I Have to Ask You...

Call for Writers: I Have to Ask You….

Posted on May 29, 2019

We want you to write for ELGL! We're looking for guest columnists for our popular series, "I Have to Ask You." Here's how it works. Choose a date to be the featured guest columnist Allie Breyer will send you a choice of three local government topics to write about. You will choose one of the...

I Have to Ask: From City Manager to Consultant

Posted on May 27, 2019

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Jennifer Teal, The Novak Consulting Group, writes about the transition from city manager to consultant. A couple of hours after I received Kent’s email with my potential “I Have to Ask You” questions, I got a phone...

I Have to Ask: The Pressure of Innovation

Posted on May 20, 2019

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Greg Stopka, Strategy and Innovation Manager, Park District of Oak Park, writes about the opportunities and challenges of the "innovation" title. What’s your definition of innovation? It’s a loaded term and I remember when I worked...

I Have to Ask: Impact of Volunteerism

Posted on May 13, 2019

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Sarah Gallimore, Senior Design Strategist (Mayor’s Office, Innovation Team), City of Detroit, chronicles how volunteering positively impacted her career. I may not have started my career out as a civil servant but I believe I’ve always had...

I Have to Ask: Parks and Recreation

Posted on May 6, 2019

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Matt Roylance, Assistant Town Manager, Town of Garner, writes about what he learned as the Deputy Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space. I know a lot of us in local government get (and make) jokes...

I Have to Ask: Embracing Video

Posted on April 29, 2019

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Jennifer Casey, Emerging Media Specialist, Town of Collierville, TN, highlight three tips for producing video content. There was a Microsoft attention span study that went around a few years ago...

I Have to Ask: Creative Storytelling

Posted on April 22, 2019

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Danielle Rogers Community Marketing Manager, City of Newton, Iowa, writes about creative storytelling. Storytelling is part of my soul. One of my earliest memories is being in awe of my third-grade teacher reading Roald Dahl’s BFG...

I Have to Ask: Learn All the Skills

Posted on April 16, 2019

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Shannon Mills, Strategic Performance Management Analyst, Pinellas County, Florida, writes about her previous work experience at Nielsen. Last year, I made a (huge) professional shift from being a telecom research analyst at Nielsen to a strategic...

I Have to Ask: Libraries and Homelessness

Posted on April 9, 2019

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Jamie Eustace, Library Director, City of Baytown, TX, writes libraries as special places. His name was Reese His body was found under an oak tree in front of the library before we opened one Monday. Reese...