Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood

Latest Episodes:

The Changing Role of State Government with Professor Carol Weissert and Rhode Island Department of Administration Director Jonathan Womer Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood, Carol Weissert, Professor Emerita of Political Science at Florida State University, and Jonathan Womer, Director of the Department of Administration for Rhode Island, discuss the changing role of state governments and implications for policy, budgeting, and public service delivery. The conversation delves into issues of partisanship, federal-state relations, legislative shifts, and the use of data and AI in government operations. It examines the impact of decreasing federal support, the rise of state initiatives, and the increasing public demand for effective governance.

01:25 Exploring Shifts in State Government Roles

02:35 Challenges in Federal-State Relations

05:12 Impact on Healthcare and Social Services

06:53 Innovations in State Management

08:33 Intergovernmental Relations and Expertise

10:37 Public Trust and Government Effectiveness

16:11 Fiscal Strategies and Budgeting

19:08 Advice for State Leaders

21:50 Concluding Thoughts on State Governance

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

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Public Service Under Pressure with Kimberly Walton, Michael Jacobson, Tanisha Briley and Vince Micone Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

This week's episode of Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood features key selections from a recent Academy Standing Panel.

It is clear the federal government impacts local government, city and county leaders have always had to leverage federal resources, but can that continue given budget constraints and the increasingly partisan political environment?

Panelists highlight the impact of federal decision-making on services to people in communities (and foreshadow that the pressure and consequences will soon be felt), raise important questions about the size of government and how budgets dictate policy, and suggests what changes and investments are needed going forward.

Tanisha Briley, City Manager, Gaithersburg, MD
Michael Jacobson, Deputy Director, King County Office of Performance Strategy & Budget, WA
Vince Micone, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations, Department of Labor

Also featured on the full event: Abby Andre, Executive Director of the IMPACT Project
Chris Koliba, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration, Policy & Governance, University of Kansas
View the full event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcLmE5Lva4Y&t=4286s

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

Navigating Election Security and Administration in a Complex Landscape with Kathleen Hale and Derek Tisler Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood, experts dive into the evolving challenges in election security and administration. Featuring insights from Kathleen Hale, Professor emerita of Political Science at Auburn University and Executive Director of the Election Center, and Derek Tisler, counsel and manager in the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, the episode explores the shifting role of federal support, the importance of state and local level resources, the critical nature of community trust, and the innovations that are reshaping how elections are conducted. The discussion highlights the necessity of reliable funding, continuous technology updates, and robust information-sharing practices to ensure the integrity and resilience of the American election system.
01:13 Exploring Election Security Challenges

02:23 Federal Government's Role in Election Security

03:39 Election Officials' Response to Security Gaps

07:26 Building Trust and Resiliency in Elections

14:09 Modernizing Election Systems

19:07 Lessons from International Election Systems

23:09 Future of Elections and Preparation

25:49 Qualities of Great Election Officials

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

How Does This Look to the Neighbors? International Insights on America with Governance Scholars Alasdair Roberts and Andrew Podger Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

This week's episode of Management Matters features an external view on what's happening in American governance, and the quest to learn more about how international observers are thinking about American global leadership.

Academy Fellows and governance scholars Andrew Podger (Australia) and Alasdair Roberts (Canada) join host James-Christian Blockwood for an in-depth discussion.

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

Critical Conversations: Bringing AI to Main St with Sen. Mike Rounds, Montgomery County CIO Gail Roper and Academy Studies Director Brenna Isman Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

This Critical Conversations Special Event highlights the Academy’s upcoming report, Bringing AI to Main Street – Maximizing Artificial Intelligence's Positive Impact on Municipal Economies, a research initiative sponsored by Google to support local and regional leaders in navigating the fast-evolving AI landscape.

Episode also features Academy Fellow Marcelo Giugale.

Learn more about the report at https://napawash.org/academy-studies/aieconomy

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

Have We Tried Asking Americans What They Want From Government? With Academy Fellow Loren DeJonge Schulman Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Management Matters, host James-Christian Blockwood delves into public governance and the challenges posed by declining trust in democratic institutions. Joined by Loren DeJonge Schulman, an expert in national security, public service reform, and organizational strategy, the discussion centers on the importance of being outcome-focused and engaging communities to improve government efficacy. Schulman shares insights from her diverse career and what could be next in the best of all worlds. Explore the role of future-oriented thinking in shaping effective public administration with us.

00:00 Introduction: Trust in Government

00:33 Exploring Governance and Innovation

00:51 Guest Introduction: Loren DeJonge Schulman

01:13 Diving into Public Governance

01:53 Challenges in Public Administration

04:40 The Importance of Community Engagement

07:01 Skills and Expectations in Public Service

09:11 Reimagining Government Structures

20:01 Current Federal Policies and Implications

23:33 Advice for Public Administrators

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

Reimagining Government with Dan Chenok of IBM Center for the Business of Government and Philip Howard of Common Good Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

We may be in an incredibly important moment for reimagining and reinventing what government can be. On this week's episode of Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood, we talk to Academy Fellow Dan Chenok, Executive Director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, and Philip Howard, Founder and Chair of Common Good, about some of the possibilities of this consequential moment for government.

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

How Do We Modernize The Federal Workforce? with Fellows Angela Bailey and Jeffrey Neal Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

Academy Fellows Angela Bailey and Jeffrey Neal, former Chief Human Capital Officers at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, talk about tough problems and forward-looking solutions on this episode of Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood.

What makes for a good workforce leader? How can we create a government workforce that's built for the 21st Century and beyond? Find out this week!

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

Adaptation, Mitigation & Resilience: The Role of Public Administration in Addressing Climate Change with Jim Murley and Dr. Heidi Roop Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of 'Management Matters,' host James-Christian Blockwood explores how communities can adapt to a changing environment. Guests Jim Murley, Academy Fellow and former Chief Resilience Officer for Miami-Dade County, and Dr. Heidi Roop, Director of the University of Minnesota's Climate Adaptation Partnership, discuss the distinctions between adaptation, resilience, and mitigation.

They also emphasize the importance of local government, individual preparedness, and effective coordination among agencies to tackle climate challenges. Our guests underscore the need for actionable science and strategic policies to help build resilient communities.

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

It's More than Just Buying: The Hidden World of Procurement with Angela Shell and David Gragan Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

What do procurement specialists really do? How does the practice fit into the function of modern government operations? Academy Fellow David Gragan, former Chief Strategic Operations Officer at the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), and Angela Shell, Chief Procurement Officer of the California Department of General Services, help us demystify the world of procurement. With everything from emergency management to the construction of roads, schools, and hospitals, you'd be surprised how much requires a procurement specialist, and these experts are here to tell us why.

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

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