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.
Register here

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is the professional development home for city and county leaders who want to grow personally and lead with purpose.

Podcast listeners get 20% off their membership + a 7-day FREE trial
Use code PODCAST at checkout
JOIN THE MLDC

Episode 178 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In honor of National Public Works Week, The HaltingWinter Podcast turns the spotlight on one of the most vital yet often misunderstood pillars of local government: public works. In this episode, host Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ryan Blancke, Assistant Public Works Director for York County, South Carolina—one of the fastest-growing counties in the Southeast—to uncover what it really takes to keep a modern county moving forward.

From starting as a high school intern in 11th grade to now overseeing more than 260 employees and millions in infrastructure, Ryan’s story is a masterclass in saying “yes” to growth, embracing leadership, and building systems that serve people.

If you’ve ever wondered what public works actually does or how the right leader can make it all run with excellence and purpose, this episode will open your eyes to the complexity, creativity, and calling behind the scenes.

• The Internship That Changed Everything
  How a high school program opened the door to a lifelong career in local government

• From Engineering to Leadership
  Why Ryan pivoted from design to process and how that shift helped modernize operations across multiple departments

• More Than Just Roads
  The incredible scope of public works in York County, from fleet and facilities to landfill, water/sewer, and even animal control

• Stretch Roles and Smart Risks
  How saying “yes” to opportunities before you feel ready can shape a powerful leadership path

• Managing the Chaos
  How Ryan leads systems, staff, and service across 700 square miles, 600+ vehicles, and millions in capital projects

• Partnering with the Private Sector
  Why collaboration, procurement, and communication are just as vital as equipment and manpower

• Telling the Story of Public Works
  Why we need to do a better job educating residents, and even other city departments, about what Public Works does and why it matters

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-blancke-1930921b/

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

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions:
We build stronger cities by building stronger leaders. Explore our leadership development keynotes, workshops, and services at HaltingWinter.com

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

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is the professional development home for city and county leaders who want to grow personally and lead with purpose.

Podcast listeners get 20% off their membership + a 7-day FREE trial
Use code PODCAST at checkout
JOIN THE MLDC

Show Notes: Book of the Week – "The Hard Thing About Hard Things"
Episode 177 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
The Hard Things About Municipal Leadership
(Part 1 of 5: "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" Series)

This week inside the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter kicks off a new series exploring The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, reframed for the real-world realities of municipal leadership.

This first episode introduces the concept of “the struggle”—those moments in leadership when everything seems to be going wrong, and there’s no playbook to follow. Whether it’s a budget collapse, political turmoil, or community crisis, municipal leaders face these hard things more often than most. As Seth explains, the solution isn’t found in easy answers—it’s found in clarity, transparency, resilience, and the ability to lead decisively through uncertainty.

• Why the hardest leadership moments offer no clear right answer

• What “the struggle” feels like in city management and why it’s a normal part of the job

• The power of transparency during difficult decisions

• How to model “the right kind of ambition” focused on community, not ego

• Peacetime vs. Wartime leadership: when to shift your style and how to know the difference

• Leading with the truth even when the truth is unpopular or politically risky

Monday: Introducing the struggle and the realities of leading without a script
Tuesday–Thursday: Culture, communication, talent, and personal resilience
Friday: Virtual Book Club – What’s your version of “the hard thing,” and how are you leading through it?

This week only, get full access to:

• All five episodes in The Speed of Trust podcast series

• Daily blog content and leadership tools

• Live Friday Virtual Book Club discussion

• A growing national network of municipal leaders inside the MLDC
  → Start your free trial today at HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

• Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• MLDC: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com