Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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When you think about local government leadership, your mind probably goes to bustling city halls, policy debates, and big-city mayors making headlines. But in the quiet lakefront village of Pentwater, Michigan, where the year-round population barely breaks 900, leadership looks a little different.
And that’s exactly why it matters.
In Episode 202 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, brought to you by Zencity, we shine a light on the remarkable journey of Pentwater’s Village Manager, Rachel Witherspoon, a young leader whose story is full of insight, humility, and the kind of purpose-driven work that often goes unnoticed.
From a childhood spent watching city council meetings for fun (yes, really) to navigating the challenges of managing a village that swells to 10,000 people each summer, this episode is a powerful reminder that local government isn’t just about systems and infrastructure—it’s about people, place, and legacy.
Too often, we assume the only path to impact in government is through election. This episode challenges that narrative. You’ll hear how one intern-turned-assistant discovered that city management was her true calling—not by chance, but by being present, asking questions, and listening deeply to the communities she served.
She also shares why roles like “assistant to the village manager” are some of the most underrated in the profession, and why more people, especially young professionals, should consider them as launchpads for leadership.
Pentwater isn’t just a postcard town on Lake Michigan. It’s a place with real infrastructure challenges, economic questions, and community tension, especially when its population multiplies tenfold each summer. This episode explores what it’s like to manage that shift: from water systems and police staffing to park usage, revenue planning, and resident expectations.
It’s not just about keeping things running, it’s about stewarding something bigger. Something generational.
Midway through the episode, we dive into a viral LinkedIn post shared by our guest: six leadership lessons learned in her first nine months in the seat. These aren’t just bullet points, they’re deeply lived reminders for anyone in public service:
Each insight is honest, practical, and refreshingly grounded in the daily reality of life in local government.
If you’ve ever questioned whether this work is worth it, this episode will remind you why it is.
If you’re new to the field, it will give you a vision of what’s possible when you lead with clarity, compassion, and consistency.
And if you’ve been in the seat for years, it might just reignite the mission behind the management.
This is the kind of leadership we need more of. Not flashy. Not performative. But faithful, resilient, and rooted in service.
202: Rachel Witherspoon: Stewarding Stories and Small-Town Summers
This episode is brought to you by Zencity
This episode is proudly presented by Zencity—helping local governments turn everyday feedback into real-time insights so leaders can make confident, community-informed decisions. To learn more about how Zencity is helping turn data into action and insight into impact, visit zencity.io.
The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities, counties, and communities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.
