We asked several members of the ICMA Executive Board to tell us what their service means to them:

Jeff Towery, ICMA-CM

West Coast Regional Vice President, 2014–2017; ICMA President-Elect, 2021-2022; ICMA President, 2022–2023

“My interest in ICMA Executive Board service evolved out of encouragement from other members, particularly former vice presidents, and in recognition that I had the opportunity to pay back ICMA for the support and experience I have gained through membership over the course of my career. The benefit of that service, for me, was how much more I learned about our profession and ways to address the challenges we all face. Unexpectedly and most valuable are the close connections that I have made with other board members, some of whom are now dear friends and chosen family. I would encourage all members to consider board service at some point in their career.”

Molly Mehner, ICMA-CM

Midwest Regional Vice President, 2019–2022; Chair, Committee on Professional Conduct, 2021–2022

“Several aspects of serving on the ICMA Executive Board are incredibly rewarding. But serving as chair of the Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC) has been the most rewarding experience of my ICMA board service. The Code of Ethics is the foundation of professional local government management. By serving on the CPC, my colleagues and I ensure that foundation remains intact, relevant to our profession, and provides our members with a framework to guide their daily decisions. This is an incredible privilege and responsibility. In instances where a member is alleged to violate the code, the CPC thoroughly reviews the case and determines what sanction, if any, is most appropriate. Before you find yourself in an ethical quagmire, remember a significant benefit to members is the ability to seek ethics advice on any matter large or small. The ICMA ethics staff provides an amazing service to members by providing ethics advice on countless topics. When in doubt, please reach out.

In addition to reviewing several ethics cases each month, the CPC continuously reviews the Code to ensure the tenets and guidelines remain relevant to our members and the profession. Ensuring the language in the Code reflects the values of the profession has been a long-standing priority of ICMA with numerous revision efforts since the Code’s adoption in 1924. The CPC’s most recent charge has been to revisit the Code of Ethics to better integrate our ethical commitment to racial justice and equity into the very fiber of the 12 tenets. It has been a long, complex, and sometimes difficult task considering the numerous viewpoints on the subject. This process will continue beyond my board service, but I have appreciated the opportunity to work on this initiative and talk with so many members over the past year in virtual feedback sessions, at the conference in Portland, and at regional and state meetings. Several members have also engaged via emails and phone calls—all of which are welcomed and appreciated.

ICMA Executive Board service is a remarkable experience, but my time spent on the CPC, and the privilege of serving as chair this last year, will remain the highlight of my service to ICMA and its members. I encourage anyone who is interested in board service to reach out to a current or former vice president to talk with them about what the commitment means.”

Michael Kaigler, ICMA-CM

Southeast Regional Vice President, 2019–2022; Membership and External Outreach Committee

“ICMA has been a valuable asset to me during my career, and serving on the ICMA Executive Board has been one of the highlights of my career. It has given me the opportunity to support the profession and give back some of what has been provided to me through membership in the organization. ICMA has dedicated and amazing staff members, which made working with them and the executive director very rewarding. Being able to help formulate and develop policies that help meet the needs of our membership in an ever-changing environment, has been an enriching experience.

My work on the Membership and External Outreach Committee has been unique and fulfilling. The most significant accomplishment during my time on the Board was working with the dues subcommittee to address the value of membership. One of the primary goals of the committee was to explore options that would add value to the ICMA membership and attract new members. The subcommittee worked with a consultant and solicited input from the membership, both past and present. As a result, it was determined that one of the primary barriers was the cost associated with membership. This is a bigger issue for individuals from smaller jurisdictions due to the impact on their budget. A key focus of this change was to make membership more affordable for individuals in smaller jurisdictions who may not have access to the resources to deal with today’s complicated issues, and need the resources of ICMA the most. This marked the first time in the history of the organization where the cost of membership was lowered. I am most proud of the work we accomplished to address the value of membership through the dues process.”

Terry Tieman, ICMA-CM

Northeast Regional Vice President, 2019–2022; Chair, Membership and External Outreach Committee, 2021–2022

“Three years ago, I was elected as Delaware’s first ICMA board member. What an honor it has been serving on the board, being a member of the Membership and External Outreach Committee (MEOC) and this year serving as its chair. ICMA exists because of its membership and working on this committee has been an incredible experience.

ICMA provides its members opportunities for personal and professional change. There are a range of leadership programs for career level, and we are working to enhance those programs. Currently we are exploring an expanded credentialing program to include all members of our organization from entry level to CAO. Membership in ICMA provides connectivity to others in our profession through ICMA Connect—a valuable idea exchange for learning how other members are handling projects, challenges, and everyday situations.

There have been many rewarding moments over the last three years, but two of the most meaningful to me this past year as chair were (1) recommending approval of a new member guide, The Member’s Guide to a Career That Has Ups, Downs, and Detours: An ICMA Member In Transition Guide, and (2) reviewing and nominating members for the ICMA Distinguished Service Award and ICMA Honorary Membership.

One of the things members don’t often discuss is the fact that managers can face termination at almost any time. It could happen to you, and it did happen to me this past year. ICMA supports members who find themselves without employment or who know that termination may be coming. I am proud to be able to say that the MEOC recently reviewed and forwarded to the ICMA Board a series of recommendations and new publication for members in transition. This guide was prepared by a member task force and offers guidance on how to navigate this transition. I highly recommend it for any member in transition but also for any member who wants to be aware of the warning signs of potential termination, take preventive measures, and become prepared to navigate termination. ICMA also provides personal support, benefits, and resources for our members in transition.

For me, the most rewarding parts of being on the MEOC is annually reviewing nominations and recommending members for the ICMA Distinguished Service Award and ICMA Honorary Membership. The ICMA Distinguished Service Award recognizes managers whose service to his or her community or communities have been judged by their peers as strong or exceptional, and who has made major contributions beyond direct service to local government. ICMA Honorary Membership is awarded to individuals who made a considerable impact to the improvement of local government and local government management or to the public’s understanding and appreciation of responsive and well-managed local government. I was always humbled to be judging the submissions of these great professionals. These individuals make me proud to serve in this profession and encourage me to contribute more to the profession. Anyone can serve on the board, and I encourage you all to give back to our profession by doing so. You will only find it rewarding.”