PCC Local Time

Today I am excited to welcome three return guests. Dr Bev Cigler, professor emerita from Penn State, Dr John Kincaid, professor at LaFayette College, in Easton Pennsylvania and Matt Candland from Upper Moreland Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In this episode, we talk about the rising occurrence of national issues entering into local politics and the resulting polarization that occurs.This episode presents views that balance, on the one hand, the role of our federal constitution in supporting activism on national issues at the local level, and on the other, the business of local government and the role of the city manager. In short, this episode is a quick study on how federalism impacts local government. As you will discern, this conversation is one that deserves many more. But what is presented here is a foundation for understanding, perfectly crafted and presented by my three esteemed guests. Sign up for the PCC Local Time Newsletter HERE to get more resources on this episode and community updates every Friday in your inbox.BIOSProfessor John Kincaid is the Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Professor of Government and Public Service and Director of the Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. He is recognized around the world for his scholarship in the area of Federalism. Connect with him on LinkedIn HERE or learn more about him HERE.Professor Bev Cigler, is a Penn State Distinguished Professor Emerita of Public Policy and Administration. Her affiliations include Wayne State, Thiel, North Carolina State, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Penn State Harrisburg (PSH). She is well-known for her pracademic perspectives and scholarship in the area of American Federalism and Intergovernmental relations. You can connect with her on LinkedIn HERE or learn more about her HERE.Matt Candland is the Township Manager of Upper Moreland Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Born and raised in the Washington DC area. He attended Brigham Young University and received BA – double major English Literature and American Studies; he received his Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University and a MBA from Frostburg State University – Master of Business Administration. You can connect with him on LinkedIn HERESHOW NOTES00:00:00 Polarization and local politics.00:08:04 Local government activism can be detrimental.00:11:36 Local government faces increasing challenges.00:17:09 Managers' role in addressing issues. 00:21:18 Local governments can push back.00:24:44 Sanctuary cities and nullification.00:32:09 Polarization threatens local government effectiveness.00:34:58 Managers can promote good government.00:42:17 Digital literacy can reduce polarization.00:45:24 Moving from debates to dialogue. 00:52:23 Local activism leads to division.00:53:00 Stay neutral as a manager.01:04:45 Managers can lower political temperature.01:02:20 Think globally, act locally. 01:04:59 Managers can influence community temperature.01:10:57 Local governments can engage internationally.

This is a six part series made especially for HR professionals and managers who wrangle with HR issues. Today, my guest and partner in this series, Kim Nash joins me in the first two of our six conversations in Busting HR Myths Series.Each conversation is 30 min and builds on the central theme of how HR can create value in your organization. These episodes will help you build the business case for HR and help you evaluate your organization needs. We hope these episodes will stimulate more conversations inside the Pioneering Change Community as we build out content in the coming months.If you are interested in more in-depth notes on this episode and additional content, or would like to know more about the Pioneering Change Community, sign up for the Friday PCC newsletter HEREBIOKim has spent more than 20 years teaching the SHRM HR Essentials, the SHRM Learning System, and other human resource related courses to mentor and encourage human resource professionals to grow in their professional development and pass the certification exam. In 2017, Kim founded her company, THriv, LLC to mentor, coach, teach, and train human resource professionals and leaders for success. In the spring of 2023, Kim published her first book, Burn the Plow, a story about her career journey, and she launched a Vlog, Fill My Cup designed to renew and inspire leaders in the summer of 2023.Find out more about Kim Nash HERE or connect with her on LinkedInSHOW NOTES:Episode 1: HR is a necessary Evil• What do most people think about HR?• Evolution of the HR function in an organization.• The reasons HR is important today?Episode 2: Recruitment – Post-it and They Will Come• Recruitment is more than posting an open position on a job board• Discuss the importance of employment branding• Provide statistics about open positions in the U.S. and the number of job seekers

Today Tremayne Terry and Jarvis Brown are with us to talk about what they do and why supplier diversity makes sense from every angle, including business, community, economics, sustainability and social governance. If you are like me, you may question where the path to diversity begins. This episode will change that. If you have a desire to leverage diversity, you will come away with ideas and a sense that this is a way to go. Tremayne Terry and Jarvis Brown are innovating in the space of diversity initiatives. They talk about why such initiatives are necessary and vital for economic, social and communal well being. How they leveraged an opportunity at Capital Region Water in Harrisburg Pennsylvania to organically grow this initiative in the community, is remarkable.Check out the show notes for more details.Sign up for the PCC Local Time Newsletter HERE to get more resources on this episode and community updates every Friday in your inbox.BIOTremayne E. Terry has over 10 years of success in growing a minority business enterprise (MBE) and developing business diversity programs for public and private entities. With a history in state & local government, and public infrastructure, Tremayne is a proven leader when it comes to forging partnerships for businesses and organizations. With demonstrable work in business diversity and strategy development, Tremayne is a proven leader in this field. His goal is to provide clients with cutting-edge solutions while maximizing inclusion for minority-owned, women-owned and other diverse businesses.Connect with Tremayne on LinkedIn.Jarvis Brown is Diversity Manager at Capital Region Water in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You can learn more about him and the supplier diversity management program at the CRW website. HERE SHOW NOTES00:00:00 Smaller organizations may be more equipped for supplier diversity programs.00:05:58 Diversity is essential for success.00:08:30 Policy in writing vs policy in action.00:11:38 Disrupting a system.00:21:28 Supplier diversity is essential.00:24:54 Building relationships and trust. 00:28:44 Extractive businesses harm community sustainability.00:35:01 Smaller organizations are more equipped.00:45:18. Supplier diversity strengthens communities.00:46:05 Supplier diversity drives project success.00:49:10 Making business participation easier. 00:52:19 Collaboration is key for diversity.Quotes:00:06:39 - "So diversity makes sense socially and it makes sense business wise as well."00:09:07 - "The policy as written piece is what our disadvantaged business have historically had complaints about, have not trusted is the policy on paper that no one sees, the policy that it's there, but no one knows what it really says."00:12:02 - "And oftentimes I'll say it, you're, you're disliked by everyone, right?"00:16:52 - "There was just that disruption on the other end and folks filling out paperwork without putting much effort into it."00:19:31 - "It's so built in organizations, no matter what you're trying to change."00:26:47 - "So that's what it means for minority businesses is that they feel like they, they know that they have a voice and an extra seat at the table that's working on their behalf."00:30:45 - "And so this supplier diversity and being able to participate on the construction contracts that are happening right in your backyard is important."00:33:06 - "So when that customer is mad because their water pressure is down or

Chief John String is currently the Chief of Police at Narberth Borough in Montgomery County Pennsylvania. Among other topics we explore the intersection between public demand for officers to be more involved in mental health and outreach, and the preferences of the new generation of recruits. Our conversation is wide ranging, so check out the show notes for more detail. Sign up for the PCC Local Time Newsletter HERE to get more resources like this every Friday in your inbox.BIOChief John Stringer on LinkedInSHOW NOTES[00:00:27] Changing retirement plans for officers. [00:05:39] Professional growth in policing. [00:08:47] Change in policing mindset. [00:15:33] Transparency and video release policies. [00:19:26] Rebuilding police trust. [00:23:12] Privacy concerns with body cameras. [00:24:30] Changing the conversation forward. [00:29:20] The dark side of technology. 00:32:18] Managing technology in law enforcement. [00:36:30] Hiring and recruiting in 2023. [00:38:37] Education for police officers. [00:42:49] Focusing on high liability areas. [00:47:31] Interesting areas to explore. [00:49:25] Relationship with police departments. [00:53:03] Strained relationship with law enforcement. [01:02:03] The hub model. [01:04:10] Building a networked government. [01:09:51] Policing and community adaptation. [01:11:22] Funding and resource limitations. [01:15:00] The future of policing.

For a long time, I have wondered why EAPs or employee assistance programs are so under utilized in organizations. Today I talk with Jim Oher who has worked as a corporate director, executive consultant, psychoanalyst and group educator. He is also a trained mediator and resiliency hardiness specialist. He is co-author and editor of two books: The Employee Assistance Handbook andThe Employee Assistance Treatment Planner. If you wonder why we are not using EAPs more to address mental health issues in the workplace, particularly given they are free of cost, this conversation may help you re-think, like it did me, how we could use EAPs in our workplaces to support employees who are struggling to stay plugged in.As always, I am interested to hear from you. Let me know if you have found ways to make your EAP program more accessible and relevant to employees. Sign up for the PCC Local Time Newsletter HERE to get more resources like this every Friday in your inbox.CONTACT INFOJim Oher WebsiteLinkedIn ProfileThe Employee Assistance Treatment PlannerSHOW NOTES[2:12] Why are mental health issues on the rise?[8:20] Glad to be Unhappy, sung by Frank Sinatra[9:11] How might EAP programs be utilized effectively in an organization to help address mental health?[10:11] Behavioral health field and AI[11:48] Employee who counseled for substance abuse. [12:48] Parameters of confidentiality[15:37] What about softer issues where an employee just needs support?[17:49] Counseling versus EAP[20:43] Do HR Managers trust EAPs?[22:56] EAPs are full of complexities and paradoxes[25:08] EAP protocol and ethical guidelinesSHRM resources[26:22] The two paths and what they look like[29:56] Managers are still not comfortable with the role of coach[31:26] More on impact of COVID [37:49] Why don’t leaders engage EAP for coaching?

Today I meet with Ray Patchett for Part 2 of our conversation about organization teams and performance. In this episode, we delve into the topic of bureaucracy and its impact on organizations. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of bureaucratic structures and how they can either enhance or hinder results. Our conversation transitions to exploring key traits of successful teams, managing transitions, polarization, and conflict resolution. Tune in for an insightful discussion on navigating organizational dynamics for optimal performance.Raymond R. Patchett served as the City Manager for the City of Carlsbad, California, for 20 plus years where he has done extensive implementation of strategic change in a public sector organization. He formed Patchett & Associates in 2006 to offer clients a full spectrum of consulting, coaching and training services that foster community excellence, organizational effectiveness and personal growth. Sign up for the PCC Local Time Newsletter HERE to get more resources like this every Friday in your inbox.SHOW NOTES[00:02:32] Limits of bureaucracy in administration. [00:05:07] Holding fast to integrity. [00:10:02] Decision-making styles. [00:15:21] Affirmative topic development. [00:17:37] Creating organizational culture. [00:22:19] Beginnings and transitions. [00:28:38] Mental health and transitions. [00:33:22] Mental health in the workplace. [00:36:10] Trauma and work experiences. [00:43:10] Dealing with logic and emotion. [00:47:31] Focusing on your business. [00:49:12] When to speak out. [00:55:02] Politicizing policies and positions. [01:00:28] Conflict resolution techniques. References:Margaret J Wheatley. Turning to One Another. 2018William Bridges. Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change. 2017 editionMalcom Gladwell. Tipping Point. 2002

Raymond R. Patchett served as the City Manager for the City of Carlsbad, California, for 20 plus years where he has done extensive implementation of strategic change in a public sector organization. In this episode, (Part 1 of 2,) he shares his unique approach to creating high performing teams, partnering with Council and shaping organization culture. He formed Patchett & Associates in 2006 to offer clients a full spectrum of consulting, coaching and training services that foster community excellence, organizational effectiveness and personal growth. Sign up for the PCC Local Time Newsletter HERE to get more resources like this every Friday in your inbox.SHOW NOTESTimestamps:[00:01:30] Ray Patchett's work in community building.[00:03:41] Aging and leadership integration.[00:09:18] Dream that inspired career.[00:14:17] Setting goals in city government.[00:19:19] Managers creating the vision.[00:20:17] City Manager's Partnership with Council.[00:26:24] Developing engagement through meaningful work.[00:31:16] The psychological transition period.[00:35:20] Affirmative topics.[00:38:21] Perception of community safety.[00:44:52] Bureaucracy and agile organizations.Resources from Episode:• 8 Traits of Great Teams • Partnership Wheel Books mentioned in this episode:Books by Peter Block:The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters Paperback – October 1, 2003Stewardship: Choosing Service Over Self-Interest Paperback January 1, 1993Community: The Structure of Belonging Paperback – July 17, 2018 (2nd Edition) Peter Koestenbaum. Leadership: The Inner Side of Greatness (Jossey Bass Business & Management Series) 1st EditionJohn M. Bryson, Farnum K. Alston. Creating Your Strategic Plan: A Workbook for Public and Nonprofit Organizations 3rd EditionDavid Cooperrider. Collaborating for Change: Appreciative Inquiry Paperback (2020 edition)William Bridges. Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change (2017 edition)

My guest on this episode of PCC Local Time is Chad Michael Bruckner and he opens up about his story of why he left policing and how he re-discovered his purpose. What I find so valuable in Chad’s story is his ability to build a bridge between his past and present. He does not throw away the past, but sees his wins, losses and failures as potential for growth. He looks for the transformative gold, something we can all hope for in our own lives.Chad is coaching, consulting and writing a book now. He is also a popular speaker and a prolific content creator on social media. This episode relates to community safety, mental health and leadership If you know Chad, you know he is engaging and he certainly brings that home in this episode.CONTACTChad Bruckner on LinkedInIntercounty Investigations and SolutionsSHOW NOTES[5:34] From the army to beginnings in law enforcement[9:05} Policing is messy. It is not black and white. The cool club mentality[10:33] The questions we are not asking during the selection process[13:30] Experience as a young sergeant.[16:55] Episode with mental health / PTSD mid 20’s[21:36] I felt hopeless and powerless in my situation[25:29] Vulnerability in leadership[27:27] Ted Lasso[33:52] Managers struggle with time and pressures[41:04] Why I left policing[43:47] The power of recovery[48:45] What I am doing now and see coming in the future

Chief David Steffen, became Chief of the newly formed Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department in 2012. He talks with me about regional policing and community safety, and how the regional focus shapes standards and professionalism. I ask Chief Steffen what drives his efforts to create a culture of openness and accountability. He talks about the importance of technology, training and education, and a culture of openness to change the way people interact with and understand the role of police in their community. In this episode you will hear about why and how he evolved practices and policies to create a sustainable practice of high-performance policing.BIOChief David Steffen - LinkedInChief David Steffen leads the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department’s 34-officer force. This is the final chapter in a law enforcement career that began in over forty years ago. Most recently, Steffen concluded 27 years of service with the Northern York County Regional Police Department, a 65-full time officer department serving over 88,000 residents. During his career Chief Steffen developed specializations in advanced forensics, death investigations, child abuse, and sex offense investigation. He has been assigned to countless complex criminal cases and has investigated over a dozen homicides including the arrest of a serial killer who was portrayed in the national media. As the final chapter of a rewarding career, Chief Steffen was provided a very unique opportunity to design and command a newly formed regional police department putting the lessons learned in a career of regional policing into a newly created department from the actual beginning of the agency. Since inception on January 1, 2012 the newly established Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department has grown and now serves the residents of Clay Township, Penn Township, Warwick Township, and the Borough of East Petersburg. The NLCRPD has emerged as a high performance, progressive, professional, full service law enforcement agency utilizing technology, training, with emphasis on career development of agency members in the delivery of high quality police services to approximately 42,500 residents. The agency is accredited and is only one of 116 agencies among over 1,100 in the Commonwealth who are accredited.Chief Steffen currently serves as Chairman of the Executive Board, and immediate past President of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. He serves on various executive committees including the legislative, training and education committee. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission Board, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and other professional organizations. Chief Steffen is married to his wife Lisa for over 42 years and has four adult children, and two grandchildren. In his spare time, he is an avid fly fisherman, outdoors enthusiast, and enjoys RV camping at state parks, cooking and being with his family. SHOW NOTES4:20 …A system of tracking of time and other, key performance metrics to provide proof (that they were getting what they paid for) and transparency. 6:18 How the position of Chief was filled….10:24 Every officer has to have some sort of self-actualization.11:48 The Goldilocks Story13:30 That’s the way we have always done it…18:08 Collaboration across departments (and municipalities) e.g., MS4 example20:13 Challenges when forming a new department.22:40 Recruitment and selection of officers29:00 Attention to diversity31:51 Emphasis on first-line supervision37:13 Technology is not used for “gotcha”41:38 Structure in our organizational charter is providing proofs to our municipalities that we deliver, the services that they pay...

Although technology may seem like a strange way to begin a conversation about community safety, I begin here today because it keeps coming up in my conversations and I think listeners will be interested to learn the intersections of technology with community trust, transparency and accountability. Jeffrey Stonehill is only the 3rd manager in the history of Chambersburg Borough. Pennsylvania. This fact speaks to a history and culture that is serious about good governance. I have been in conversation with Chief Ron Camacho about community safety for a few years and admire the way he has shaped policing culture at the Borough. Both Jeffrey and Chief Camacho are unique leaders in the way they define the desired future by the choices they make every day. BIOS AND LINKS Jeffrey StonehillLinkedIn JeffreyStonehill – ICMA member spotlight Chief Roland Camacho LinkedIn CamachoConsulting Borough of Chambersburg,PennsylvaniaSHOW NOTES4:10 Technology has changed policing.15:09 Officers use body worn film to provide constructive criticism, training and ideas.17:17 I come from A police culture that was secretive. How transparency evolved to become embedded in the culture.22:04 The role of social media23:45 When Chief Camacho arrived and had to change things28:16 No crime is too small31:20 Jeffrey: “I don’t want to run the police department.”34:20 Ego is what really hurts us at that executive level.37:18 If you two were a dream team, on the road, what would you share with others about your story? If you were to mentor others?49:00 Happy cops make good cops.50:56 There is a certain level of consent that the public gives you to pay those taxes to get this kind of output. So it’s a circle…54:03 Why I talk about ego so much.59:00 It is the toughest time to be a police officer right now.59:40 Self reflection and empathy; advocacy for mental health.1:07 Now there there's pre-counseling Camacho and post counseling Camacho.1:09 We fund their education, it is a commitment by them to become better officers…national statistics on education of police officers….

Professor John Kincaid is a world renowned scholar on American federalism with many distinguished honors and is Director of the Meyner Center for State and Local Governments at Lafayette College in Easton Pennsylvania. As Associate Director of Public Service, and former Borough Manager, Nicole Beckett provides outreach and works directly with local governments. BIOS:Nicole Beckett has 21 years of experience in municipal management in northeast Pennsylvania, including 12 years as the Borough Manager in Lehighton, where she managed a full-service municipality with a total budget of $20 million. She has a Masters of Public Administration degree and a Bachelors of Arts degree from Kutztown University. She has extensive experience in finance and budgeting, labor contract negotiation, zoning and code enforcement, police, public works, economic development and public power. She is a member of the International City and County Managers Association and the Association for Pennsylvania Municipal Managers.John Kincaid is the Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Professor of Government and Public Service and Director of the Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. He is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Section on Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations of the American Political Science Association, Distinguished Scholar Award from the Section on Intergovernmental Administration and Management of the American Society of Public Administration, and Distinguished Scholar Award from RC28: Comparative Federalism and Multilevel Governance of the International Political Science Association. He served as Senior Editor of the Global Dialogue on Federalism, a joint project of the Forum of Federations and International Association of Centers for Federal Studies (2001-2015); Editor of Publius: The Journal of Federalism (1981-2006); and Executive Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Washington, D.C. (1988-1994). He is the author of various works on federalism and intergovernmental relations, editor of A Research Agenda for Federalism Studies (Elgar 2019) and Federalism (Sage 4 vols, 2011) and co-editor of Teaching Federalism: Multi-Dimensional Approaches (Elgar 2022), Courts in Federal Countries: Federalists or Unitarists? (Toronto 2017), Intergovernmental Relations in Federal Systems: Comparative Structures and Dynamics (Oxford 2015), Political Parties and Civil Society in Federal Countries (Oxford 2015), Routledge Handbook of Regionalism and Federalism (2013), Constitutional Origins, Structure, and Change in Federal Countries (McGill-Queen’s 2005), and The Covenant Connection: From Federal Theology to Modern Federalism (2000).Resource for more information about Federalism: https://federalism.org/](https://federalism.org/)SHOW NOTES:3:54 The Meyner Center opened in 1994 when I came to Lafayette from Washington, DC as the first director of the center…8:56 We typically meet weekly and it, it's great to be able to share what goes on out in the world of local government and bring that back.10:00 Some of the highlights…were being in Moscow in 1991 during the transition from Mikhail Gorbachev to Boris Yeltsin….12:20 Help us understand why federalism is important to understand today.17:19 What are the constraints or rights are that are inherent in our system from the perspective of local government?18:07 Virtually all public policy today is intergovernmental….20:07 The...

How often do we talk about the role of communication in building trust with the public, without talking about what we mean? My guest today, Dr. Mandie Cantlin, is manager in East Bradford Township in Chester County. She recently completed her doctorate in public administration and today we drill down on the topic of her dissertation, public trust in local government. While practitioners are in the flow everyday, feeling the heat of communication, academics are studying the impact on public trust. What we learn from one another can shape the way we see our work and the questions we form about the future of public administration.This is the third episode in our series on building relationships between academia, local government and non-profits to create partnerships that help communities thrive.Guest BioMandie Cantlin is the Township Manager of East Bradford Township in Chester County Pennsylvania where she has worked for nearly 20 years. Before her tenure at East Bradford, she worked for Edgmont Township in Delaware County for 5 years. Mandie holds a BA in political science, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in public administration from West Chester University. Her dissertation research work focused on the topic of building and maintaining public trust in local government. SHOW NOTES:[4:32] Why the pursuit of a Doctorate?[8:10] Why the two worlds of academia and practitioners are so different.[11:04] Local government has different metrics than business.[14:15] Important to look at the larger context to recognize patterns.[15:33] People don’t come to public meetings.[16:45] Action research requires empathy.[23:50] Why study the role of communication in building trust in local government?[25:33] Bringing people into the process makes things messy, running government like a business runs the unintended risk of distancing people.[29:35] Conflict and the way it is addressed has a relationship to trust.[35:54] Personal integrity is a trait, not a skill.[39:53] Tricky situations when elected officials lack ethical boundaries.[43:33] Has your understanding of the role of manager changed since work on our dissertation?[46:07] Research on trust helps us understand how significant a role it plays in what we do everyday.[50:00] A conversation about transparency and what it means in real time.[53:04] Academics and practitioners have so much to learn from one another.[55:48] The ideal invitation.

This is the second episode in a series about relationships that can lead to partnerships between academia, local governments and the communities they serve.Sandra Zadell is manager of Upper Gwynedd Township in Montgomery County Pennsylvania and Dr. Adam Kuczynski is Chair of the MPA program at Villanova University.In this episode we workshop ideas. We talk about what holds us back and what propels us forward in our relationships. LINKS TO BIOS:Sandra ZadellDr. Adam KuczynskiSHOW NOTES:3:0 Sandra’s background5:50 Adam’s background12:23 Everything in management is relationships- Examples of how Sandra has partnered with academia15:36 Adam talks about importance of common focus on public service - Manager’s can participate on Boards or committees in academia - Academics can build relationships by connecting managers to resources or expertise17:41 Get to know one another before the need for collaboration arises21:11 Adam loves the problem solving nature of local government22:56 Sandra loves to see engagement at the local level and values our democracy24:30 If you were a team helping other municipalities who were interested in more public engagement….- A third party might be able to amplify or explain or tamp down expectation or ramp up positivity- We are the bridge between constituent and government34:40 When neutrality is called for on the part of the manager and lack of civility37:28 There is not a Republican or Democratic way to pick up garbage39:54 Quantitative vs qualitative data for community surveys47:30 What might be helpful to understand when approaching the academic world vs local government world51:04 The ideal invitation – how to make it and what not to do.

How would you describe the relationship between academia and practitioners, in the field of public administration and non-profits?My guests today take a deep dive into this conversation. Dr. John Diamond, Dr. Sarah L. Young and Dr. Thomas Bryer are actively engaged with this question. We begin and end with the idea that relationships between these sectors hold great potential. We explore examples. We talk about what holds us back from making these relationships. But most importantly, we talk about how these relationships come about.The show notes provide some good stopping points along the way if you wish to dip into this conversation. They also provide links to some of the references provided in the episode.So, do we want these relationships, and if so, why? What are we willing to invest in terms of time, social capital and energy to realize them? This conversation is a beginning point to explore how we bridge the divide in our worlds to create better, stronger communities.GUEST BIOSJohn Diamond, Professor Emeritus, Edge Hill University, Lancashire, England.Thomas Bryer, Professor, School of Public Administration, Central Florida UniversityThomas Bryer is professor in the School of Public Administration and director of community-engaged scholarship at the University of Central Florida. He is also professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities at Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania and visiting professor in the Institute for Social Responsibility at Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom. He served as a Fulbright scholar in Lithuania from 2015-2017 and a Fulbright specialist in Russia in 2018. He is the author or editor of 8 books, with three more under contract. Among these is: Higher Education Beyond Job Creation: Universities, Citizenship and Community. (2014) and Promoting Civic Health through University-Community Partnerships: Global Contexts and Experiences (2021). He is co-editor of a book series for Palgrave Macmillan: "Rethinking University-Community Policy Connections." Prior to his career in academia, he worked for a nonprofit government consulting organization, the Council for Excellence in Government. Bryer can regularly be found teaching workshops and webinars for the International City County Management Association on various topics, including combating disinformation, creating a social media policy and plan, and building relationships with local universities. He can be contacted at thomas.bryer@ucf.eduMentioned in podcast episode: Tom Bryer, The Effective Local Government Manager author of Chapter 6, " Achieving Effective Community Leadership in the Future."Sarah L. Young, Associate Professor & Director of Research for KSU CARESDr. Sarah L. Young is an Associate Professor in the School of Government & International Affairs at Kennesaw State University. She also serves as co-Director of the Master of Public Administration Program and the Director of Research for KSU CARES, a campus support program for students who experienced foster care or homelessness. Dr. Young’s research uses systems-based approaches to study the intersection of nonprofit and public management, academic and social equity, and public crises.Dr. Young earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University’s Askew School of Public Administration...

Today Eric Norenberg takes us inside the world of regional government. Eric is the Executive Director of the Centre Region Council of Governments in Pennsylvania. Whether or not you have contemplated regional models of governance, this episode will open your mind to an alternative way of delivering local government services.We are talking this month about regional partnership and why or when they might make sense. The Centre Region Council of Governments offers a great model as well as lessons in scaling services. However, it is not without challenges. And we will hear about that as well.LINKS AND SHOW NOTESCentre Region Council of GovernmentsEric Norenberg LinkedInEric Norenberg has served local governments in five states over his 35+ years in local government. He is the Executive Director of the Centre Region Council of Governments. The Centre Region COG provides a variety of municipal services for six member communities in central Pennsylvania. Previously Eric served as City Manager in Oberlin, OH and in Milford, DE. Eric has a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, is an ICMA credentialed manager. He served on the Ohio City/County Management Association Board and was the Association President in 2013-14. He has served on several ICMA committees, co-chaired the ICMA Task Force on Members in Transition in 2020-21, and is an active Rotarian.[00:00:00] The executive committee.[00:02:54] Formation of Center Region Council.[00:07:29] Committees and meeting schedules.[00:13:09] The future of COGs.[00:13:10] The COG as an organization.[00:17:50] Using consent agenda more.[00:19:36] COG's workload and municipal meetings.[00:22:10] COG committee process and coordination.[00:24:05] Structure of regional partnerships.[00:26:39] Municipal silos and COG growth.[00:30:58] Maintenance and reinvestment in facilities.[00:34:42] The benefits of regional collaboration.[00:39:38] The value of partnerships.[00:42:13] Collaborative library book delivery.[00:44:45] Eric shares Influential people and career path.[00:47:59] Influence of parents on career choices.