Chris Mann's journey to the city manager's chair was a circuitous, non-traditional one. The California city manager started his journey as a city councilman in his early 20s and would later go on to start his own public relations firm which heavily focused on local government issues and land development. He would then launch a a successful political action committee that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars each election cycle.

In this episode, we talk about the "why" behind his journey and an aspect that many are simply unprepared for. We also discuss the reasons behind the city podcast he launched when he was the city manager in Yucaipa, California. He explains the funding source he used to pay for the equipment and we kick around an idea that many cities and counties may want to consider implementing so that they can help their residents develop their own voice in our rapidly evolving digital economy.

SHOW NOTES:

Links to Chris Mann's LinkedIn profile and Gov360 Podcast

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

For many months, I have been trying to coax and cajole Troy Body into starting his own podcast or at the very least becoming a regular, recurring guest on my podcast. I have wanted to provide a platform for the Hopkinsville, Kentucky city manager and give him a voice.

He has interesting perspectives and opinions you will not find anywhere else regarding local government and city management and he often shares these "hot takes" on the "Black City Managers" LinkedIn page.

The plan is to roll out a series of interviews with Troy so that he can get a sense of whether he would like to do his own podcast and help him build a pre-launch audience if he decides to venture out on his own. Building listenership for a podcast is incredibly difficult.

If you enjoy this new series, please let us know by going to BlackCityManagers.org and leaving a comment.

SHOW NOTES:

The LinkedIn page for "Black City Managers"

Website for "Black City Managers"

Troy Body's LinkedIn profile

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

For nearly 20 years, Blaine Oborn had an unblemished record as a city manager serving in multiple states. That all changed when he became the city administrator in Oak Harbor, Washington.

He assumed his duties as the city was at the very tail end of a wastewater plant project that had tripled in costs from $50 million to $150 million under the leadership of Cathy Rosen, the public works director.

She would go on to level unsubstantiated accusations that masked her religious bigotry toward Blaine, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. These claims were embellish and exaggerated by the publisher of the local paper. She had previously applied for a job with the city and was rejected by Oborn.

These horrible, baseless accusations have been amplified in newspaper articles, tainted his Google footprint, and severely hurt him in job searches. In this episode, he seeks to set the record straight and repair the damage done to his reputation.

SHOW NOTES:

Blaine Oborn's LinkedIn profile

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Joe Dessenberger grew up with a father who worked seven days a week until he died rather suddenly after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 62. His father had a vision of what his life would be like in retirement, but never got to enjoy it.

In this emotionally charged episode, we discuss the indelible influence of his father's journey through life and how that has shaped his mindset. Additionally, we discuss the sobering impact of his heart attack at the age of 51 and how these life experiences govern his thinking with respect to retirement and spending time with the people he loves most.

It is my belief that everyone who listens to this episode will gain something of value from it.

SHOW NOTES:

Joe Dessenberger's LinkedIn profile

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

San Leandro Public Information Officer Paul Sanftner has a fantastic public safety idea that would help local government agencies during emergencies and save lives.

But he needs your help!

He is trying to persuade YouTube to add an emergency alert feature to their platform so that authorities can communicate important life-saving messages during natural disasters, civil disturbances, and other serious events that pose a danger to life and property.

Our emergency alert systems are a step behind the technological advances that have fragmented how news is disseminated and consumed. Please give this episode a listen and more importantly sign his letter of support and share it with other public sector executives.

SHOW NOTES:

Paul Sanftner's LinkedIn Profile

Sign on as a signatory to his letter of support here

Check Out Paul's YouTube Video where he talks about this "Super Commute"

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Suzanne Goode dropped 10 voicemail messages on her city manager in the span of 24 hours demanding that he edit or unpublish an official public meeting from their YouTube account.

Why?

Because another commissioner publicly shamed her for being toxic and abusive toward fellow commissioners and staff at a subcommittee meeting to discuss a Civility in the Workplace policy after she was outed for suggesting the city manager was they mayor's whore.

In these voicemail messages, which we share with you to listen for yourself, Goode argues she was slandered and defamed and suggests she may sue. That is -- when she is not getting cut off by the recording a la Jon Favreau's character in Swingers.

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this powerful episode, Jeff Fiegenschuh talks about his approach to community engagement, connecting with staff, and building relationships with his elected officials as the city manager for Rochelle, Illinois.

What prompted my desire to interview Jeff was the fact that he contributes a monthly column to his local paper and I believe most executives fail to take advantage of this effective technique to connect with residents, showcase the work of staff, and elevate the standing of their elected officials.

Jeff also sits down for regular interviews with the local radio station and encourages his staff to participate in interviews with the radio station, too.

While discussing his love for Star Wars, tattoos, and the Boston Red Sox, Jeff also touches on how important it is for public sector executives to have a life and an identity outside of work.

SHOW NOTES

Link to Jeff Fiegenschuh's LinkedIn profile

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In a couple of months, the American Association of Municipal Executives will be launching an online directory that will allow candidates to rate and review executive recruiters and recruitment firms. Under the current system, there is no mechanism or vehicle in place to give candidates a voice or to allow their concerns to be raised or addressed.

By creating this directory, the AAME will be able to communicate the concerns of its members to HR directors and elected officials as they go through the RFP process and help influence their decision making process. The ultimate goal is to help create a recruitment process that compels the recruiters to treat candidates better and punish those that do not give the candidates the respect and professional courtesy they deserve.

SHOW NOTES

Link to fundraiser and benefit auction Facebook page for Roxton, Texas city manager Janet Wheeler. Flyer includes QR code for Venmo donations being collected by Monica Helm or you can Venmo here: @monicahelm

Link to GiveSendGo fundraiser for Scott Whitaker's legal fund. He is the former town manager for Summerfield, North Carolina.

AAME MEMBERSHIP:

To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/

The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.