Wade McKinney 2016 NFCM Seminar

CCMF President Wade McKinney addressing 2016 New & Future City Managers Seminar attendees

The annual CCMF New & Future City Managers Seminar is one of several ways that the California City Management Foundation supports the next generation of City Managers. This multi-day workshop is an excellent opportunity for any new City Manager or aspiring City Manager to receive hands-on mentoring from seasoned/retired City Managers. No questions are off limits and participants freely share their hopes, concerns and questions about the ins and outs of the city manager role. The 2016 NFCM Seminar took place in Newport Beach in November 2016 with a cohort of 23 students:

  • Nils Bentsen – City Manager, City of Hesperia
  • Crystal Bothelio – Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk, City of Saratoga
  • Maria De Leon – Director – Recreation, City of Gilroy
  • Valerie Escalante – Assistant to the City Manager, City of Glendora
  • Dylan Feik – City Manager, City of Calistoga
  • Jesus Gomez – City Manager, City of El Monte
  • Greg Grammer – Assistant City Manager, City of Rolling Hills Estates
  • Kevin Ingram – Director – Community Development, City of Lakeport
  • Heather Ippoliti – Assistant City Manager, City of Healdsburg
  • Maria Kachadoorian – Deputy City Manager, City of Chula Vista
  • Kerry Kallman – City Manager, City of Hidden Hills
  • Teri Killgore – Assistant City Manager, City of Vallejo
  • Rhonda McKinnon – Interim Human Resources Manager, City of Santa Rosa
  • Laurie Murray – City Manager, City of La Palma
  • Carmen Nichols – Deputy City Manager, City of Port Hueneme
  • Micah Runner – Director, Economic Development Department, City of Stockton
  • Reina Schwartz – Assistant City Manager, City of San Pablo
  • Luke Serpa – Director – Public Utilities; Interim City Manager, City of Clovis
  • Heather Stratman – CEO, Association of CA Cities – OC
  • Tina White – City Manager, City of Poway
  • Daniel Wilkins – Public Works Director/Town Engineer, Town of Truckee
  • David Wilson – Director of Finance & Technology/Deputy City Manager, City of West Hollywood
  • Scott Wolfe – Director – Planning, City of Westlake Village

Below are some insights and “lessons learned” from some of the 2016 NFCM Seminar participants. If you are interested in participating in the 2017 New & Future City Managers Seminar, stay tuned to cacitymanagers.org/nfcm for more information.

How did you first hear about the New & Future City Managers (NFCM) Seminar?

  • Dylan Fiek – City Manager, Calistoga – I became aware of the Seminar from a member of CCMF, Mike Parness (City Manager, Napa). Mike is well-respected in the profession and has reached out to me several times to offer guidance and assistance. As a newly appointed city manager in my first city manager position, I thought it would be important to connect with other professionals and share experiences.
  • Jesus Gomez – City Manager, City of El Monte – As a CCMF member, I learned about this annual seminar from the weekly email newsletter. I knew it would be invaluable to attend, as I was recently appointed as a City Manager.
  • Teri Killgore – Assistant City Manager, City of Vallejo – The City Manager I work for (Dan Keen) recommended the NFCM Seminar as a great way to hear different perspectives on life as a City Manager.
  • Tina White – City Manager, City of Poway – I first heard about the New & Future City Managers Seminar via the California City Management Foundation’s email newsletter.

Were there particular interactions you had with senior managers that were especially helpful and enlightening?

  • Dylan Fiek – Absolutely, and I couldn’t name them all! For me, the best part of the NFCM Seminar was the structure itself. We were in a room, seated close together, and spent the entire weekend together. We’d ‘break out’ and sit outside on the veranda overlooking the bay…tough breakout session! There was a lot of mingling, storytelling and sharing of experiences, which made the event successful for me. The class provided their interests/questions beforehand and the facilitators catered to that end. They made sure to cover most, if not all, topics of interest.
  • Jesus Gomez – I was grateful that the seminar was organized in a manner that made it possible to have discussions with the facilitators. Being able to ask questions on how to interact with city council members and hearing specific examples from the facilitators’ own experiences was really important to me.
  • Teri Killgore – I was very impressed with how upfront and frank all of the senior managers were, especially during one-on-one conversations. Each senior manager was willing to share very personal stories of challenges they faced, how they found balance, and lessons they had learned.
  • Tina White – I appreciated the intimate size of the Seminar: there was ample opportunity for everyone to participate. In the small setting, every participant was able to ask questions (no questions were off topic) and share personal experiences. Also, the facilitators made themselves available at dinner, lunch, etc. to answer questions that may have been a bit too sensitive to share in the group setting. I really being able to ask those kinds of questions in confidence!

What were some of the best pieces of advice or tips/tricks you learned during NFCM?

  • Dylan Fiek – In my mind, there are three pieces of advice which really stick out.
    1. First, Paul Arevalo (City Manager, West Hollywood) said, “Never miss an opportunity to take advantage of a crisis.” As managers, we are trained how to deal with complex challenges with many variables. It was helpful to hear that it is OK use those challenges as opportunities to promote change that builds your community.
    2. Second, I learned to “Treat everyone like he/she will be your next mayor.” Sharing from experience, Wade McKinney (City Manager, Indian Wells) shared many wonderful stories about his career. It’s important that we, as city managers, hold ourselves to high standards and serve our communities. Customer service is #1, always.
    3. Lastly, we discussed the importance of taking time for one’s self because this job can take a lot out of you. There were many tricks shared by the group but one particular lesson stuck out. I have two young kids and asked a question to the group about balancing family life and work. After the discussion, participant Luke Serpa (Utility Director, Clovis) approached me. Luke is a recent empty-nester and said, “Your children will grow up so fast…you won’t ever regret taking more time for them. Be with your kids and you’re doing it right.” It was important for me to hear a fellow leader say something like that.
  • Jesus Gomez – One of the best pieces of advice I learned from the facilitators was how to communicate with city council members on critical issues, even if it means creating a small summary just to keep council members informed.
  • Teri Killgore
    1. Remember political alliances shift quickly and that Councilmembers look at issues through a very different lens than staff.
    2. Getting in between Council disputes can be dangerous.
    3. In your first 100 days as a city manager, listen, get to know the community, help Departments find quick wins, and set the tone for how you will operate.
    4. Councils don’t fire managers they like (usually).
  • Tina White
    1. Set your ethical boundaries NOW, before you have an ethical dilemma. Know what you will/won’t do before you are challenged.
    2. Learn to set boundaries and expectations around when you are available. For example, if you are taking vacation, disconnect and really take the time to relax. Be brave enough to have those discussions with Council.
    3. Keep your relationships with your council members professional. You are not best friends and, if you begin to act as if you are, you are going into dangerous territory.

How do you feel attending NFCM will positively impact your career?

  • Dylan Fiek – I met many wonderful people and have already made follow-up contact with some. In this profession, it can be ‘lonely at the top,’ and it’s important to have peers and colleagues to share stories, vent and laugh with.
  • Jesus Gomez – As part of attending the NFCM Seminar, we received a large number of resources on various topics that we city managers deal with. Hearing firsthand experiences from the facilitators and knowing I can call upon them and my fellow peers as my career progresses will be a huge help.
  • Teri Killgore – With this advice in hand, I know I will go in to my first City Manager position far more prepared and excited about the great adventure ahead.
  • Tina White – I was recently appointed city manager in September. I have worked for my city for 15 years and did not necessarily want to be city manager (I actually passed on the opportunity before). Attending the New & Future City Managers Seminar affirmed the feeling that I am now ready for the position as a city manager. The Seminar facilitators demonstrated that everyone approaches the job differently and, despite occasional rough patches, they all loved their jobs.

Why would you recommend NFCM to other young city managers or assistant city managers?

  • Dylan Fiek – From aspiring to the most seasoned/successful city managers, these kinds of events are important. For some, they want to learn from the best successes/mistakes while pursuing their own goals. For others, it’s an opportunity to leave traces of your legacy with others. Always be humble; always be ready to learn. And the meals were pretty darn good, too!
  • Jesus Gomez – I highly recommend the New & Future City Managers Seminar because the senior managers provide practical advice on ways they have been able to resolve or deal with challenges during their own careers.
  • Teri Killgore – Often times as staff, we only get to see the outcomes, but not the reasoning. CCMF’s New & Future City Managers Seminar was a unique opportunity to peek behind the curtain, ask specific questions, and understand how City Managers make very complex decisions that balance many different interests. The Seminar gives you an inside glimpse at the role that never makes it into the industry literature. These are the true, and sometimes epic, stories that make this profession so intriguing.
  • Tina White – I have already recommended the NFCM Seminar to my assistant city manager. I think young CMs or ACMs would benefit greatly from hearing the perspectives of experienced CMs who have worked in a number of cities. I have had the pleasure of working closely with four city managers, but all within the same city. It was refreshing and interesting to hear from CMs who work/worked in cities that are very different from mine. It was also refreshing to hear experienced CMs who understand and empathize with their Councils, but do NOT take on their council members’ problems. Again: boundaries are important! It would also be beneficial for young CMs and ACMs to interact with their peers in a safe setting. You can ask questions and share experiences at this Seminar much more freely than in other professional settings.