The HaltingWinter Podcast

Dennis Champine: Built for the Long Haul
How One City Manager Outlasted Politics, Turnover, and Trend-Driven Leadership
Episode 286 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What does it take to last in local government when the average city manager tenure is shrinking and the pressure keeps rising?
In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Dennis Champine, City Manager of Center Line, Michigan, recently named one of the Top 10 City Managers of 2025. Dennis has served his community for more than a decade, not by chasing headlines or political wins, but by playing the long game.
Dennis' story is anything but traditional. From growing up in a low-income household, to serving in the Marine Corps, to entering formal higher education at age 40, his path into city management was shaped by service, setbacks, and lived experience, not ambition for the title.
In this conversation, Dennis shares what he's learned about endurance in a role designed to wear people down, including:
Why longevity in city management comes from listening more than persuading

How he reduced one of the highest tax rates in his county without cutting services

The power of regional and federal partnerships to create new revenue without burdening residents

What it really means to remain professionally neutral in an increasingly polarized environment

How to engage residents when few show up to meetings, but everyone has an opinion

Why integrity, restraint, and humility matter more than being right or popular

This episode is for city managers, administrators, and senior leaders who are tired of trend-driven leadership and short-term thinking and who want to build something that lasts.
If you've ever wondered how to stay grounded, effective, and human in the middle of political pressure and public scrutiny, this conversation is for you.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at 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 haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Grit
Episode 285 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Why do some municipal leaders thrive through decades of service while others burn out or quit internally? This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter is working through Angela Duckworth's "Grit" and finds the answer isn't about intelligence or charisma. It's about something you can actually develop in yourself and your team. The private sector recruits talent with money. You build capacity through mission and culture. Learn how to harness grit for incredible impact, both for yourself and your municipal organization.
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
Special Announcement: Head to our YouTube channel to gain access to our first Leadership & Culture Training Session of 2026: "Personal Well-Being When Work-Life Balance is BS." This webinar is a feature for MLDC/L&C members and is only available to the public through January 31st!
Book: Grit by Angela Duckworth
L&C Training Session: YouTube Channel
MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Rose Beverly: Holding the Line When a City Is Struggling
Financial Strain, Fragile Public Trust, and the Work No One Sees
Episode 284 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What does leadership look like when you inherit financial strain, face fragile public trust, and are still expected to keep a city moving forward?
In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Rose Beverly, City Manager of Paris, Texas, for an honest and grounded conversation about the realities of municipal leadership when the work is weighty, the challenges feel overwhelming, and the solutions aren't immediate.
Rose shares her unconventional path into local government, from rural Idaho and elected office, to city administration roles in Minnesota and Kentucky, and now leading a regional hub city in Texas, where she finds herself navigating deferred infrastructure, financial pressure, and community expectations. Throughout the conversation, she offers a rare look at what it means to step into complexity you didn't create, but are now responsible for stewarding.
This episode isn't about quick wins or polished success stories. It's about holding the line, earning trust slowly, and doing the work that matters even when it goes unseen.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at 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 haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Elvin "EJ" Hardwick: Finding the Call Before the Title
Youth Councils, Public Service, and the Making of a Town Manager
Episode 283 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What happens when someone discovers their calling before they ever hold the title?
In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Elvin "EJ" Hardwick, Town Manager of Somerset, Maryland, and one of Government Business Review's Top 10 Town Managers to Watch. EJ's journey into municipal leadership didn't begin in graduate school or a corner office; it started as a teenager serving on a Youth City Council and a citizen recycling committee.
This conversation explores what it looks like to grow into leadership early, stay grounded in service, and lead at the most human level of government, where politics fade and community takes center stage.
EJ shares honest reflections on stepping into the town manager role at a young age, navigating council–staff–community dynamics, and creating space for innovation, youth voice, and belonging in a small but vibrant municipality just outside Washington, D.C.
This episode is both a reminder and an invitation: Local government doesn't just maintain systems; it shapes lives. And the future of the profession depends on who we invite in early, how we mentor them, and whether we help them find the call before the title.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Download your free e-book on cloud managment at 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 haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Deep Work
Episode 282 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
This week in the Municipal Leadership Development Circle, Seth Winterhalter breaks down the key insights from Cal Newport's book, Deep Work, and it might be the most important book you read as a local government leader trying to produce impactful work.
When was the last time you had three uninterrupted hours to think strategically? For most city managers, county administrators, and department heads, the answer is "I can't remember." That's the crisis Newport addresses: your most important work requires sustained focus, but everything about your work environment destroys your ability to concentrate.
In this episode, Seth breaks down why the ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it's becoming increasingly valuable and what that means for your leadership effectiveness.
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
Special Announcement: Head to our YouTube channel to gain access to our first Leadership & Culture Training Session of 2026: "Personal Well-Being When Work-Life Balance is BS." This webinar is a feature for MLDC/L&C members and is only available to the public through January 31st!
Book: Deep Work by Cal Newport
L&C Training Session: YouTube Channel
MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com