The Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) is a career-development opportunity designed to attract recent MPA/MPP (or related programs) graduates to be placed in full-time, management track local government positions. Finalists are selected based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to public service, communication skills, initiative, creativity, and positive attitude. They then interview for 12-month fellowship appointments at local governments across the country, during which they receive direct mentorship from a senior government leader at the organization. (Appointments may be extended beyond the one-year term). This year, 28 fellows were selected and placed throughout the United States.

 

Audrey Ables| Pinellas County, Florida

Audrey graduated in May 2022 with an MPA from Auburn University. She believes that working within local government is a special opportunity because of the impacts it can make on a community. Audrey believes that with her local government knowledge and expertise, she is well-positioned to partner with citizens to improve their quality of life. Her hope is that by joining the LGMF program, she will develop the skills that will help her to one day be a city/county manager.

 

Curtis Brown | Franklin County, Ohio

A native of Charleston, West Virginia, Curtis completed his undergraduate degree in vocal and instrument music from Marshall University, and his MPA from Ohio University. He resides in Columbus, Ohio, and works at Franklin County. Curtis is looking forward to being a local government management fellow and learning about the many paths in local government, and how he can broaden his knowledge of local government. He would like to thank ICMA and Kenneth N. Wilson, Franklin County administrator, for the opportunity to serve as a fellow.

 

Kristin Broyhill  | Rancho Cucamonga, California

Kristin is from Nebraska, graduating from University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Ph.D. in public administration; her dissertation was entitled Housing, Trades, and Childcare: A Narrative Study of Economic Development in Rural Nebraska. Between degrees, she worked in K-12 schools, higher education, and with various NGOs in rural and/or indigenous economic development in Mexico, South Africa, and Namibia. Her experience working in economic development exposed her to the importance of local government, something that she is looking forward to learning more about while being a LGMF with Rancho Cucamonga's economic development office.

 

Josie Dolenz | Wichita, Kansas

Josie received a bachelor's degree in music theatre from Friends University. She spent a number of years in both the public and private sectors until returning to school to get her MPA from Wichita State. Throughout the program, she specialized in nonprofit governance and city management with the intent to move into a leadership role within the NPO on which she currently serves as a board member. She was surprised to be accepted into the city management fellowship and be given the opportunity to work with city officials to not only strengthen her skills but to become involved in real and, hopefully lasting, change for her community.

 

Joseph Fleming  | Pinellas County, Florida

A South Carolina native, Joseph earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Coastal Carolina University in 2015 and then received his MPA from Savannah State University. He became interested in local government after reflecting on members of the community that had an impact on his development and had an impactful experience at the Palmetto Boy's State encampment in 2010, which reinforced the obligation to make a difference in our communities. His favorite part of local government is serving. He loves working on issues that impact citizens and helps them resolve a concern. Joseph hopes to use this fellowship experience to broaden his network and enhance his portfolio. 

Joe Franco  | Tacoma, Washington

A Pacific Northwest native, Joe grew up in Renton, Washington, home to one of the world's largest IKEAs and the burial place of guitarist Jimi Hendrix. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in politics, philosophy, and economics and an MPA at Seattle University with a focus in government. He hopes to gain networking opportunities and new technical skills from the LGMF program. Joe has always had an interest in public service and is excited to get to make an impact on local government in Tacoma.

 

Kari Furrow | Sarasota County, Florida

A Virginia native, Kari has a bachelor of arts in business administration from the University of Lynchburg and an MPA and a master's of public health from Virginia Tech. She lives in Sarasota, Florida, where she serves as an ICMA fellow for Sarasota County. Excited for the opportunity and hoping to grow her local government skills and professional resume over the next year, her favorite part of local government is having an impact and making a difference in the community where she lives, works, and plays.

 

Madeline Goebel  | Dakota County, Minnesota

Madeline graduated from Drake University with a bachelor of arts in international relations and a minor in economics. She is pursuing a master of public policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota with a concentration in advanced policy analysis. Madeline grew up in Minnesota, and has spent the past nine years in Des Moines, Iowa, working for an international foundation. She is a fellow with the Office of the County Manager in Dakota County, Minnesota. Madeline knows the wide impact local government has on people's lives, so she has appreciated the opportunity to support the work the county is doing to serve its communities and looks forward to supporting that work over the next year.

 

Emily Hwang  | Hayward, California

Originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Emily is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, where she studied public policy and management. Her professional background is rooted in anti-poverty and anti-hunger initiatives. Initially focused on local food systems, she has broadened her interests and found that community needs are inherently intersectional. Emily looks forward to immersing herself in her new environment and building new connections with Hayward. 

 

Zack Kier   | Wake County, North Carolina

From Rochester, New York, Zack attended Canisius College where he received an undergraduate degree in political science and international relations. He attended UNC Charlotte for his MPA with a concentration in disaster management and currently works for Wake County as a fellow. He became interested in local government through his service in the National Guard when responding to a natural disaster and saw the work of state and local governments in disaster response. Zack hopes to gain a broader perspective of government operations and learn how to better serve the residents of Wake County through his fellowship.

 

Joshua Marcus  | Douglasville, Georgia

Joshua is from West Hartford, Connecticut, and holds a bachelor of science in film & television from Boston University and an MPA from the University of Connecticut. Joshua is excited to be working as a graduate fellow in Douglasville and hopes to learn the ins and outs of working in the city manager's office, as well as solidify his knowledge of local government. His favorite part of local government is when a plan comes together and he gets to see the results of his efforts.

Laura McCoy   | Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Laura graduated with an MPA from Florida International University last fall after obtaining a bachelor's in law business and society. As a Miami native, she commutes to Fort Lauderdale where she is one of two senior management fellows. Laura is able to exercise her passion for helping others and promoting a difference in the community she serves, which sparked her interest in a local government career. She plans to develop strong mentor relationships and networks through the LGMF program to expand her opportunities.

 

Liam McKissock   | Transylvania County, North Carolina

Liam got his undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill with a double major in political science and history, and his MPA from North Carolina State University. As a fellow working in his home county of Transylvania, Liam hopes to learn and grow from all the devoted people who are a part of LGMF program so that he can one day better serve the people of the county in which he resides. Looking to build a career in local government finance, Liam was inspired to pursue public service from his mother, who is a high school English teacher, and his father, an editor and writer for his small-town newspaper. 

 

Danielle Murray  | Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Danielle received a bachelor of arts in international relations from Florida International University and an MPA from Barry University. An ICMA senior management fellow in Fort Lauderdale, Danielle's interest in public service started in 2012 when she voluntarily enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. She hopes to continue expanding her knowledge in government to further her career and better serve the community.

 

Dustin Sigler    | Sedgwick County, Kansas

Dustin received a bachelor's degree in business finance and an MPA with certificates in public finance and economic development. He is hoping to learn about solutions to issues that other cities have developed related to homelessness, mental health, and crime reduction. Dustin is interested in local government because he wants to help be a part of steering his community in the right direction.

 

Gillian Straub    | Edina, Minnesota

Gillian graduated in 2019 from Creighton University thinking she wanted to work as a diplomat. After working at an embassy and in proxy advising, she realized local public service was a better fit for her. She enrolled in the University of Kansas' public administration program and interned for the city of Lawrence, Kansas. Gillian now works as an Edina fellow, and continues to get excited whenever she sees the results of public work in the community.

 

Fellows Not Pictured:
 

Joe Hertenstein | Dakota County, Minnesota

Langston Leake | Covington, Georgia

Ellen Massey | River Falls, Wisconsin

Christine Moore | Decatur, Georgia

Madelyn Orton | Wichita, Kansas

Abhishek Rai | Dubuque, Iowa

Myra Ray-Howlett  | Cambridge, Maryland

James Robinson  | Lexington, Massachusetts

Cathy Sims | Tacoma, Washington

Matthew Whitmoyer  | Occoquan, Virginia

 

Are you interested in being a fellow? Applications for the 2023-2024 Local Government Management Fellowship opened September 13, 2022. Get more information and apply. 

Are you interested in being a host community? Apply to host a fellow or email lgmfprogram@icma.org.