Madison, Wis., Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is breaking barriers. She’s the second female mayor and the first openly LGBTQ person in that office. But before taking the helm of “Madtown,” as it’s affectionately called by residents, she served on the city … Continue reading →
“Life is short,” believes Leirion Gaylor Baird of Lincoln, Neb. Baird was elected mayor of the city of Lincoln in 2019. She is the third female mayor of the city. “During college, a number of my good friends passed away … Continue reading →
Jimmy Smith Jr. makes you feel you’ve always known him, and all it takes is a few minutes of conversation. As the solid waste and landfill superintendent of Thomasville, Ga. — and having worked for the city since 1995 — … Continue reading →
As a third generation parks professional, Cameron Levis wears his title of Bowling Green, Ky., Parks and Recreation special populations coordinator quite proudly. Serving the community through work with the parks department began in his family with his grandfather, Dr. … Continue reading →
As a nine-year-old boy living in a refugee camp, Sokhary Chau did not aspire to be the first Cambodian American mayor elected in the United States. He was merely looking for a place to call home. Over 25 years later … Continue reading →
Mason, Ohio, Fire Chief Bryan Brumagen said firefighting is in his blood. Besides growing up in a fire department family with a fire chief living in his house, he also has an uncle and several cousins who are in the … Continue reading →
When Monique Odom first joined Nashville, Tenn.’s, Metro Parks and Recreation in 2006, she wasn’t planning to make history. After transferring from the Metro Human Relations Commission to serve as a financial officer, she hoped to round out her practical … Continue reading →
Richard Hardy is a natural leader. After a 33-year military career and six years as the director of public works for the city of Valdosta, Ga., he was named a deputy city manager to the community’s current leader Mark Barber. … Continue reading →
Erie, Pa., Public Works employee Pat Fleming hasn’t been running for long, but he knows how to make every stride count. In March, he completed a 50-mile run across the county to raise funds for Erie’s small downtown businesses that … Continue reading →
When Clarence Fields was elected to the Pineville, La., City Council in 1998, he had no interest in becoming a full-time public servant. He had a good job with the Central Louisiana Electric Company, or CLEC, and enjoyed a well-earned … Continue reading →
As the organizational manager for the city of San Antonio, Texas’, Solid Waste Management Department, Walter Barrett is the safety, reliability and quality assurance chief who oversees the training of nearly 700 employees who serve 358,000 households on a weekly … Continue reading →
