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ICMA – YSEALI Professional Fellows Program

ICMA has been implementing the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program for the past 10 years, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State. It is a professional development exchange program that provides selected participants from Southeast Asia aged 25-35 the opportunity to spend 5.5 weeks in the United States. This includes 4 weeks working directly with American counterparts in individually tailored placements with non-profit organizations, state and local government, and private-sector offices across the country. ICMA brings participants from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam to expand their technical expertise, leadership skills, and professional networks in environmental sustainability. Attached is a flyer that provides an overview of the program. ICMA as a sub to the American Councils for International Education is responsible for placing Fellows in the Sustainable Development and Environment theme. All transportation, housing and meals are covered by ICMA.

 

If you are interested in hosting or would like to learn more, please contact Laura Hagg,lhagg@icma.org or Alaina Mendoza, amendoza@icma.org.

 

2024 Annual Conference Highlights

The 2024 OCMA Conference, held for the first time at the Hilton at Easton Town Center, was a huge success thanks to the efforts of so many people within OCMA who helped to plan and participated in the event.  The conference had record attendance, with more than 70 first-time attendees, and more than 230 colleagues in local government in Ohio at the conference.    

Wednesday kicked off with an excellent mobile workshop where Megan Meyer gave us a tour of two brownfield redevelopments in Whitehall and attendees heard a presentation about the renovation of the East Market, a former trolley barn complex in Columbus.  Discussion of a stackable, pre-fabricated housing units being manufactured by Connect Housing Blocks that will be assembled across the street from the East Market this summer left participants wanting to come back and see the construction of the nearby residential project. Seeing all of these redevelopment projects first-hand was a reminder of what can be achieved with creative approaches to problem solving, public-private partnerships, and the use of placemaking.  

Yaromir Steiner gave an exceptional General Session presentation on his work with mixed-use developments, specifically highlighting his work in developing Easton Town Center. The value of placemaking, and the intentional design of “negative spaces” that serve as public gathering spots was a reminder for us about the importance of public spaces in our own communities.  

I was also happy that the conference introduced a number of new social events for conference attendees.  Our restaurant romp was a “sold out” event that brought together members from around the State. The Board heard great feedback about this new event, and we will be excited to bring it back in 2025.  

On Thursday, Sheryl Sculley, author of Greedy Bastards and retired City Manager of San Antonio, Texas, gave an unforgettable keynote address on courageous leadership in the midst of a volatile political environment in San Antonio, Texas. It was incredible to hear her story firsthand and consider how we can apply what she learned in our professional lives. We closed Thursday with a General Session from Valerie Lemmie, Senior Advisor for State and Local Government at the Kettering Foundation and retired City Manager, on Achieving Effective Community Leadership. Her discussion about ways that local governments can strengthening democratic principles and further equity in our communities was timely and thought provoking.

On our final day of the conference, I updated members on the strategic planning work that OCMA has done, and provided updates on how the association has been growing membership. Amber Holloway, current Vice President and City Manager for the City of West Carrollton will assume the Presidency of OCMA in July. Amber shared remarks on Friday morning and gave two calls to action: 

First, she urged members to consider serving on a OCMA committee. We need a broad array of voices to shape the future of our organization. The Board can’t do this work without the help and support of our excellent Committees, and this is a great way to get more involved. 

Second, if you can’t volunteer time on a committee, please consider sharing your feedback on the conference and the organization by taking our brief survey (emailed to all conference attendees) or submitting feedback on our website. 

After our opening session, conference attendees participated in strategic planning working groups, heard a general session presentation on the Practice of Government Management from Dr. John Bartle, University of Nebraska, Omaha, and had the opportunity to engage in a professional development workshop on Authentic Leadership and Teambuilding in High-Pressure Environments given by Dr. Don Stenta, Ohio State University.

I want to recognize and thank everyone who made this year’s annual conference such a special event.  The work of the conference planning committee headed by Daryl Hennessey, Karen Graves, Megan Meyer, and Jennifer Teal, and with critical support from Megan Hastings and Sandra Miller from Ohio State, made this conferences one of the best ever. I also want to recognize and thank all of OCMA’s members for your service in communities across Ohio.   It has been an honor to serve as President of OCMA, and I believe that the growth that OCMA has seen over the past year sets the stage for many great years moving forward.  

Dan Ralley

President, OCMA 

Ken Wilson to Join OCMA Board

At OCMA’s 2024 Annual Conference the new slate of board members was announced for 2024-2025. Board members are voted on by the membership, and starting July 1, 2024 the new OCMA Board will be as follows:

  • President, Amber Holloway, City Manager of West Carrollton
  • Vice President, Dan Wendt, City Manager of Vandalia
  • Bryan Heck, City Manager of Springfield
  • Jeff Weckbach, Township Administrator for Colerain Township and ICMA Midwest Vice-President
  • Ken Wilson, Franklin County Administrator
  • Immediate Past President, Dan Ralley, Assistant City Manager in Hilliard.
  • Treasurer, Mark Schwieterman, Retired City Manager Kettering

Ken Wilson, who has served as Franklin County Administrator since 2015, will join the OCMA Board in July. Ken previously served as the President of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. He has served as the Chair of OCMA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee since 2022, and previously served as the Co-Chair of the Membership Services Committee. Ken was also instrumental in helping to plan for ICMA’s 2022 Annual Conference in Columbus.

    OCMA Annual Award Winners Announced

    The OCMA Annual Awards recognize fellow local government colleagues who are exceptional in promoting excellence in local government.  Nominations are made by professionals in local government toward projects and individuals that go above and beyond for their respective communities.  At the 2024 OCMA Annual Conference eight award winners were recognized for their career and project achievements to promote excellence in local government.

    Sheryl Sculley Speaks to OCMA About “Greedy Bastards”

    Sheryl Sculley, the former City Manager of San Antonio, delivered the keynote address at the 2024 Annual Conference. Sculley, who has navigated through the complexities of city management for over three decades, shared her insights and experiences, drawing largely from her book, Greedy Bastards.

    Sculley’s tenure as a City Manager in San Antonio was a challenge from almost day one.   In her first week she was presented with a list of 300 employees who were being recommended for termination for inappropriate use of a computer despite strong administrative policies or adequate controls on the computers.   

    Sculley’s data driven stand against unsustainable collective bargaining agreements forms the central theme in her book and was the highlight of her speech at the OCMA Conference.  San Antonio faced long-term fiscal challenges due to the expense of police and fire agreements that the City had with its bargaining units.   Extremely high health care costs, and overly-generous education and legal benefits were offered as examples.    In her address to the OCMA, Sculley recounted the difficult decisions she had to make, emphasizing the need for courageous leadership and innovative management strategies to ensure the long-term health of city finances.

    Westerville, Harlem Township Announce Merger

    The City of Westerville and Harlem Township have announced their intent to merge in order to help maintain residents’ high quality of life at a time of significant change and growth in the area. A merger is proposed to help preserve both communities’ proud histories and give residents more power to control future development in a way that best serves their interests, not just developers or other city governments.

    “Harlem Township is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, but that is at risk in today’s environment due to growing development pressure. Through the work done by the Harlem Township Strategic Planning Committee over the last two years, it has become clear that a strong strategic partner is required in order to preserve the quality of life our residents expect,” said Carl Richison, Harlem Township Trustee. “The threat of annexation and access to future utility capacities continue to be  challenges. The risk is that land for farms and families becomes a warehouse. Ohio law doesn’t give townships the power to prevent it. Only cities can do that, which is why the committee has recommended that the Harlem Township Trustees move forward with an intent to merge with Westerville. Westerville has always been a good partner so when we went looking for a strategic partner they quickly rose to the top.”

    “Westerville is the best place to live and work in Central Ohio because of our sense of community and careful planning. Partnering with Harlem Township would give us both the tools we need to better manage the development around us and the power to take control of our future instead of having it taken from us. There are still factors to consider but the upside for both communities looks significant,” said Monica Dupee, Westerville City Manager.

    Ohio law provides multiple ways for local governments to merge, even if their borders do not touch, as long as their councils and voters approve. The unprecedented growth that Central Ohio has seen in recent years–and which will only continue–means communities must be increasingly thoughtful about planning for future traffic, water and sewer, police and fire, recreation and other needs if they want to preserve their residents’ high quality of life.

    Both Harlem and Westerville have a long history of thoughtful community planning that has produced two of the most desirable places to live and work in the region. Preserving that quality of life for current and future generations is the goal of both communities’ leaders.

    “Westerville and Harlem have a lot of the same concerns and interests. It makes sense that we see how we can work together to protect our residents’ quality of life. Our initial conversations have been informative and useful for everyone, and we look forward to seeing where they lead,” said Richison.

    “Westerville knows we must take an active role in helping manage the growth we are seeing all around us or we risk being rolled over by it,” said Dupee.“Our community has a long history of getting ahead of challenges and Harlem Township shares many of the same concerns we have about unrestrained growth. Our conversations with township leaders show great promise for how we can leverage growth for Westerville and protect our quality of life, and it’s time to take our conversation to the next level.”

    The merger will not impact either communities’ schools, since those are controlled by separate, independent school boards with their own borders, revenue and elected leaders. Other issues such as police and fire, parks and other city services will be thoroughly discussed and explored between the Westerville and Harlem Township leaders to see if a merger would be a benefit to residents. A formal merger agreement would have to be approved by each community by August in order to be submitted to voters for the November general election.

    OCMA Welcomes Twenty Five New Members in December and January

    OCMA is pleased to welcome twenty five new members who recently joined the Association in December and January. During the first half of 2024, new members are able to join OCMA at half price by using discount code NEWMEMBER2024. Please consider personally inviting people in your organization to join OCMA. Your personal invitation is a meaningful way to encourage new people to join OCMA and further our mission to promote excellence in local government management in Ohio.

    • Johnnie Burns: Yellow Springs
    • Reena Murphy: Oxford
    • Austin Hutchison: Veolia North America, City of Englewood Project
    • Jeremy Hoyt: Marysville
    • Pat Turnbull: Centerville
    • Brian Gay: Cincinnati
    • Tonia Smith: Cincinnati
    • Joseph Laborie: Ohio State
    • Jack Kuntz: Clayton
    • Dan Millsap: Louisville
    • David Kennedy: Loveland
    • Hayley Banerjee: Cincinnati
    • John McCafferty: Cincinnati
    • Jeremiyah Hairston: Cincinnati
    • Jeff McElravy: Colerain Township
    • Donald Hutton: Beavercreek
    • Quincy Pope: Trotwood
    • Jeff Wright: Hamilton Township
    • Mallory Sribanditmongkol: Powell
    • Tiffany Justice: Louisville
    • Jill Allen, Springfield
    • Monica Jones-Schortgen: Springfield
    • Taylor Franco: MORPC/Ohio State
    • Jung-Han Chen: Village of Hebron
    • Katie Eviston: Springfield
    • Anthony J. Covington: Miamisburg

    2024 OCMA Call for Internships

    On behalf of the Leadership Development Committee, we are reaching out with an exciting opportunity to elevate internship programs within our member cities and counties.

    As you know, fostering and attracting young talent is crucial for the future of local government. Internships play a vital role in this process, offering hands-on experience and nurturing the next generation of public servants. To build a robust pipeline of future leaders, we’re creating a comprehensive list of internship opportunities across OCMA. By sharing your openings, you’ll gain access to a wider pool of qualified candidates.

    To add your postings:

    • Visit https://www.ocmaohio.org/login/ and log in to your OCMA account.
    • Post your internship opening just like you would share a full-time position but select “internship” in the drop-down menu under “Job Type”.
    • Make sure you put a deadline to fill the position so we can keep our list current.
    • Link to the actual posting on your website so candidates know how to apply!

    Thank you for your commitment to building this valuable resource. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions at ocmaohio@gmail.com. 

    OCMA Updates Strategic Roadmap: Member Feedback Needed

    This fall, members of the OCMA Board and Committee Chairs met to update OCMA’s 2017 Strategic Plan with assistance from staff at The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs. The historical origin of OCMA belies the fact that, today, professionalism in local government in Ohio is happening in a variety of governmental forms, by government employees who hold a range of titles, and by persons that are coming from a wider range of professional backgrounds than ever before. 

    Based on the first two strategic planning sessions, the Glenn College Project Team translated priorities identified by the OCMA Strategic Planning team into the following proposed goals and objectives: 

    1. Grow membership by making membership as inclusive as possible.
    2. Expand professional development opportunities for members at all career stages.   
    3. Support of the profession by promoting professional local government in Ohio. 

    1.  

    OCMA Welcomes New Members in November

    OCMA is pleased to welcome fifteen new members who recently joined the Association. Thru the end of year, new members are able to join OCMA for free by using discount code NEWMEMBER2023. Please consider personally inviting people in your organization to join OCMA. Your personal invitation is a meaningful way to encourage new people to join OCMA and further our mission to promote excellence in local government management in Ohio.

    • Stephanie Kellum: Trotwood
    • Eric Meyer: Reynoldsburg
    • Angela Wasson: Monroe
    • Rob Cron: Vandalia
    • Markus Perry: Fairborn
    • Chad Edwards: East Palestine
    • Chris Zimmer: Upper Arlington
    • Clayton Wukich: Cleveland State University
    • Kathleen Sullivan: Painesville
    • Breanne Parcels: Logan County
    • P.J. Ginny: Deerfield Township
    • Eric Mack: Tipp City
    • Peter Kobak: Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement
    • Jesse Kosegi: Wintersville
    • Javarious Jackson, Cincinnati