At Life, Well Run. we tend to believe that the best careers out there are in local government…but we also have to admit that the second best job – is bragging about those dedicated professionals who serve our communities.  Looking back on 2017 it’s easy to be inspired by, grateful towards, and hopeful for the critical and impactful role of local government.

This year we have been honored to showcase some incredible examples of local government leaders and leadership. Our Success Stories Map is steadily growing and we know there are endless more examples to add to this collection in 2018. Stories this year have shown the value of community engagement, local government response to extreme weather events, effective and efficient service delivery and creative ways to approach sensitive topics – like annexation. In all of these examples we see common threads – the value of professionally managed cities and counties, the importance of community engagement, and the impact of partnerships among a variety of stakeholders. Check out our 2017 Success Stories here:

• Citizen Engagement and Community Spirit Brings Goodlettsville Together
• Refreshing Leadership – Vermillion Takes the Plunge!
• City-County Partnership Restores Service – and Hope – to Municipal “Island”
• Spurred by Disaster, A Stormwater Relief Program Yields Lasting Impacts
• Community Driven Approach to Improved Waste Management
• Embracing the Arts and Community Voice – an Unexpected Path to Economic Development

We are so impressed and proud of the individuals recognized as part of our Community Heroes campaign. We recognized twice as many Heroes in 2017 than previous years and are so grateful not only for the inspiring dedication of these men and women – but that they allowed us a peek inside their day-to-day to create some fantastic videos! The 2017 Community Heroes represented individuals who have been in service to their communities for 20 years on average and who serve in roles as diverse as public works, youth services, eldercare, veterans services, administration and public safety!

There is also much to be hopeful and thankful for looking ahead to the Next Generation of Local Government Leaders. Our 2017 Student Photo Contest far exceeded our expectations – generating twice as many submissions as previous years and thus making it one of the most competitive challenges yet! We were so inspired by the passion for local government displayed not only in the images but in the accompanying descriptions that conveyed a clear understanding of the importance of a well-managed community.

The passion for local government service by Next Generation leaders was also shared through the Life, Well Run blog. We welcomed guest blogs from professionals early in their careers in local government as well as several students with a future local government career in their sights. It has been such an honor to get to follow these individuals career paths, learn more about their experiences in local government, and to see the difference that they are making.

As we look back on 2017 we are grateful for the opportunity to be in the cheering section for local government – to honor the service and contributions of so many local government professional managers and their teams – and to welcome and encourage the future leaders that are coming – equipped, passionate, and determined to carry this work forward. We can’t wait for 2018!!