Council members that are excused.

So to begin this, obviously, this meet special meeting was called to discuss uh the municipal organization and leadership.

I'm going to read um a little descriptor and then kind of lay out how today is going to go.

Uh this meeting will explore how different approaches to municipal organization and leadership can support clear roles, effective decision making and accountability.

We'll consider various organization models and how each could strengthen day-to-day operations and better position of the city to serve the community.

When I um invited some individuals to come today to help with this conversation or discussion, I should say.

So without further ado, um, Professor, I'm going to turn it over to you.

It works.

All right.

My name's uh Jeremy Arney.

I've been at UWL in the political science and public administration department for 18 years.

Um I've worked on several projects with the city while I'm here, Oktoberfest stuff, family zone stuff, working with the police officers as well and with some department heads.

So I have experience that way.

I don't know if you want me to go into background on education and all of that stuff.

You guys do.

All right.

Uh let's see.

I have a undergraduate, two undergraduate degrees, um, double-majored in history and sociology at Colorado State University.

I also had a master's degree in sociology at Colorado State.

Um the title of that was listening to the political voice of young adults.

So I went and interviewed um young adults on college campuses about um their political views, and that included incarcerated young adults as well.

So I went into a couple of jails and halfway houses um to talk with them.

I worked for the city of Fort Collins while I was working on those degrees in uh at CSU.

Uh, worked at the downtown community center and the senior center, and um ran some youth uh programs for kids with disabilities during the summertime and other leagues and things like that.

Uh I moved to Denver and got a PhD in public affairs.

So at one point when I had to take those exams, I knew everything there was to know about public management, public policy, and public administration.

Um, I've worked with the Boulder SWAT team and FBI agents on certain projects while I was in Denver.

So I have a background of education and experiences working with City and I love the city, uh, even though I don't uh live in the city.

I I work here and um every day and want uh the city to succeed.

And like turn it over to uh Jess and Jay.

I can outsmart the microphone.

All right, is that Bert?

Can you hear me now?

Okay.

Well, good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Jay Shambo.

It's a pleasure to be here.

Jess and I are gonna share a little bit about our firm and then just jump into our bios and and and the presentation at hand.

I think the really exciting stuff is this, of course, but then also the questions and conversation discussion that we all might have at the conclusion of this.

Our firm has been around for uh a year and a half.

Uh, we both were practitioners.

Uh my educational background is not as vast as the um professors, um, but I do have an undergrad and a master's in public administration uh from UW Green Bay and Oshkosh.

I served a life's work in local government all in Wisconsin.

I got my start not too far from here in Clark County, a rural area that had twice as many cows as people and really learned a lot about humans and individuals and how they enter how they interact with this thing called government and had a great mentor at that time that encouraged me to pursue a master's in public administration and leave the planning field.

I started as a planning director and then finished my career at villages, counties, and then the last 10 years at the city of West Bend as the city administrator.

I did have an opportunity to serve on the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Board prior to that.

Chose to not retire from the profession, but rather leave and start this company with Jess Wilds.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thanks for having us today.

My name is Jess Wildes.

I'm a partner of innovative public advisors.

And my background is a little different from Jay's and in Dr.

Jay as well.

And I got my start in communications.

I have a master's in marketing and communications, served for many years as in the private sector and not profit sector as communications director, mainly in higher education.

Then at one point, uh met an individual who opened my eyes to local government administration.

I started at the city of West Bend to begin their communications department to start it and to create a consolidated department that would position the city for success.

That position quickly grew into an economic development manager role.

And then I went back to school, also got a second master's degree in public administration, and I later served in an assistant city administrator.

Jane, I started this firm because we are advocates for professional public management and belief that innovation is needed at all levels of government, municipal government, county government, and we're just here to help.