The HaltingWinter Podcast

Latest Episodes:

342: Book of the Week: Primed to Perform Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Primed to PerformEpisode 342 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

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Why do your people come to work? Not what you hope the answer is; the real answer. The motive that actually drives them every day.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces Primed to Perform by Neel Doshi and Lindsay McGregor, this week's book inside the MLDC, and unpacks why local government leaders need to pay attention to the science of motivation if they want to build cultures that actually perform.

Doshi and McGregor identify six motives that drive every employee. Three of them build performance. Three of them destroy it. And the environments local government leaders operate in — public scrutiny, civil service systems, constrained compensation — naturally generate the wrong three.

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: Primed to Perform by Neel Doshi & Lindsay McGregor

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

341: Dean Huard: The Second Mission Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Dean Huard: The Second MissionWhy Veterans Belong in Local Government

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Episode 341 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What happens when a military career ends but the desire to serve remains?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with former Army Lieutenant Colonel and former city manager Dean Huard to discuss leadership, purpose, transition, and why local government may be one of the best-kept secrets for veterans looking for their next mission.

Dean's journey has taken him from growing up in a Coast Guard family, to serving more than three decades in the military, to leading a Texas municipality, and ultimately into consulting and advocacy work supporting state and local governments. Along the way, he experienced career setbacks, health challenges, and difficult transitions that tested his resilience and reshaped his perspective on service.

Together, Seth and Dean explore the surprising similarities between military leadership and municipal leadership, the untapped potential veterans bring to local government, and why communities benefit when experienced leaders continue serving beyond the uniform.

Whether you're a veteran exploring your next chapter, a city manager looking to build stronger teams, or a local government leader seeking encouragement, Dean's story is a powerful reminder that service doesn't end when one career closes—it simply finds a new mission.

About Dean Huard

Dean Huard is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, former city manager, and senior consultant specializing in state and local government engagement. Throughout his career, he has served in military, corporate, and municipal leadership roles, bringing a unique perspective on leadership, service, and organizational effectiveness. Dean is passionate about helping veterans successfully transition into local government careers and strengthening the connection between public service and community impact.

Connect with Dean Huard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-huard

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

340: Jordan Villwock: The Culture Advantage Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Jordan Villwock: The Culture AdvantageHow Ontario Became America's Top Local Government Workplace

Episode 340 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does it take to build a workplace where people want to stay, grow, and lead?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Jordan Villwock, Deputy City Manager for the City of Ontario, California, to explore the leadership, culture, and intentional employee development practices that helped Ontario earn recognition as the #1 local government workplace in America among organizations with 1,000–2,500 employees.

Jordan's journey into local government began as a police dispatcher in Laguna Beach before evolving into roles in emergency management, fire administration, and executive leadership. Along the way, he discovered a passion for developing people, strengthening organizations, and creating systems that help both employees and communities thrive.

Together, Seth and Jordan discuss the realities of emergency management, leading through growth, succession planning, employee engagement, and the practical steps Ontario has taken to build a culture that employees are proud to be part of.

They talk about:

How Ontario became a nationally recognized top workplace
Why culture is built through consistency, communication, and intentionality
The role strategic planning plays in organizational alignment
How Ontario's leadership development programs are preparing the next generation of municipal leaders
Why succession planning can no longer be an afterthought in local government
The importance of breaking down silos and building collaboration across departments
Lessons learned from a career spanning dispatch, emergency management, fire administration, and executive leadership
Why employee development is one of the most important investments a city can make

Whether you're a city manager, department director, emerging leader, or someone passionate about building stronger organizations, this conversation offers practical ideas for creating a workplace where people can do their best work and grow into their full potential.

About Jordan Villwock

Jordan Villwock serves as Deputy City Manager for the City of Ontario, California. During his local government career, he has served in public safety, emergency management, fire administration, and executive leadership roles. He is also an adjunct professor in emergency management and was recently recognized by ELGL as a 2026 Top Influencer in Local Government.

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

339: Book of the Week: Unreasonable Hospitality Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Unreasonable HospitalityEpisode 339 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

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What separates a competent organization from one that people actually trust? It's not efficiency. It's not accuracy. It's not even innovation.

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According to Will Guidara, former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park (once named the best restaurant in the world), the answer is hospitality. And there's a critical difference between hospitality and service that most leaders have never stopped to consider.

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In this episode, Seth Winterhalter continues a 3-month series inside the MLDC focused on organizational culture by exploring the central ideas from Guidara's Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect and making the case for why this book belongs on every local government leader's desk.

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Local government is extraordinarily good at service delivery. But service alone doesn't build trust. This episode explores what does and why the answer is both more demanding and more achievable than most leaders expect.

Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guiadara

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

338: Leonard Hernandez: More Than Books and Buildings May 28, 2026

Show notes

Leonard Hernandez: More Than Books and BuildingsHow Libraries and Counties Create Community

Episode 338 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What do libraries, museums, parks, and county government have in common? Far more than most people realize.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Leonard Hernandez (County Manager in Thurston County, Washington) to explore the often unseen role counties play in shaping thriving communities and how public spaces like libraries can become some of the most powerful tools for connection, learning, and belonging.

Leonard shares his remarkable journey from shelving books as a library page in Southern California to leading one of Washington State's fastest-growing counties. Along the way, the conversation dives into the evolution of libraries from quiet book repositories into vibrant community hubs, the importance of collaboration across local government, and the small moments of encouragement that can change the trajectory of a person's life and leadership.

They also unpack:

Why counties are one of the most misunderstood levels of government
How local government can foster belonging through public spaces
The connection between literacy, opportunity, and community outcomes
What the pandemic revealed about communication and collaboration in government
Why curiosity and creativity are essential leadership skills
How Thurston County is navigating growth, regional partnership, and the future of community development

This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about the invisible work local government does every day to hold communities together.

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

337: Mike Winder: The City Hall People Actually Want to Visit May 26, 2026

Show notes

Mike Winder: The City Hall People Actually Want to VisitRethinking Community, Communication, and Civic Trust

Episode 337 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What if City Hall became one of the most engaging places in the community instead of one of the most intimidating?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth sits down with Mike Winder—recently recognized as one of America's 250 Public Service Champions—to explore how local government can move beyond simply delivering services and begin intentionally creating belonging, trust, and community connection.

Mike shares his unconventional journey from growing up in a fifth-generation dairy family to serving as a city councilmember, mayor, state legislator, economic development director, and ultimately city manager of one of Utah's newest cities.

Together, they discuss:

Why local government is still the most impactful level of government
How cities can foster belonging in an increasingly disconnected culture
The importance of storytelling and communication in rebuilding civic trust
Why City Hall should feel welcoming, engaging, and alive
The creation of Millcreek Common and a City Hall designed as a true community destination
How intentional culture-building strengthens both organizations and communities
Practical ways local leaders can create connection without massive budgets
The challenge of leadership boundaries and protecting personal well-being in public service

This conversation is filled with practical ideas, hopeful vision, and a refreshing reminder that local government still has the power to shape everyday life in meaningful ways.

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

336: Book of the Week: An Everyone Culture May 25, 2026

Show notes

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – An Everyone CultureEpisode 336 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

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Most local government leaders will tell you they're committed to developing their people. And they mean it. But in An Everyone Culture, Harvard researchers Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey make a case that confronts the reality facing most leaders: the way nearly every organization is built — including yours — is quietly working against the very development you're trying to create.

The culprit is what Kegan and Lahey call the second job. It's the invisible work your people are doing on top of their actual job — covering weaknesses, managing impressions, performing competence for the council, for peers, for the public. Nobody assigned it. Nobody talks about it. But it's happening in your organization right now, and it's draining the energy and capacity your team needs to do their best work.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter unpacks the central idea behind Kegan and Lahey's Deliberately Developmental Organization (DDO), a workplace where growth isn't a program or a perk, but the way the organization actually runs. He walks through what that means specifically in the context of local government, where civil service systems, elected oversight, and public scrutiny create real barriers to the kind of culture the book describes and why those barriers make the work more urgent, not less.

Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

Book: An Everyone Culture by Robert Kegan & Lisa Lahey

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

335: Paz Gomez: The Mission Behind Public Works May 21, 2026

Show notes

Paz Gomez: The Mission Behind Public WorksFrom Navy Engineering to Building Thriving Communities

Episode 335 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

During National Public Works Week, we're highlighting the people and stories behind the infrastructure that keeps our communities moving forward every single day.

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager overseeing Public Works for the City of Carlsbad, California, and one of the American Public Works Association's Top 10 Public Works Leaders of 2025.

From growing up in a Filipino Navy family to serving as a commanding officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps, Paz shares a remarkable journey of leadership, engineering, service, and community impact. The conversation explores the hidden realities of public works leadership, the similarities between military bases and city operations, the importance of breaking down silos across departments, and why the future of local government depends on developing the next generation of leaders.

This episode is a powerful reminder that public works is about far more than roads, pipes, and projects. It's about building communities where people can thrive.

Whether you serve in public works, utilities, engineering, administration, or community leadership, this conversation will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the people quietly building and sustaining the places we call home.

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

334: Julie Underwood: Building More Than Infrastructure May 19, 2026

Show notes

Julie Underwood: Building More Than InfrastructureWhy Public Works Must Build People, Not Just Projects

Episode 334 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

Julie Underwood's journey into local government leadership is anything but ordinary.

Born in Vietnam and raised in the American South, Julie shares how identity, belonging, and resilience shaped both her life and leadership philosophy. From serving as city manager in multiple communities to now leading Public Works for the City of Kirkland, Washington, Julie offers a powerful perspective on the human side of municipal leadership and the often-overlooked work that keeps communities thriving.

In this National Public Works Week episode, Seth and Julie explore the leadership pipeline crisis facing local government, why technical expertise alone does not prepare someone to lead people, and the urgent need to intentionally develop the next generation of municipal leaders.

The conversation also highlights the incredible impact of public works professionals—from transportation and utilities to infrastructure, redevelopment, and community experience—and why this work is about far more than potholes and pavement.

Julie also shares the story behind the Northwest Women's Leadership Academy, a program she helped launch to support and accelerate women into leadership roles across local government.

This episode is a conversation about service, leadership, growth, belonging, and the people building communities every single day.

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

333: Book of the Week: Belonging May 18, 2026

Show notes

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – BelongingEpisode 333 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

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What if the biggest thing holding your team back has nothing to do with skills, systems, or strategy? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter digs into Belonging by Owen Eastwood, the performance coach behind the England Football team, NATO's Command Group, and the British Olympic team, and why his central argument should be strongly considered by every local government leader: belonging isn't a soft concept. It is the foundational condition for human performance.

Seth unpacks three ideas from the book that hit differently in a local government context: the Us Story and your responsibility as the storyteller-in-chief for your organization, the silent dance and the invisible signals you're sending every single day, and why belonging has to come before performance, not after it.

If you lead a city, county, or public agency and you've ever wondered why talented people disengage, why new employees take so long to find their footing, or why your teams don't quite move like a connected whole, this episode and book are for you.

Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned