“Know before you go:” that’s our philosophy with ELGL events. We’re profiling our awesome attendees for #ELGL19 in Durham so you can connect with fellow attendees before the best local government conference in the world, held May 15-17, 2019 in Durham, NC. Register today!
Ashley Monroe
Assistant City Manager at Iowa City, IA
What is the most local government-y thing you have done on vacation?
Daily exposure to our ADA Coordinator has forever impacted trips to other cities when I start making comments like, “there’s no way that change in sidewalk grade is accessible!” or, “those truncated domes shouldn’t be arranged at a 45-degree angle to the intersection.” My fellow travelers roll their eyes when I start looking at out-of-place building scale…
If I was booking the guests for the GovLove podcast, I would book…
Executive Directors of associations for City Managers. They can discuss trends and challenges in serving such a wide variety of leaders throughout the state, etc.
If you could only have wine OR chocolate for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
Wine stays good longer than chocolate. (White chocolate isn’t really chocolate, so I feel like I have an out here.)
What’s one thing you want to do/see when you’re in Durham?
The best part of visiting other places is just taking in the sights and trying the food.
#ELGL19 will be a success in my book if this happens:
If I can acquire a time-turner and somehow make it to all awesome-sounding breakout sessions simultaneously. Without the time-turner, I’ll settle for bringing back a few new connections and ideas.
Who is your mentor?
I’ve had great manager mentors but some of my best experiences have been with peer mentors. Who do you look to for encouragement or asking the hard questions? Who inspires you to be better or challenge yourself? Someone in a similar role can be a really effective guide for what comes next.
What’s the most interesting thing you’re working on right now?
Planning a selection of budget/strategic plan-related activities to unleash on our unsuspecting public at summer events.
What’s your pet peeve?
Having to cut text out of online forms to fit the character limits. Let the people have their say!
Other #ELGL19 Attendees:
- Nicolette Brennan from Cape Girardeau, MO
- Susan Barkman from Aurora, CO
- Brian Silcott from Goddard, KS
- Coty DeArmond from West Covina, CA
- Brian Murphy from the UNC School of Government
- Brian Platt from Jersey City, NJ
- Zach Navin from Wauwatosa, WI
- Shannon Mills from Pinellas County, FL
- Mariel Klein from Durham, NC
- Anthony Santiago from The National League of Cities
- Brent Stockwell from Scottsdale, AZ
- Jennifer Casey from Collierville, TN