The FCCMA Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode #169: Raoul Lavin – Pursuing Your Passion in Local Government Feb 21, 2025

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Raoul Lavin has spent three decades in local government, nowcollaborating with FCCMA and teaching at Florida State University’s Askew School of Public Administration. Starting as a budget office analyst in Tallahassee and rising to Assistant City Manager, Raoul joins podcast host Steve Vancore toexplore the intergenerational dynamics in the workforce and advise young professionals navigating their local government careers.

Episode #168: Brian R. Moree – The Challenges and Triumphs of Delegating Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

Brian R. Moree, City Manager of Atlantis in Palm Beach County,shares his insights on effective delegation. With over six and a half years in this role, following a 20-year tenure by his predecessor, Brian encountered a lack of structure and empowerment among city staff. He discusses his approach to fostering autonomy and capability by being realistic about the responsibilities assigned to his team.

Episode #167: Koby Townsend – Maintaining a Servant’s Heart Feb 07, 2025

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At just 25 years old, Koby Townsend holds the position of City Manager in DeFuniak Springs. Starting as a city clerk at age 22, Koby discusses his rapid career progression and the mentors who believed in him. He reflects with podcast host Steve on the vital role of mistakes in personal and professional growth, offering strategies for effectively managing setbacks. A devoted listener of the FCCMA podcast, Koby shares key lessons from the 40 episodes he’s absorbed.

Episode #166: Joseph Yarbrough – The City Manager’s City Manager Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the New Council Transition Series, podcast host Steve Vancore speaks with Joseph Yarbrough, a seasoned city manager from Volusia County, focusing on the crucial onboarding process for newly elected officials. Joe discusses his approach to aligning campaign promises with municipal responsibilities and emphasizes the necessity of understanding the roles within local governance. The conversation shares strategies for effective communication and education to ensure that elected officials can successfully navigate their roles and responsibilities, fostering better governance and community service. This episode is a deep dive into the best practices for integrating new leaders into the complex world of local government.

#165 Jamie Titcomb – Managing City Council Turnover Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

With experience in seven cities, Jamie Titcomb discusses the dynamics of handling city council turnovers. He emphasizes the importance of addressing the unique needs of each council member while advancing city objectives. Jamie advocates for setting clear goals in initial meetings and adhering strictly to the rules to achieve desired outcomes.

#164 Lynn Tipton – Navigating New Council Transitions Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

2024 FLC Employee of the Year and recent retiree, Lynn Tipton, explores the challenges of council transitions. Discussing strategies for engaging with newly elected members, Lynn highlights the importance of understanding their communication preferences and goals. She suggests watching other councils’ public meetings and utilizing orientation checklists from FCCMA to avoid common pitfalls.

Re-Release Episode #135: Courtney Barker: Don’t step over a dollar to pick up a nickel Dec 20, 2024

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Former Satellite Beach City Manager Courtney Barker discusses the impact of PFAS chemicals from a nearby space force base, the difficulties of remediation and the economic significance of the base to Satellite Beach. Courtney emphasizes the importance of doing things right the first time and discusses measures like implementing paid beach parking driven by community needs.

Re-Release Episode #152: Jorge Gonzalez – Being a City Manager is Not for Everyone Dec 20, 2024

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Jorge Gonzalez, Village Manager of Bal Harbour in Miami-Dade County, shares his experiences managing one of the most successful malls in the world. Jorge believes that being a city manager requires courage, confidence, and conviction – the three Cs. He talks about the challenging positions he has encountered in his career and the importance of adhering to an ethical code.

Re-Release Episode #153: Olivia Minshew – The Wauchula Way Dec 20, 2024

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Olivia Minshew has been the City Manager of Wauchula since 2023 and has been with the City for nearly 20 years. In this episode, Olivia discusses the City’s process of moving to direct deposit and the significant time savings it ultimately brought to her employees. She outlines the change steps involved, which included awareness, preparation, and communication. Olivia also talks about breaking down departmental silos, where previously, departments operated independently with little regard for each other’s activities. Their strategic planning process now includes an employee recognition program that rewards employees for modeling one of the City’s values.

Re-Release Episode #149: Crystal Washington – How to Avoid Default Futures Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

Crystal Washington works with clients to help them identify potential futures and prepare for them. In this episode, she discusses dealing with current problems while making time for future planning, such as scheduling time to be curious. She emphasizes the importance of horizon scanning, looking for small signals amid the noise, and distinguishing trends. Crystal recommends the book “Factfulness,” which addresses human anxieties and explains why we shouldn't be as worried as we are. She also discusses the role of artificial intelligence in futurism and long-term planning, and she explores the current and future implications of social media with Steve.

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