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

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

• 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

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

• 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

Connect with Seth Winterhalter:

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

Episode Summary

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."

Key Topics Covered

• 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

Show Notes: Ghida NeukirchWhen Leadership Meets Tragedy: Resilience, Recovery, and the Burden of City Management

Episode 239 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

Overview

What happens when the unimaginable strikes your community? For Ghida Neukirch, City Manager of Highland Park, Illinois, that question became reality on July 4, 2022, when a mass shooting shattered the city's annual parade.

In this conversation, Ghida shares her personal journey, from fleeing civil war in Lebanon as a child to becoming a respected city manager, and the lessons she's learned about resilience, leadership, and recovery in the face of tragedy.

Listeners will hear:

• The pipeline problem: how a college project sparked her career in local government.

• Breaking silos: why culture and collaboration matter more than org charts.

• Networks that save you: the value of professional associations when "it's lonely at the top."

• Preparedness in practice: how Highland Park's training and mutual aid agreements shaped the response that day.

• The human side of leadership: carrying both professional responsibility and personal grief.

This episode is both a case study in crisis leadership and a reminder of the unseen burdens city managers carry.

Connect with Ghida Neukirch

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ghida-neukirch

About Our Sponsors

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

Connect with Seth Winterhalter:

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions

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

Seth's Upcoming Keynotes:

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

2026 Illinois City/County Management Association Winter Conference February 11-13 | Normal, IL Details at ILCMA

2026 Wisconsin City/County Management Association Winter Conference February 25-27 | Oshkosh, WI Details at WCMA

Show Notes: Lori Curtis Luther The Messy Truth of City Management: Power Struggles, Public Pressure, and Daily Firestorms

Episode 238 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

Overview

City management isn't just budgets, ordinances, and long-range planning. It's navigating crises, absorbing public pressure, and making decisions that can end careers overnight.

In this episode, Lori Curtis Luther, City Manager of Overland Park, Kansas, pulls back the curtain on what the job really looks like when the spotlight turns harsh. From removing police chiefs in the middle of a leadership crisis, to managing a divided community during COVID, to handling union fights and a governing body of 13 elected officials, her career is a study in resilience, influence, and survival.

We cover:

• Why straight shooting, even when unpopular, is the only way to build long-term trust.

• The public backlash and hate mail that came with COVID decisions.

• How to manage power struggles and union negotiations without losing credibility.

• Why leading with authenticity beats trying to emulate others.

• The recruiting truth: "No private industry can compete with our purpose. We build community."

Lori's journey reminds every city leader that the job isn't clean...it's messy, political, and high-stakes. But it's also deeply meaningful when you learn to stand firm in the firestorms.

Connect with Lori Curtis Luther

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lori-c

About Our Sponsors

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

Connect with Seth Winterhalter:

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions

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

Seth's Upcoming Keynotes:

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

2026 Illinois City/County Management Association Winter Conference February 11-13 | Normal, IL Details at ILCMA

2026 Wisconsin City/County Management Association Winter Conference February 25-27 | Oshkosh, WI Details at WCMA

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The 8 Dimensions of LeadershipEpisode 237 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode Overview

This week in the Municipal Leadership Development Community, we're exploring "The 8 Dimensions of Leadership" by Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm. Discover why your biggest leadership challenges come from people who think completely differently than you and what you can do about it.

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 8 Dimensions of Leadership by Jeffrey Sugermen, et. al
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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

Show Notes: Lee Feldman: When to Walk AwayHeart Attacks, Politics, and Permission to Leave

Episode 236 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

Overview

What does it take to lead a city for decades, and how do you know when it's time to step away?

In this episode, I sit down with Lee Feldman, past ICMA President and city manager in multiple Florida cities, to explore the highs, lows, and lessons from a 40-year career in local government. Lee's journey—from a teenage "gopher" in a city manager's office to the top seat in cities like North Miami, Palm Bay, Fort Lauderdale, and Gainesville—offers a rare window into the realities of municipal leadership.

We unpack:

• The jump from #2 to #1: Why being a city manager is lonelier, and why your words carry a different weight.

• Health and politics as turning points: How a heart attack and a hostile mayor taught Lee when it was time to move on.

• Culture through language: Why he stopped calling people "residents" and "employees," and instead reframed them as neighbors and community builders.

• Small gestures with big impact: From hand-signed anniversary cards to "Lunch with Lee," the little things that still matter to employees decades later.

• Navigating crises: Lessons from leading through the pandemic, where college students became "vectors" and a skate park filled with mulch made national news.

• Networks as lifelines: Why no city manager can thrive without professional associations and trusted peers.

Lee's story is a masterclass in resilience, culture change, and knowing your limits. For every municipal leader, it's both an encouragement and a challenge: you don't have to stay forever, but while you're in the seat, you can shape lives and communities in ways that last.

Connect with Lee Feldman

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/leerfeldman

About Our Sponsors

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

Connect with Seth Winterhalter:

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions

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

Seth's Upcoming Keynotes:

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: Kiel Mangus: From Imposter Syndrome to ImpactThe Realities of City Management in Times of Uncertainty

Episode 235 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies and Zencity

Overview

What does it take to step into leadership when you don't feel ready, and how do you grow into impact while navigating floods, growth, and public pressure?

In this episode, I sit down with Kiel Mangus, City Manager of Derby, Kansas, to explore his unexpected path into local government and the lessons learned along the way. From a one-day internship that turned into a career in public service to leading through explosive community growth and devastating natural disasters, Kiel's story highlights both the challenges and the rewards of municipal leadership.

We talk about:

• Why imposter syndrome is part of every leader's journey and how to move through it.

• What floods, wastewater plants, and rapid housing growth taught him about crisis management.

• The overlooked role of Public Works as true first responders.

• Why residents often misunderstand local government and how leaders can tell their story better.

• How COVID reshaped work, balance, and the expectations of city staff.

Whether you're an aspiring leader or a seasoned city manager, this episode is a reminder that uncertainty isn't a barrier to leadership; it's the proving ground where leaders are forged.

Connect with Kiel Mangus

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kiel-mangus

About Our Sponsors

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

Connect with Seth Winterhalter:

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions

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

Seth's Upcoming Keynotes:

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 – 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