The HaltingWinter Podcast

Jerry Gabrielatos: Artificial Intelligence and the Stewardship of Time
Reclaiming Capacity to Better Serve Your Community
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 311 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future conversation; it's here. And for local government leaders, the real question isn't whether to use it…it's what you do with the time it gives back.
In this episode, Seth sits down with returning guest Jerry Gabrielatos (former City Manager of Beloit, WI) to unpack a powerful idea: AI should lead to more humanity, not less.
Drawing from his recent article on AI and local government, Jerry challenges leaders to rethink how they spend their time, how they engage their communities, and how they structure their organizations in a rapidly changing landscape.
This isn't a technical conversation; it's a leadership one.
Throughout the conversation, one theme stands out: Municipal leadership isn't about applause. It's about doing good with good people, even when it's heavy.
Read Jerry's Article
Listen to Jerry's First Interview (Episode 111)
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

Benjamin Bitter: Impact Over Title
Why Great City Managers Focus on People, Not Position
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 310 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What does it really mean to lead in local government?
For Benjamin Bitter, City Manager of Maricopa, Arizona, the answer is simple, but not easy: It's not about the title. It's about the impact.
In this conversation, Benjamin shares a leadership philosophy shaped not by ambition, but by service, where success isn't measured by position or power, but by the ability to improve people's lives every single day.
From navigating rapid city growth to leading through uncertainty, Benjamin offers a grounded and refreshing perspective on what it takes to lead well in today's municipal environment.
 
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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Inner Excellence
Episode 309 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> This week inside the Municipal Leadership Development Circle, we're exploring "Inner Excellence" by Jim Murphy, a book that went from obscurity to #1 New York Times bestseller overnight when Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown was caught reading it during an NFL playoff game.
Why did elite performers recognize this book immediately? Because Murphy discovered something revolutionary: the pursuit of extraordinary performance and the pursuit of an exceptional life are the same path.
In this episode, Seth introduces the core insights from "Inner Excellence" and explains why they matter specifically for local government leaders who perform under extreme pressure with limited control.


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: Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Jessica Leavins: Called to Care
Empathy, Public Scrutiny, and the Weight of Municipal Leadership
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 308 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What prepares someone to become a city manager?
For Jessica Leavins, it wasn't a lifelong plan. It was a calling shaped by family roots, social work, organizational psychology, and a deep desire to serve people well.
In this conversation, Jessica shares her journey from growing up in rural Florida on land her family has stewarded for generations, to working in child welfare, to becoming the first HR professional for the City of Crestview, and ultimately stepping into the city manager's seat.
But this episode isn't just about career progression. It's about the emotional reality of municipal leadership.
She speaks candidly about the moment she realized her family could see public criticism online and how that changed her understanding of leadership visibility.
Throughout the conversation, one theme stands out: Municipal leadership isn't about applause. It's about doing good with good people, even when it's heavy.
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

Josh Finch: From Manure to Management
Rejection, Resilience, and the Making of a City Administrator
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 307 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
There is no "perfect" path into city management. Josh Finch proves it.
From shoveling manure as a seasonal parks laborer to becoming a city administrator at 24, Josh's journey into local government wasn't traditional; it was earned.
In this conversation, Josh shares how a low GPA, rejection from his first administrative interview, and even a life-threatening medical emergency shaped his leadership philosophy. He talks openly about starting in a rural community where he wore every hat — public works, finance, HR, community development — and why that experience became his greatest training ground.
Josh's story is a reminder that no experience is wasted and that leadership isn't about titles, it's about initiative.
His closing advice says it best: "There are people that do, and there are people that don't. Be a doer."
Whether you're an MPA student, an emerging leader, or a seasoned administrator navigating your next chapter, this episode will challenge and encourage you to step forward with humility, resilience, and purpose.
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