Talent Initiative Program

In late 2016, Cal-ICMA announced the launch of a Talent Initiative to be undertaken by the Cal-ICMA Talent Development Team (formerly known as the Preparing the Next Generation Committee). The purpose of the Talent Initiative is to engage Chief Executives, HR Directors, and emerging leaders of cities, counties and special districts in a conversation about three questions:

1. What are the kinds of talent challenges that confound cities, counties and special districts local governments in California?

2. What obstacles hinder our efforts to address talent challenges?

3. What are the best practices from public and private, culture-building strategies, and other resources so we can better attract, retain and grow talent?

Talent Initiative activities include:

• A survey of City/County Managers, HR Directors and emerging leaders regarding talent development needs.

• Five to seven focus groups with senior management leaders across the state.

• A summary report, including recommendations on how professional organizations can help us address the workforce challenges.

• A website showcasing best practices and other resources.

• Use of resources as part of existing training programs and conferences.

According to Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager of Arcadia, California, and co-chair of the Talent Development Team, “As we deal with the big challenges, it is all about talent. We believe that the Talent Initiative will help local governments overcome major workforce challenges so that we can better recruit, retain and develop those who serve California communities.”

Focus groups were conducted from January to April 2017, and a draft report will be completed this month. The Project Advisory Committee for the Talent Initiative includes 35 City/County/Special District Managers and emerging leaders from around the state. 

Resources

Talent 2.0 Report

• Talent 2.0: A Modern Approach to Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in Local Government

  • Read the Spring 2018 Report, produced by the Cal-ICMA Talent Initiative.

• Talent Development Survey Results Summary

  • Read the summary of results from the 2016 survey of local government executives and leaders in California.

Talent Initiative Resources

• Local Government Innovation in the Face of the Pandemic Webinar

  • Watch the free recording of this Cal-ICMA webinar "Local Government Innovation in the Face of the Pandemic – How Agile and Adaptable Leaders Get Results" (July 2020)

• Winning the Race for Talent: Winter 2018 Presentation

  • Download the presentation delivered at the League of California Cities’ City Managers’ Department Meeting in Newport Beach. (January 2018)

• Ten Ideas to Better Attract, Retain, and Grow Talent

  • Download a summary of ten ideas for leaders to start attracting, retaining and growing talent. (February 2018)

• Workforce of Tomorrow Report

  • ​​​​​​​Download a December 2015 report from the Local Government Research Collaborative and the Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) on attracting and retaining talent.

• Stay Interview Questions

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Learn more about how to conduct a stay interview.

• ICMA Leading Edge Research Report on Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Populations

  • A report by Kendra L. Smith, Ph.D., director of community engagement for the University of Houston - College of Medicine, offers new findings and recommendations that can help local leaders in building programs that go beyond compliance by creating hiring and retention processes that are robust and equitable, and secure the best candidates possible.

• “Transforming Talent Development: Six Ways to Get Started”, Public Management Magazine, April 2019.

  • An article by Talent Initiative Co-Chairs, Nat Rojanasathira and Dominic Lazzaretto.

Additional Resources

• ICMA Coaching Program

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​With its roots in California, the ICMA Coaching Program has gone nationwide and continues to provide learning opportunities for local government professionals in all career stages.

• Credentialed Government Leader Program: Northern California (MMANC)

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Cal-ICMA has teamed up with the Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC) and the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC) to provide a credentialing program to emerging leaders.

• Credentialed Government Leader Program: Southern California (MMASC)

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Southern California-based program is structured in the same manner, providing a collaborative learning experience for local government professionals.

• Winning the War for Talent – The Role of Elected Officials, Western City, August 2018

  • Download the August 2018 Western City article on the role of elected officials in talent recruitment and development.

For more information about the Cal-ICMA Talent Initiative, contact:

• Rob Houston, City Manager, City of Fountain Valley, and Co-Chair of the Cal-ICMA’s Talent Development Team, at rob.houston@fountainvalley.org

• Nancy Hetrick, Vice President, Management Partners, and Co-Chair of the Cal-ICMA’s Talent Development Team, at nhetrick@managementpartners.com

• ​​​​​​​Frank Benest, ICMA Liaison for Next Generation Initiatives, at frank@frankbenest.com​​​​​​​