By Martin A. Colburn
How do we measure a member’s success? There are so many different values and goals that each one of us can measure success. However, a great effort has been made in recent years through the Michigan Municipal League (MML) that helps value placing more women into the executive seat in local government.
Our profession, not unlike many others, has been slow in supporting women in management positions. The MML has established the 16/50 Program which recognizes women’s leadership gaps within the communities that the MML serves. This program has selected educational opportunities that focus on preparing aspiring women to take the step to higher management.
One of our roles as managers is to prepare for sustainability and is more pertinent today than ever in regard to talent shortages to work in management within our respective communities. As managers, we look for that next generation to step up. It is our responsibility to help prepare them. The 16/50 Program that MML presents does just that.
I am encouraging managers to take a look within their organization and speak with your leaders looking to prepare themselves. This program helps with the necessary skills and training to bridge the gap to the top management positions. Traverse City has sponsored four individuals to date. Three of them now hold senior management positions; two of them moved over to Benzie County as the county manager and deputy manager and the third, and most recent graduate, Kaitlyn Aldrich, has just taken over the reins in December 2022, as the village manager of Kingsley. Ultimately, they get to set the path that they want to take and fulfill for their professional goals. We need to all reflect back as to who helped and championed us to move forward in our careers. Look at your achievements and professional membership success. The legacy that you will leave is highly valuable, particularly in working towards the diversity goal within our organizations, our profession, and our society. We are champions!
For more information regarding the 16/50 Program at the MML, please contact Emily Kieliszewski at 517-908-0302.
Martin A. Colburn
Chair, Member Success Committee
City Manager, Traverse City
Martin A. Colburn is the Manager for the City of Traverse City. Before coming to Traverse City, he worked as the city administrator in Mason, Michigan, for 16 years. He has 32 years of city management experience working in Michigan, Wyoming, and Arizona. Marty also worked on the congressional staff of the U.S. House and Senate, and served with the Arizona National Guard for nine years. He holds both a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He is married to Betsy, a native Michigander. In his leisure time, he likes to boat, hunt, fish, hike and read, and lives within the City of Traverse City. He can be reached at mcolburn@traversecitymi.gov.