GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government

GovLove Co-Host Lauren Palmer was joined by several friends of the pod to recap the 2026 ICMA Conference. John Schwend is the Town Manager at the Town of McCandless, PA, Mike Ekey is the Assistant City Manager at the City of Belton, MO, John Peraza is the Assistant to the City Manager at the City of Moreno Valley, CA, Kassandra Aleskova is the Management Assistant in the Economic Development Department for the City of Buckeye, AZ, and Stephanie Mason is the Township Manager at Doylestown Township, PA. They discussed their favorite sessions at the conference, ideas they wanted to bring back to their communities, and the time commitment it takes to serve on the ICMA and ELGL Boards.

This episode was recorded from the 2026 ICMA Conference in Long Beach, CA. 

Panel: John Schwend, Mike Ekey, John Peraza, Kassandra Aleskova, Stephanie Mason, and Lauren Palmer

Aaron Marcavitch, Director of Economic and Community Development for the Town of Enfield, Connecticut joined the podcast to talk about redevelopment. He shared the importance of redevelopment and the role of historic preservation. He also discussed how to shift the perception of a community.

Host: Marissa Baum

Jeff Marino, Planning Manager at the City of Champaign, Illinois joined the podcast to discuss how the City worked to improve customer service in the building permit and development approval process. The City underwent a Development Services Audit which won an award from the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) and allowed them to implement best practices alongside a new software system. He discussed the purpose of the audit, the importance of coordinating all reviews, and benefits of customer engagement.

This episode was recorded at the American Planning Association – Illinois Chapter 2026 Annual Conference.

Host: Dan Bolin and Andy Cross

Sabrina Abdulla, Director of Customer Experience for the City of Sugar Land, Texas joined the podcast to discuss customer service in local government. She talked about how the prioritizes customer experience through their 311 call center, resident surveys, and communication. He also discussed her career path and the transition from operations work to policy and strategy work.

Host: Ben Kittelson

Jennifer Wills, City Manager for the City of Longview, Washington joined the podcast to discuss her career path and transition from the Parks and Recreation Department to City Manager. She talked about the transition from peer to leader and how her background and leadership style have informed her approach to city management. She shared how she's using leadership training and community engagement to breakdown silos in the organization. She also talked about economic development and responding to a disaster.

Host: Ben Kittelson