In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom is joined by Chief Carrie Ellis, a law enforcement leader with more than three decades of experience and the author of Ma’am In Command. Chief Ellis currently serves as the Chief of Police at Central Texas College and was recently sworn in as President of the Texas Police Chiefs Association, becoming only the second woman to hold that position in roughly thirty years. This conversation explores the realities women face in law enforcement, but more importantly, the practical leadership lessons required to reach command positions. While the book...

In Episode #52 of The Clear Voice, Marty Schmidt, President and CEO of AGCM, and Kendra Hickman, Director of Operations for AGCM South Texas, join the show to discuss what it actually takes to deliver successful public sector projects. They are joined by Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals, and James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice. From city facilities and infrastructure to school district bond programs, public sector leaders are often responsible for multimillion dollar projects without having the time, staff, or technical expertise to manage every detail. Even when...

Lufkin, Texas is Seeking a City Engineer The City of Lufkin, Texas is at a pivotal moment, focused on steady, intentional growth and delivering tangible improvements that residents can see and experience every day. In this PositionCast™, Host of The Clear Voice and Retired Police Chief James Groom is joined by Retired City Manager and President of Clear Career Professionals, Michael Boese, Lufkin City Manager Kevin Gee, and Lufkin Assistant City Manager Brian Bray to break down a City Engineer opportunity designed with flexibility in mind. Whether you are an experienced public sector leader...

In this episode of The Clear Voice, we sit down with Andrew Weber, a Texas attorney and public policy leader focused on groundwater, water governance, and aquifer sustainability. Andrew is a partner at Kelly Hart and Hallman, where he leads the Austin office and chairs the firm’s Public Law practice, working at the intersection of law, policy, and government relations before the Texas Legislature and state agencies. He currently serves as President and Executive Director of the Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association and President of Friends of Wimberley Parks, where his work centers...

The Dirty Side of Leadership with Ron Ward Leadership is often presented as vision, strategy, and motivation. This episode focuses on the difficult side of leadership, the uncomfortable conversations, personnel decisions, and moments when doing the right thing carries real consequences for people and organizations. In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom sits down with Ron Ward. Ron is an executive coach, leadership trainer, founder of 4Ward Operations, and author of The Dirty Side of Leadership. Their conversation explores difficult leadership decisions, scenario based leadership...

#47 - Collateral Hope: Dena Petty and Mentors Care Strong communities are built one life at a time, and at the center of every strong community are its kids. Episode 47 features Dena Petty, Founder and Director of Mentors Care, in conversation with host and Retired Police Chief James Groom. This episode explores how structured mentoring programs create measurable impact for at-risk students and strengthen schools, cities, and entire communities. Episode Summary Founded in Midlothian, Texas in 2009, Mentors Care connects students with consistent, caring adult mentors inside public high...

#46 - Assistant Chief of Police at Bridgeport, Texas PositionCast™ Bridgeport, Texas is hiring an Assistant Chief of Police, and this PositionCast™ episode gives candidates a direct look at the department, the community, and the leadership environment they would be stepping into. In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom and recruiter Jeff Spivey sit down with Chief Steve Stanford of the Bridgeport Police Department. Chief Stanford discusses his leadership style, the department’s culture, Bridgeport’s growth, community support, and what he is looking for in the first Assistant Chief of...

Building Strong Public Sector Teams with Cheree Bontrager How do Texas cities attract, hire, and retain strong executive leaders? In this episode of The Clear Voice, host and Retired Police Chief James Groom and Retired City Manager Michael Boese speak with veteran municipal Director of Human Resources Cheree Bontrager about municipal hiring strategy, executive interview preparation, retention, and building a workplace culture that attracts leadership talent. For councils preparing to hire a City Manager in Texas or organizations navigating municipal executive recruitment, this episode...

In this PositionCast™ episode of The Clear Voice, Host James Groom, Clear Vice President and Retired Police Chief, sits down with Mayor Jimbo Snyder of Morgan’s Point Resort, Texas, alongside Retired City Manager Kent Meyers, Vice President at Clear Career Professionals, to provide a detailed look at the City Manager recruitment. Listeners gain direct insight into council expectations, organizational structure, leadership culture, and the real priorities facing the next City Manager. Morgan’s Point Resort is a residential lakeside community on Belton Lake in Central Texas, offering small...