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PODCAST

The Clear Voice

Clear Career Professionals

The Clear Voice is a local government leadership podcast produced by Clear Career Professionals. Each episode features candid conversations with city managers, police and fire chiefs, and public sector leaders about the realities of leading communities, managing growth, navigating council dynamics, and building strong organizational culture. For more information, visit www.clearcareerpro.com.

government careers

All Episodes

42:53

#42 - Depopulation and the Future of Local Government...

The Clear Voice ·

2026/02/10

Episode 42 of The Clear Voice looks at a shift many public leaders are not planning for, the possibility that population growth cannot be assumed.Author and public policy researcher Bill King joins the show to discuss how changing demographics are reshaping the long-term outlook for cities, school districts, and public infrastructure. The conversation moves beyond theory and focuses on practical implications for capital planning, facilities, and financial strategy. King explains why growth has

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36:02

#41 - What Engineers Wish City Leaders Knew | Craig...

The Clear Voice ·

2026/02/03

Infrastructure problems rarely start the day a pipe breaks or a road fails. Most begin years earlier with decisions cities did not realize carried long term consequences.In this episode of The Clear Voice, Host James Groom and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese sit down with municipal engineer Craig Kerkhoff, Managing Partner at BHC, to discuss the infrastructure realities city leaders face but often cannot see coming. Craig explains what engineers regularly encounter once

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18:36

#40 - Odessa, Texas CFO Opportunity PositionCast™

The Clear Voice ·

2026/01/29

What does it take to lead municipal finance in one of the most economically dynamic regions in the United States?In this PositionCast™, James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice, is joined by Kelly Kuenstler, Vice President with Clear Career Professionals, and Aaron Smith, City Manager of Odessa, Texas, to discuss the Chief Financial Officer opportunity with the City of Odessa. This conversation goes beyond a job posting and gives candidates a direct look at executive leadership expectations,

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33:17

#39 - Brad Stafford on City Manager Burnout

The Clear Voice ·

2026/01/27

Episode #39 of The Clear Voice features Brad Stafford, retired City Manager and Vice President at Clear Career Professionals, in an honest and important conversation about city manager burnout, leadership stress, and mental health in local government. Brad is joined by Kelly Kuenstler, Vice President at Clear Career Professionals and former city and county manager, along with James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice and public sector leader. After 28 years serving as a City Manager, Brad Stafford

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43:25

#38 - The Next Generation of Public Service with Max...

The Clear Voice ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of The Clear Voice, host James Groom is joined by Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese to welcome Max Fisher, a recent Texas Tech Master of Public Administration graduate and emerging local government professional. Together, they explore what the next generation of public service looks like and how cities can build stronger leadership pipelines.Max shares his journey from considering law school to discovering a passion for city management, policy development, and

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40:40

#37 – Nederland, Texas PositionCast™ | City Manager...

The Clear Voice ·

2026/01/16

This PositionCast™ episode of The Clear Voice focuses on the City Manager search for Nederland, Texas. Clear Voice Host James Groom is joined by Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals, and James Hopper, Vice President of Clear Career Professionals, along with special guest Mayor Jeff Darby of Nederland to discuss the expectations and opportunities for the next City Manager.The conversation provides direct insight into the priorities shaping Nederland’s future, including renewal of

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23:09

#36 - Wichita Falls, Texas Chief Building Official

The Clear Voice ·

2026/01/13

Wichita Falls, Texas is hiring a Chief Building Official during a period of major growth and development. In this episode of The Clear Voice, host James Groom is joined by Clear Career Professionals recruiter Michael Boese and Assistant City Manager Paul Menzies to discuss the Chief Building Official opportunity in Wichita Falls, Texas. The conversation explores the city’s compliance focused inspections culture, same day inspection model, leadership expectations, and the role’s importance in

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27:44

#35 - Surfside Beach City Administrator Positioncast

The Clear Voice ·

2026/01/06

In this episode of The Clear Voice, we go deep into a pivotal development for local government leadership in Surfside Beach, Texas. For the first time in the community’s history, Surfside Beach is creating a City Administrator position to lead operations, implement strategic priorities, and work closely with the Mayor and City Council to serve residents and stakeholders. This role presents a rare opportunity for an experienced public sector leader who values relationships, community engagement, and

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40:13

#34 - Clear Looks Ahead to 2026: Strengthening Our...

The Clear Voice ·

2025/12/31

The Clear Voice closes out the year with a reflective wrap-up conversation between host James Groom and Clear Career President Michael Boese, looking back on the moments, lessons, and impact that shaped 2025 while setting the stage for the year ahead. Together, they revisit key themes from the past twelve months, discuss how leadership and service continue to evolve in local government, and reflect on the mission-driven work that defines Clear’s approach to recruitment, consulting, and community

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47:22

#33 - Clear Reflects on 2025: A Year of Growth and...

The Clear Voice ·

2025/12/23

In this special year-end episode of Clear Voice, host James Groom takes us on a reflective journey through 2025, sharing personal and professional milestones of the Clear Career Professionals team.Listeners will hear from various team members, including James Hopper, Marty Schmitt, Deanna Hendrix, Kevin Boese, and Kelly Kuenstler, as they share their own reflections on the past year. From leadership lessons to personal anecdotes, each guest offers unique insights into what made 2025 a year to

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35:39

#32 - Lamesa, Texas City Manager PositionCast

The Clear Voice ·

2025/12/19

The City Manager position in Lamesa, Texas offers a rare opportunity to lead a full service West Texas city at a moment of real transition. In this City Manager PositionCast, Mayor Hayden Davis, Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese, and The Clear Voice host, James Groom, provide a candid discussion about the Lamesa City Manager role, including council expectations, governance philosophy, economic development strategy, infrastructure priorities, and community culture.This episode

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34:42

#31 - Weatherford, Texas Director of Finance

The Clear Voice ·

2025/12/16

In this episode of the Clear Voice, host James Groom is joined by Clear President Michael Boese and City of Weatherford leadership for a PositionCast highlighting an exceptional municipal finance opportunity, Director of Finance for the City of Weatherford, Texas.City Manager James Hotopp and Assistant City Manager and CFO Dawn Brooks provide an in depth look at Weatherford’s culture, values, and strategic approach to growth. They discuss why the city has intentionally pursued steady, well managed

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34:25

#30 - Liberty, Texas Assistant Police Chief

The Clear Voice ·

2025/12/10

The Clear Voice sits down with Liberty Police Chief Rick Ashe for a detailed look at one of the most meaningful leadership opportunities currently open in Texas, the Assistant Chief of Police for the City of Liberty.Chief Ashe shares his decades long journey in law enforcement, including his tenure in Temple, his time as an assessor for TPCA accreditation, and the path that ultimately brought him to Liberty. He provides a clear and candid overview of the department’s structure, culture, technology

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21:23

#29 - Marble Falls, Texas Finance Director

The Clear Voice ·

2025/12/04

In this episode of The Clear Voice, Clear recruiter Kelly Kuenstler visits with Marble Falls City Manager Caleb Kraenzel to discuss the city’s open Finance Director position. The conversation gives listeners a grounded look at the role, the organizational culture, and the opportunities that come with serving a fast-growing Hill Country community.Caleb outlines how the finance team supports budgeting, accounting, purchasing, utility billing, payroll, and financial reporting for a city that operates

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35:54

#28 - Power Thinking, Purpose, and Leadership with...

The Clear Voice ·

2025/12/02

In Episode 28 of The Clear Voice, we sit down with Dr. Don Hooper, a lifelong educator and national leadership expert whose work connects neuroscience, purpose, mindset, and organizational performance. Dr. Hooper has served as a superintendent, university professor, and the longtime president and CEO of the Center for Quality Leadership. His career has been shaped by decades of studying high performing leaders, refining problem solving systems, and teaching others how to unlock the full potential of

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28:14

#27 - Montgomery County, Texas Emergency...

The Clear Voice ·

2025/12/01

In this episode of The Clear Voice, brought to you by Clear Career Professionals, host James Groom sits down with Executive Director Chip VanSteenberg and Clear Associate Vice President Brian Beasley to explore what makes this opportunity both unique and highly accessible to strong government leaders.Montgomery County is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas, with a rapidly expanding population, complex interagency dynamics, and a 9-1-1 system that plays a critical role in daily public

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26:19

#26 - Fairfield, Texas City Administrator

The Clear Voice ·

2025/11/25

Episode 26 takes you to Fairfield, Texas, where the city is recruiting its next City Administrator. Mayor Robert Nichols joins the show to share Fairfield’s small town character, its strong council dynamics, and the vision guiding the community as it plans for future growth along the I 45 corridor. He discusses the city’s ongoing investments in streets, drainage, water, sewer, and parks, as well as the qualities he believes are essential for the city’s next organizational leader.Clear Vice

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31:54

#25 - Dumas, Texas Finance Director Position

The Clear Voice ·

2025/11/20

In this episode of The Clear Voice, we sit down with Dumas City Manager Mark Hall and finance expert Debbie Reid, who is currently consulting with the City of Dumas to support its financial operations. Together, they walk listeners through the Finance Director opportunity in this growing community in the Texas Panhandle.Mark shares his vision for Dumas, the culture he is building, and why the finance function is central to the city’s long term success. Debbie provides insights into the current

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41:10

#24 - From Conflict to Community with Dr. Alex del...

The Clear Voice ·

2025/11/18

In this episode, The Clear Voice host James Groom and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese sit down with Dr. Alex del Carmen, one of the nation’s leading experts on policing practices, racial profiling research, and community trust. For nearly three decades, Dr. del Carmen has trained every police chief in Texas, consulted with agencies across the country, and helped shape modern accountability standards. Dr. del Carmen shares his remarkable personal journey from civil war and

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35:45

#23 - From the Classroom to City Hall with Pey Zeigler

The Clear Voice ·

2025/11/11

This week on The Clear Voice, host James Groom and Clear President Michael Boese sit down with Pey Zeigler, a graduate student at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, where she is pursuing her Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA).Pey shares how faith, family, and hands-on experience shaped her calling to serve, including her internship with the City of College Station, Texas. The conversation explores how thoughtful internship programs, both

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42 results

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