Conduit Street Podcast

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Leadership - An Episode from the MACo Archives Oct 15, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Dr. Debby Thomas joins the podcast to discuss her role at the Professional Development Academy, with an emphasis on the Academy's partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo) to equip frontline county government professionals with practical leadership skills to deliver results for counties and communities.

With a robust curriculum developed by the Professional Development Academy in partnership with Fortune 1000 executives, public sector leaders, world-renowned academics, and thought leaders, including General Colin Powell and Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy was designed specifically for the unique challenges and opportunities of serving in county government.

Dr. Debby Thomas teaches leadership, management, organizational, behavior, and research courses and serves as the Associate Dean at George Fox University. She is also a leadership coach at the Professional Development Academy in Portland, and leads the team of Leadership Coaches.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo’s Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

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NACo High Performance Leadership Academy

Professional Development Academy

Elevating Emergency Management Oct 07, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Maryland Department of Emergency Management Acting Secretary Russell Strickland joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss the shifting landscape of emergency management. From new and evolving threats to harnessing new tech to build resilience and redundancy, learn why elevating emergency management to Cabinet-status strengthens state/local collaboration, communication, and coordination to advance community emergency preparedness.

Last week, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) became the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM). As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Maryland General Assembly this year passed SB 658, which establishes MDEM as a forward-facing, Cabinet-level entity. The bill also transfers the 9-1-1 Board to the Department.

MACo supported the bill, as MDEM will work directly with county emergency management offices to develop scalable, flexible, and adaptable concepts and better align critical roles and responsibilities when disasters strike. This partnership will ensure the continuity of government in the face of an innumerable number of catastrophic events.

In addition, as Maryland’s 9-1-1 system is a vital part of the State’s emergency response and disaster preparedness network, MDEM is the proper entity to help advance the deployment of a statewide NG911 system that our residents expect and deserve.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo’s Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

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Maryland Department of Emergency Management

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Previous Conduit Street Coverage:

Introducing the Maryland Department of Emergency Management

Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Resources for Counties

Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911)

Maximizing Public Funds With three+one Oct 01, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, three+one® Senior Vice President Garrett Macdonald joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss a data-driven approach to help counties maximize the value of every single dollar through the power of liquidity analysis.

cashvest by three+one® uses proprietary algorithms to produce data-driven analysis and time-horizon evaluations to empower counties to realize new revenue that will increase stability and maximize liquidity – all while increasing deposit yields. With cashvest by three+one®, local governments, higher Ed institutions, and hospitals can execute cash, operating, and investment management decisions with more confidence and ease.

The leadership of three+one® has public, private, higher Ed, and banking experience, which provides a comprehensive perspective on liquidity management. three+one has served entities nationally since 2012, bringing over $300 million in new revenue to the communities it serves.

three+one® is endorsed by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and has formal partnerships with the New York State Association of Counties, the Florida Association of Counties, the Virginia Association of Counties, the California State Association of Counties, the Nebraska Association of Counties, the Arizona Association of Counties, and the Washington State Association of Counties.
The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

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New School Year, New Problem: A Bus Driver Shortage Sep 24, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Calvert County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel Curry joins Kevin Kinnally and Brianna January to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting our local school systems and their return to in-person instruction.
Maryland's public school systems are balancing public health concerns about the surging delta variant with the benefits of classroom instruction. In the latest pandemic-related twist, a nationwide school bus driver shortage is wreaking havoc on schools and families alike.

Dr. Daniel Curry has been Superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools since 2014 and was recently named Maryland's 2020 Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Curry is originally from Fairmont, West Virginia, and served there as superintendent of three counties for 15 years. He then spent another 11 years as Superintendent of Schools for the Lake Forest School District in Felton, Delaware from 2003-2014.
The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

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Conduit Street Coverage: Hogan Announces Plan to Tackle School Bus Driver Shortage
Conduit Street Coverage: BREAKING NEWS: Legislative Committee Approves Masking for All Public Schools
Calvert County Public Schools

The State House Beat, with Bryan Sears Sep 17, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, award-winning journalist Bryan Sears joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss Maryland policy and politics, the role of new technology and social media on news and journalism, new and evolving media business models, and a preview of what's in store for the 2022 legislative session.

Bryan Sears covers Maryland politics and government affairs for The Daily Record. Sears is also a veteran of the local government beat and frequently contributes to local television and radio programs.

The Daily Record, a multimedia news source, publishes a print and online edition five days a week and breaks news daily on its website, thedailyrecord.com.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

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The Daily Record

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Headline Issues: Both Policy and Process Sep 09, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson preview next week's Board of Public Works meeting – including the history and substance of a proposal to oblige county funds for state-mandated electronic pollbooks, explain why legislative-executive checks and balances are behind the delay in implementing the State Board of Education's emergency regulation to require masks in all public schools, and discuss the latest push to get public and private sector employees vaccinated.

The Conduit Street podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Previous Conduit Street Coverage

Local Election Officials: Fund New Pollbooks 50/50 State/County

Board of Public Works – September 15 Meeting Agenda

State School Board Endorses Masking to Mitigate COVID Transmission in Schools

Governor Hogan Declines to Speed Up Legislative Procedures to Approve Mask Mandates in Schools

Baltimore County Announces New Employee Vaccination Policy

Montgomery County to Require Student-Athletes to be Vaccinated against COVID-19

Postcards from OC, Naptown, and DC Sep 02, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) -- including Maryland's role in new US Department of the Treasury guidelines to expedite rental assistance, a major milestone for reporting and compliance, and lingering questions -- a recap of the 2021 MACo Summer Conference, and reveal the highly anticipated results of the “Are You Smarter than MACo’s Michael Sanderson?” Maryland Counties Quiz. (Hint: Apparently, yes. It isn't pretty.)

The Conduit Street podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Previous Conduit Street Coverage

New Treasury Guidelines Developed to Accelerate Rental Assistance

Revised Eviction Moratorium Struck Down By SCOTUS

#MACoCon Forum: American Rescue Plan Put to Action

As Submission Deadline Looms, Treasury Rolls Out Video Walkthrough of ARPA Reporting Portal

Live From #MACoCon: Tanium Talks Cybersecurity

Live from #MACoCon: Tanium Talks Cybersecurity Aug 20, 2021

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Tanium — the endpoint management and security provider built for the world’s most demanding IT environments — talks cybersecurity during a live recording of the Conduit Street Podcast at MACo's Summer Conference.

The rapid shift to telework and growing reliance on digital platforms present new challenges for government IT systems. Cybercriminals are aggressively targeting state and local governments with sophisticated cyberattacks that jeopardize sensitive information, critical infrastructure, public safety, and the delivery of essential services.

At the 2021 MACo Summer Conference, Chris Cruz, Tanium CIO for U.S. state, local, and education (SLED), joined a live recording of the Conduit Street Podcast for a fast-paced, Q&A-style discussion on current threat trends, best practices to maintain proper cyber hygiene, and tools and safeguards to identify potential threats, contain breaches, and remediate risk within seconds or minutes — not days or weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s6BZRNdqG8
Follow the latest conference happenings using the Twitter hashtag #MACoCon

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Revisiting Redistricting Aug 12, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson explain the significance of new 2020 Census data for state and local redistricting, break down the nuts and bolts of Maryland's redistricting process, and detail key timelines in the scramble to draw new boundaries in time for next year's midterm elections.

The timing of Census data, somewhat delayed by the pandemic, will make the upcoming district design an unusually compressed process. While the U.S. Census this week released raw, untabulated Census data, adjusted data won't be available until September -- according to the discussion on the Conduit Street Podcast earlier this year – leaving district-drawing commissions at every level with a short timetable to develop their final work.

In Maryland, the General Assembly has principal authority to draw both congressional and state legislative district lines.

The governor, aided by an advisory commission, submits a state legislative redistricting proposal. The legislature may pass its own plan by joint resolution. If the legislature fails to approve its own plan, the governor’s plan takes effect. Congressional lines are drawn solely by the legislature.

In a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering challenges to electoral maps are political questions and thus beyond the reach of the federal courts, dismissing challenges by voters in Maryland and North Carolina.

The ruling held that Maryland did not have to redraw congressional election districts before the 2020 elections. Instead, the maps must be redrawn in time for the 2022 elections, in accordance with 2020 Census data.

The Conduit Street podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

Previous Conduit Street Coverage

December Special Session May Loom to Tackle Congressional Re-Districting

Conduit Street Podcast: Data and Districts with Planning Sec. McCord

SCOTUS: Federal Courts Have No Role in Partisan Gerrymandering Cases

Hogan Executive Order Establishes New Redistricting Commission

President Ferguson, Speaker Jones Announce Legislative Redistricting Commission

Maryland Finishes in Top Ten for Census Response Rate

Headlines: Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Jul 30, 2021

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On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a flurry of efforts to bolster cybersecurity for state and local governments, a renewed debate over what counts as infrastructure, and a look at what the US Senate's bipartisan agreement to invest approximately $550 billion in America's infrastructure might mean for Maryland.

The Conduit Street podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. You can also listen on the Conduit Street blog with a recap and link to the podcast.

Listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.

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Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Counties Welcome Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
NACo Resources
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