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The Clear Voice

The Clear Voice

Written by: Clear Career Professionals
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The Clear Voice is a local government leadership podcast produced by Clear Career Professionals. Each episode features candid conversations with city managers, police and fire chiefs, and public sector leaders about the realities of leading communities, managing growth, navigating council dynamics, and building strong organizational culture. For more information, visit www.clearcareerpro.com.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Careers Economics Personal Success Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • #41 - What Engineers Wish City Leaders Knew | Craig Kerkhoff

    #41 - What Engineers Wish City Leaders Knew | Craig Kerkhoff
    Feb 3 2026

    Infrastructure problems rarely start the day a pipe breaks or a road fails. Most begin years earlier with decisions cities did not realize carried long term consequences.

    In this episode of The Clear Voice, Host James Groom and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese sit down with municipal engineer Craig Kerkhoff, Managing Partner at BHC, to discuss the infrastructure realities city leaders face but often cannot see coming.

    Craig explains what engineers regularly encounter once construction begins, hidden system deficiencies, aging infrastructure that was never mapped or evaluated, and the difficult conversations that follow when unexpected costs appear. The discussion covers growth pressure in smaller cities, why master planning matters, how political decision making intersects with engineering recommendations, and the truth about grants versus long term funding strategy.

    City managers, elected officials, and department leaders will gain insight into how infrastructure planning affects public safety, taxpayer dollars, and a community’s long term stability. This episode offers a practical look at what happens behind the scenes of roads, water systems, and utilities, and why proactive leadership matters long before something fails.

    About Craig Kerkhoff Craig Kerkhoff is the Managing Partner at BHC, an engineering firm serving municipalities across Texas. With more than 20 years of experience in municipal engineering, Craig works with cities to plan, design, and deliver infrastructure that supports long term community success.

    🌐 BHC Website: https://www.bhcllp.com 📧 Craig Kerkhoff: https://clearcareerpro.com

    Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

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    Listen and Subscribe: Subscribe to The Clear Voice wherever you get your podcasts to receive future episodes.

    Production Credit: Produced by Clear Career Professionals
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    36 mins
  • #40 - Odessa, Texas CFO Opportunity PositionCast™

    #40 - Odessa, Texas CFO Opportunity PositionCast™
    Jan 29 2026

    What does it take to lead municipal finance in one of the most economically dynamic regions in the United States?

    In this PositionCast™, James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice, is joined by Kelly Kuenstler, Vice President with Clear Career Professionals, and Aaron Smith, City Manager of Odessa, Texas, to discuss the Chief Financial Officer opportunity with the City of Odessa. This conversation goes beyond a job posting and gives candidates a direct look at executive leadership expectations, organizational direction, and the financial complexity facing Odessa’s next CFO.

    Odessa operates in the heart of the Permian Basin, where oil and gas economic cycles influence municipal revenue, forecasting, and long term financial strategy. The CFO will oversee a 300 million dollar plus municipal budget environment, enterprise operations, financial planning, internal controls, debt management, audits, grants administration, and serve as a principal financial advisor to the City Manager and City Council. The role combines technical municipal finance expertise with executive level strategic leadership.

    Aaron Smith shares his servant leadership philosophy, discusses rebuilding organizational stability, strengthening council and staff trust, expanding grant capacity, and positioning Odessa to become a benchmark community for municipal finance best practices. Kelly Kuenstler provides insight into what the City is seeking in its next financial leader and how this role fits into Odessa’s broader executive team structure.

    Aaron also talks about quality of life in Odessa and West Texas, highlighting the strong sense of community, family friendly environment, and access to outdoor recreation. He mentions proximity to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Big Bend National Park, and destinations in New Mexico, making Odessa appealing for leaders who value both professional impact and lifestyle balance.

    Candidates will gain clarity on executive team dynamics, expectations for communication with council, support for professional development, and the opportunity to help shape financial operations during a period of growth and organizational renewal.

    This episode is designed for municipal finance leaders, finance directors, assistant city managers, city managers, and public sector executives seeking high impact leadership roles in local government.

    Learn more and apply for the Chief Financial Officer position here https://clearcareerpro.com/chief-financial-officer-odessa-texas/

    #ClearCareerProfessionals #TheClearVoice #PositionCast #MunicipalFinance #LocalGovernmentCareers #CityFinance #PublicSectorLeadership

    00:00 Introduction to the CFO Position in Odessa 04:09 Aaron Smith's Journey to City Manager 05:53 Understanding the CFO Role and Responsibilities 09:25 Current Projects and Future Opportunities 10:38 Challenges Facing the New Finance Director 12:22 Community Engagement and Communication 13:40 Living in Odessa: A Personal Perspective 15:08 Impact of the Permian Basin on Odessa 16:43 Support for Professional Development 17:25 Final Thoughts for Applicants 18:08 Outro

    Connect With Clear Career Professionals

    Website https://clearcareerpro.com

    Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

    Recruitment https://clearcareerpro.com/recruitment

    Interim Services https://clearcareerpro.com/interim-services

    Other Services https://clearcareerpro.com/other-professional-services

    About https://clearcareerpro.com/about-us

    LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro

    Listen and Subscribe: Subscribe to The Clear Voice wherever you get your podcasts to receive future episodes.

    Production Credit: Produced by Clear Career Professionals
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    19 mins
  • #39 - Brad Stafford on City Manager Burnout

    #39 - Brad Stafford on City Manager Burnout
    Jan 27 2026
    Episode #39 of The Clear Voice features Brad Stafford, retired City Manager and Vice President at Clear Career Professionals, in an honest and important conversation about city manager burnout, leadership stress, and mental health in local government. Brad is joined by Kelly Kuenstler, Vice President at Clear Career Professionals and former city and county manager, along with James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice and public sector leader. After 28 years serving as a City Manager, Brad Stafford shares the personal and professional realities that led him to step away from city management, not because he stopped caring, but because the cumulative weight of the job finally caught up with him. His experience reflects what many local government executives face but rarely discuss publicly. This episode explores the long term impact of constant crisis response, political pressure, public scrutiny, and the expectation that city managers must always be steady, available, and composed for everyone else. Brad Stafford discusses how burnout does not happen overnight. It builds through years of council meetings, community demands, staff oversight, emergency situations, and major events such as COVID and severe weather crises. Over time, the pace, responsibility, and emotional load can erode even the most committed public servant. James Groom guides the conversation toward the human side of leadership in municipal government, highlighting how leaders often take care of everyone else while neglecting their own well being. Kelly Kuenstler adds perspective from her experience in local government recruitment and executive leadership, emphasizing how widespread stress and burnout have become in city administration. Listeners will hear Brad Stafford describe the moment he realized something had changed. The work that once energized him no longer felt sustainable. He talks about identity and leadership, and how serving as a City Manager for decades can become deeply tied to who you are as a person. Letting go of that role can feel like losing part of yourself, yet recognizing the need to step away is also a form of leadership. Key topics in this episode include city manager burnout in local government, leadership stress in high responsibility public service roles, mental health challenges for city managers and executive leaders, the impact of politics and public meetings on administrators, the pressure of being on call at all times, and the challenge of balancing professional responsibility with family and personal well being. The conversation also covers the importance of peer networks, professional associations, and how councils and communities can better support their city manager and department heads. Brad Stafford emphasizes peer support, family support, and professional networks such as state and regional city management associations. He explains that many leaders struggle in silence because of stigma or the belief that they must always appear strong. By sharing his story, he hopes to help other city managers, assistant city managers, and department directors recognize early warning signs and feel less alone. This episode of The Clear Voice is especially relevant for City Managers, Assistant City Managers, Department Directors, municipal executives, elected officials, and anyone working in local government leadership. It also offers valuable perspective for city councils and community members who want to understand the human side of the city manager role. Behind every agenda packet, policy decision, and public meeting is a person carrying significant responsibility. The Clear Voice podcast, produced in partnership with Clear Career Professionals, highlights leadership, careers in local government, and the people behind public service. Episode #39 adds an important discussion about sustainability in leadership and protecting the well being of those who serve communities every day. Listen to Episode 39 of The Clear Voice to hear Brad Stafford, Kelly Kuenstler, and James Groom discuss burnout in city management, leadership stress, and mental health in public service. Connect With Clear Career Professionals Website https://clearcareerpro.com Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities Recruitment https://clearcareerpro.com/recruitment Interim Services https://clearcareerpro.com/interim-services Other Services https://clearcareerpro.com/other-professional-services About https://clearcareerpro.com/about-us LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro Listen and Subscribe: Subscribe to The Clear Voice wherever you get your podcasts to receive future episodes. Production Credit: Produced by Clear Career Professionals
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    33 mins
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