For the second year in a row, ELGL will be co-hosting an event at the ICMA Conference. This year we’re bringing a couple of pianos and booking a much larger room. More than 500 local government professionals from all areas of local government will attend. Registration will continue until we reach maximum capacity. We recommend registering as soon as possible. Let’s get prepared for the ELGL and ICMA “Mixing in Perfect Harmony” event by hearing from our guests.
Jessica Ostmeyer
Sedgwick County, KS
Connect: LinkedIn
If you could pick any three bands (dead or alive) as the opening act for the Dueling Pianos event, which would you choose?
- The Black Keys
- Elton John
- Billy Joel
When I learned the ICMA Conference was being held in Seattle, I thought….Seattle has been on my travel wish list for so long and I finally get to go there!
I knew local government was the career for me…..After traveling to regions that did not have professional government administrators and seeing the results of such organizations.
Our #13Percent Initiative focuses on increasing diversity in the local government workforce. Give us your perspective — does local government have an issue? what, specifically, can we do to increase diversity in the workforce?
Is diversity an issue? Yes!
What can we do about it? Talk about it and don’t ignore it. This discussion needs to happen at all levels, from leadership and staff. After the discussion, then do something about it! There might need to be a culture change or a different approach in recruitment. Identify the problem and then make a plan to solve it with achievable goals or outcomes.
The Seahawks lost the Super Bowl by passing instead of running from the 1-yard line. Give us your best tip(s) for rebounding from difficult situations.
Several months have passed and there have been many changes to the organization since the Super Bowl, including changes in the players and staff. Acknowledge that it happened and use that as a learning experience for the future. It is time to move onward and upward.