Professional Development Committee Update

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 Marquette. This year’s agenda is packed with valuable sessions, networking opportunities, and insightful discussions tailored to enhance your skills and knowledge as municipal executives.

Below is a glimpse of what to expect. The PDC looks forward to seeing you in Marquette!

Tuesday, July 16

  • • 1:00 p.m.: Golf Outing at Northern Michigan University Golf Course (additional fee; pre-registration required)

Wednesday, July 17

  • 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.: Executive Coaching Sessions with April M. Lynch (pre-registration required)
  • 9:15–10:15 a.m.: Opening General Session: Navigating Shifting Policies in Local Government
    • Speakers: John Shay, Keith Van Beek, and Patrick Waterman
  • 10:45–11:45 a.m.: Breakout Sessions
    • Achieving New Heights: A Tale of Two Cities
    • City Management Ethics Challenge: Scenario-Based Conversations
    • No Community Left Behind: the MMSA’s IT Collaborative Program
    • Common Grounds: Local City Government and Indigenous Tribal Nations
  • 1:15–2:15 p.m.: Afternoon General Session: AI in Local Government
    • Speaker: Ashley Higginson
  • 2:45–3:45 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
    • Leading Technology Change and Getting Staff on Board
    • Coastal Resiliency Planning and Implementation
    • Fostering Community Awareness and Community Growth as Professional Managers
  • 5:00–7:00 p.m.: Welcome Reception at Marquette Commons (pre-registration required)

Thursday, July 18

  • 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.: Executive Coaching Sessions with April M. Lynch (pre-registration required)
  • 9:00–9:15 a.m.: Opening Remarks & ICMA Update
  • 9:15–10:15 a.m.: Morning General Session: Nurturing Complete Personal Wellness
    • Speakers: Mitchell Foster, Nate Geinzer, Sarah Santiago, and Dawn Lundin
  • • 10:45–11:45 a.m.: Breakout Sessions
    • First Do No Harm: The Intersection of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Wellness, and the Hippocratic Oath
    • Leveraging Brownfield TIF for Housing and Infrastructure
    • A Municipal Roadmap: Strategies to Support a Thriving Childcare Sector
    • Navigating Career Growth: Learnings from Harvard, Disney, and Leading Institutions
  • 12:45–1:45 p.m.: Afternoon General Session: Turning Customer Service Training on its Head
    • Speakers: Jill Bahm and Nate Geinzer
  • 2:15–3:45 p.m.: Education Tours (pre-registration required)
    • Innovate Marquette SmartZone Education Tour
    • Presque Isle Education Tour
    • Marquette Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Education Tour (additional fee)
    • The Honorable Distillery Education Tour (additional fee)
  • 4:15–5:45 p.m.: Vendor Reception (pre-registration required)
  • 6:00 p.m.: Early Career Outreach Dinner at The Delft Bistro (pre-registration required)

Friday, July 19

  • 9:05–10:05 a.m.: Closing General Session: Managing Technology for Non-Technical Managers
    • Speaker: Daniel Eggleston, founder of IT Right

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow municipal executives, gain new insight, and develop strategies to tackle the challenges facing our communities. Don’t miss out on this enriching experience!

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors for their generous support and contributions to the Michigan Municipal Executives Summer Workshop Conference. Your partnership and commitment enable us to provide an enriching and impactful experience for all attendees. Your support is instrumental in fostering professional development and collaboration among municipal executives across Michigan.

In Service,

Warren Rothe

Warren Rothe
Chair, Professional Development Committee
Assistant City Manager, Grosse Pointe Park

Warren Rothe began his career in municipal management as an intern with the City of Grand Ledge. He currently serves as the assistant city manager for Grosse Pointe Park, where he also directs the city’s Tax Increment Finance Authority. Prior to his current community, he served as the manager to both the Village of Lakeview and City of St. Clair. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public policy also from MSU. Significant policy interests include collective bargaining, economic development, and zoning. Warren is proud to serve on MME’s Professional Development Committee and believes continuing education is a critical component in becoming an effective public servant.