Community Catalysts

Councilmember Brenda Kalivianakis of Fountain Hills, Arizona, entered local government as part of a conservative majority determined to "reclaim" their town. What she didn't expect was how quickly loyalty could turn into pressure — or how strongly she'd resist being told how to vote. In this candid conversation, Brenda traces her evolution from partisan recruit to independent thinker, describing w...

In public service, real success isn't measured in headlines or applause. It's in the city that still runs, the crisis that never came, and the community that quietly thrives because someone cared enough to do the hard work well. Brooks Williams—City Manager of Ferris, Texas—has become a nationally followed voice on LinkedIn for the way he writes about local government with honesty, humility, and h...

For nearly 24 years, Dave Albo represented Northern Virginia in the Virginia House of Delegates—including 12 years as chairman of the influential House Courts of Justice Committee, where every word of law was debated for its impact on real people. A lifelong Republican known for his diligence and attention to detail, Albo helped craft Virginia's largest-ever transportation funding package in 2013,...

Bill Danielson never imagined himself in politics. After more than 35 years in business, he was encouraged to run for Irmo Town Council—and in 2023, he stepped into the mayor's office. In Irmo—a town of 12,000 that collects neither sales tax nor property tax—the challenge of funding local government depends on business partnerships, careful budgeting, and steady leadership. Bill calls himself a "h...

Milton Brown never planned on serving on a school board. His first career was in law enforcement, where he survived multiple life-threatening encounters—including one that ended his service with the Florida Highway Patrol. Returning home to Washington County, Florida, he became a pastor and eventually stepped into education leadership. His election came down to the wire—flipping from an eight-vote...

What does it take to transform a small-town community theater into a thriving cultural force? For Pamme Jones, Executive and Artistic Director of the Ridgefield Theater Barn, it started not with a budget or a building plan—but with a conversation about values. In this episode, Pamme shares the remarkable 15-year journey that began with a micromanaging board and a debate over light bulbs, and evolv...

Dr. Peter Noonan has served in senior education leadership roles across Northern Virginia, including assistant superintendent in Fairfax County, superintendent of City of Fairfax Schools, and superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools. Now, as Executive Director of the Washington Area Schools Study Council, he's focused on two urgent challenges: building pipelines to prepare the next gener...

When Dr. Karen Barber became superintendent in 2020, she faced a pandemic and a financial crisis all at once. In this episode, she shares how a clear mission—to love, educate, and prepare all students for graduation and a successful future—helped guide her district through uncertainty. From asking staff "What's your superpower?" to building trust one relationship at a time, Dr. Barber reflects on...

What does it take to bring a community together around an issue as painful and polarizing as the overdose crisis? For Marissa Knapp, Director of Overdose Prevention for Broome County, New York, it means leading with empathy, persistence, and a deep commitment to meeting people where they are. In this episode, she shares how she builds trust across difference, navigates stigma, and keeps momentum i...

What does it take to stand firm in the face of outrage—even when it costs you friendships, safety, and peace of mind? Rebecca StClair, Vice Mayor and Commissioner at Large for Muskegon, Michigan, shares what it's like to step into local leadership and almost immediately face protests, national scrutiny, and personal attacks over a deeply controversial land sale. But this isn't just a story of conf...

Public schools are no longer the default—and that means they must no longer assume that their value speaks for itself. In this episode, Brian Stephens, CEO of Caissa K12, joins Community Catalysts with a clear call to action: if districts want families to choose them, they must speak up with purpose, clarity, and conviction. Brian shares what it takes for school leaders to break out of a complianc...

What does collaborative leadership really look like? David Tarter shares lessons from five terms as Mayor of Falls Church, Virginia—including leading a major high school redevelopment and coordinating Northern Virginia's COVID response. Now at George Mason University, he's helping shape the next generation of community builders. In this episode, David reflects on the power of patience, vision, and...

This special episode of Community Catalysts offers something different: no guest, no interview—just a moment of pause. As Labor Day approaches and a new school year begins, host Matt Lehrman shares a personal essay honoring the burdens school leaders carry every day. From public scrutiny to policy strain, from emotional fatigue to civic responsibility, this reflection speaks not only to school boa...

On March 14, 2025, an EF-3 tornado tore through Cave City, Arkansas, devastating homes, businesses, and infrastructure. But recovery didn't begin in offices or press briefings—it began in the dark, with neighbors wielding chainsaws and community leaders figuring it out in real time. Now, just over four months later, Mayor Jonas Anderson offers a thorough and candid debrief of what it took to lead...

In the very first episode of Community Catalysts, Audrey Hartness-Reese—who serves both as a City Councilmember and as Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westminster, South Carolina—shared how her calling to ministry led her into civic leadership. Today, she returns to the podcast with a deeply personal update, recorded live and in person at the annual conference of the Municipal Associa...

Former Arlington County Board member, Virginia Secretary of Transportation, and lifelong public servant John Milliken reflects on five decades of civic leadership—from shaping transit-oriented development to forging regional collaboration. With wisdom earned across local, regional, and state government, he shares lessons on navigating uncertainty, moral decision-making, and staying engaged even wh...

Concord, NH City Councilor Jennifer Kretovic reflects on two decades of local leadership—from a downtown revitalization shaped by 70 community meetings to a recent golf course upgrade that sparked sharp online opposition in the post-COVID climate.   She shares what's changed in public discourse, how personal attacks have become more common, and why staying grounded in purpose matters more than eve...

You want to make a difference. But in civic leadership, doing good isn't enough—it matters how you do it. In this episode, John Scola—Senior VP of Advancement at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and Chair of the Global Ethics Committee for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)—shares real-world insights on leading with integrity. What does it mean to act ethically under pressure? And...

What happens when someone walks into City Hall, starts filming, and refuses to explain why? For many local officials, that's the reality of so-called "First Amendment audits." In this timely episode, Wade Beltramo, General Counsel of NYCOM, helps us navigate the legal and emotional challenges behind these confrontational encounters. Wade explains the strong deference courts give to First Amendment...

Leadership doesn't always begin with a plan. For Mayor Deborah Hudson of Wilton, Alabama, it began with a simple errand—paying her water bill—and turned into a moment of truth for her town. With the mayor, clerk, utility staff, and most of the council gone, Wilton was in chaos. She could have walked away. Instead, she stepped up. In this episode, Mayor Hudson shares how she took the reins in a tim...

Recorded live for the Regional Elected Leaders Initiative (RELI), this episode features a dialogue with Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott on the statewide impacts of shifting federal policy. Speaking to local leaders across Northern Virginia, the Speaker outlines the work of the Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions and discusses the need...

"Leading with Cariño" with Barbara Bencomo, Chief Administrative Officer, Las Cruces, New Mexico   Description: What does it look like when a city builds compassion into its culture—not as sentiment, but as strategy? Barbara Bencomo, Chief Administrative Officer of Las Cruces, New Mexico, shares how the city's philosophy of Cariño—a Spanish word for care and kindness—guides both internal operation...

In this extended episode recorded live for the Regional Elected Leaders Initiative (RELI), former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson offers a candid look at what it means to govern through complexity. Reflecting on his years in office—and on the pressures facing today's local leaders—Wilson shares insights on public trust, political risk, and the essential role of local government in times of national...

In a digital age where public dialogue is often drowned out by outrage and misinformation, civic leaders face an urgent challenge: How can they hear—and serve—the whole community, not just the loudest voices? Kevin Lyons, co-founder of FlashVote, joins the conversation to explore what it takes to make local decision-making more representative, responsive, and resilient. From cutting through the cl...

Mayor Mike Oakley's leadership journey spans nearly four decades in military service and now guides his work as mayor of Centreville, Alabama. In the military, leadership meant executing a mission with discipline and precision. In local government, it's about trust, collaboration, and community-building.  In this episode, he shares how he's adapted from commanding troops in combat zones to uniting...