The HaltingWinter Podcast

Josh Finch: From Manure to Management
Rejection, Resilience, and the Making of a City Administrator
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 307 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
There is no "perfect" path into city management. Josh Finch proves it.
From shoveling manure as a seasonal parks laborer to becoming a city administrator at 24, Josh's journey into local government wasn't traditional; it was earned.
In this conversation, Josh shares how a low GPA, rejection from his first administrative interview, and even a life-threatening medical emergency shaped his leadership philosophy. He talks openly about starting in a rural community where he wore every hat — public works, finance, HR, community development — and why that experience became his greatest training ground.
Josh's story is a reminder that no experience is wasted and that leadership isn't about titles, it's about initiative.
His closing advice says it best: "There are people that do, and there are people that don't. Be a doer."
Whether you're an MPA student, an emerging leader, or a seasoned administrator navigating your next chapter, this episode will challenge and encourage you to step forward with humility, resilience, and purpose.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The One Thing
Episode 306 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> This week's Municipal Leadership Development Circle Book of the Week is "The One Thing" by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, and it has some unique insights that we'll be translating for effective leadership in local government.
How many priorities are you juggling right now? Council demands, staff needs, community expectations, budget pressures, organizational initiatives? If you're like most municipal leaders, you stopped counting around twelve.
But what if the reason you're not getting the results you want isn't because you're not working hard enough; it's because you're working on too many things?
In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the powerful framework from "The One Thing" and explains why it's perfectly suited for the impossible demands local government leaders face daily. You'll discover why extraordinary results come from radical focus, not multitasking, and how identifying your ONE Thing creates a domino effect that makes everything else easier.
This is just a preview. Inside the MLDC this week, members are getting daily insights, practical implementation strategies, and conversation guides specifically designed for the unique constraints of municipal leadership.


Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders
➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
Resources Mentioned
Book: The One Thing by Gary Keller
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Ken Striplin: Culture Is Built, Not Assumed
What It Takes to Develop Leaders and Sustain Excellence in Local Government
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 305 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What does it actually take to build a municipal culture that lasts?
Not slogans. Not one-off trainings. Not a new strategic plan every few years.
In this episode, Ken Striplin, City Manager of Santa Clarita, California, shares what 30 years inside one organization has taught him about leadership, development, and intentional culture-building.
From starting as an intern to leading a city that has doubled in population under his tenure, Ken offers a rare inside look at how sustainable excellence is created and measured.
We explore:
Why leadership is transferable and technical skills are learnable

The power of saying "yes" before you feel fully ready

How structured mentorship changes identity, not just performance

Why culture must be programmed, measured, and reinforced

The role of job shadowing and cross-department exposure in breaking silos

Santa Clarita doesn't guess about engagement. They measure it.
With 91% employee survey participation and scores that reflect genuine pride in the workplace, Ken shares the systems behind the success: leadership academies, mentoring cohorts, wellness initiatives, and intentional succession planning.
If you care about building a culture that outlives your tenure… If you're developing the next generation of municipal leaders… If you're wrestling with growth, burnout, or the weight of the city manager role…
This episode will challenge and encourage you. Because culture isn't accidental.
It's built. And it's worth building well.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Jeff Weckbach: The Conversation That Launched a Career
How Exposure and Mentorship Shape the Next Generation of City Managers
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 304 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What if the future of local government hinges on a single conversation?
Before he ever stepped into the Township Administrator's office in Colerain Township, Ohio, Jeff Weckbach was simply a college student completing an assignment. He reached out to then–City Manager Milton Dohoney for an interview.
That hour changed everything.
In this episode, Jeff shares how exposure, not early certainty, set him on the path to municipal leadership. From internships and county government to becoming Township Administrator, his journey highlights something critical: the pipeline doesn't build itself.
Jeff's story is steady, thoughtful, and deeply relevant to today's municipal landscape. It's a reminder that leadership is often shaped long before someone sits in the big chair and that today's leaders have a responsibility to open doors for those coming behind them.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Boundaries for Leaders
Episode 303 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> What if you have more control as a local government leader than you realize? This week in the Municipal Leadership Development Circle, we're exploring "Boundaries for Leaders" by Dr. Henry Cloud, a book that reframes leadership from managing what happens to setting boundaries that create the conditions for success.
In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the core concepts of the book and explains why Cloud's research on neuroscience and leadership is essential for city managers, county administrators, and department heads operating within local government's unique constraints.


Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders
➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
Resources Mentioned
Book: Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com