The Infrastructure of Trust: How to Lead Growth Without Losing Identity

When a township begins to grow, it doesn’t just need more infrastructure—it needs more trust.

In this week’s episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, we sit down with Christopher Garges, Township Manager of Solebury, Pennsylvania, to explore how leadership, empathy, and community alignment can keep a growing municipality grounded in its identity.

Christopher’s journey into local government wasn’t conventional. From painting fire hydrants as a summer job to managing multimillion-dollar construction projects, to now overseeing a thriving township near Philadelphia, his story is rooted in service, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to people.

What makes this episode especially timely is its direct connection to this week’s MLDC Book of the Week, The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey. Christopher is living proof that trust accelerates performance—and that listening well, communicating consistently, and leading with humility aren’t just good ideas—they’re foundational infrastructure.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why zoning enforcement can either build or break community relationships
• What transitioning from private sector construction to public service taught Christopher about leadership
• How Solebury is managing growth while preserving open space, sustainability, and local character
• What it means to foster a culture of unreasonable hospitality in local government
• How to stay grounded in purpose amid national division and local frustration
• Why the best leaders don’t rush into new roles—they listen first
• What Christopher learned as Township Manager of the Year and why it’s never a solo award

Christopher’s perspective is a reminder that leading a municipality isn’t just about roads and ordinances. It’s about people. And if we want to lead growth without losing who we are, we need to build the infrastructure of trust.

The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.