PCC Local Time

In times of crisis, we often see leaders emerge from the frontline. My guest today, Professor Paresh Wankhade has published extensive research on emergency services and offers us examples of how emergent leadership shows up in times of crisis. In this episode we talk about how the leadership framework is changing within emergency services. Some of the topics we cover include pressure on ambulance...

Jerry Ozog, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute , is here today to talk about challenges in the leadership of emergency services. We cover topics such as everyday leadership vs crisis leadership, community expectations, funding and transparency, organizational models, recruitment, including diversity and inclusion, and the particular challenge small communities...

Today we have a special episode of PCC local time. This week the APMM conference for local government managers took place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Our conference took place in the ruins of the former Bethlehem Steel. Overlooking the historic Steel Stacks, the largest revitalized brownfield in the country, it has become a top destination for arts and culture. What better place then this to host...

My guest today is Hugo Marynissen. He is an expert in Crisis Governance and Risk Management Co-holding the Chair of Crisis Governance at University of Antwerp. Our conversation today will address the question of how leaders might structure organizations to better adapt to an uncertain world. He identifies key myths and assumptions that are part of traditional models that simply, do not work in tim...

A disaster happens where hazards meet human systems. My guest today shared that quote and much more about what local governments can do to lay the groundwork for a smooth recovery process should the worst-case scenario occur. We go deep on what can be done before a disaster strikes. We talk about how to expedite the funding process and the unintended consequences when communities do not make the n...

Welcome to PCC Local Time. This week we have a special episode – the first in a series of episodes created in partnership with APMM, the Association of Professional Municipal Managers. We are talking with the current and upcoming Presidents, Amanda Serock and Dave Pribulka about the topics that are challenging local government today and the municipal manager who is behind the scenes making it all...

Today, we welcome back Ray Patchett, the former City Manager of Carlsbad, California and now consultant to leadership teams. Ray brings a wealth of knowledge and insights into the organizational principles of city management and teams. I asked Ray to take a deeper dive into his 8 Traits of High Performing Teams which will soon be out in published form. What stands out to me about Ray is his practi...

Today, I bring you Peter Marshall. Peter has a long and distinguished career as a city manager and consultant to local governments. Most notably, he was city manager at State College Pennsylvania for many years and before that, Newark, Delaware. Peter and I have had many conversations over the years. He has so much to say about the field of city management, but today I bring you perhaps my favorit...

45 Today we talk with managers about the the role of technology in local government and the need to adapt to and address technology challenges. My co-host today is Claudia Arriaga , Senior Vice President of Customer Service at OpenGov Our three distinguished guests include: Aaron Siko , Manager, Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County Dave Pribulka Manager, Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County Bra...

Today we are talking about sustainable futures, what that means and how it intersects with local government. I am joined by co-host John Diamond, Professor Emeritus, Edge Hill University, UK and three esteemed guests. Christa Breum Amhøj Co-founder Action University, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark Pam Adams, Sustainability Planner at Centre Region Council of Governments, Pennsylvania, US Jim...

What does an ethnologist in policing from the UK have in common with a Police Chief from the U.S.? Quite a bit as it turns out. But the contrast also helps us get a fuller perspective on what is going on behind the scenes. This is the first episode in our Across the Pond series in which we engage topics that are both global and local. Where do we locate the limits of our understanding and how can...

Today we dive into the final conversations of our series. This time we talk about the multi-generational workforce and the path to professionalism. My guest, Kim Nash teaches for the Society of Human Resource Management and has a consultancy focused on helping HR professionals grow their career. This series contains six conversations that build on the central theme of how HR can create value in an...

Welcome to PCC Local Time. I am your host Nancy Hess and today we continue our six-part conversation series on Busting HR Myths series with Kim Nash. We talk about whether organizations that pay the most get the best employees and how HR becomes the scapegoat in organizations. If you are interested in more in-depth notes on this episode and additional content, or would like to know more about the...

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 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 f...

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 se...

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 T...

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 and The Employee Assis...

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 transi...

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...

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,...

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 ed...

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...

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...

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...