Episode 188 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Dalton Pierce, City Manager of York, South Carolina, to explore the leadership tensions every municipal executive knows too well: how do you balance the urgency to improve with the patience required to bring people along?

Dalton shares his journey from city planner to city manager, and how that unique path shapes his approach to decision-making, team building, and navigating the political and personal complexities of local government. His insights on culture, hiring, and pace will resonate with leaders at every level—especially those who feel the pull between visionary change and community trust.

• Planning Roots, Manager Realities
  How Dalton’s background in planning helps him hold the long-term vision while managing short-term demands.

• The Pace of People
  The leadership lesson that transformed his mindset: lasting progress happens at the speed of trust, not the speed of urgency.

• Culture Over Credentials
  Why hiring people who align with values, not just skillsets, is one of his top priorities as a leader.

• The Isolation of Leadership
  Dalton reflects on the quiet challenges of being a city manager and why honest conversations with peers can be lifesaving.

• Public Service with a Purpose
  The difference between checking boxes and creating buy-in—and why your team, not your title, defines your success.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dalton-pierce

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

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

2025 South Carolina APWA Chapter Annual Conference
June 24 | Spartanburg, SC
Details at SCAPWA

2025 Kentucky League of Cities Annual 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 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

Episode 187 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

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.

• 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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/willibershof

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

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

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 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

Episode 186 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
(Part 1 of 5: "Turn the Ship Around" Series)
Episode Title: Why Giving Up Control is the Boldest Leadership Move You Can Make

What if the key to stronger teams isn’t more control, but more trust?

In this opening episode of our 5-part series on Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet, Seth Winterhalter unpacks the transformative concept of “leader-leader” culture. Instead of the traditional “leader-follower” model, where a single person gives orders and everyone else executes, Marquet proposes something radically different: giving up control to create real ownership.

For local government leaders, where decisions are often high-stakes and staff are overextended, this model creates a blueprint for deeper engagement, higher competence, and more strategic thinking across all levels of your team.

• Why traditional leadership models limit growth, autonomy, and performance

• The difference between empowerment and actual transfer of control

• How pushing decision-making down creates buy-in and drives initiative

• Why control, clarity, and competence must move together

• The first steps to shifting your culture from passive compliance to active leadership

• Monday: Why control is overrated—and what to replace it with

• Tuesday–Thursday: Building clarity, competence, and initiative at every level

• Friday: From follower to leader—how to multiply leadership across your org

Join the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) this week and unlock:
✔ All 5 podcast episodes from the Turn the Ship Around series
✔ Daily blog reflections and tools for implementation
✔ Friday’s Virtual Mastermind session
✔ Access to a growing nationwide community of local government leaders

➡ Start your free 7-day trial at HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

• Book: Turn the Ship Around by L. David Marquet

• Weekly Blog & Newsletter: The Leader’s Lens

• MLDC Membership Details: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

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

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com