Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.
Municipal leadership rarely follows a linear path, but John Mauro’s journey stands out as particularly remarkable. As City Manager of Port Townsend, Washington, John brings a wealth of global experience that has shaped his innovative approach to local governance.
In Episode 157 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with John to explore his fascinating journey from the shores of Maine to four continents and eventually to the Victorian seaport town he now calls home.
Ever found yourself handling a crisis perfectly, making all the right decisions, only to lie awake later wondering why something still feels unresolved? That disconnect is at the heart of Fred Kofman’s popular work “Conscious Business,” our Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) book of the week.
As municipal leaders, you excel at technical solutions – balancing budgets, managing infrastructure, navigating complex regulations. But your greatest challenges often aren’t technical at all. They emerge from the human dynamics that shape everything from council relationships to community engagement to organizational culture.
In the aftermath of a national crisis that thrust a small Missouri city into the global spotlight, one leader made the courageous decision to step into the fire—not away from it. The story of De’Carlon Seewood, current City Manager of Columbia, Missouri, and former leader of Ferguson during its most turbulent period, offers powerful lessons for municipal leaders everywhere.
Our latest episode of the HaltingWinter Podcast features this remarkable leader whose journey provides a masterclass in crisis management, community healing, and organizational renewal.
In the world of municipal leadership, career paths are rarely straight lines. Some of the most impactful city managers never set out to lead cities at all—they simply said “yes” when opportunity knocked.
This week on The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Nichole Rutherford, City Manager of Coos Bay, Oregon, for a conversation that reveals how unexpected opportunities and the courage to embrace them can lead to extraordinary leadership journeys.
As a city manager, you stand at the helm of a complex organization, navigating the choppy waters of public opinion, political pressures, and community needs. When projects fall behind, when departments clash, or when resources run thin, where do you look for solutions?
If you’re like most municipal leaders, you’ve experienced the frustration of finger-pointing, the burden of siloed departments, and the challenge of creating lasting change in bureaucratic environments.
But what if there was another way?
It’s Wednesday morning, and you’ve just learned that a major infrastructure project is six months behind schedule and significantly over budget. Your council is demanding answers, residents are flooding social media with complaints, and your project team is pointing fingers in every direction. In this moment, you face a critical leadership balancing act – taking full ownership while simultaneously empowering your team to be part of the solution.
In our latest episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, we’re thrilled to bring you a conversation that captures the essence of visionary municipal leadership. Episode 152 features Danielle Dulin, City Manager of Manhattan, Kansas, whose journey from rural farm life to city management offers powerful insights for leaders at every level.
“There’s no shortage of content. There are so many different departments, so many things we’re doing that affect almost every aspect of residential life.” – Michael Paulhus, Town Manager, Plainville, CT
What do biology, the Peace Corps, wealth management, and TikTok have in common?
For most city managers, probably nothing. But for Michael Paulhus, Town Manager of Plainville, Connecticut, these diverse experiences have shaped an extraordinary approach to municipal leadership that’s putting his community on the map.
As city managers and municipal leaders, you face a unique set of challenges that private sector executives rarely encounter. You balance political pressures, public scrutiny, and community needs—all while trying to create organizations that serve effectively and sustainably.
That’s why I’m excited to announce the launch of our new podcast series exploring Simon Sinek’s “Leaders Eat Last” through the lens of municipal leadership. In this five-part journey, we’ll uncover how Sinek’s revolutionary insights can transform city government from the inside out.
It’s Monday morning, and you’re walking through city hall. In one department, employees are freely sharing innovative ideas for improving community services. In another, team members are collaboratively solving a complex infrastructure challenge. At the department head meeting, your leaders are openly discussing both successes and setbacks, knowing they can count on mutual support rather than criticism.
