Sandra Tripp-Jones

Retired City Manager

Cambridge, Maryland

My advice is to develop collaboration skills—open communication and lots of it, be yourself and share your ideas openly, appreciate and tolerate others’ talents and styles of work, facilitate compromise as a practice, consistently deliver on your commitments, and be trustworthy. It starts between individuals and grows into opportunities to join exciting teams.

Dorchester County, Maryland, Manager Jeremy Goldman provided a helpful background when I applied to become the manager of Cambridge. At our first meeting after I was hired, he asked me: “Can I trust you?” Taken aback, I responded, most certainly, “Yes.”

It was no small question. He was asking if I would keep confidences; be open and “not hide the ball”; negotiate in good faith and be willing to compromise; be reliable in my commitments; and stand strong when our differences and those of elected officials might threaten to undermine our efforts.

Our first collaboration resulted in consolidation of dispatch services and tested our resolve to trust our intentions and our skills to deliver. Collaboration means the best kind of work.

Eric Campbell, ICMA-CM

City Manager

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Eric.Campbell@Harrisonburgva.gov

Local government management can be extremely challenging and gratifying, all at the same time. Because of this, it is important to determine a subject area that drives your passion and will allow you to develop other skills. These areas, for example, can include finance, human services, economic development, or some other area of interest.

Evaluate the size of community and organization you would prefer. Some people like large urban communities, while others may prefer midsize cities to small towns.

I also recommend you identify a trusted mentor to provide guidance as you navigate your career as well as develop a group of trusted advisers to offer perspectives as you face professional challenges.

Finally, at times the local government management profession can be overwhelming. Always remember to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Shelly Enderud, ICMA-CM

City Administrator

Post Falls, Idaho

senderud@postfallsidaho.org

First, my advice would be “Find your passion, follow it, and believe in yourself.” Spending every day doing something that you love will make even the hardest day seem easier.

Second, I would recommend finding a mentor with experience and influence. A mentor will help you navigate through your new career, provide the connections with people who will be critical to your career, be a shoulder to lean on, and assist you in building a long-term plan for your career.

Lastly, do your best to surround yourself with positive people you admire and strive to emulate them. This will help you achieve more and continue to raise your personal bar. You will also find that you will become someone whom others admire and strive to follow.