Summary
Envisio is heading to ICMA 2026 in Long Beach! Find us at Booth #1333 from Sunday, October 18 to Tuesday, October 20.
Before you stop by, take the Strategy Squad Quiz to find out which squad member matches your style! And don’t miss Elizabeth Steward on the Reclaiming Civic Trust panel on Monday, October 19 at 8:30 a.m.
Hello, friends of public trust!
It’s me, Transparency Tiger, the newest member of Envisio’s Strategy Squad and your go-to big cat for clear reporting, public dashboards, and purrrr-ogress you can actually see.
I believe residents shouldn’t have to dig through a 200-page PDF to find out what their government is working on. If it matters to the community, it belongs out in the open, where everyone can see it.
Let the cat out of the bag, I always say. Then put it on a dashboard.
I’ve never met a performance measure I didn’t want to publish, a budget I didn’t want to explain, or a dashboard I didn’t want to share with the whole neighborhood. Call it my nature. A tiger can’t change her stripes, nor would I want to.
This is my very first ICMA Conference, and I’ll admit my whiskers are twitching with anticipation. I’ve been studying the agenda, mapping the exhibit hall, and practicing my pawshake. Planning Pig gave me her color-coded checklist from Tampa, and Budgeting Bear reminded me to stay within my snack budget.
So pack your sunscreen and your business cards. Let’s make Long Beach a grrr-eat one.
Where to Find Me (and the Envisio Squad)
You’ll find me prowling around Booth #1333 during exhibit hours:
- Sunday, October 18: 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, October 19: 11:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 20: 11:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
I’ll be joined by my human teammates: Craig, Liz, Madison, and Angela. They know strategy, performance, and budgeting inside and out, and they’re happy to talk through whatever you’re working on, whether that’s a new strategic plan, a performance program that needs a refresh, or a public dashboard your residents will actually use.
While you’re at the booth, take a scroll through our interactive map of live public dashboards. It’s basically my life story, ta-da.
Also, there will be candy. For it is the week before Halloween, and every tiger knows the way to a city manager’s heart is a well-stocked chocolate bowl.
Meet the Strategy Squad: Which One Are You?
This year, I’m making my debut alongside my fellow Strategy Squad members: Planning Pig, Budgeting Bear, and Data Wolf. You’ll find all four of us at the booth, and you just might walk away with one of us to take home.
Before you stop by, take the Strategy Squad Quiz. Answer seven quick questions and find out which squad member matches your style. Are you a meticulous planner like Pig? A careful steward of every dollar like Bear? A pattern-spotting analyst like Wolf? Or an open book like yours truly?
Bring your result to Booth #1333 and tell us who you got!
ICMA 2026 Sessions Worth Roaring About
Reclaiming Civic Trust: New Models for Fiscal Transparency and Engagement
Monday, October 19 | 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. | Grand Ballroom A
This is the session I’ve been waiting for. Come watch this panel of leaders who know a thing or two about earning public trust:
- Elizabeth Steward, VP of Marketing and Research, Envisio (she leads our trust research!)
- Christopher Morrill, Executive Director/CEO, Government Finance Officers Association
- David Swindell, Director and Professor, Indiana University Public Policy Institute
- Lindsay Weisenauer, Chief Communications and Public Relations Officer, City of Dublin, Ohio
Together, they’ll explore how local governments can bolster trust by applying the research. Finance, research, and communications perspectives, all on one stage.
More Sessions Not to be Missed
Some of the most inspiring work in local government is happening in communities we’re proud to partner with. Here are the sessions I’m circling on my schedule. Look for the Envisio customers on each panel.
From Paper to Progress: Making Strategic Plans Work in the Real World
Saturday, October 17 | 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. | Room 104B
Speakers:
- Courtney Brown, Deputy City Manager, Strategic Initiatives, City of Commerce City, Colorado
- Angela Hoffman, Clerk to the Board, Onslow County, North Carolina
- Jared Werner, Assistant City Manager, City of New Braunfels, Texas
- Karen Whichard, Manager, BerryDunn
Why attend: A strategic plan that sits on a shelf helps no one. Hear from four communities on what it takes to turn a plan into day-to-day action, while keeping it visible for staff and community members.
From Vision to Department Results: Building Strategic Leaders and Action Plans Across All City Departments
Monday, October 19 | 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. | Room 102B
Speakers:
- Kimberly Richardson, Assistant City Manager, City of Peoria, Illinois
- Shannon Flowers, Founder and Principal, Stratalysts
- Brad Martens, City Manager, City of Shoreview, Minnesota
- Dr. Dave Webb, Author, Homerun Leadership
Why attend: Plenty of plans stall the moment departments have to execute. This hands-on workshop shares practical tools for turning citywide priorities into measurable department action. Capacity is capped at 60, so pounce early.
Bridging the Strategic Planning Gap: Connecting Performance Data with Your Municipality’s Vision and Priorities
Saturday, October 17 | 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. | Room 201B
Speaker: David Gottesman, Assistant City Manager, City of Rockville, Maryland
Why attend: You likely already have the data you need. This micro-certificate program uses the Results-Based Accountability framework to connect performance data back to the goals in your guiding documents.
Building Presilience: Proactive Strategies for Sustainable Leadership
Monday, October 19 | 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. | Grand Ballroom B
Speakers:
- Philip Kiraly, Village Manager, Village of Glencoe, Illinois
- Michael Sable, City Manager, City of Maplewood, Minnesota
- Corrin Spiegel, CEO, Arete Strategic
Why attend: We plan for infrastructure failures before they happen, so why not leadership burnout? Resilience is about bouncing back. “Presilience” is about building capacity before you need it.
Building Public Trust Through Collaborative Solutions to Unsheltered Homelessness
Saturday, October 17 | 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. | Room 104A
Speakers:
- Emila Sutton, Director, Housing and Community Development, City of Raleigh, North Carolina
- Stephen Gruver, Homeless and Prevention Services Division Director, Wake County, North Carolina
Why attend: Raleigh’s pilot ended street homelessness for 90% of participants within six months. Learn how data transparency and cross-sector partnership helped deliver measurable results and build public trust.
Opening Doors: Innovative Strategies for Creating and Preserving Affordable and Workforce Housing
Monday, October 19 | 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. | Room 201B
Speakers:
- Melissa McDonough, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Palo Alto, California
- Shannon Flanagan-Watson, Deputy County Manager, Arlington County, Virginia
- Alexander Fung, [Title], City of Eastvale, California
- Dr. Philip Harris, Economic Development Director, City of Greenacres, Florida
- Geraldine (Gerri) Pegues, Assistant County Administrator for Human Services, Montgomery County, Ohio
- Hazel Wetherford, Assistant City Manager, City of Dublin, California
Why attend: Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing communities today. Six leaders from across the country share practical strategies for creating and protecting affordable and workforce housing.
Don’t Miss the ICMA Sunset Social
Sunday, October 18 | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Events On Pine | 140 Pine Ave, 3rd Floor, Long Beach
Envisio is co-hosting the 4th Annual Sunset Social as part of the #GovTechForGood initiative, alongside our friends at HdL Companies, Citibot, Library Systems & Services, FlashVote, Madison AI, SOVRA, and Govinity.
Join hundreds of city managers and local government leaders for live music from premier event band Fair Avenue, an open bar, hand-passed appetizers, a charcuterie grazing station, and dessert bites.
This year’s raffle supports YouLEAD, a youth leadership program that brings Ukrainian teens to Minnesota for leadership development, cultural exchange, and a break from war. You’ll also hear from speakers from the program during the evening.
The event is free, but space is limited, so don’t let this one get away.
Why I’m Proud to Be Transparency Tiger
At Envisio, we help local governments connect their plans, budgets, and performance data, then share that progress with the people they serve. Transparency isn’t about publishing everything at once and hoping for the best. It’s about showing residents what you set out to do, how it’s going, and where you’re adjusting course.
When residents can see the work, they’re more likely to trust it. When they trust it, they’re more likely to get involved. That’s the kind of cycle I’ll happily chase my tail for.
So if you’re in Long Beach, stop by Booth #1333 and say hello. We can talk about:
- How to share progress on your strategic plan or capital projects in a way residents understand
- How to connect your budget decisions to community outcomes
- How to build public dashboards that turn data into a story worth reading
That’s what being Transparency Tiger is all about. No hiding, no hoarding, just open, honest progress. See you in Long Beach!
