In Big Things in Smaller Places, city leaders from Sedro-Woolley, WA, Aurora, CO, and
Welland, ON share how they’ve translated big-city experience into practical, right-sized
approaches for their communities.
With a blend of experience in some of the largest cities in North America, leaders discuss what it actually takes to turn strategic plans into visible, measurable results—regardless of team size or resources.
Our panelists represent communities with varying levels of staff capacity and complexity, but share a common focus on performance, accountability, and transparency. From staff alignment and storytelling to building a culture from the ground-up, Charlie, Lina, and Leticia walk us through their process.
In this session, you’ll hear:
- Unique approaches to adapting strategy and performance practices to fit scale
- Improving staff and team engagement
- How to use storytelling to help staff and residents follow the work of the plan.
You’ll also come away with lessons that apply across organizations of any size.
If you’re responsible for turning your plans into results, this session is for you.
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Meet the Speakers
Leticia Callanen – City of Aurora (CO)
Leticia Callanen, MPA, leads strategic planning and performance management for the City of Aurora, Colorado. With over 15 years in local government, she focuses on innovation, operational improvement, and change management to help departments deliver measurable results aligned with community priorities.
Charlie Bush – City of Sedro-Woolley (WA)
Charlie Bush, MPA & ICMA-CM, serves as City Administrator for the City of Sedro-Woolley, WA, bringing 28 years of local government leadership experience. He has held senior roles across Washington and Arizona, building high-performing, state- and nationally recognized organizations.
Lina DeChellis – City of Welland (ON)
Lina DeChellis drives strategic initiatives and operations, contributing to the City of Welland’s growth and success. She facilitates investment and development information and opportunities between City departments, the administrative team, and elected officials, cultivating positive business relationships.
Rob Hines – Senior Customer Success Manager, Planning and Performance Coach, Envisio (Moderator)
Rob works directly with public-sector teams implementing strategy and performance measurement systems across North America.
