By Christine Burns
In a mere two weeks’ time, we will gather again at the Summer Workshop to network and learn and solve all of the challenges we face each day as municipal executives. I’ve seen the agenda and can assure you that Warren Rothe, his PDC committee, MML staff, and Nicole Klepadlo have put together an amazing agenda! Truth be told, I find the networking opportunities to be just as valuable as the sessions. Don’t get me wrong; I always learn something in those sessions, but it’s the lunchtime chatter and those conversations over beverages in the evenings that are invaluable.
My grandmother (may she rest in peace) gave me some sound advice, which has served me well over the years. She used to say, “You are the company you keep!” In other words, when you decide where to sit for lunch or who to share an evening beverage with, please contemplate a manager you can learn something from and whose company will be beneficial. Don’t forget, though, that this summer the conference runs Monday – Thursday instead of the typical Tuesday – Friday (ditto for the winter conference in 2024). This modification has thrown a few managers off. It’s not too late to register!
For those of you who have not attended the last two conferences to hear me plug Gregg Guetschow’s “Field Notes” blog, please consider signing up to receive his weekly email. Gregg has more than 40 years of City Manager experience in communities across Michigan. If you’re a new(ish) manager, you will find his words of wisdom invaluable. If you’re like me, with more than a few grey hairs, I promise you can still learn something from Gregg; he’s an amazing storyteller and has much to offer the rest of us who are lifelong learners.
Finally, ICMA opened up their registration for the 2023 Annual Conference, which will be held in Austin from September 30th thru October 4th. Hope to see many of you there!
Christine Burns
President, MME
Manager, Spring Lake
Chris has more than 30 years of experience in local government. She has been the village manager in Spring Lake since 2012. Chris graduated from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 1990 with a BS in Business Administration, majoring in management and then went on to earn her MSA in Public Administration from CMU in 2006 (Fire Up Chips!). She is a member of Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). She has served on the MME & MML Board of Directors and has been on the Michigan Municipal League’s Workers’ Compensation Board of Directors since 2010, serving as its vice chair in 2017 and 2018 and its chair in 2019 and 2020. She and her husband Bill have two children and one grandchild. In their free time, they enjoy flying, home renovations, and time with their grandson. She can be reached at christine@springlakevillage.org.