187: Will Ibershof: Guts, Growth, and the Greater Good: Leading Through Service in Small-Town Government
Release Date: 06/10/2025
212: Steve Dalton: Debt-Free Isn’t Growth: Infrastructure, Integrity, and the Impossible Annexation
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Steve Dalton: Debt-Free Isn’t Growth: Infrastructure, Integrity, and the Impossible Annexation Episode 212 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Steve Dalton, City Administrator of Branson West, Missouri—a small town with 500 residents, million-dollar infrastructure, and a story that defies every assumption about rural government leadership. From a childhood on a farm with no running water to a reluctant entry into law enforcement, Steve’s journey is anything but traditional. After years in narcotics...
info_outline
211: Kathy O'Nan: Beyond the Tornado: Presence, Pressure, and the Power of Local Leadership
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Kathy O'Nan: Beyond the Tornado: Presence, Pressure, and the Power of Local Leadership Episode 211 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Overview In this powerful episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Kathy O’Nan, Mayor of Mayfield, Kentucky, a retired teacher turned public servant whose life was forever changed on December 10, 2021, when a catastrophic EF-4 tornado ripped through the heart of her city. What followed was a story of leadership under fire, community resilience, and a fierce refusal to give up. Kathy shares the emotional and practical realities...
info_outline
210: Book of the Week: Who Moved My Cheese?
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Book of the Week – Who Moved My Cheese?Episode 210 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Who Moved My Cheese? Series) Episode Title: When Change Catches Municipal Leaders Off Guard Episode Overview The federal grant you've relied on for three years just got eliminated. Your most experienced department head announced retirement. The state passed new regulations that completely change how you deliver services. Your first instinct might be frustration, analysis, or hoping things return to normal but what if these moments are actually opportunities to become a more...
info_outline
209: Laura Philpot: Vision Over Ego: A Shift from Big Projects to Real Impact
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Laura Philpot: Vision Over Ego: A Shift from Big Projects to Real Impact Episode 209 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Laura Philpot, City Manager of Maple Valley, Washington, to explore how a career rooted in public works evolved into a leadership philosophy centered on people, not prestige. Laura’s journey began with a love for math, a concrete canoe competition, and a fascination with big infrastructure projects. But over time, through building bridges, programming traffic lights, and stepping into...
info_outline
208: Alan Keck: Leading Like an Entrepreneur: Risk, Resilience, and Reinventing Local Government
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Alan Keck: Leading Like an Entrepreneur: Risk, Resilience, and Reinventing Local Government Episode 208 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Alan Keck, Mayor of Somerset, Kentucky, to unpack what happens when you bring an entrepreneurial mindset into City Hall. From a teenage calling into public service to losing his first election by 24 points, Alan’s journey is anything but conventional—and that’s exactly why it’s so compelling. Alan shares how growing up in a family of business owners shaped his...
info_outline
207: Book of the Week: Orbiting the Giant Hairball
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Book of the Week – Orbiting the Giant HairballEpisode 207 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Orbiting the Giant Hairball Series) Episode Title: When Your City Hall Becomes a Giant Hairball: Breaking Free from Bureaucratic Gravity Episode Overview Your organization is accumulating policies faster than it's eliminating them, and this bureaucratic mass is quietly undermining your ability to serve your community effectively. In this kickoff episode of our series, Seth Winterhalter explores how municipal governments become trapped in what Gordon MacKenzie called...
info_outline
206: Sandra Fournier: Filling Potholes in Heels: What it Takes for Bold Leadership in the Face of Bureaucracy
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Sandra Fournier: Filling Potholes in Heels: What it Takes for Bold Leadership in the Face of Bureaucracy Episode 206 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Sandra Fournier, the remarkable Town Manager of Mapleton, Castle Hill, and Chapman, Maine. From a teenage mother without a high school diploma to leading not just one, but three municipalities at the same time, Sandra’s story is one of grit, growth, and grounded leadership. She opens up about growing up in poverty, the power of second chances, and the pivotal...
info_outline
205: Daron Jordan: Grants, Grit, and the Quiet Wins That Build Cities
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Daron Jordan: Grants, Grit, and the Quiet Wins That Build Cities Episode 205 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Daron Jordan, City Manager of Paducah, Kentucky, to explore a career that started poolside and led all the way to the city manager’s seat. From selling boat stickers as a teenager to becoming the first full-time program and aquatics director in his hometown, Daron’s story is a masterclass in how local government leaders are formed, not in textbooks, but in the trenches. Daron opens up about the...
info_outline
204: Book of the Week: Reality-Based Leadership
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Book of the Week – Reality-Based LeadershipEpisode 204 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Reality-Based Leadership Series) Episode Title: Beyond City Hall Drama: Leading with Reality Instead of Stories Episode Overview Your team's energy is being drained by something you can control, but most municipal leaders don't recognize it's happening. In this kickoff episode of our series, Seth Winterhalter explores how drama, blame, and resistance consume the energy your organization needs for serving your community. Drawing from Cy Wakeman's helpful research, we...
info_outline
203: Wesley Young: From Comfort to Calling: Choosing the Hard Path of Local Impact
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: Wesley Young: From Comfort to Calling: Choosing the Hard Path of Local Impact Episode 203 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter welcomes Wesley Young, City Administrator of Willard, Missouri, for a conversation that’s part memoir, part masterclass on finding purpose in public service. Wesley’s journey spans continents, careers, and courageous decisions, from growing up in England and overcoming dyslexia to building a life of service in the American Midwest. Along the way, he chose the hard path: leaving the safety of state government for the...
info_outlineShow Notes: Will Ibershof: Guts, Growth, and the Greater Good: Leading Through Service in Small-Town Government
Episode 187 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Overview
In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Will Ibershof, City Administrator of Madras, Oregon—and former mayor of Duval, Washington—for a conversation that’s as raw as it is inspiring. From throwing up during his first campaign event to building parks, securing grants, and mentoring the next generation of public leaders, Will’s story is a powerful reflection on the real work of local government.
Will opens up about what it takes to lead with courage in small communities—especially through burnout, rapid growth, and the constant push-and-pull between progress and preservation. Whether you're an elected official, a department director, or aspiring to either, this episode offers a front-row seat to the challenges and rewards of leading where you live.
Episode Highlights:
-
From Dare to Duty: How a challenge from friends led Will to run for office despite never having attended a council meeting
Doorbelling and Discomfort: The unforgettable (and stomach-turning) campaign moment that taught him the power of grit and authenticity
No Administrator, No Problem: What it’s like to serve as an elected mayor and CEO in a city without a city manager or administrator
Burnout and Regret: A candid look at the personal cost of public service and what Will wishes he had done differently
Mentorship That Matters: How Will forged a powerful partnership with the City Manager of Bend, Oregon and why big-small city collaboration is a rising-tide strategy
Rural Growth, Urban Expectations: Lessons from Sultan and Madras, where housing demand, infrastructure realities, and small-town identity collide
The Heart of Connection: Why events, community grants, and everyday kindness are essential tools for cities battling isolation and division
Connect with Will Ibershof:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/willibershof
Connect with Seth Winterhalter:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com
About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions
At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership.
Learn more at HaltingWinter.com
Seth's Upcoming Keynotes:
2025 South Carolina APWA Chapter Annual Conference
June 24 | Spartanburg, SC
Details at SCAPWA
2025 Kentucky League of Cities Conference & Expo
September 24 | Owensboro, KY
Details at KLC
2025 Kansas City/County Management Association Annual Conference
December 4 | Manhattan, KS
Details at KCMA
The MLDC
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is where municipal leaders grow together through weekly podcasts, curated book insights, and a nationwide peer community focused on real leadership, real culture, and real conversations.
Secure Your Summer Special and Start Your FREE 7-day trial
Join the MLDC