Melissa Marsh: Being Capable Doesn't Mean Carrying It All
How to Step Up, Speak Up, and Protect Your Capacity

Episode 394 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Sponsored by Tyler Technologies

The people who rise in local government are often the ones willing to step up, take on more, and solve problems no one asked them to solve. But what happens when everyone gets so used to you carrying more that they stop noticing how much you're carrying? Melissa Marsh, City Manager of Madison Heights, Michigan, shares how her willingness to raise her hand opened doors throughout her career and why she eventually had to learn to advocate for her own value and protect her capacity.

Melissa and Seth also talk about why high performers can become invisible, making decisions without getting trapped in bureaucracy, taking ownership of your professional development, and setting boundaries at the city manager level. Melissa also shares the story behind Madison Heights' Business Bus Tour and how getting city leaders out of City Hall and into local businesses helped build stronger relationships and trust throughout the community.

About Melissa Marsh
Melissa Marsh is the City Manager of Madison Heights, Michigan. Beginning her local government career in finance, Melissa steadily expanded her leadership responsibilities across human resources, information technology, library services, and administration before becoming City Manager. Her career reflects a willingness to step up, keep learning, and take on new challenges while building a more connected and responsive organization

If you're attending the ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach, you can also hear Melissa during the education session "The Road to Trust: How a Business Bus Tour Built Collaboration and Community" on Monday, October 19th.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Leadership shouldn't be carried alone. The MLDC is evolving in 2027 with practical leadership development and new, role-specific Mastermind cohorts designed to build trusted relationships with municipal leaders who understand your challenges. Mastermind applications are open through October 31st at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter
Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com