Afleveringen
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Mike McGlothlin, City Manager of Palm Coast, discusses the opportunities and pressures that come with explosive growth. Palm Coast has grown from 32,000 to over 115,000 residents since 2000, and Mike shares how the city recently completed a $300 million utilities bond project to help keep pace with that demand.
Drawing on his experience managing hurricane recovery in Redington Shores, where he oversaw recovery efforts for four storms in 18 months, Mike offers practical lessons on pre-storm planning, establishing multiple debris disposal sites, and keeping both community members and workers safe throughout the process. The conversation also addresses Palm Coast's 80-20 residential-to-commercialrevenue split, the potential budget implications of proposed increases to the homestead exemption, and Mike's positive experience contracting for law enforcement services through the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
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Michael Dammer, Manager of Emerging Technology at Lakeland Electric, joins host Steve Vancore to discuss his role evaluating new technologies that fall outside traditional utility operations. Mike shares details on two current projects: a solar field partnership with Williams Company set to provide 12% of Lakeland Electric's portfolio, and a pilot with American Independent Power using thermal solar and liquid nitrogen technology for power generation.
The conversation covers how falling costs and stable pricing through public-private partnerships have made solar increasingly viable, and how data analytics from smart meters are improving voltage regulation and predictive maintenance. Mike and Steve also tackle the growing demand for data centers, with Mike explainingthat while large-scale facilities present real infrastructure challenges, smaller ones could be absorbed within Lakeland Electric's current capacity.
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Chuck Anderson, City Manager of Apalachicola and formerly City Manager of Treasure Island, joins host Steve Vancore as part of the podcast's emergency management series. Chuck stepped into the Treasure Island role on August 1st, 2024, and almost immediately faced three major storms in the span of roughly three months. His takeaway is straightforward: there is no such thing as being overprepared when it comes to storms.
Chuck walks through the complexities of storm debris recovery, including how to communicate effectively with residents while staying FEMA compliant, a process with strict rules that determine whether a community gets reimbursed. He also discusses his current role in Apalachicola, where he has been navigating a water crisis stemming from both aerator and well failures, and the importance of coordinating with Franklin County and local law enforcement during emergencies. The conversation closes with a look at points of distribution, where residents can access essentials like tarps, food, ice, and batteries, and the responsibility cities have to care for those who couldn't evacuate.
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Chuck Anderson, City Manager of Apalachicola and formerlyCity Manager of Treasure Island, joins host Steve Vancore as part of the podcast's emergency management series. Chuck stepped into the Treasure Island role on August 1st, 2024, and almost immediately faced three major storms in the span of roughly three months. His takeaway is straightforward: there is no such thing as being overprepared when it comes to storms.
Chuck walks through the complexities of storm debrisrecovery, including how to communicate effectively with residents while staying FEMA compliant, a process with strict rules that determine whether a community gets reimbursed. He also discusses his current role in Apalachicola, where hehas been navigating a water crisis stemming from both aerator and well failures, and the importance of coordinating with Franklin County and local law enforcement during emergencies. The conversation closes with a look at points of distribution, where residents can access essentials like tarps, food, ice,and batteries, and the responsibility cities have to care for those who couldn't evacuate.
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Zerry Ihekwaba, City Manager of Homestead, and Jaime Hernandez, Emergency Manager, join host Steve Vancore to share how Homestead dramatically improved its Florida FROC scores, which measure readiness in debris removal and emergency protective measures, climbing from the high 30s to 51 in both categories.
They break down the city's debris management strategy, including pre-identified debris sites, zone-based vendor assignments, and detailed operational plans withmonitoring protocols. The conversation also covers the case for competitive procurement rather than piggybacking on other contracts, best practices for protecting infrastructure, practical evacuation guidance, and Homestead's plans for a new joint operations center to better serve Monroe County and surrounding municipalities.
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Zerry Ihekwaba, City Manager of Homestead, and Jaime Hernandez, Emergency Manager, join host Steve Vancore to share how Homestead dramatically improved itsFlorida FROC scores, which measure readiness in debris removal and emergency protective measures, climbing from the high 30s to 51 in both categories.
They break down the city's debris management strategy, including pre-identified debris sites, zone-based vendor assignments, and detailed operational plans withmonitoring protocols. The conversation also covers the case for competitive procurement rather than piggybacking on other contracts, best practices for protecting infrastructure, practical evacuation guidance, and Homestead's plans for a new joint operations center to better serve Monroe County and surrounding municipalities.
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Commander CKMoore, Planning Section Chief of Hillsborough County's Office of Emergency Management, joins host Steve Vancore to share hard-won insights from a career spanning 27 years in the Coast Guard and three years with Hillsborough County. CK walks through what makes tabletop exercises truly effective, emphasizing the importance of bringing the right stakeholders together and using realistic scenarios that genuinely test emergency plans.
The conversation covers Hillsborough County's experience with Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, and how each storm exposed new challenges that drove improvements. CK also discusses technological innovations, including roboticdrain inspection systems and strategies for balancing emergency response with routine maintenance.
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Dana Souza, City Manager ofSanibel, joins host Steve Vancore to walk through the critical steps cities must take before a storm makes landfall. Having started as city manager in September 2021, Dana led the city through the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Ian in 2022, and he draws on that experience to share practical advice on storm preparedness.
Dana describes the tabletop exercises and community workshops his city conducts each year, bringingtogether staff, meteorologists, and county EOC specialists to help residents and property owners understand how their own preparation can meaningfully reduce a storm's impact. It's a candid conversation about readiness, resilience, andwhat it takes to protect a vulnerable coastal community.
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In this episode, Crystal River City Manager Audra Curts shares her deep experience in hurricane preparedness and disaster recovery, with a special focus on the unique challenges small cities face. Audra reflects on being hit by Hurricane Helene just two days into the job, followed by Hurricane Milton a week later, and the flooding of City Hall from Hurricane Idalia before her arrival.
Audra draws from her past roles in city and school district leadership, including her time as CFO for Polk County schools during the 2004 hurricanes. She explains how storm recovery often requires cities to front costs long before FEMA or insurance funds arrive, making financial reserves and intergovernmental cooperation essential.
From managing recovery for over 160 school sites to navigating citywide disaster impacts, Audra encourages proactive planning, strong departmental coordination, and the importance of having flexible funding options ready. Her insights offer a valuable blueprint for local governments preparing for and responding to major storms.
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Suzanne Sherman, the City Manager of Palm Bay, discusses the complexities of ethical decision-making in local government. As Palm Bay has rapidly grown to nearly 100 square miles with a population increase from 20,000 to 140,000 in just 20 years, Suzanne has focused on restoring public trust following past ethics violations and investigations. She emphasizes the importance of continuous ethics training, attending sessions twice a year to stay sharp and aware of the nuances in ethical dilemmas. Suzanne highlights that many decisions in government require careful, deliberative thinking, and consideration of the impact on all parties involved.
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Mike Carballa, County Administrator of Pasco County, joins host Steve Vancore to share the leadership philosophy driving his tenure. Mike walks through his "people, purpose, and performance" framework — prioritizing employees, connecting them to the organization's mission of serving the community to create a better future, and empowering staff with autonomy and support. He details how this approach shifted Pasco County away from a command-and-control culture, lifting employee engagement scores from 30% to over 50%.
Mike and Steve also cover the county's hurricane response, including innovative debris removal strategies and managing expectations with elected officials during emergencies. The conversation closes with a look at Pasco County's expansive park system and environmental preservation efforts, and why community-focused initiatives tend to earn strong voter support.
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Chad Edwards, Borough Manager of Breckenridge, PA, joins host Steve Vancore to recount one of the most extraordinary disaster recovery challenges in recent municipal history. Before his current role, Chad served as village manager of East Palestine, Ohio, stepping into the position in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 train derailment that sent toxic chemicals spilling across the community, just outside city limits, with no village manager in place at the time it occurred.
Chad reflects on the complex task of rebuilding a community divided between economic recovery and ongoing health concerns, and shares the leadership lessons he took from navigating a crisis not of his making. Steve and Chad also discuss how Pennsylvania's municipal classification system works and what it means to lead through disaster when a community's trust and health hang in the balance.
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Heidi Siegel, Town Manager of Jupiter Inlet Colony, joins host Steve Vancore to offer a window into one of Florida's most unique municipalities. Founded in 1959 on the northern edge of Palm Beach County, the town is entirely residential — 267 homes and between 400 and 600 residents depending on the season — with a small but dedicated staff and a concierge-level approach to local government.
Heidi joined the town in August 2024 as its first-ever town manager following a change to the town's charter. She and Steve discuss what it means to be a small-government specialist (not just a jack-of-all-trades but a master of all trades) and the distinctive demands and rewards of serving a tight-knit, high-expectation community.
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Michael Pleus, City Manager of DeLand, joins host Steve Vancore to share his experience as an ICMA scholarship recipient for the Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government at Harvard University. Michael describes the month-long program in Cambridge, where participants spend the first two weeks building a leadership toolkit before applying it as consultants to real-world case studies brought by their cohort.
With 26 years at the City of DeLand — 18 of them as city manager — Michael reflects on the value of learning alongside peers from 19 states, and how exposure to the wide variety of challenges facing communities across the country sharpened his own approach to local government leadership.
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Keith Touchberry, City Manager of Cape Canaveral, joins host Steve Vancore to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of governing a city at the center of America's space industry. Keith shares how economic activity generated by space programs has reshaped the community, while introducing new concerns about noise and vibrations and their implications for building codes and infrastructure.
Before becoming city manager, Keith served as police chief in Fellsmere, and he reflects on how crisis management skills from law enforcement translate directly into city government leadership. He and Steve also explore the role of ethics in public service, with Keith emphasizing that strong leadership means choosing the hard, right decision over the easy wrong one — and that protecting human health and safety must always come first.
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Sarah Campbell, City Manager of Fernandina Beach and current FCCMA president, joins host Steve Vancore to discuss some of the most pressing financial challenges facing Florida municipalities. With her term ending in May 2026, Sarah reflects on her advocacy work, including testimony before the Florida legislature on how property taxes fund local government and the importance of transparency in the budget-building process.
Sarah and Steve also dig into the ripple effects of the state-mandated minimum wage increase, particularly the wage compression it created among frontline workers, and what that means for cities trying to attract and retain talent.
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Ifo Pili, City Manager of West Valley City, Utah, joins host Steve Vancore to share one of the most distinctive career journeys in local government — from professional football player to city manager. Ifo reflects on his experiences leading multiple cities, including Eagle Mountain and Las Cruces, and the philosophy that has guided him throughout: falling in love with every city he serves.
Ifo and Steve explore the contrasting challenges of managing fast-growing cities versus built-out ones, and dive into economic development strategies, including how to attract data centers and other businesses. Ifo makes the case for post-performance incentives and shares the importance of removing friction so companies can easily say “yes” to calling a city home. It's an energizing conversation about leadership, community investment, and what drives the most effective managers in local government.
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Host Steve Vancore talks with KellyWestlund, Deputy Administrator of Bay County, Wisconsin, about the real-worldchallenges of environmental infrastructure and how communities respond whencosts and growth collide.
Kelly shares how aging septic systemsand population shifts are straining water quality in northern Wisconsin,drawing parallels to Florida’s septic-to-sewer debates. The conversationhighlights why environmental issues gain traction only when framed aroundtangible outcomes that residents value—clean water, reliable services, andcommunity resilience.
They also discuss resistance to waterrate increases, renewable energy investments like solar microgrids in BayfieldCounty, and the difficulty of advancing affordable housing amid NIMBY concerns.The episode underscores a central theme: technical solutions matter, but clear,locally grounded messaging is what turns long-term needs into public support.
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Carlos Sanchez joins host SteveVancore to share his transition from military service to a leadership role inPanama City through the ICMA Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship.During his four-month fellowship, Carlos worked across departments, contributedto safety improvements, and helped shape policy for a new recreation center.
Now serving as Utility OperationsManager, Carlos oversees wastewater, underground utilities, and lift stations.He and Steve discuss how the fellowship program offers a valuable, low-risk wayfor cities to onboard transitioning service members while strengthening theirworkforce.
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In this episode, host Steve Vancorespeaks with Dale Pazdra and Kathy Reul about Coral Springs’ long-runningleadership development and succession planning program. Launched in 2007, theprogram features in-person training, monthly mentoring themes, andcross-departmental exposure, all through a competitive application process. Theresult has been a strong internal leadership pipeline, with many departmentheads rising through the program.
Dale and Kathy explain how CoralSprings has sustained the initiative for nearly two decades through regularparticipant feedback, a focus on employee engagement, and an organizationalculture committed to growth. The program has helped reduce turnover, savetraining costs, and strengthen collaboration across departments.
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