Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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Episode 254 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
There’s a moment in every city manager’s career when the work changes.
Not because the budget shifts, or a new project breaks ground but because something forces you to see the world through a new lens.
For Craig Owens, City Manager of Lawrence, Kansas, that moment came years ago while serving in Clayton, Missouri, as the unrest in nearby Ferguson unfolded.
He thought he was doing good work and he was. But as the nation watched, Craig began to see how the systems of local government, even those built with good intentions, can sometimes fail to serve everyone equally. It was a wake-up call that shaped not just his leadership, but his understanding of what public service truly requires.
“I thought every day I was making people’s lives better and I still believe that. But I wasn’t aware of the impact that doing things a certain way could have on whole communities.”
In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Craig joins Seth Winterhalter to explore what happens when leaders move beyond technical management into the deeper work of conscience and awareness.
He shares how experiences in Clayton and now in Lawrence have changed the way he approaches everything, from community engagement to hiring practices to personal well-being.
What emerges is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t just about running a city; it’s about seeing the people in it.
In this episode:
✔ The limits of “good work” and why awareness must come first
✔ Lessons from Ferguson and the call for equity in local leadership
✔ Building cultures that value humility, listening, and accountability
✔ Why mentorship and storytelling sustain the profession
✔ The ongoing challenge of leading through stress, change, and public pressure
Craig’s story is both deeply personal and universally relevant.
Every municipal leader knows the tension of balancing immediate needs with long-term vision, keeping the water flowing while keeping the culture alive.
This episode challenges each of us to pause and ask:
Are we simply doing the work?
Or are we doing it with the awareness that makes it matter?
Because in the end, the best leaders don’t just manage cities, they shape how communities experience trust, belonging, and hope.
Episode 254: Craig Owens: When “Doing Good Work” Isn’t Enough
Now streaming on The HaltingWinter Podcast.
Behind every line item in a city budget is a story of a neighborhood rebuilt, a park restored, or a promise kept. Tyler Technologies helps city and county leaders turn those stories into strategy.
From Priority Based Budgeting to Payments and Performance Management, Tyler’s solutions help local governments move beyond spreadsheets and silos toward clarity, accountability, and impact.
Because data isn’t the destination. It’s how we get to better decisions, stronger communities, and the kind of transparency that rebuilds trust from the inside out.
Learn more about how Tyler Technologies is helping local governments reimagine budgeting and performance at TylerTech.com/Winter.
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.
