How Serving Three Organizations Made Me Better at All of Them

Posted on November 5, 2025

Today's Morning Buzz is by Aarón Zavala, Assistant to the City Manager for Pleasanton, Calif. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram. What I’m working on: BELONG Pleasanton, our initiative for Building Equity, Leadership, Opportunity, Nurturing, and Growth, plus Emergency Management and internal communications strategy. What I’m listening to: College football season means the Peristyle...

From Typewriters to TikTok: The Evolution of the Government Communicator

Posted on November 3, 2025

Featured image created by Google Gemini Today's Morning Buzz is brought to you by Tabitha Clark, Communications Director for the City of Perry, Georgia. Connect with Tabitha on LinkedIn. What I’m Listening To: AI Six Podcast, Joanne Sweeney Picture a government communicator today: putting out a social media fire, filming a reel, hosting a live...

From Rules to Real Life – Designing with Empathy in Local Government (Part II)

Posted on October 31, 2025

This is the second post in a two-part series from Dana Healy, Chief Operations Officer for Tightrope Media Systems (connect with Dana on LinkedIn) that explores how small, compassionate design choices build trust and inclusion in public communication. In Part 1 of this series (see Removing Rocks, Not Moving Mountains - Building Habits of Care in...

Removing Rocks, Not Moving Mountains – Building Habits of Care in Accessible Design (Part I)

Posted on October 29, 2025

Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Dana Healy, Chief Operations Officer for Tightrope Media Systems. Connect with Dana on LinkedIn. What I’m reading: Inclusive Design for Accessibility What I’m watching: Need suggestions! What I’m listening to: Government Video Podcast - Episode 9, Season 2 This year, I’ve traveled to conferences around the country...

The Sounds of Silence (or, “When People Still Don’t Show”)

Posted on October 24, 2025

Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Matt Horn, the Director of Strategic Growth and Development for MRB Group – once described as “the worst audience participant Cirque du Soleil ever had”.  Check out his stoic musings on LinkedIn. What I’m Watching: The Ambassador on Netflix.  Who knew Kerry Russell was still around? What I’m...

Trust as a Verb: Everyday Actions That Build (or Break) Workplace Trust

Posted on October 22, 2025

Today's Morning Buzz is brought to you by Demetrius "D" Parker. “D” is an inspirational speaker, workshop facilitator, and executive coach, with over 40 years of leadership experience and 10.5 of those years in local government. He’s now the founder and pragmatical leader of “Trust Leadership Collective."  What I’m reading: Making Team Dynamics Visible by...

The Future of Public Sector Leadership Is Human

Posted on October 20, 2025

Today’s Morning Buzz is by Angela Wilson, Deputy Public Information Officer for the Town of Frederick, Colorado. Follow Angela on LinkedIn and Instagram @lifeman_life What I’m listening to: Shade 45 on SiriusXM What I’m eating: Homemade Protein Bars Technology promises to make everything easier. But does anyone really feel that? I know I don’t. If...

How Facilitation Turned My Fear Into a Superpower – Here’s How It Can Be Yours, Too

Posted on October 17, 2025

Today's Morning Buzz is brought to you by Madeliene Hernandez, Deputy Director, Innovation & Performance for the City of Seattle, currently residing in Kingston, WA a.k.a. “little city by the sea.” Connect with Madeliene on LinkedIn. What I’m reading: Modern Friendship by Anna Goldfarb.  What I’m watching: Just finished Wayward on Netflix – creepy!  What...

Wait… Did I Just Go to the “Dark Side?”

Posted on October 15, 2025

Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Emily Colon. Emily is a former deputy city manager turned consultant, helping local governments strengthen leadership, culture, and strategy with the Southern Group. She believes the best kind of work is the kind that makes communities better, no matter where you do it. Connect with Emily on...