PODCAST

The FCCMA Podcast

FCCMA

Conversations with city and county leaders about local issues

government

All Episodes

00:30:20

Episode #201: Dale Martin – Strategic Leadership and...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/12/04

Dale Martin, City Manager of Flagler Beach, joins host Steve Vancore to discuss his transition from Connecticut to Florida and his love of board games (he owns more than 600!). Dale draws parallels between the complexity of board games and the skills needed to manage a city effectively, including strategy, adaptation, and foresight. The conversation also explores the importance of having an exit strategy in city management, particularly given the political nature of the role and the challenges that

00:56:36

Episode #200: Casey Cook – Defending Local Government...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/11/20

In the 200th episode of the FCCMA Podcast, host Steve Vancore is joined by Casey Cook, Executive Director of FCCMA and Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Florida League of Cities, for a timely and critical conversation about the future of local government in Florida. Casey outlines the growing legislative threats to property tax revenues, warning of a potential existential crisis for municipalities if core funding sources are undermined.Casey offers practical and actionable advice for local

00:48:25

Episode #199: Ed Mitchell – From City Hall to the...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/11/13

In this episode, Ed Mitchell shares his journey transitioning from city administrator to private sector executive, highlighting the professional challenges and transferable skills that shaped his path. Now Senior Vice President at U.S. Water, Ed discusses how he overcame early setbacks and built a career serving local governments from a different angle.Ed and Steve explore Florida’s pressing water infrastructure issues, from saltwater intrusion to underfunded sewer systems. They highlight real-world

00:49:45

Episode #198: Howard Wanamaker – From the Cockpit to...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/11/06

County Administrator Howard Wanamaker joins host Steve Vancore to discuss his unique path from naval pilot to local government leadership. Drawing on military and private-sector experience, Howard shares how principles like standardization, accountability, and performance tracking shape his approach to county management.He reflects on applying business strategies to public service, using KPIs and strategic planning to guide decisions. The conversation also covers Clay County’s growth, including

00:41:07

Episode #197 Lee Feldman – Rethinking Governance,...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/10/23

Lee Feldman, former city manager and now principal at the Euclid Group, joins host Steve Vancore to explore how strategic advisory work can strengthen the connection between government and the development community. Lee introduces the idea of the “toposcrat,” a keeper of place, offering a fresh perspective on public service that focuses on stewardship rather than bureaucracy.The conversation covers the power of language in shaping public perception, with Lee emphasizing how using terminology such as

00:36:55

Episode #196: Kathleen Gunn – Supporting the Soul of...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/10/16

Kathleen Gunn, former Deputy Village Manager of Miami Shores, joins host Steve Vancore to explore how local government leaders can better care for their emotional and spiritual well-being. She proposes chaplaincy services for city managers—distinct from counseling—to address moral and emotional challenges in public leadership.They discuss work-life balance, the pressures of public scrutiny, and Kathleen’s own wellness practices, including meditation and morning routines. The episode also touches on

00:47:42

Episode #195: Steve Kennedy – Leading Green Cove...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/10/09

Steve Kennedy, City Manager of Green Cove Springs, joins host Steve Vancore to share his unexpected journey from near-retirement in Georgia to leading one of Florida’s fastest-growing small cities. Drawing from his background in accounting and youth sports coaching, Kennedy explains his team-building philosophy: assess individual strengths and place people in roles where they can succeed, even if it means reshuffling original expectations. He emphasizes building strong, skill-based teams as a key to

00:33:50

Episode #194: John Boehm – Building Talent Pipelines...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/10/02

John Boehm, Assistant to the City Manager at Palm BeachGardens, joins host Steve Vancore to discuss the success of the FCCMA municipal internship program and its impact on both students and host communities. John shares his city's positive experience hosting an intern who contributed to an economic development project while gaining real-world exposure to public service through shadowing and team engagement.The conversation highlights the value of paid, structuredinternships as a tool for both

00:57:56

Episode #193: Jeff Hendry – The Role of FSU’s...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/09/25

Jeff Hendry, Executive Director of the Institute of Government (IOG) at Florida State University, joins the podcast to share how the IOG has evolved since its creation by the Florida Legislature in 1980. With over three decades of leadership at the helm, Jeff explains how the institute supports local governments—especially small cities—through training, research, and capacity-building programs.The conversation explores the broader concept of economic development. Jeff discusses how cities can work

00:43:48

Episode #192: Don Fisher – Investing in Osceola...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/09/18

Osceola County Manager Don Fisher shares how bold investments in education and infrastructure are helping reshape the county’s economic future. He highlights the Osceola Prosper program, which offers full scholarships to all high school graduates for Valencia College or Osceola Technical College, regardless of income or academic performance. The initiative includes flexible attendance options and workforce-aligned programs like semiconductor training, supported by partnerships with Valencia and the

00:38:34

Episode #191: Michele Lieberman – Strategic Planning...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/09/11

Michele Lieberman, County Manager of Alachua County, reflects on over a decade of service in the county and her transition from attorney to manager. Michele shares how the county’s strategic planning process gives staff a clearer sense of purpose, aligning programs with community needs and board goals. For her, the most rewarding part of the job is seeing even small decisions improve lives, especially when tied to critical infrastructure and community-wide impact.

00:41:13

Episode #190: Julia Novak – Local Government as the...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/09/04

Julia Novak, CEO of ICMA, explains why local government isessential to a functioning society. She outlines the four pillars of public administration—economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and equity—and shares how ICMA supports nearly 14,000 members worldwide through ethical guidance, credentialing, and networking. A lifelong ICMA member, Julia reflects on the value of staying connected and grounded in the profession’s core principles.

00:49:05

Episode #189: Mark Zeigler – Serving the Public with...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/08/21

Mark Zeigler, FCCMA Conference 2025 keynote speaker, speaks about finding joy in public service despite rising negativity and social media hostility. Drawing inspiration from leaders like John Thrasher, Mark emphasizes the importance of connection and presence in community engagement. Known for reading every graduate’s name at Florida State’s commencement, he shares how honoring each individual moment is key to meaningful public service.

00:28:23

Episode #188: Jim Gleason – Engaging Residents and...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/08/14

Jim Gleason, City Administrator of Lake Helen, discusses thechallenges of navigating negativity in small-town governance, where the loudest voices often dominate. He explains how Lake Helen is using the Savvy Citizen app to improve communication, keep residents informed, and build trust. The city sends real-time alerts on weather, traffic, and city updates, helping to foster a more connected and engaged community.

00:35:58

Episode #187: Kyle Scheele – The MacGyver of Ideas on...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/08/07

Keynote speaker Kyle Scheele, known as the “Patron Saint ofCrazy Ideas,” shares why creativity thrives not in limitless freedom, but within real-world constraints. Drawing from his FCCMA 2025 keynote, Kyle encourages local government leaders to embrace limited time, tight budgets, and small teams as the conditions where great ideas are born. He urges listeners to build environments where “lightning strikes more often” by combining existing ideas in new ways and making space for creativity to

00:25:12

Episode #186: Tracey Stevens – Budgeting,...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/07/31

Tracey Stevens, Town Administrator and Finance Director ofHaverhill, Florida, shares the financial realities of managing a town of just over 2,000 residents. With the majority of their budget reliant on property taxes, Tracey and her team are exploring alternative revenue sources and maintaining a one-year reserve fund. She also discusses the town’s use of the Civic Ready app, which delivers emergency messages, meeting alerts, and event updates directly to residents.

00:39:34

Episode #185: Mark Cunningham – Storm Recovery and...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/07/24

Mark Cunningham, immediate past president of FCCMA, discusses Sarasota county’s back-to-back storm recovery efforts in 2024. He explains the unique challenges of post-storm debris management, including how contaminated sand must be carefully handled. Mark also covers the importance of clear public communication and proactive preparation before, during, and after storms to keep residents safe and informed.

00:34:51

Episode #184: Charlie Van Zant – Leadership, CRAs,...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/07/17

Charlie Van Zant, former City Manager of Keystone Heights, brings a diverse leadership background from military service and public education to his role in city government. He shares how Keystone Heights effectively leverages its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), covering half the city, to support local projects. Charlie offers advice to other city leaders about getting involved with the Florida League of Cities and advocating at the state level to ensure small cities are heard.

00:38:37

Episode #183: Barry Burton and Carl Harness –...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/07/10

Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton and Hillsborough County Chief Human Services Administrator Carl Harness join the show to discuss their shared commitment to regional cooperation in the Tampa Bay area. They highlight their partnership with Pasco County, regular joint meetings between commissioners and staff, and the importance of working across county lines to tackle shared challenges. As co-hosts of the upcoming ICMA Annual Conference in Tampa, Barry and Carl also preview what attendees

00:52:37

Episode #182: Audra Curts – Hurricane Preparedness...

The FCCMA Podcast ·

2025/06/26

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

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