Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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Episode 248 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
In a world that celebrates moving on, Paula Schumacher’s story is about the power of staying.
She began as an intern in Bartlett, Illinois, in 1991. Three decades later, she’s the Village Administrator, leading the same community she once served from the basement of Village Hall.
“It was the right city at the right time,” Paula says. “That growth gave me opportunities most early-career people never get.”
During the 1990s, Bartlett grew from 13,000 to over 40,000 residents. Paula helped guide the village through rapid expansion, balancing new development with the small-town identity residents cherished. Her story captures what local government does best: steady hands navigating constant change.
Today, she’s paying that forward by running an internship program that welcomes high school and college students into public service. Many have gone on to full-time careers, including Bartlett’s current police chief.
“We’re planting seeds and tending a garden that will grow long after we’re gone.”
A breast cancer survivor, Paula also brings rare perspective on work, life, and leadership.
“Balance is a fallacy—it’s more of an ebb and flow. You have to be intentional about carving out time for life and building the bench so your organization can thrive when you’re not in the room.”
Her story is a reminder that local government isn’t just about managing, it’s about staying long enough to shape what lasts.
Listen to Episode 248 on The HaltingWinter Podcast, available on Apple, Spotify, and all major platforms. –> www.HaltingWinter.com
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Learn more 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.
