Introducing: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - Save 50% During Launch Phase
Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.
What happens when your hometown becomes your workplace? When every trip to the grocery store is a potential town hall meeting? When the water superintendent whose work you watched as a child becomes the foundation for your own leadership journey?
This week on The HaltingWinter Podcast, we dive into these questions and more with Bill Wagoner, who’s celebrating 20 years as Arcola, Illinois’ first and only City Administrator.
Bill’s story isn’t just about longevity in municipal leadership – it’s about the unique power of deep community roots. Growing up as the water superintendent’s son, Bill gained an early appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work that makes cities function. Today, that childhood experience informs his approach to managing a city of just over 3,000 residents.
While many might see leading a small town as limiting, Bill’s story reveals the unique opportunities it presents:
In our conversation, Bill shares candid insights about:
Perhaps most inspiring is Bill’s commitment to developing future municipal leaders. His internship program, inspired by his own early career experience, has launched numerous successful careers in municipal government – a testament to the impact small towns can have on the broader municipal landscape.
Are you leading in your hometown? How do you balance personal and professional life in a small community? Share your thoughts in the comments on my LinkedIn page.
Transform Your Leadership Journey in 2025
The path to stronger cities begins with stronger, more sustainable leadership. The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), launching in January 2025, offers a comprehensive approach to personal and professional growth designed specifically for city managers and administrators.
Through daily insights, peer community, and expert guidance, you’ll develop:
Join a community of municipal leaders committed to personal excellence and organizational impact.
Seth Winterhalter is President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, dedicated to making stronger cities through stronger leaders. Through executive coaching, consulting, and the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), HaltingWinter helps city managers and municipal leaders transform their leadership impact and their organizational culture.
