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Local Gov Stories from ILCMA

Local Gov Stories from ILCMA

Written by: Illinois City/County Management Association
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About this listen

The official podcast from the Illinois City/County Management Association (ILCMA). Discover the real, human stories behind Illinois' local governments. Hosts Melanie Santostefano, CEO of Vicarious Multimedia and Danny Langloss, City Manager of the City of Dixon, Illinois take you inside the lives of Illinois city, village, and county managers, exploring career journeys, daily challenges, leadership triumphs, and the critical work being done to serve every community. For anyone in public service or considering a career in local government: this is your inside look.

Tune in to hear candid conversations with leaders from across the state as they share:

  • The Career Path: Inspiring accounts of how professionals—from recent graduates to seasoned veterans—found their calling and advanced their careers in public service.
  • A Day in the Life: Unvarnished looks at the daily successes, critical decisions, and unique challenges faced by city, village, and county managers.
  • Lightening 5: Rapid-fire Q&A designed to capture a diverse range of insights from our guests. A powerful way to get maximum value from our local government leaders in a minimum amount of time. Get ready for quick answers, candid thoughts, and surprising takeaways!
  • Community & Connection: Previews of ILCMA conferences and professional development events, alongside discussions on how we are fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our communities.
  • The Next Generation: Learn about the vital work being done to mentor, engage, and recruit the local government leaders of tomorrow.

Don't just hear the news—hear the stories of the people dedicated to keeping Illinois communities running smoothly. Subscribe today!

Careers Economics Personal Success Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • ILCMA Local Gov Stories Episode Nineteen
    Nov 25 2025

    Join Local Gov Stories podcast hosts @Melanie Santostefano and @Danny Langloss for a special (under 15-minute!) Thanksgiving 🍂 + Winter Conference ❄️ preview edition!

    Get an inside look at some of the standout education sessions planned for the 2026 Winter Conference (Wednesday, February 11–Friday, February 13, 2026) and don’t miss Danny’s fast-paced interview with Conference Chair @Joe Carey, who shares his Top 5 Reasons to attend in the ⚡ Lightning 5 segment!

    🎧 Tune in for a quick, energizing, value-packed preview of what’s to come – and don’t forget – registration is open at https://www.ilcma.org/conferences/! ❄️🔥

    #ilcma #ilcmaproud #LocalGovStories #localgovernmentleaders #publicservice

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    13 mins
  • ILCMA Local Gov Stories Episode Eighteen
    Nov 11 2025

    The #Local Gov Stories podcast is back with some exciting guests and updates – hosted by Dixon City Manager @Danny Langloss and @Melanie Santostefano, President of Vicarious Multimedia.

    This episode’s guests include:

    @Seth Winterhalter, the President of Haltingwinter Municipal Solutions - and the opening keynote for our Winter Conference (February 11-13, Marriott in Normal) who will give us a glimpse of valuable takeaways he’ll provide through his presentation.

    @Cody Moake – Chief of Staff for the City of Marion who will talk about how his community is leveraging TIFs, revitalizing older areas of town and much more!

    Tune in now to watch or listen👉ilcma.org/local-gov-stories

    And…..if you’d like to share with us your ideas on topics for future episodes – email ilcma@niu.edu!

    #ilcma #ilcmaproud #LocalGovStories #localgovernmentleaders #publicservice

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    37 mins
  • ILCMA Local Gov Stories Episode Seventeen
    Oct 16 2025

    📢The next episode of the Local Gov Stories podcast is out with hosts @Melanie Santosetefano and @Danny Langloss!

    🌆 What happens when a community loses a major employer — but proactively develops a bold vision for the future (that is now in motion)?💡@Village of Schaumburg Village Manager @Brian Townsend shares how his community turned challenge into opportunity on more than 200 acres of land.

    ⚡ Then, meet @LaTisha Paslay, City Administrator for the @City of Vandalia, as she takes on our Lightning 5 — and answers five questions that reveal her passion for local government – with a few surprising facts about Vandalia you may not know!

    🎧 Stream the latest Local Gov Stories episode now or watch it on the ILCMA YouTube Channel (subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/@ILCMA to get notified of new episodes) – and get inspired by hearing stories from your colleagues around the state! Watch or listen 👉 ilcma.org/local-gov-stories

    #ilcma #ilcmaproud #LocalGovStories #localgovernmentleaders #publicservice

    Find ILCMA Merch at: https://ilcma2025.itemorder.com/

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    33 mins
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