Episode 188 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Dalton Pierce, City Manager of York, South Carolina, to explore the leadership tensions every municipal executive knows too well: how do you balance the urgency to improve with the patience required to bring people along?

Dalton shares his journey from city planner to city manager, and how that unique path shapes his approach to decision-making, team building, and navigating the political and personal complexities of local government. His insights on culture, hiring, and pace will resonate with leaders at every level—especially those who feel the pull between visionary change and community trust.

• Planning Roots, Manager Realities
  How Dalton’s background in planning helps him hold the long-term vision while managing short-term demands.

• The Pace of People
  The leadership lesson that transformed his mindset: lasting progress happens at the speed of trust, not the speed of urgency.

• Culture Over Credentials
  Why hiring people who align with values, not just skillsets, is one of his top priorities as a leader.

• The Isolation of Leadership
  Dalton reflects on the quiet challenges of being a city manager and why honest conversations with peers can be lifesaving.

• Public Service with a Purpose
  The difference between checking boxes and creating buy-in—and why your team, not your title, defines your success.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dalton-pierce

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

At HaltingWinter, we help local government leaders build thriving teams and resilient workplace cultures through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership.

Learn more at HaltingWinter.com

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