On Friday, September 23rd, the MPA Program hosted a Mixer with the Managers event featuring City Manager of Hutto, James Earp, and Interim City Manager of San Marcos, Stephanie Reyes. This was an informative in-person event after almost two years of virtual events due to the pandemic.
The event included insight from both city managers discussing their formal administrative duties, as well as their unique personal experiences as city managers ranging from their upbringing to their journey in public administration. The conversations provided a great opportunity for undergraduate, graduate students, and faculty in attendance to gain insight into the inner workings of city managerial duties and the strengths, weaknesses, and obstacles for tackling the job. Discussions covered topics such as the city managerial hierarchy, team building, retention, and the typical day-in-the-life of a city manager, which was a popular discussion point for those attending. The event concluded with a Q&A session where students were able to engage freely with both city managers. Students in attendance expressed their appreciation for the event and the willingness of the city managers to open up about their positions on a more personal level.
