Post by Seth Winterhalter

What does it take to build a thriving community in a place many people would overlook on a map? For Shaun Barnett, ICMA-CM, City Manager of Woodward, Oklahoma, the answer starts with vision. In Episode 349 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Shaun shares his remarkable journey from mowing parks and serving in law enforcement to leading the community he has called home for most of his life. Along the way, we discuss: • Why leadership careers rarely follow a straight line • The importance of developing future leaders inside your organization • How small communities create big opportunities • Why collaboration matters more than competition • The challenge of honoring your history while building your future One of Shaun's insights stood out: "We love our history because it's what built us, but it's not what's going to build tomorrow." If you're leading a city, county, department, or organization, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the communities we want tomorrow are shaped by the decisions we make today. 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gVwWNsGk —— Sponsor Highlight: Tyler Technologies Looking for practical ways to work smarter with limited time, people, and resources? Download Tyler Technologies' free AI and resilience resources for local government leaders at [TylerTech.com/WINTER]. —— Oklahoma Municipal League ICMA - International City/County Management Association National League of Cities National Association of Counties Visit Woodward