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She said another area for improvement is the general one of communication. For example, she said, “we have an ethics committee, but the ethics committee only convenes itself if there is an ethics issue. Well, let’s be more proactive with ethics. Let’s use our technology to send something out on ethics once a month to the entire membership.

“We have a website. We have a list serve. We are not using that kind of thing effectively. Let’s upgrade our website. It’s not very user friendly, and I think people even forget that it’s there. We need to do that better.
I think we need to communicate with the membership more frequently than three or four newsletters a year. We can do that through the website and in email blasts.”

CAREER OBSERVATIONS

Bonnie said she knows that some managers say they are simply too busy to pick up the phone and call a colleague or meet them for lunch, much less worry about whether or not the VLGMA engages them. “Some managers just want to be nine to five and do their jobs, and not be involved

Bonnie is a fantastic individual who will lead VLGMA with integrity and great enthusiasm. Working with Bonnie on the VLGMA Executive Committee and the Civic Education Committee has been a highlight of my career. She is an innovative and supportive leader who diligently and creatively works to achieve the association’s goals. Her passion for the profession and commitment to the association are inspiring.

- Jodi Miller
Williamsburg Assistant
City Manager

lot of times circumstances overcome what my plan might be for the day. And that’s what’s great about being a local government manager. You have the opportunity to know a little bit about a lot of things. You can be surrounded by incredible people who are technical experts and helping them to connect the dots. When people say, ‘what do you do?’ I’ll give them the best, pat answer that I oversee yadda yadda . . . my job I think is really connecting the dots and making sure people are talking to one another. Someone
will come and talk to me and I’ll say, ‘well, did you know that John down in human services is doing this, you both need to get together and talk.’

“Everyone is strapped for people resources and money resources. I think the manager’s job in many instances is really one of conducting the orchestra. It really is what we do. It’s not just conducting internally, it’s conducting externally as well. That’s why it is so important for Kim and me to be involved in so many things outside of the office because people can see that it’s not just about sitting in our little lofty offices on the third floor.”

In Bonnie’s world, no task is too small if it serves the mission. She’ll jump right in and make a significant impact. I’m reminded of the influential role she played as a part of the Washington, DC ICMA Conference Host Committee. She and her team were nothing short of remarkable.

- Ron Secrist
President, Boulder Community Hospital Foundation Boulder, CO
Former Blacksburg
Town Manager

For more information:

Bonnie Svrcek

Lynchburg Deputy
City Manager

City Hall

900 Church St., 3rd Floor

Lynchburg, VA 24505

(434) 455-3990

bonnie.svrcek@
lynchburgva.gov

in all the other stuff. I think that includes professional development. In think that’s sort of sad and we need to figure out a way to engage those folks. But maybe some people aren’t willing to be engaged. I think more are willing than not.”

She said overall this is a great time in her life and career to be VLGMA President. “I like being able to come to work every day and not knowing what’s ahead of me. I think I might have a plan, a