Jeff Weckbach: The Conversation That Launched a Career
How Exposure and Mentorship Shape the Next Generation of City Managers

Episode 304 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What if the future of local government hinges on a single conversation?

Before he ever stepped into the Township Administrator's office in Colerain Township, Ohio, Jeff Weckbach was simply a college student completing an assignment. He reached out to then–City Manager Milton Dohoney for an interview.

That hour changed everything.

In this episode, Jeff shares how exposure, not early certainty, set him on the path to municipal leadership. From internships and county government to becoming Township Administrator, his journey highlights something critical: the pipeline doesn't build itself.

Jeff's story is steady, thoughtful, and deeply relevant to today's municipal landscape. It's a reminder that leadership is often shaped long before someone sits in the big chair and that today's leaders have a responsibility to open doors for those coming behind them.

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

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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Boundaries for Leaders
Episode 303 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

What if you have more control as a local government leader than you realize? This week in the Municipal Leadership Development Circle, we're exploring "Boundaries for Leaders" by Dr. Henry Cloud, a book that reframes leadership from managing what happens to setting boundaries that create the conditions for success.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the core concepts of the book and explains why Cloud's research on neuroscience and leadership is essential for city managers, county administrators, and department heads operating within local government's unique constraints.

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: Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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

Travis Coenen: Leading Where Everyone Knows Your Name
Building Systems That Turn Small-Town Pressures Into Sustainable Growth

Episode 299 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does leadership look like when everyone in town knows you and isn't afraid to tell you what they think?

In this episode, Seth sits down with Travis Coenen, Village Administrator of Wrightstown, Wisconsin, to explore the weight and reward of leading in a small community. From growing up in a town of 1,200 people to overseeing its expansion to more than 4,000 residents, Travis shares how intentional systems, transparent communication, and long-term stewardship transformed both infrastructure and community trust.

Before becoming an administrator, Travis worked in utility construction, served as a wastewater operator, and was once told he wouldn't even make the interview process for Director of Public Works. He applied anyway.

This conversation is a reminder that local government isn't small work; it's personal, visible, and generational.

If you lead in a community where your reputation lives next door, this episode 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 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

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