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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 Podcast Episode Twenty-One

    ILCMA Local Gov Stories Podcast Episode Twenty-One
    Jan 20 2026

    THE LATEST LOCAL GOV STORIES PODCAST IS OUT! Hosts @MelanieSantostefano and @DannyLangloss talk with the City of Arcola’s first-ever Administrator, @BillWagoner – who’ll share the many unique attractions in Arcola, along with his plan already in the works to increase partnerships, support business growth and build a stronger community. Plus, Winter Conference keynote @CourtneyClark joins the conversation with a powerful preview on how she believes we can all navigate change more effectively, by learning to adapt, grow, and thrive - in both our work, and our lives.

    Do you have a “Local Gov” story to share? Email ilcma@niu.edu and be a part of the podcast!

    #ILCMAProud #LocalGovStories #LocalGovernmentLeaders #PublicService #ILCMA
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    31 mins
  • ILCMA Local Gov Stories Episode Nineteen

    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

    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
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