MME Blog

Christian Wuerth | MME President Like many of you, my late summer and early fall have been busy. It has been great to see so many … Read More

Pat McGinnis | Advocacy Committee Chair  In October, the Advocacy Committee worked on a clear communication to the City of Lansing Charter Commission offering to connect … Read More

Brandon Skopek | Early Career Outreach Committee Chair The Early Career Outreach Committee has made a few adjustments to its training schedule for the year. The … Read More

Julius Suchy | Ethics Committee Member As local governments increasingly embrace technology to enhance their services, generative AI platforms like ChatGPT have gained traction. These tools … Read More

Deborah Stuart | Member Support Committee Chair The board recently approved a name change for the Member Success Committee to the Member Support Committee. The board … Read More

Warren Rothe | Professional Development Committee Chair The Michigan Municipal Executives Professional Development Committee is actively planning for our upcoming Winter Institute, scheduled to take place … Read More

Christian Wuerth As I write this column, it is about a month after the Summer Workshop in Marquette, and the conference, the outstanding sessions, and the … Read More

Brandon Skopek Chair, Early Career Outreach Committee The Early Career Outreach Committee hosted a summer training session on Friday, August 16, focused on the crucial topic … Read More

Jim Wagner Member, Ethics Committee Good morning, afternoon, or evening, whichever time you’re finding time to look at this newsletter. As a retiree member of the … Read More

Pat McGinnis Chair, Advocacy Committee Advocacy Committee members Jason Smith (Belleville) and Jared Olson (Roosevelt Park) presented a session on Fostering Community Awareness and Community Growth … Read More

There is still time to RSVP for our reception at this year’s ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Join us for refreshments and networking with your fellow … Read More

MME wants to hear from you! Participate in Our Membership Survey Today As a valued member of the Michigan Municipal Executives your experiences, insights, and feedback … Read More

Warren Rothe Chair, Professional Development Committee On behalf of the entire Professional Development Committee, I extend gratitude to everyone who made the long trek to our … Read More

Christian Wuerth One of the things I have come to appreciate about this role over the past six+ months is that I have been able to … Read More

Rachel Witherspoon Member, Early Career Outreach Committee The Early Career Outreach Committee would like to invite all those in the municipal management field to a summer … Read More

Erin LaPere Member, Ethics Committee Tenet 3 of the ICMA Code of Ethics: “Demonstrate by word and action the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity … Read More

Warren Rothe Chair, Professional Development Committee The PDC is excited to invite you to the MME Summer Workshop, happening July 16 to July 19 in beautiful … Read More

Pat McGinnis Chair, Advocacy Committee The goals set for the Advocacy Committee by our board are perpetual; we will keep working on these and refining our … Read More

Authors Mark Washington, ICMA-CM Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Keith Van Beek, ICMA-CM Former President Holly Young Inclusion and Experience Manager In January of 2024, city … Read More

Al Vanderberg Chair, Experience Committee We are thrilled to announce the opening of nominations for the John M. Patriarche Distinguished Service Award, an honor bestowed by … Read More

By Matt Fulton ICMA Midwest Contact, MME Board of Directors ICMA has been implementing the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program for the past 10 years, which is … Read More

Christian Wuerth The transition from late winter to spring brings about a lot of changes in the environment around us, and the growing daylight hours seem … Read More

Deborah Stuart Chair, Member Success Committee The Member Success Committee is currently focusing on how we can better support our Members in Transition. According to the … Read More

Brandon Skopek Chair, Early Career Outreach Committee In our journey throughout life and our careers, having an individual to show us the ropes can make all … Read More

Erin LaPere Member, Ethics Committee Tenet 9 of the ICMA Code of Ethics: “Keep the community informed on local government affairs. Encourage and facilitate active engagement … Read More

Warren Rothe Chair, Professional Development Committee At the time of writing, the Professional Development Committee is in full swing putting together an array of Summer Workshop … Read More

Jared Olson Vice-Chair, Advocacy Committee As we welcome the vibrant change from winter into spring, the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) organization and the MME Advocacy Committee … Read More

Christian Wuerth It was great to see many of you at the Winter Institute a few weeks back. I want to thank the Professional Development Committee, … Read More

Deborah Stuart Chair, Member Success Committee Like for many, 2024 kicked off as a year full of opportunities and goals to achieve. That stopped for me … Read More

Brandon Skopek Chair, Early Career Outreach Committee On Monday, February 26, the Early Career Outreach Committee (ECOC) convened for their first meeting of the year, boasting … Read More

Juan Ganum Chair, Ethics Committee What motivated you to join the ranks of municipal management? Think back to what led you to choose the path that … Read More

Al Vanderberg Chair, Experience Committee The Experience Committee hosted two sessions at the recent Winter Institute, including the awards ceremony and the session on the MME … Read More

Warren Rothe Chair, Professional Development Committee On behalf of the entire Professional Development Committee, I extend gratitude to every one of you who attended the 2024 … Read More

By Matt Fulton Midwest Regional Director, ICMA ICMA has been implementing the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program for the past 10 years, which is funded by the … Read More

Christian Wuerth First off, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! It is my hope that the year ahead holds a great deal … Read More

Christian Wuerth Thank you to everyone who participated in the nomination and election process (whether you submitted a nomination, served on the nominations committee, appeared on … Read More

By Daryl J. Delabbio The Benefits of Staying Involved “Just when I thought I was out … they pull me back in.” Michael Corleone (The Godfather, … Read More

Frank Walsh “The Leaders and Best” As I reflect on our profession, and the upcoming National Championship game, I’m reminded of the Michigan fight song that … Read More

Pat McGinnis The Advocacy Committee will meet again at the Winter Institute (time and place TBD). All are welcome if you’d like to join us; the … Read More

Al Vanderberg The MME Experience Committee would like to thank those who submitted nominees for the slate of MME Awards that are presented at the Winter … Read More

Warren Rothe Registration for the 2024 Winter Institute in Lansing is now open! The PDC would like to extend a sincere thank you to the MME … Read More

Matt Fulton ICMA is interested in exploring the idea of convening conversations with local government executives aimed at fostering improved communication and relationships with adjacent/contiguous tribal … Read More

By Christian Wuerth In late September, we lost our colleague and friend, MME President Chris Burns. Like a lot of you, I am still stunned by … Read More

By Pat McGinnis The Advocacy Committee will meet again on December 7 at 3:00 p.m. on Teams. All are welcome if you’d like to join us; … Read More

By Daryl J. Delabbio This past summer there were some questions posed about the new Tenet 11 of the ICMA Code of Ethics, and the accompanying … Read More

By Al Vanderberg The Experience Committee has been hard at work on several initiatives. We are close to rolling out a fillable template for MME members … Read More

If you know of a potential sponsor or partner, please use the following to connect them to our opportunities. Your support is appreciated. Connect with Local … Read More

By Christine Burns Well, friends…as we wrap up another Pure Michigan summer, I hope you can all take a moment and sit in gratitude for just … Read More

By Pat McGinnis The Advocacy Committee will meet again on October 5 at 3:00 pm on Teams. All are welcome if you’d like to join us; … Read More

By Daryl J. Delabbio “Leading with integrity and empathy requires vision and a connection to your deepest self.” ~ Karla McLaren I saw this graphic on … Read More

By Frank Walsh When we start a new position in a community everything seems to be “perfect.” You settle in your office, meet the team and … Read More

By Warren Rothe The PDC would like to thank all our attendees, sponsors, and Legaue staff who made our Summer Workshop a smashing success! Personal highlights … Read More

Nominations for Officers and Directors are being accepted from now until Oct. 15. Send nominations to nominations@mme.org. This email will go to the nominating committee members. … Read More

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 … Read More

By Pat McGinnis The Advocacy Committee held meeting number six in June and noted substantial progress in key areas: Connect with Peer/Partner Organizations We’ve identified 17 … Read More

By Daryl J. Delabbio Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we … Read More

By Frank Walsh Two weeks ago, Meridian Township welcomed our newest management intern. Will Christie, who grew up in St. Joseph, is a senior at MSU. … Read More

By Warren Rothe Registration for the 2023 Summer Workshop in Frankenmuth is now open! The PDC has been hard at work to secure an all-star lineup … Read More

As part of the budget process for 2024, MME leadership is requesting that all members complete a short, three-question survey to provide us with some data … Read More

By Christine Burns Moving toward summer, it is my hope that all of your community gatherings are successful and your individual community goals are met and … Read More

By Pat McGinnis The Advocacy Committee held meeting number four in April and noted substantial progress. Connect with Peer/Partner Organizations We’ve identified 18 peer groups and … Read More

By Daryl J. Delabbio “It’s easier to sleep at night with a bad legal decision rather than toss and turn over a bad moral decision. In … Read More

By Frank Walsh Our Member Success Committee spent the last two months catching up with colleagues across the state to talk about what success means to … Read More

By Warren Rothe The Professional Development Committee (PDC) continues to plan the 2023 Summer Workshop which will be held in Frankenmuth July 24-27. At the time … Read More

By Christine Burns On behalf of the Executive Committee, I would like to wish each of you a happy and early spring. May your plowing budgets … Read More

By Pat McGinnis The following Advocacy Committee members attended an introductory meeting on February 2 at the Winter Institute: Mitch Foster, Ludington Jared Olson, Roosevelt Park … Read More

By Daryl J. Delabbio “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” ~ Albert Schweitzer In 1968, during the Democratic … Read More

By Frank Walsh Your Member Success Committee has been hard at work over the past month focusing on supporting managers-in-transition and how to further spotlight the … Read More

By Al Vanderberg The Experience Committee was delighted to recognize members for outstanding service to their committees and our profession at the recent Winter Institute held … Read More

By Warren Rothe The Professional Development Committee (PDC) is excited to get to work on conference planning for Summer Institute 2023 (Frankenmuth), and Winter Institute 2024, … Read More

By Michael Cain First, I would like to wish each of you a Happy New Year. Hopefully, the start of 2023 has been good for you … Read More

By Matthew Butts There is still time to register for our Michigan Municipal Executives annual Winter Institute happening this year in Grand Rapids Jan. 31-Feb. 3. … Read More

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 … Read More

By Michael Cain I wanted to share with you all your Michigan Municipal Executives officers and board members for 2023. Thank you to all those who … Read More

By Al Vanderberg The Experience Committee will be rolling out the updated MME History at the Winter Institute in a few weeks. The updated version will … Read More

By Michael Cain It’s two days past the mid-term elections as I write this, and all is calm in Boyne City. Even without having any municipal … Read More

By Michael Cain I am pleased to announce that the Michigan Municipal Executives recently honored Kent County Administrator/Controller Al Vanderberg with the MME’s most prestigious award—the … Read More

By Frances McMullan The MME’s Professional Development Committee met twice in recent weeks and discussed topics of interest for our 2023 Winter Conference happening Jan. 31-Feb. … Read More

By Mark Wollenweber The Michigan Municipal Executives board recently approved the selection of Ray Anderson, the longtime manager of Norway, Michigan, as a fourth ICMA Senior … Read More

Nate Geinzer After formally joining the city management profession in 2007 as the management assistant for City of Farmington Hills, it did not take long to … Read More

By Michael Cain Where did our summer go? They say as you get older time seems to go by faster. That rings true for me. It … Read More

By Mark Washington I am honored to serve as chair of MME’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. The purpose of the DEI Committee is … Read More

By Frances McMullan We hope you enjoyed the 2022 MME Summer Workshop in Holland. Thank you to all those who attended and made the event a … Read More

By Melissa Marsh ICMA will be bringing the nationwide certificate program “Leading with Excellence” to Madison Heights, Michigan, Oct. 26-28. This is a great opportunity for … Read More

By Al Vanderberg The Experience Committee is hard at work on our two of our main activities – awards. First, the Patriarche Award recipient has been … Read More

By Kelly Warren MME members recently voted on proposed constitution amendments for our organization. That membership vote closed on September 12 and both amendments passed overwhelmingly. … Read More

By Michael Cain Where does the time go? I hope you had a great 4th of July. Ready or not the summer season is now officially … Read More

By Frances McMullan The full 2022 MME Summer Workshop agenda is now available here and the deadline to register online is 5 p.m. Friday, July 8. … Read More

By Marty Colburn It is my pleasure to help celebrate the good works of one of our own. The successes of our colleague, Ed Klobucher, is … Read More

By Melissa Marsh Thank you to the Michigan Municipal Executives Scholarship program through which both Adam Smith of Grand Ledge and I attended the 2022 ICMA … Read More

By Matt Baumgarten | Chair, Advocacy Committee To Educate is to Advocate. In this pursuit, the Advocacy Committee is hard at work in searching for existing … Read More

By Michael Cain I always love this time of year. The promise of spring becomes ever more real with the disappearing snow, budding and blooming plants … Read More

By Frances McMullan I hope everyone has marked their calendars to attend the 2022 MME Summer Workshop in Holland, July 19-22. The Professional Development Committee is … Read More

By Marty Colburn The Member Success Committee is always looking for positive stories about our MME members. In that vein, I’d like to use this month’s … Read More

By Matt Baumgarten Have you ever thought about your elected board and said, “I just wish they understood [blank] about my role…” It can be frustrating … Read More

By Michael Cain It’s hard to believe that as I write this that some nine weeks have passed since many of us were together in Troy … Read More

By Robert Bruner My exposure to public service began at a young age through the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting was the formative experience in my … Read More

By Michael Cain I wanted to thank everyone who responded to our request to be involved in one of the MME committees. We now have all … Read More

By Thomas A. Tanghe Go figure. I miss the MME Winter conference and win the MME Mentoring Award. But seriously, I want to thank those who … Read More

By Michael Cain Being a professional manager, no matter what the title, is never easy. These days that seems truer than ever. Know that your fellow … Read More

The ICMA’s Midwest Leadership Institute is happening in Northern Illinois in April 2022. The event will have an extensive four-and-a-half-day program designed to address the challenges … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury It is hard to believe this is my last newsletter article as your MME President. It certainly has been a year to remember. … Read More

By Aaron Desentz We are just a couple of short weeks away from the 2022 Winter Institute. This year we are in Troy, Michigan, January 25-28. … Read More

By Justin Breyer As we begin 2022, there are many events and opportunities to look forward to during the year. 2022 Winter Institute On behalf of … Read More

By Mitch Foster As the Member Success Committee has evaluated our role in the organization over this first year in existence, we have heard from a … Read More

By Al Vanderberg The Experience Committee has a full slate of work to accomplish in 2022. The MME Award nomination and review process netted several award winners … Read More

By Matt Baumgarten Happy 2022 from your MME Advocacy Committee. As we start a new year, the Advocacy Committee will be asking each of you to … Read More

It’s that time of the year to add your voice to an MME committee. If you’d like to serve on one of the committees listed below, … Read More

The ICMA’s Midwest Leadership Institute is happening in Northern Illinois in April 2022. The event will have an extensive four-and-a-half-day program designed to address the challenges … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury Fall in Michigan is full of fun and adventures. Football, color tours, sweaters and hot chocolate, wrapping up farmers markets, end of season … Read More

By Aaron Desentz The Professional Development Committee is in full swing working on content for our upcoming Winter Institute to be held in Troy, Michigan. The … Read More

Preliminary findings of ICMA’s September 2021 survey highlight shared and unique priorities of larger and smaller communities. ICMA surveyed local government chief administrative officers about their … Read More

The Michigan Municipal Executives has many awards open for nominations to recognize the creativity and dedication of MME members. Award nomination forms, along with a description … Read More

The ICMA’s Midwest Leadership Institute is happening in Northern Illinois in April 2022. The event will have an extensive four-and-a-half-day program designed to address the challenges … Read More

By Matt Baumgarten To educate is to advocate. In this pursuit, the Advocacy Committee is hard at work in searching for existing materials from across state … Read More

By Justin Breyer As we enter into the fourth quarter of the calendar year, we start to look ahead to 2022. 2022 Winter Institute The upcoming … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury As summer winds down I find myself reflecting on the many things we have to be thankful for and the many lessons COVID-19 … Read More

By Mitch Foster The Member Success Committee is continuing to work on the Wednesday Manager Group Lunch speakers as well as putting together this great supplemental … Read More

By Caitlyn Davison Community Heart & Soul is inviting resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to apply for $10,000 in funding to start the Community … Read More

By Matt Baumgarten To educate is to advocate. In this pursuit, the Advocacy Committee is hard at work in searching for existing materials from across state … Read More

By Aaron Desentz On behalf of the MME Professional Development Committee, I would like to thank all of you that were able to attend the 2021 … Read More

By Aaron Desentz This year the Michigan Municipal Executives is proud to present our summer conference live and in person on Tuesday, July 20 through Friday, … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury I understand the Fourth of July represents the halfway point of summer, but this summer seems to be flying by! The good news … Read More

By Mitch Foster Committee held our second meeting on May 5, 2021 at 1 pm consisting of a more in-depth discussion on a few important items … Read More

By Nathan Henne In my office, I have lots of wall space to hang things. A copy of ICMA’s Code of Ethics is what is closest … Read More

By Justin Breyer Local government management professionals draw inspiration and seek continuing education through a variety of sources. Some may subscribe to websites, magazines, or e-newsletters; … Read More

By Matt Baumgarten Have you ever thought about your elected board and said, “I just wish they understood [blank] about my role…” It can be frustrating … Read More

By Spencer R. Nebel Two former members of the Michigan Municipal Executives handed off the Oregon City/County Management Association’s (OCCMA) President’s Lantern at the OCCMA Summer Conference … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury What a quick three months it has been in my MME presidency. Our members are leading their communities in amazing ways. We are … Read More

By Aaron Desentz Finally, the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) Professional Development Committee (PDC) is back in the business of live in-person conference planning. This year the … Read More

The MME board recently requested members to vote on a constitutional amendment that would expand the ethics committee to better ensure that quorums are reached for … Read More

By Mitch Foster The Member Success Committee held our inaugural meeting on April 1, 2021 at 3 p.m. consisting of a great, overarching discussion on the … Read More

By Ken Marten When I wonder, when I ponder, when I’m unsure of my next move, when I seek inspiration, I turn to my wisdom file. … Read More

By Matt Baumgarten How would you describe your job? Whether you are speaking to a friend, a resident, or a member of your governing board, you … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury The first month of my Presidency has gone quickly. A big thank you to all the members and retirees who reached out to … Read More

By Nathan Henne The Ethics Committee was busy during 2020.  The frequency of complaints seemed to be higher—although their substance was largely the same as in … Read More

By Matt Baumgarten The Advocacy Committee’s first and foremost mission is to promote MME and the municipal executive profession.  I can think of no better way … Read More

By Al Vanderberg The Experience Committee met for the first time in 2021 just last week and launched into what will be a very busy year … Read More

By Mitch Foster The Member Success Committee will be meeting in March to establish goals and priorities for this new Committee. Ultimately, our focus will be … Read More

By Justin Breyer I would like to share some updates on a few ongoing Early Career Outreach Committee developments. If you have any questions about the … Read More

By Aaron Desentz Typically, the MME Winter Institute is focused on knowledge and skills development. The MME seeks to bring attendees the best possible speakers to discuss … Read More

By John Shay As I write this article on the last day of 2020, I think back on such a momentous year. It seems like forever … Read More

By Julius Suchy Join us for the 2021 Virtual Winter Institute If you have not yet registered for the MME Winter Institute to be held January … Read More

By Al Vanderberg The Experience Committee is deep into administration of the annual MME Awards process. The deadline for submission of nominations was initially set for Friday, … Read More

By Julius Suchy 2021 Winter MME Institute in Grand Rapids Moves to Virtual Format While the Professional Development Committee was looking forward to the Grand Rapids … Read More

By John Shay In some ways, I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by (for example: my term as president) and in other ways … Read More

By Adam Smith I am happy to share with you that our MME Board of Directors recently authorized the establishment of a member assistance program with … Read More

By Justin Breyer I would like to share some updates on a few ongoing NextGen Committee projects. If you have any questions about the MME NextGen … Read More

By Victor Cardenas First, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support for my candidacy for the ICMA Board. In September, I … Read More

By John Shay As a college football official, it is disappointing to see that the fall football season has been canceled.  In fact, my wife is … Read More

By Julius Suchy 2020 Virtual Summer Conference Recap While it was disappointing that the 2020 MME Summer Workshop was cancelled due to COVID-19, the Professional Development … Read More

By Justin Breyer I would like to share some updates on a few ongoing NextGen Committee projects. If you have any questions about the MME NextGen … Read More

By John Shay One might be hard pressed to imagine a more stressful and challenging time than what we are facing these days. Whether it is … Read More

By Julius Suchy Virtual 2020 Summer Conference The Professional Development Committee looks forward to holding future conferences in person, but is opting to provide some virtual … Read More

By Al Vanderberg I was excited to learn recently that ICMA has decided to bestow the ICMA Distinguished Service Award, the top award in our profession, … Read More

By Justin Breyer I would like to share some updates on a few ongoing NextGen Committee projects, along with a Call for Project Proposals from the … Read More

By John Shay It has been only two months since I last drafted an article for the newsletter, but the world could not have changed more … Read More

By Julius Suchy 2020 Summer Conference Cancelled – What is next for Professional Development? While it is disappointing that the 2020 MME Summer Workshop is cancelled … Read More

By Adam Smith Over the past few years, through workshops and retreats, I have had the privilege to speak with numerous officials with regard to effective … Read More

By Al Vanderberg                   This is typically the slowest time of the year for the Experience Committee. COVID-19 … Read More

By Cheryl Hilvert COVID-19 has arrived with little warning and we are all adjusting to this strange and challenging new “normal.”  I wanted to let you … Read More

By Al Vanderberg The Experience Committee had a busy and productive year in 2019. I’ll mention just a couple of highlights: Ed Koryzno was selected as … Read More

By Natalie Davenport I would like to thank Michigan Municipal Executives and the Professional Development Committee for granting me a scholarship to attend the 2020 Winter … Read More

By Julius Suchy Professional Development Committee Expands in Size If you attended the MME Winter Institute in Gaylord you may have noticed that the Professional Development … Read More

By John Shay Life in municipal management is full of debates. As a new decade begins, I had planned to start my first article by expressing … Read More

By Mark Rambo As a manager, parent, spouse, colleague, and friend, I find myself doing a lot of listening, encouraging, and nudging people to make good … Read More

By Justin Breyer The NextGen Committee has hit the ground running in 2020, with the new year offering a wealth of excitement and promise. The committee … Read More

By Jake Eckholm The 2019 ICMA Annual Conference was a wonderful opportunity to expand my perspective. Specifically, my role in economic development requires that I have … Read More

By Lynn Markland Many of us have been involved in preparing a strategic plan for our community. Our organization has a strategic plan as well. Our … Read More

By Lynn Markland With a recommendation from the Professional Development Committee, the MME Board has selected a joint proposal from Rochester/Auburn Hills for Summer Workshop in … Read More

By Kevin Catlin The 2019 International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) annual conference in Nashville was filled with relevant topics and workshops. Although I did not attend … Read More

By Jonathan Bowman I was recently afforded the opportunity to attend the MME Summer Workshop in Alpena, Mich. because of an MME scholarship. I am currently … Read More

By James Wickman, ICMA-CM Two recent city manager searches in Michigan ended with the chosen finalist withdrawing after accepting an offer. It is not necessarily surprising … Read More

By Lynn Markland The following historical information and current situation provides insight to the long-time relationship between the MME and the Michigan Municipal League.  I am … Read More

By Julius Suchy Summer Conference Request  for Proposals Coming Soon The Professional Development Committee will be posting the RFP for the  summer conference in 2021 and … Read More

By James Wickman, iCMA-CM You are a visible and trusted member of your community and profession. Your opinions are respected by residents and peers. Naturally, there … Read More

By Derrick Kozicki Recently, I attended the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks’ Master Academy with the help of an MME scholarship. Topics included performance appraisals, leveraging … Read More

By Christian Wuerth The 2019 ELGL Diversity Dashboard survey is live and ready for you to complete it so your community’s data is logged into an … Read More

A new year brings new opportunities.This year, the NextGen committee welcomes some fresh faces. This year’s new members are Drew Benson,  Mike Greene, and Joe Frey. … Read More

By Julius Suchy Big Thank You to Rebecca Fleury and the City of Battle Creek The Professional Development Committee (PDC)  would like to extend a big … Read More

By Lynn Markland Having the opportunity to serve as president of MME is a real privilege. I want to thank the membership for granting me the … Read More

As you peruse your respective social media sites, please, consider “following” MME’s twitter page @MIMunicipalExec. And as you post about your fantastic community, feel free to … Read More

On February 12, 2019, Theodore “Ted” Staton passed away after a battle with cancer. Ted served as city manager of East Lansing from 1995-2011. He was … Read More

ICMA’s Local Government Excellence Awards program is now open for nominations. These awards highlight local and international government professionals, as well as inventive programs designed to improve … Read More

Attend the Midwest Leadership Institute and discover who you are as a leader, and learn to better manage yourself and others in the changing environment of … Read More

By Patrick Sullivan I can’t tell you how much MME in all its forms, from MCMA to MLGMA to MME, has meant to me. My life … Read More

By Patrick Sullivan The MME Board of Directors has unanimously endorsed Victor Cardenas, assistant city manager of Novi, for the Non-CEO, Midwestern Vice-Presidential seat on the … Read More

By James Wickman, ICMA-CM The ICMA Guidelines for our Code of Ethics encourages members to report possible violations (Tenet 3). Rules of procedure outline steps that … Read More

By James Krizan The holiday season is a natural time to get reflective on the past year. With the fall professional development event complete (more on … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury The New Year is upon us and that means we are closer to our Winter Institute. The program is coming together nicely, with … Read More

City Manager Recognized as Municipal Executive By Adam Smith The State of Michigan’s newest city Charter was approved by Governor Rick Snyder on May 15, 2018 … Read More

By Patrick Sullivan A lot has been happening on the ICMA front recently. The ICMA will have a Non-CEO Vice President slot open for the Midwest … Read More

By James Wickman, ICMA-CM At its September 21 meeting, the ICMA Executive Board voted to publicly censure Brian Kischnick, former city manager of Troy, and permanently bar … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury I was fortunate enough to attend the National Advisory Committee for the ICMA Coaching Program during the ICMA Convention in Baltimore. We had … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury The Professional Development Committee is busily reviewing the feedback from the Summer Workshop in Charlevoix. Thank you to all who turned in your … Read More

By James Wickman On behalf of the Ethics Committee, I recently posted a message about this topic to the listserv and spoke about it at the … Read More

By Pat Sullivan Municipal Executive Job Description: Do the Right Thing Other Duties as Assigned Those of us who attended the MME Summer Workshop in Charlevoix … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury It is hard to believe that summer is almost over. It was wonderful to see so many of you in Charlevoix for the … Read More

By Julia Sturvist The MME Summer Workshop was the first local government conference I have had the pleasure of attending. As I was reading over the … Read More

By James Krizan We need to be honest with ourselves. Our industry is facing a crisis. No, I’m not talking about the ever-changing demands from our … Read More

By Patrick Sullivan I always knew that our members give a lot to our organization. They are passionate about supporting our profession.  You see it at … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury The Summer Workshop Planning Committee has been hard at work putting together an informative and fun conference experience entitled “Building Better Communities.”  Rooms … Read More

By James Wickman, ICMA-CM This is not a lecture about irrelevant posts, bad jokes, or other etiquette. I will let others carry that crusade. The MME … Read More

By Patrick Sullivan “He had an idea to build a city out of a desert stopover for G.I.s on the way to the west coast. That … Read More

By Rebecca Fleury Have you ever had an issue either – personal or professional -that you could use a little help with? Perhaps this issue goes … Read More

By James Wickman MME has continued to take proactive steps to protect the professionalism and ethics of our members and their communities. Significant procedures were put … Read More

By Patrick Sullivan I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels overwhelmed when I go home at the end of the day and scan the … Read More

By Keith Van Beek Someone asked me recently how the year went being President of MME. Great question!  I think I gave an adequate response: “Busier … Read More

By Christian Wuerth 2017 was the first full year in which the Professional Development Committee (PDC) took the lead on planning the Winter Institute and Summer Workshop. A … Read More

By Keith Van Beek A few recent “duties” as MME president have provided me with some good topics to write about in this blog. Hopefully you … Read More

Several MME members attended the recent 2017 ICMA Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas and shared their thoughts on the experience. Attending the ICMA Annual Conference … Read More

By Adam Smith MME recently teamed up with MML and ICMA to put on a workshop in Holland at the Michigan Municipal League’s annual Convention focusing … Read More

By Patrick Sullivan As we prepare for 2018, the MME Board of Directors finds it necessary to make some changes in order to get our budget … Read More

By Oliver Turner As members of the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME), we understand that our actions as local government professionals not only have the power to … Read More

Traditionally, we have maintained an Interim Manager List on the Michigan Municipal League website. Recently, that list has been moved to the Michigan Municipal Executives website. … Read More

By Keith Van Beek Several years ago, at a family gathering, I was referred to as the “Black Sheep” of the family. While many of you … Read More

By Christian Wuerth The Summer Workshop in Muskegon represented the second MME professional development event to fall under the jurisdiction of the Professional Development Committee. With … Read More

By Keith Van Beek It is over 90 degrees in Holland as I write this article, and it makes me thankful that I have a pool … Read More

By Victor Cardenas 2017 ICMA Annual Conference San Antonio/Bexar County, Texas Oct. 22-25 It’s that time of year that all of us manager types begin to … Read More

By Adam Smith The MME Advocacy Committee has created and released its first edition of our MME electronic “rack card” to be used for the public … Read More

By Keith Van Beek Spring has taken on a new urgency in my home this year. Some of you will likely recall the expanded “To Do … Read More

By Christian Wuerth The Professional Development Committee has been hard at work on a number of initiatives in recent months. Read on to learn about some … Read More

By Victor Cardenas Many of us look forward to the annual professional development opportunities that occur throughout the year, such as MME’s Winter Institute, Summer Workshop, … Read More

By Russ Taylor On March 24, Grand Valley State University held a Career Fair, which was well represented by MME members Vester Davis, Kathie Grinzinger, and … Read More

By Keith Van Beek Sitting at my desk on Valentine’s Day reflecting back on the past several weeks, I can’t help but feel proud of our … Read More

By Christian Wuerth   It was great to see so many colleagues in Kalamazoo at this year’s Winter Institute – we ended up with 211 registered … Read More

By Aaron Desentz We all currently serve in an ever-changing and evolving world. This year, the MME Fellowship Program has made some changes in order to … Read More

By Matt Bach The Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) membership selected their new board and officers during its annual Winter Institute that took place earlier this month … Read More

With the generous support of ICMA-RC, the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) is offering a scholarship for an emerging county professional to attend the 2017 … Read More

According to the ICMA, the ICMA Code of Ethics was first adopted in 1924 and defined the principles that today serve as the foundation for the … Read More

Hello Fellow Michigan Municipal Executives,I have been asked to prepare this blog post for our new and improved association website. My first response was “I have … Read More

One of our fellow Michigan Municipal Executives took the wise and proactive step of reaching out to the MME Ethics Committee with uncertainties about a scenario … Read More

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the ICMA Annual Conference in Kansas City, MO through funds provided by Michigan Municipal Executives Professional Development Scholarship. The … Read More

Thanks to a MLGMA Professional Development Scholarship, I was able to attend the Small Town and Rural Development Conference held at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan … Read More

As reported on previously, ICMA is working on a number of important matters to serve our profession. Two significant matters are the ICMA’s Strategic Planning Update … Read More

Wow, the last few months have flown by and it has been a very busy time beginning my year as president of the Michigan Local Government … Read More

I would like to take this opportunity to discuss an annual program that benefits our communities as well as the next generation of city managers. Every … Read More

With the New Year here, it’s time we get a new blog post up. Originally, I was planning to write about New Year’s resolutions, but our … Read More

As the CEO and leader of your organization, one of your largest responsibilities is building and developing your staff. The needs and desires of the workforce … Read More

It’s nap time in the Geinzer household and I have the opportunity to reflect back on a great week in Boyne. Professional and personal development is … Read More

I am pleased to announce that the MLGMA Board of Directors has recently approved a contract with Phire Consulting Group to embark upon a comprehensive communication … Read More

As I write my latest blog post, I am preparing for the upcoming April meeting of the MLGMA Board of Directors. The board has a very … Read More

As part of my last blog post, I briefly discussed the MLGMA Board of Directors 2015 initiative to review the “State of the Profession”. It is … Read More

As I write my first blog as president of the Michigan Local Government Management Association (MLGMA), I would like to sincerely thank the membership for your … Read More

As I stated in my first blog on the MLGMA web page, I am really looking forward to what other city managers are doing, what their … Read More

Ah yes, Michigan has all the seasons: Winter, Spring Summer and Fall. But don’t forget about Construction Season, Hunting Season, and the oh so fun Budget … Read More

Talk about pressure, how about being asked to pen (OK, type) the first blog to the MLGMA refreshed, new and improved web page. That’s pressure. You … Read More