Episode 179 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In celebration of National Public Works Week, The HaltingWinter Podcast features a powerful and personal conversation with Kevin Richardson, Water and Wastewater Engineering Project Manager for the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina, and a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Kevin’s journey from global combat zones to managing public infrastructure at the local level is a story of resilience, reinvention, and rediscovered purpose. With over 16 years in the military, followed by a winding transition through private sector roles and public service positions, Kevin eventually found his professional calling in public works—an industry he describes as "quiet professionals keeping cities alive."

From solid waste to sanitation, water systems to citizen engagement, Kevin offers both a behind-the-scenes look at municipal operations and a front-row seat to what it means to lead with humility, structure, and soul.

• From the Marines to Municipal Streets
  Kevin’s 16-year military career, 49 countries, multiple deployments, and the search for purpose after retirement

• Finding Public Works by Accident
  How a personality assessment and a college government class sparked an unexpected path into local service

• Why Public Works Is Purpose-Driven
  How Kevin reframed the “invisible work” of infrastructure as deeply meaningful and community-impacting

• The Transition Struggle Is Real
  What most people don’t understand about military-to-civilian life—and how one mentor helped Kevin rewrite his story

• Telling the Story of Public Works
  Why engineers, operators, and managers need to become better communicators and storytellers

• Citizen Engagement Done Right
  Rock Hill’s “Inside Rock Hill” program and how it turns curious residents into city ambassadors

• The Power of Mentorship
  From picking up trash to leading with character, Kevin shares how mentors helped him make the leap—and why he’s reaching back to help others now

• The Silence of Our Service
  Kevin’s mic-drop moment: “The silence of our service is the applause that we get.”

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-richardson

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions:
We help local government leaders build thriving cultures and resilient teams through transformative keynotes, workshops, coaching, and community. Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

Seth Winterhalter headlines the 2025 APWA South Carolina Chapter Annual Conference in Spartanburg, June 23rd–26th.
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