As the conference season continued this fall and I celebrated another birthday, two upcoming conferences struck home: the Municipal Management Associations of Southern and Northern California’s Annual Conferences. Why? The fountain of youth.
MMASC and MMANC conferences are heavily populated by 20 and 30-somethings on a director level or city manager career track. Seasoned staff round out this mix of professionals, giving these conferences a unique intergenerational tone. The mix of voices offer a creative take on solutions to the challenges and issues our cities face. Plus, hanging out with early-career folks is always a joy. I have the opportunity to offer advice and wisdom as the “old guy” in the room.
I will finish these conferences feeling refreshed and confident about the future of city leadership. These professionals are motivated to make an impact in their communities and quick to adopt fresh ideas and approaches. They are aspirational, energetic, innovative and hardworking.
Many will be attending with the support of their mentors: experienced professionals who enable their staff to attend the conferences and openly share their wisdom. The speed coaching sessions are a key highlight.
Yosemite and Indian Wells will be the hotspots for the future of public service leaders in California. I look forward to bringing along members of the Tripepi Smith team to connect with old friends and make new ones. Together, we are all going places.
Onward,