02/16/2026
This week I had the privilege of working with Freddie Broom and municipal leaders from across Georgia.
My assignment was to challenge how they see themselves in their roles — not just administrators, but system builders.
We walked through what I call the architecture of a municipality:
The foundation is leadership behavior and internal culture.
The structure is small business growth and workforce pipelines.
The tools are capital — NMTCs, public/private investment, CDFIs, and housing development.
The roof is ex*****on — decisions and measurable outcomes.
When these parts are disconnected, communities stagnate.
When they align, economic vibrancy becomes normal.
We studied census data and household economics to determine priorities.
We distinguished community development from economic development — and located the intersection where quality of life improves.
Freddie also introduced me to PEST analysis to complement leadership SWOT — now part of my CSE training toolkit.
And one truth became clear:
Leadership isn’t passion alone.
It’s structured thinking, accountability, and responsible capital deployment.
Public service is infrastructure work.
Grateful for the opportunity to serve and continue learning. Georgia Municipal Association