The HaltingWinter Podcast

Katelyn Zeits: Beyond the Corner OfficeHow Relationships Transform Organizational Culture

Episode 344 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What if transforming organizational culture isn't about policies, strategic plans, or organizational charts, but about relationships?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Katelyn Zeits, County Administrator for Benzie County, Michigan, to explore the leadership lessons she's learned from a childhood on a dairy farm, a career that began in local government clerking and elections, and her journey to becoming the first female County Administrator in Benzie County's history.

Katelyn shares how growing up in a family deeply rooted in public service shaped her passion for community, why she believes local government must do a better job of introducing young people to public service careers, and how a culture transformation effort began with a simple realization: employees were afraid to walk into the administrator's office.

From building trust within an organization to fostering collaboration across townships, villages, elected offices, and community partners, Katelyn offers a practical and inspiring look at what it means to lead with humility, accessibility, and purpose.

Whether you're a city manager, county administrator, department director, or emerging leader, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the strongest organizations are built on relationships.

About Katelyn ZeitsKatelyn Zeits serves as the County Administrator for Benzie County, Michigan, where she leads organizational operations and strategic initiatives while fostering a culture of collaboration and service. A lifelong advocate for public service, Katelyn is passionate about developing future local government leaders, strengthening organizational culture, and helping communities thrive through strong relationships and shared purpose.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions. As host of The HaltingWinter Podcast, he shines a spotlight on the people behind local government, sharing the inspiring stories of city and county leaders from across the nation to elevate the profession, encourage those who serve, and inspire the next generation to pursue meaningful careers in public service.

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

Scottie Harris: Calm in the ChaosLeading a Community Through Crisis, Recovery, and Uncertainty

Episode 343 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does leadership look like when the phones stop working, the roads wash away, and an entire community is looking for answers?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Scottie Harris, Town Manager of Weaverville, North Carolina, whose career has taken him from fire service and military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan to the front lines of local government leadership during Hurricane Helene.

Scottie's journey is anything but conventional. From serving as a firefighter and 911 supervisor to leading emergency operations around the world and ultimately becoming a town manager, his story offers powerful lessons on leadership, preparedness, culture, and public service.

Together, Seth and Scottie discuss what it means to lead when circumstances are at their worst, why trust must be built long before a crisis arrives, and how leaders can remain steady when everything around them feels uncertain.

About Scottie HarrisScottie Harris is the Town Manager of Weaverville, North Carolina, with more than 30 years of experience in firefighting, emergency management, 911 communications, military service, and municipal leadership. From helping establish fire operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to leading Weaverville through Hurricane Helene and its recovery, Scottie has built a career centered on service, preparedness, and community resilience. He was recently recognized by the North Carolina League of Municipalities with a Certificate of Municipal Excellence at its CityVision Conference.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions. As host of The HaltingWinter Podcast, he shines a spotlight on the people behind local government, sharing the inspiring stories of city and county leaders from across the nation to elevate the profession, encourage those who serve, and inspire the next generation to pursue meaningful careers in public service.

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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Primed to PerformEpisode 342 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Why do your people come to work? Not what you hope the answer is; the real answer. The motive that actually drives them every day.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces Primed to Perform by Neel Doshi and Lindsay McGregor, this week's book inside the MLDC, and unpacks why local government leaders need to pay attention to the science of motivation if they want to build cultures that actually perform.

Doshi and McGregor identify six motives that drive every employee. Three of them build performance. Three of them destroy it. And the environments local government leaders operate in — public scrutiny, civil service systems, constrained compensation — naturally generate the wrong three.

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/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Primed to Perform by Neel Doshi & Lindsay McGregor

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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

Dean Huard: The Second MissionWhy Veterans Belong in Local Government

Episode 341 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What happens when a military career ends but the desire to serve remains?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with former Army Lieutenant Colonel and former city manager Dean Huard to discuss leadership, purpose, transition, and why local government may be one of the best-kept secrets for veterans looking for their next mission.

Dean's journey has taken him from growing up in a Coast Guard family, to serving more than three decades in the military, to leading a Texas municipality, and ultimately into consulting and advocacy work supporting state and local governments. Along the way, he experienced career setbacks, health challenges, and difficult transitions that tested his resilience and reshaped his perspective on service.

Together, Seth and Dean explore the surprising similarities between military leadership and municipal leadership, the untapped potential veterans bring to local government, and why communities benefit when experienced leaders continue serving beyond the uniform.

Whether you're a veteran exploring your next chapter, a city manager looking to build stronger teams, or a local government leader seeking encouragement, Dean's story is a powerful reminder that service doesn't end when one career closes—it simply finds a new mission.

About Dean Huard

Dean Huard is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, former city manager, and senior consultant specializing in state and local government engagement. Throughout his career, he has served in military, corporate, and municipal leadership roles, bringing a unique perspective on leadership, service, and organizational effectiveness. Dean is passionate about helping veterans successfully transition into local government careers and strengthening the connection between public service and community impact.

Connect with Dean Huard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-huard

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

Jordan Villwock: The Culture AdvantageHow Ontario Became America's Top Local Government Workplace

Episode 340 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does it take to build a workplace where people want to stay, grow, and lead?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Jordan Villwock, Deputy City Manager for the City of Ontario, California, to explore the leadership, culture, and intentional employee development practices that helped Ontario earn recognition as the #1 local government workplace in America among organizations with 1,000–2,500 employees.

Jordan's journey into local government began as a police dispatcher in Laguna Beach before evolving into roles in emergency management, fire administration, and executive leadership. Along the way, he discovered a passion for developing people, strengthening organizations, and creating systems that help both employees and communities thrive.

Together, Seth and Jordan discuss the realities of emergency management, leading through growth, succession planning, employee engagement, and the practical steps Ontario has taken to build a culture that employees are proud to be part of.

They talk about:

• How Ontario became a nationally recognized top workplace
• Why culture is built through consistency, communication, and intentionality
• The role strategic planning plays in organizational alignment
• How Ontario's leadership development programs are preparing the next generation of municipal leaders
• Why succession planning can no longer be an afterthought in local government
• The importance of breaking down silos and building collaboration across departments
• Lessons learned from a career spanning dispatch, emergency management, fire administration, and executive leadership
• Why employee development is one of the most important investments a city can make

Whether you're a city manager, department director, emerging leader, or someone passionate about building stronger organizations, this conversation offers practical ideas for creating a workplace where people can do their best work and grow into their full potential.

About Jordan Villwock

Jordan Villwock serves as Deputy City Manager for the City of Ontario, California. During his local government career, he has served in public safety, emergency management, fire administration, and executive leadership roles. He is also an adjunct professor in emergency management and was recently recognized by ELGL as a 2026 Top Influencer in Local Government.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Unreasonable HospitalityEpisode 339 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

What separates a competent organization from one that people actually trust? It's not efficiency. It's not accuracy. It's not even innovation.

According to Will Guidara, former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park (once named the best restaurant in the world), the answer is hospitality. And there's a critical difference between hospitality and service that most leaders have never stopped to consider.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter continues a 3-month series inside the MLDC focused on organizational culture by exploring the central ideas from Guidara's Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect and making the case for why this book belongs on every local government leader's desk.

Local government is extraordinarily good at service delivery. But service alone doesn't build trust. This episode explores what does and why the answer is both more demanding and more achievable than most leaders expect.

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/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guiadara

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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

Leonard Hernandez: More Than Books and BuildingsHow Libraries and Counties Create Community

Episode 338 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What do libraries, museums, parks, and county government have in common? Far more than most people realize.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Leonard Hernandez (County Manager in Thurston County, Washington) to explore the often unseen role counties play in shaping thriving communities and how public spaces like libraries can become some of the most powerful tools for connection, learning, and belonging.

Leonard shares his remarkable journey from shelving books as a library page in Southern California to leading one of Washington State's fastest-growing counties. Along the way, the conversation dives into the evolution of libraries from quiet book repositories into vibrant community hubs, the importance of collaboration across local government, and the small moments of encouragement that can change the trajectory of a person's life and leadership.

They also unpack:

• Why counties are one of the most misunderstood levels of government
• How local government can foster belonging through public spaces
• The connection between literacy, opportunity, and community outcomes
• What the pandemic revealed about communication and collaboration in government
• Why curiosity and creativity are essential leadership skills
• How Thurston County is navigating growth, regional partnership, and the future of community development

This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about the invisible work local government does every day to hold communities together.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

Mike Winder: The City Hall People Actually Want to VisitRethinking Community, Communication, and Civic Trust

Episode 337 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What if City Hall became one of the most engaging places in the community instead of one of the most intimidating?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth sits down with Mike Winder—recently recognized as one of America's 250 Public Service Champions—to explore how local government can move beyond simply delivering services and begin intentionally creating belonging, trust, and community connection.

Mike shares his unconventional journey from growing up in a fifth-generation dairy family to serving as a city councilmember, mayor, state legislator, economic development director, and ultimately city manager of one of Utah's newest cities.

Together, they discuss:

• Why local government is still the most impactful level of government
• How cities can foster belonging in an increasingly disconnected culture
• The importance of storytelling and communication in rebuilding civic trust
• Why City Hall should feel welcoming, engaging, and alive
• The creation of Millcreek Common and a City Hall designed as a true community destination
• How intentional culture-building strengthens both organizations and communities
• Practical ways local leaders can create connection without massive budgets
• The challenge of leadership boundaries and protecting personal well-being in public service

This conversation is filled with practical ideas, hopeful vision, and a refreshing reminder that local government still has the power to shape everyday life in meaningful ways.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – An Everyone CultureEpisode 336 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Most local government leaders will tell you they're committed to developing their people. And they mean it. But in An Everyone Culture, Harvard researchers Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey make a case that confronts the reality facing most leaders: the way nearly every organization is built — including yours — is quietly working against the very development you're trying to create.

The culprit is what Kegan and Lahey call the second job. It's the invisible work your people are doing on top of their actual job — covering weaknesses, managing impressions, performing competence for the council, for peers, for the public. Nobody assigned it. Nobody talks about it. But it's happening in your organization right now, and it's draining the energy and capacity your team needs to do their best work.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter unpacks the central idea behind Kegan and Lahey's Deliberately Developmental Organization (DDO), a workplace where growth isn't a program or a perk, but the way the organization actually runs. He walks through what that means specifically in the context of local government, where civil service systems, elected oversight, and public scrutiny create real barriers to the kind of culture the book describes and why those barriers make the work more urgent, not less.

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/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: An Everyone Culture by Robert Kegan & Lisa Lahey

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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

Paz Gomez: The Mission Behind Public WorksFrom Navy Engineering to Building Thriving Communities

Episode 335 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

During National Public Works Week, we're highlighting the people and stories behind the infrastructure that keeps our communities moving forward every single day.

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager overseeing Public Works for the City of Carlsbad, California, and one of the American Public Works Association's Top 10 Public Works Leaders of 2025.

From growing up in a Filipino Navy family to serving as a commanding officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps, Paz shares a remarkable journey of leadership, engineering, service, and community impact. The conversation explores the hidden realities of public works leadership, the similarities between military bases and city operations, the importance of breaking down silos across departments, and why the future of local government depends on developing the next generation of leaders.

This episode is a powerful reminder that public works is about far more than roads, pipes, and projects. It's about building communities where people can thrive.

Whether you serve in public works, utilities, engineering, administration, or community leadership, this conversation will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the people quietly building and sustaining the places we call home.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

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