and deeply personal episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Bret Prebula, City Manager of Suisun City, California, whose story is reshaping how we think about leadership in local government.

Legally blind due to a degenerative eye condition, Bret leads with a clarity many fully sighted leaders never reach. But his disability isn't the whole story—it's just the lens through which he's built a career defined by smart risk-taking, servant leadership, and a refusal to play small.

From transforming Napa County's investment returns to challenging the stagnation he inherited in Suisun City, Bret speaks openly about failure, fear, and what public sector leaders must embrace if they want to serve their communities with impact.

This conversation is for every municipal leader who's tired of being stuck and ready to move boldly, even in uncertainty.

• From Private Sector to Public Impact Bret shares how his background in golf retail taught him to think like an entrepreneur, but with a public mission

• Redefining Risk in Local Government Why playing it safe has a hidden cost and how opportunity cost is the real threat to innovation

• "Protect the Fall, Don't Prevent It" Bret's mentorship model encourages risk, protects integrity, and builds resilient leaders

• How Legal Blindness Changed His Leadership Style The vulnerability, urgency, and clarity that came from losing his physical sight but gaining a sharper vision for public service

• Turning Failure into Permission to Try Again A story of a failed corrections tech rollout, and how owning the mistake actually built trust with leadership

• Why Fear-Based Government Is Failing Communities Bret calls out the risk-aversion that paralyzes progress and urges leaders to take smart, strategic leaps

• Leading a City in Catch-Up Mode Bret reflects on Suisun City's need for speed, change, and renewed vision—and why urgency isn't panic, it's responsibility

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-prebula

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: We help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient cultures through transformative keynotes, workshops, coaching, and community. Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 South Carolina APWA Chapter Annual Conference June 24 | Spartanburg, SC Details at SCAPWA

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Conference & Expo September 24 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 4 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is where municipal leaders grow together through weekly podcasts, curated book insights, and a nationwide peer community focused on real leadership, real culture, and real conversations.

Start your FREE 7-day trial and get 20% off with code PODCAST Join the MLDC

In this honest and deeply human episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Bridgette Gransden, County Administrator of Midland County, Michigan, and current President of the Michigan Municipal Executives Association.

Bridgette's story is one many leaders will recognize: straight-A student, valedictorian, the one who always showed up early, worked the hardest, and kept pushing. But beneath the drive for excellence was a mounting cost—one that eventually surfaced in her health, her self-worth, and her ability to rest.

In this candid conversation, Bridgette opens up about the tension between high performance and inner peace, and how she's learning to lead through grace, self-awareness, and strength-based leadership instead of just grit and pressure.

Whether you're a municipal leader struggling to let yourself slow down or someone searching for a more sustainable way to lead others without losing yourself, this episode is a must-listen.

• The Hidden Cost of Overachievement How early success patterns fueled Bridgette's leadership but also drove her toward burnout

• "If I'm Not Achieving, Am I Worth Anything?" A powerful reflection on tying self-worth to performance and productivity

• Title ≠ Value Why Bridgette believes leadership should come from every level of the organization

• Strengths-Based Leadership in Practice How the VIA Character Strengths assessment transformed her team's self-awareness, communication, and collaboration

• The Role of Kindness, Humor, and Hope Bridgette's five core leadership strengths and how she's learned to lead with them unapologetically

• Mental Health and Grace in Leadership Why seeing a psychiatrist changed the way she leads and how she's learning to give herself grace without letting go of care for others

• From Dow to County Government Why local government matters deeply, especially in "company towns" where the public sector's role is often misunderstood

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgette-gransden Michigan Municipal Executives: https://www.mme.org/

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: We help local government leaders build thriving cultures and resilient teams through transformative keynotes, workshops, coaching, and community. Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

2025 South Carolina APWA Chapter Annual Conference June 24 | Spartanburg, SC Details at SCAPWA

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Conference & Expo September 24 | Owensboro, KY Details at KLC

2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference December 4 | Manhattan, KS Details at KCMA

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is where municipal leaders grow together through weekly podcasts, curated book insights, and a nationwide peer community focused on real leadership, real culture, and real conversations.

Start your FREE 7-day trial and get 20% off with code PODCAST Join the MLDC

Episode 180 of The HaltingWinter Podcast The Confidence Paradox in Municipal Leadership (Part 1 of 5: "The Confidence Code" Series)

In this opening episode of our latest MLDC series, Seth Winterhalter explores the "confidence paradox" that so many municipal leaders quietly wrestle with: how it's possible to be highly competent, yet still hesitate to lead boldly or decisively.

Drawing from The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, Seth introduces the core concept that confidence isn't just a personality trait—it's a skill. And most importantly, it's a skill built through action, not just thought.

This episode offers a compelling framework for understanding why city managers, directors, and administrators often second-guess themselves in high-stakes moments—and what to do about it.

• Confidence is behavioral, not just psychological—it grows through action

• The "confidence paradox" shows up when expertise is present but bold leadership is stalled

• "Authentic confidence" isn't bravado—it's grounded in competence, humility, and deliberate progress

• Overthinking (rumination) undermines clarity and slows down execution

• Confidence, when modeled well, creates psychological safety for your team

• You don't need certainty to act—you need enough clarity to take the next step

Monday: Understanding the confidence paradox in public service Tuesday: Breaking free from overthinking and decision paralysis Wednesday: The ripple effect of leader confidence on teams and culture Thursday: Dismantling perfectionism to unlock progress Friday: Building confidence through consistent, small actions

This week, we're unlocking full access to:

• All 5 episodes from The Confidence Code podcast series

• Daily blog reflections with implementation prompts

• Our Friday Virtual Book Club session

• A national network of municipal leaders just like you → Start your free trial now at HaltingWinter.com

• Book: The Confidence Code by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman

• MLDC: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle

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

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Episode 179 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In celebration of National Public Works Week, The HaltingWinter Podcast features a powerful and personal conversation with Kevin Richardson, Water and Wastewater Engineering Project Manager for the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina, and a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Kevin's journey from global combat zones to managing public infrastructure at the local level is a story of resilience, reinvention, and rediscovered purpose. With over 16 years in the military, followed by a winding transition through private sector roles and public service positions, Kevin eventually found his professional calling in public works—an industry he describes as "quiet professionals keeping cities alive."

From solid waste to sanitation, water systems to citizen engagement, Kevin offers both a behind-the-scenes look at municipal operations and a front-row seat to what it means to lead with humility, structure, and soul.

• From the Marines to Municipal Streets Kevin's 16-year military career, 49 countries, multiple deployments, and the search for purpose after retirement

• Finding Public Works by Accident How a personality assessment and a college government class sparked an unexpected path into local service

• Why Public Works Is Purpose-Driven How Kevin reframed the "invisible work" of infrastructure as deeply meaningful and community-impacting

• The Transition Struggle Is Real What most people don't understand about military-to-civilian life—and how one mentor helped Kevin rewrite his story

• Telling the Story of Public Works Why engineers, operators, and managers need to become better communicators and storytellers

• Citizen Engagement Done Right Rock Hill's "Inside Rock Hill" program and how it turns curious residents into city ambassadors

• The Power of Mentorship From picking up trash to leading with character, Kevin shares how mentors helped him make the leap—and why he's reaching back to help others now

• The Silence of Our Service Kevin's mic-drop moment: "The silence of our service is the applause that we get."

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-richardson

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: We help local government leaders build thriving cultures and resilient teams through transformative keynotes, workshops, coaching, and community. Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

Seth Winterhalter headlines the 2025 APWA South Carolina Chapter Annual Conference in Spartanburg, June 23rd–26th. Register here

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is the professional development home for city and county leaders who want to grow personally and lead with purpose.

Podcast listeners get 20% off their membership + a 7-day FREE trial Use code PODCAST at checkout JOIN THE MLDC

Episode 178 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In honor of National Public Works Week, The HaltingWinter Podcast turns the spotlight on one of the most vital yet often misunderstood pillars of local government: public works. In this episode, host Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ryan Blancke, Assistant Public Works Director for York County, South Carolina—one of the fastest-growing counties in the Southeast—to uncover what it really takes to keep a modern county moving forward.

From starting as a high school intern in 11th grade to now overseeing more than 260 employees and millions in infrastructure, Ryan's story is a masterclass in saying "yes" to growth, embracing leadership, and building systems that serve people.

If you've ever wondered what public works actually does or how the right leader can make it all run with excellence and purpose, this episode will open your eyes to the complexity, creativity, and calling behind the scenes.

• The Internship That Changed Everything How a high school program opened the door to a lifelong career in local government

• From Engineering to Leadership Why Ryan pivoted from design to process and how that shift helped modernize operations across multiple departments

• More Than Just Roads The incredible scope of public works in York County, from fleet and facilities to landfill, water/sewer, and even animal control

• Stretch Roles and Smart Risks How saying "yes" to opportunities before you feel ready can shape a powerful leadership path

• Managing the Chaos How Ryan leads systems, staff, and service across 700 square miles, 600+ vehicles, and millions in capital projects

• Partnering with the Private Sector Why collaboration, procurement, and communication are just as vital as equipment and manpower

• Telling the Story of Public Works Why we need to do a better job educating residents, and even other city departments, about what Public Works does and why it matters

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-blancke-1930921b/

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: We build stronger cities by building stronger leaders. Explore our leadership development keynotes, workshops, and services at HaltingWinter.com

Seth Winterhalter headlines the 2025 APWA South Carolina Chapter Annual Conference in Spartanburg, June 23rd–26th. Register here

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is the professional development home for city and county leaders who want to grow personally and lead with purpose.

Podcast listeners get 20% off their membership + a 7-day FREE trial Use code PODCAST at checkout JOIN THE MLDC

Show Notes: Book of the Week – "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" Episode 177 of The HaltingWinter Podcast The Hard Things About Municipal Leadership (Part 1 of 5: "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" Series)

This week inside the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter kicks off a new series exploring The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, reframed for the real-world realities of municipal leadership.

This first episode introduces the concept of "the struggle"—those moments in leadership when everything seems to be going wrong, and there's no playbook to follow. Whether it's a budget collapse, political turmoil, or community crisis, municipal leaders face these hard things more often than most. As Seth explains, the solution isn't found in easy answers—it's found in clarity, transparency, resilience, and the ability to lead decisively through uncertainty.

• Why the hardest leadership moments offer no clear right answer

• What "the struggle" feels like in city management and why it's a normal part of the job

• The power of transparency during difficult decisions

• How to model "the right kind of ambition" focused on community, not ego

• Peacetime vs. Wartime leadership: when to shift your style and how to know the difference

• Leading with the truth even when the truth is unpopular or politically risky

Monday: Introducing the struggle and the realities of leading without a script Tuesday–Thursday: Culture, communication, talent, and personal resilience Friday: Virtual Book Club – What's your version of "the hard thing," and how are you leading through it?

This week only, get full access to:

• All five episodes in The Speed of Trust podcast series

• Daily blog content and leadership tools

• Live Friday Virtual Book Club discussion

• A growing national network of municipal leaders inside the MLDC → Start your free trial today at HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

• Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• MLDC: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle

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

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Episode 176 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, host Seth Winterhalter sits down with Christopher Garges, Township Manager of Solebury, Pennsylvania, to explore one of the most critical leadership tensions in local government today: how to manage rapid growth without sacrificing the identity and trust of a community.

With a career that began in construction management and evolved through zoning, planning, and now township leadership, Christopher shares how his hands-on background, deep roots in Bucks County, and people-first philosophy help him lead with both strategic clarity and human empathy.

Christopher opens up about the transition from private to public sector, the lessons learned in managing small towns with big challenges, and why customer service, humility, and consistent communication are non-negotiables for building a healthy culture in local government.

This episode pairs perfectly with this week's MLDC book: The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey—offering real-world application from the private sector straight to the public sector trenches.

• From Backhoes to Boardrooms: How growing up around construction sites laid the foundation for servant leadership

• Private vs. Public Sector: Lessons learned working both sides of infrastructure and what government can learn from business

• First Time in the Manager's Seat: The challenges of wearing every hat in small-town leadership (sometimes including snowplows!)

• Culture Starts with Listening: Why empathy, consistency, and responsiveness shape how residents perceive their local government

• Unreasonable Hospitality in Action: How Christopher's team applies private-sector service principles to zoning, permitting, and even difficult conversations

• Managing Growth Without Losing Identity: How Solebury is balancing preservation, open space, and development pressure just outside Philadelphia

• Beyond Bureaucracy: Using volunteerism, cross-department collaboration, and culture-building events to build staff connection and community trust

• Serving Amid National Tension: How local leaders can buffer their communities from national division through transparency, humility, and people-first service

• Township Manager of the Year: What Christopher learned from being recognized by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber and how his team made it happen

• LinkedIn: Christopher Garges on LinkedIn

Connect With Seth Winterhalter

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: At HaltingWinter, our mission is to build stronger cities through stronger leaders by providing municipal leadership development services, rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. To explore how we can strengthen you and your municipality, visit haltingwinter.com.

Upcoming Events: Don't miss Seth Winterhalter as he keynotes the 2025 APWA South Carolina Chapter Annual Conference in Spartanburg, June 23rd-26th. Register here: https://southcarolina.apwa.org/event/2025-annual-conference/

The MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a community for city managers and administrators from around the country to find support personally and professionally as they lead thriving teams and communities. We're giving podcast listeners 20% off an annual subscription with a 7-day FREE trial to make sure it's the right fit for you. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you register today! --> JOIN HERE