#57 – Why Your School Bond Needs an Owner’s Rep with AG|CM
When a school district prepares for a bond election, they aren't just asking for funding; they are asking for community trust. In an era of strict legislative oversight, accidental planning can sink a project before it starts. Host James Groom and co-host James Hopper (retired superintendent) sit down with Derek Bird (Director of Operations, Central Texas for AG|CM) and Jason Burdine (Texas education leader) to break down the "Two-Year Runway" for successful planning. The Superintendent’s Burden: The 75% Rule James Hopper introduces the 75% Rule: Without an Owner’s Representative, a...
#56 – Assistant City Attorney Jobs in Odessa, TX | PositionCast™
Odessa, Texas is hiring two Assistant City Attorneys, and this PositionCast™ episode of The Clear Voice takes you inside the opportunity. Host James Groom is joined by recruiter Kelly Kuenstler, Odessa City Manager Aaron Smith, and City Attorney James Parker to walk through the structure, expectations, and day to day reality of these roles inside a large and growing West Texas organization. Odessa operates under a council manager form of government with a highly engaged council that understands its role and trusts staff to lead. That structure creates a stable environment where legal...
#55 – Ruidoso, NM Finance, Economic Development, and Water Resource Directors
Certainly a lot to unpack as we feature three amazing opportunities from Ruidoso, New Mexico. Ruidoso is entering a defining moment. In this PositionCast™ episode of The Clear Voice, Mayor Lynn Crawford and City Manager Ron Sena join recruiter Kelly Kuenstler and Host James Groom to outline three critical leadership roles that will help shape the future of the Village of Ruidoso. This is more than a recruitment. It is an opportunity to step into a community that is rebuilding, growing, and positioning itself for long-term success after significant challenges. A Community at a Turning Point...
#54 – LaShon Ross | Developing Leaders in Local Government
Episode Summary What does it take to develop strong leaders in local government, and why do so many high performers struggle when they move into leadership roles? In this episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom, Clear Vice President and Host of The Clear Voice, is joined by Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals, for a conversation with LaShon Ross, Deputy City Manager for the City of Plano, Texas. With more than 30 years of experience in municipal government, LaShon shares practical insight on leadership development, accountability, and the human side of managing...
#53 – Chief of Police Carrie Ellis | Women in Policing and Leadership
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...
#52 – Successful Public Sector Projects with AGCM
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...
#51 – Marshall, Texas City Manager Recruitment PositionCast™
#50 – Lufkin, Texas City Engineer PositionCast™
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...
#49 – The Coming Water Crisis | Andrew Weber
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...
#48 – The Dirty Side of Leadership with Ron Ward
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...