The Clear Voice

Latest Episodes:

#72 - City Manager | Denison Texas PositionCast™ Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Denison, Texas is searching for its next City Manager, and this PositionCast™ gives candidates a closer look at the community, council, staff, and leadership environment behind the opportunity.

In this episode of The Clear Voice, host James Groom is joined by Mayor Robert Crawley and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese to discuss Denison’s historic character, award-winning downtown, access to Lake Texoma, strong community partnerships, and major development momentum.

The conversation also explores what the next City Manager will need to bring to the role, including communication, financial acumen, growth management, relationship building, humility, listening, and the ability to lead a strong staff without micromanaging.

Denison is a growing North Texas community with a historic Main Street district, a service-first culture, and a major opportunity ahead through the Preston Harbor development. Candidates interested in helping guide that next chapter are encouraged to review the full posting and brochure.

Full posting and brochure:
https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/denison-texas-city-manager-job-posting

Chapters:

0:04 Welcome to The Clear Voice and the Denison Opportunity
2:27 Mayor Robert Crawley Joins the Conversation
2:58 Mayor Crawley’s Path to Denison and Public Service
6:06 Banking, Service, and Local Government Leadership
7:45 What Makes Denison Unique
11:55 Schools, Families, Livability, and Community Partnerships
13:48 Why Candidates Will Be Attracted to Denison
15:24 Growth, Preston Harbor, and Preserving Denison’s Character
19:26 Skills Needed for the Next City Manager
21:42 How the Denison City Council Works
23:08 Communication with Council, Staff, and the Community
24:49 Team Denison and the Strength of City Staff
26:40 Service-First Culture and Leadership Style
28:47 First-Year Priorities for the New Manager
30:46 Key Technical Skills for Candidates
32:46 Humility, Listening, and Leadership Intangibles
35:16 How to Apply for the Denison City Manager Role
36:34 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Purchase 540 Leadership by Michael Boese: https://amzn.to/4h43L3U
The views and opinions expressed on The Clear Voice do not necessarily reflect those of Clear Career Professionals. The discussion of any company, product, or service is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.
Connect With Clear Career Professionals

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.
In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes.

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#71 - HR Serves the People Who Serve the Community | Matt Wright Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom sits down with Matt Wright, Human Resources Director for the City of Buda, Texas, to talk about employee retention, organizational culture, and the human side of public service.

Matt brings a unique perspective to the conversation after transitioning from a long career with the Austin Police Department into municipal HR. The discussion explores why good employees leave public sector organizations, why culture often matters as much as compensation, and how leaders can better serve the employees who serve the community.

James and Matt also discuss the importance of organizational justice, procedural fairness, emotional regulation, and treating employees with dignity and respect. From public works crews fixing water lines in the Texas heat to police officers serving the public after a difficult interaction with a supervisor, this conversation focuses on how internal leadership directly affects external service.

Matt’s key takeaway for leaders is simple but powerful: you get to decide how you show up in your next interaction.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and why good employees leave

02:50 Culture, retention, and feeling valued

05:13 Balancing community expectations and employee needs

07:48 Public Works and the unseen work of local government

08:09 Recognizing employee disengagement before they leave

12:52 Matt’s transition from policing to municipal HR

22:20 The human element in public service leadership

24:31 HR as service to the people who serve the community

28:08 Organizational justice, fairness, and internal culture

32:50 Dignity, respect, and emotional regulation in leadership

35:10 Push versus hold: slowing down leadership reactions

38:12 Using AI to improve communication and understanding

41:18 Matt’s future aspirations and leadership growth

42:37 Final takeaway for leaders

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#70 - Director of Governmental Relations | TMRS PositionCast™ Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Clear Voice, guests Debbie Munoz, Executive Director of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, Dan Wattles, former TMRS Director of Governmental Relations, and Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals, join host James Groom to discuss an important executive leadership opportunity with TMRS.

TMRS is recruiting for its next Director of Governmental Relations, a role that sits at the intersection of public policy, relationships, pension governance, and public service. This position plays a critical role in protecting the retirement system that serves Texas cities, public servants, retirees, and their families.

Throughout the conversation, Debbie and Dan explain why governmental relations at TMRS is about much more than monitoring legislation. The right person must build trust before session begins, understand how policy changes can impact the system, work closely with internal departments, and maintain strong relationships with state and federal stakeholders.

Dan shares his experience serving in the role and describes TMRS as one of the most rewarding positions of his career. Debbie also discusses TMRS’s organizational culture, the importance of collaboration, and the kind of energetic, engaged, mission-driven leader she hopes to bring into the organization.

For candidates with governmental relations experience, public policy knowledge, strong relationship-building skills, and a passion for public service, this is a rare opportunity to help protect one of the most important retirement systems in Texas.

Apply for the Position

Learn more and apply for the TMRS Director of Governmental Relations position here:

https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/tmrs-director-of-governmental-relations-posting

In This Episode

00:00 Introduction and Why This Role Matters
03:02 Dan Wattles’ Path to TMRS
06:17 Serving Texas Cities, Public Servants, and Retirees
08:11 Debbie Munoz’s Background and TMRS Mission
12:53 Why Governmental Relations Is Critical to TMRS
15:16 Building Trust Before Legislative Session
18:11 Playing Defense and Protecting the System
21:04 Federal Issues and Pension Policy
25:25 Why TMRS Is Different from a State Agency
28:57 The Culture and Organizational Health at TMRS
32:55 Internal Relationships and Cross-Department Collaboration
38:23 The Work Between Legislative Sessions
42:23 How to Apply for the TMRS Opportunity
45:20 Living and Working in Austin
50:19 Can Private-Sector GR Experience Transfer?
53:17 Final Advice for Applicants

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#69 - City Manager | La Marque, Texas PositionCast™ Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

La Marque, Texas is looking for its next City Manager.

In this PositionCast™, Mayor Keith Bell joins The Clear Voice host James Groom and Clear Career Professionals recruiters Brad Stafford and James Hopper to discuss the opportunity, the community, the council’s priorities, and the leadership qualities needed for La Marque’s next chapter.

Known as the Gateway to the Gulf, La Marque sits along the I-45 corridor between Houston and Galveston, offering a unique blend of hometown community, regional access, economic development opportunity, and strong local pride.

This conversation covers:

• The type of City Manager La Marque needs
• Council and community expectations
• City services, infrastructure, and fiscal accountability
• Economic development along the I-45 corridor
• Staff culture and organizational leadership
• Stakeholder relationships and regional partnerships
• What success could look like in the first year

For leaders who can manage people, build trust, communicate clearly, and lead with steady accountability, La Marque offers a meaningful opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Learn more about this role and apply through Clear Career Professionals.

00:00 Opening: Getting La Marque Back on Track
01:05 Introducing the La Marque City Manager Opportunity
03:01 Mayor Keith Bell’s Public Service Journey
05:29 Leadership, Diversity, and Community Voice
11:49 Gateway to the Gulf: Location, Growth, and Opportunity
19:48 What La Marque Needs from Its Next City Manager
24:45 Leading a Passionate Council, Staff, and Community
29:41 Desired Experience and Leadership Style
33:48 Schools, Football, and Community Pride
36:45 City Staff, Culture, and Organizational Leadership
42:25 Accountability, Infrastructure, and Economic Development
46:24 Building Relationships with Stakeholders and Regional Partners
54:57 First-Year Success and Recruitment Details
59:15 Candidate Advice from Clear Career Professionals
1:02:07 Final Thoughts: Why La Marque
1:07:56 Closing: Leave Your Mark on La Marque

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#68 - From Chief to City Hall Part 2 | Jim Devlin’s Next Chapter Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jim Devlin, we pick up with his transition from Police Chief to Assistant City Manager and what that move has taught him about leadership, succession planning, relationships, and service beyond the badge.

Jim talks about the natural progression from leading a department to helping lead an organization, the importance of collaboration across city departments, and why relationship building remains one of the most transferable skills in local government. He also shares thoughts on mental health and wellness in city management, the value of professional development through the Texas City Management Institute, and the importance of regional partnerships in serving communities well.

The episode closes with Jim’s advice for emerging public servants: know yourself, build relationships, stay humble, strive for excellence, and remember that people may forget the programs and projects, but they will remember how you treated them.

Chapters

00:00 - Welcome Back to Part 2
00:57 - Moving from Police Chief to Assistant City Manager
06:17 - Skills That Transfer from Police Leadership to City Management
11:55 - Leadership, Wellness, and Taking Care of Yourself
12:45 - Mental Health in Public Safety and City Administration
16:53 - Burnout, Pressure, and Secondhand Smoke in City Leadership
19:43 - Texas City Management Institute
24:43 - Borrowing Good Ideas and Making Them Fit Your Community
25:51 - Hewitt, Waco, and the Real Central Texas
32:33 - Regional Partnerships and Shared Services
35:15 - Advice for Emerging Public Servants
38:05 - Is a Career in Public Service Worth It?
39:43 - Closing Thoughts

Connect with Jim Devlin on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-devlin-cpm-15886570/

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#67 - Leadership Lessons from a Lifetime of Service | Bryan Lockerby Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom and Michael Boese sit down with Bryan Lockerby to discuss leadership, law enforcement, city management, organizational assessments, and the lessons learned from more than four decades of public service.

Bryan shares perspective from his career in Montana law enforcement, including leading the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation, working with rural agencies, managing complex public safety challenges, and transitioning into city management. The conversation also covers leadership clarity, decision-making, mentorship, organizational health, and why strong systems matter long after individual leaders move on.

Chapters

00:00 Leadership Principles and Opening Thoughts
03:55 Clarity Purpose and Courage in Decision-Making
06:30 Difficult Decisions in Law Enforcement Leadership
09:12 Early Career Lessons and the Value of Experience
11:48 Rural Law Enforcement and Resource Challenges
14:23 Community Relationships and Police Legitimacy
17:01 How Law Enforcement Has Improved Over Time
20:07 Recruitment Staffing and the Future of the Profession
25:07 Officer Trauma Secondary Trauma and Mental Health
27:33 The Complexity of Modern Law Enforcement
31:26 Leading Montana’s Division of Criminal Investigation
33:38 Major Cases Politics and Public Safety Priorities
35:56 Building Effective Teams and Protecting the Mission
37:19 Career Highlights Montana and Public Perception
41:34 The Unique Challenges of Law Enforcement in Montana
44:52 Transitioning from Law Enforcement to City Management
49:29 Organizational Assessments Communication and Leadership Health
54:39 Bryan’s Advice for Future Leaders

Learn more about Bryan Lockerby and Lockerby Leadership Group:

https://bryanlockerby.com/

Services:

https://bryanlockerby.com/services/

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#66 - Reflective Resonance and Authentic Leadership with Joseph Lujan Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom is joined by Joseph Lujan, author of Reflective Resonance, A Quiet Spark Approach to Authentic Leadership, and creator of the CAMP OUT Method.

Joseph shares his perspective on authentic leadership, generational change in the workplace, employee motivation, and the importance of leaders staying consistent, self aware, and emotionally present. The conversation explores how workplace culture has shifted since COVID, why autonomy and trust matter, and why leaders must be willing to reflect on their own influence before trying to improve the people around them.

Joseph also discusses his background in county probation, federal probation, and leadership, explaining how working with people under supervision shaped his understanding of human behavior. He shares practical lessons about individualizing leadership, building trust, avoiding robotic communication, and helping employees feel seen, valued, and heard.

The episode also breaks down Joseph’s CAMP OUT Method, which focuses on consistency, authenticity, mindfulness, purpose, optimizing leadership, upshifting, and transforming leadership practices. These concepts provide a practical framework for leaders who want to grow, strengthen their teams, and create healthier workplace cultures.

Joseph’s final takeaway is simple but important. Leaders need to show up authentically and genuinely. Employees notice more than leaders sometimes realize, and the way leaders communicate, respond, and carry themselves can shape the culture around them.

Resources

Reflective Resonance Website
https://www.reflectiveresonance.org/

Reflective Resonance Worksheets
https://www.reflectiveresonance.org/documents/

Reflective Resonance Book
https://a.co/d/0fZNrEGQ

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Reflective Resonance and Authentic Leadership

00:02:47 Workplace Culture After COVID

00:05:20 Autonomy, Trust, and Accountability

00:07:32 Employee Motivation and Finding Purpose

00:10:05 Joseph Lujan’s Leadership Journey

00:12:53 Emotional Intelligence and Human Behavior

00:15:12 Common Leadership Failures

00:17:43 The Story Behind Reflective Resonance

00:22:11 Consistency in Leadership

00:24:14 Authenticity and Effective Leadership

00:25:31 Mindfulness in Leadership Communication

00:28:54 Purposeful Leadership and the Why

00:31:09 Optimizing Leadership Through Reflection

00:33:35 Upshift and Transform

00:36:15 Continuous Growth and Feedback

00:39:21 Final Takeaway, Showing Up Authentically

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#65 - City Manager | Los Fresnos, TX PositionCast™ May 26, 2026

Show notes

Mayor Alejandro Flores from Los Fresnos, Texas joins The Clear Voice for a PositionCast™ focused on the City Manager opportunity there.

Los Fresnos is a growing South Texas community with strong local identity, respected schools, regional access, and major opportunities ahead. In this episode, Mayor Flores discusses his connection to the community, the City Council’s priorities, the organization, and the type of leader who can be successful in the role.

The conversation highlights responsible growth, infrastructure planning, budget management, communication with council, staff relationships, community involvement, and the importance of preserving the close community feel that makes Los Fresnos special.

Kent Myers, the recruiter for this search, also provides context for candidates. He discusses the stability of the organization, the strength of the existing staff team, the long tenure of the outgoing city manager, and the opportunity for the next City Manager to help guide the city through meaningful growth.

This PositionCast™ is designed to help prospective candidates better understand the community, the organization, the role, the City Council’s expectations, and the leadership fit needed in Los Fresnos.

This role can be found at https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/los-fresnos-city-manager-posting

Chapters

00:00:00 Cold Open: Why Candidates Should Look at Los Fresnos
00:00:36 Introduction to the City Manager PositionCast
00:02:07 Mayor Alejandro Flores and His Connection to Los Fresnos
00:04:56 Leadership, Stewardship, and Council Priorities
00:08:34 Communication, Onboarding, and Early Expectations
00:10:27 City Services, Staff Leadership, and Organizational Culture
00:13:02 Community Growth, Schools, and Falcon Pride
00:18:11 Local Events, Culture, and Quality of Life
00:20:40 South Padre Island, Outdoor Life, and Regional Access
00:23:35 Infrastructure, Development, and Budget Priorities
00:26:32 Ideal Candidate Qualities and Leadership Fit
00:28:17 Kent Myers on Why This Opportunity Stands Out
00:34:28 Application Process, Candidate Communication, and Closing Thoughts

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#64 - From Chief to City Hall | Jim Devlin on Leadership May 19, 2026

Show notes

Jim Devlin joins James Groom for Part 1 of a 2 part conversation on leadership, accountability, culture, and the move from Police Chief to City Hall.

Jim serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Hewitt, Texas, after nearly three decades in law enforcement, including more than a decade as Chief of Police. In this episode, he discusses dynamic leadership, correcting people without tearing them down, building trust inside an organization, and why culture matters in public service.

The conversation also covers Jim’s decision to move to Hewitt, the challenge of helping reshape an organization, the value of community connection, and how police leadership can prepare someone for broader municipal leadership.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jim Devlin

02:39 Dynamic leadership in law enforcement

07:00 Accountability and relationships

10:20 Correcting people without tearing them down

16:55 Taking on the challenge in Hewitt

23:04 Building community trust

26:10 Succession planning and leadership development

29:04 Culture fit in recruitment

32:02 Problem solving in local government

35:33 Moving from police chief to city hall

40:51 Part 2 Coming Soon Announcement

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

#63 - City Administrator Recruitment | Caldwell, Texas PositionCast™ May 15, 2026

Show notes

The City of Caldwell, Texas is searching for its next City Administrator, and this PositionCast™ episode gives candidates a deeper look at the community, the organization, and the leadership expectations behind the role.

James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice and Retired Chief of Police, is joined by Brad Stafford of Clear Career Professionals, outgoing Mayor Janice Easter, and incoming Mayor John Rychlik for a conversation about Caldwell’s future. The discussion covers Caldwell’s small town identity, growth pressures, downtown opportunity, infrastructure priorities, full service city operations, community partnerships, and the type of leader who can build trust with staff, council, residents, and regional partners.

Caldwell is described as a close knit Texas community with strong civic pride, a growing local economy, a historic downtown, major community events, strong parks and recreation assets, and a council focused on responsible growth. The next City Administrator will enter an organization with meaningful opportunities in communication, modernization, infrastructure planning, economic development, and community engagement.

This episode is especially useful for candidates who want to understand not just the job description, but the people, expectations, and leadership environment behind the opportunity.

For more information about this role by check the job posting: https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/caldwell-city-administrator-posting

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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