In a world where change is the only constant, how do local governments transform challenges into opportunities? Resilience is more than survival—it's about strategic adaptation, unwavering strength, and the capacity to emerge stronger from every challenge. Attendees will leave inspired and equipped with practical strategies to enhance resilience, ensuring they can serve their communities with confidence and stability, no matter what challenges arise.

What We Will Cover

Whether you're a CAO, ACAO, department head, or front-line staff, this 90-minute webinar deconstructs resilience as a multi-dimensional, actionable framework (strengthening community, personal, and organizational fortitude) that empowers local government professionals to:

• Ensure organizational adaptability
• Support communities in navigating crises and growth
• Cultivate personal well-being and strength
• Create organizations that can adapt and thrive in the face of adversity 

Don't just weather the storm—learn to harness its energy. Join us and discover how resilience can be your most powerful strategy for creating vibrant, dynamic, and unstoppable communities.

ICMA-CM: Participation in free coaching webinars qualifies for ICMA-CM (Voluntary Credentialing Program) credit.

Learning Objectives

Understand the Dimensions of Resilience – Learn the interconnection between community, personal, and organizational resilience and why each is vital for effective local governance.

Cultivate Personal Resilience – Discover techniques to manage stress, maintain well-being, and sustain motivation as a local government professional. 

Strengthen Organizational Fortitude – Learn how to foster a culture of adaptability, collaboration, and preparedness within local government teams.

Can't attend? Register and watch on-demand.

Visit the ICMA Coaching Program for more coaching and mentoring resources.

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Meet the Speakers

Peggy Merriss Executive Director, Georgia City-County Management Association

Read Peggy's Bio

Peggy Merriss has a passion for furthering local government excellence and innovation through service, teaching, and being a mentor and advisor. For 35 years she served the City of Decatur, GA including over 25 years as the City Manager and since retiring she has served as the Interim City Manager for Sandy Springs, GA and the Acting City Administrator for Pine Lake GA. Currently she serves as the Executive Director for the Georgia City-County Management Association and on the faculty of the Athenian Program and the Women in the Civic Arena. 

Peggy completed a MPA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was recognized with the “Distinguished Service Award” in January 2019. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from Converse College, Spartanburg, SC, where she was recognized with the “Career Achievement Award” in April 2012. In 2022, Peggy was elected as a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow. She was inducted into the Georgia Municipal Association Hall of Fame in 2018. She has also completed the SEI program at the UVA and received her ICMA Credential Manager designation in 2003. She previously served as the President of ICMA, having completed a term as President in 2002-03, the first woman, and youngest person, to ever hold the office.

 At the end of 2020, she completed ten-years of service on the ICMA-RC Board of Directors (now MissionSquare), serving as the first woman chair. The Georgia City/County Management Association recognized her with the Pillar of Professional Excellence Award, and she was awarded the “Georgia Excellence in Public Service Award” for a city appointed official. An avid traveler, she recently visited her seventh continent with a trip to Antarctica. She looks forward to completing her goal of visiting all 50 US states and all 10 Canadian provinces.

Ian Coyle President, Pracademic Partners

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Dr. Ian M. Coyle is the President and Founder of Pracademic Partners, a management consulting and executive search firm based in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York.  Ian is the former longtime County Administrator in Livingston County, NY. He has also held positions at the village and state level of government in New York. He has worked in local government for 20+ years and has taught MPA courses for a variety of universities including Tulane University, Northern Illinois University, and the University of Virginia. Through his consulting firm, Pracademic Partners, Ian provides expert-level technical assistance to public-sector focused organizations in four key areas: executive search/talent acquisition; management consulting; executive/leadership coaching; and teaching, training and professional development experiences. In 2025, Ian started a new national awards program - the Top Public Sector Employer Award - which is powered by Pracademic Partners. Email: ian@pracademicpartners.com website: pracademicpartners.com website: toppublicsectoremployers.com 

Kathleen Gunn Deputy Manager, Miami Shores Village, Florida

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Kathleen Gunn is an experienced municipal executive with 20+ years of leading and managing cities in the states of Florida and New York.  Kathleen is the former City Manager of Tamarac a full-service municipality, with more than 72,000 residents.   She has also served as an Assistant City Manager in the cities of Tamarac, Miramar, and Fort Lauderdale. 

Kathleen’s strengths lie in shaping and executing a community’s vision through strategic planning and implementation, completing capital improvement projects on time and on budget, employee and organizational development and project management.  Her expertise in managing Planning, Economic Development, Building, and Parks and Recreation Departments, among others, have steered cities to find their niche, leverage their unique character, attract suitable investors, and provide a fertile place for existing businesses to thrive. 

Kathleen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Pace University.  She is an instructor in Florida Atlantic University’s Institute for Local Government.   

Mark Hoppen, ICMA-CM Retired

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In 2021, Mark Hoppen, an ICMA-CM Life Member, retired after serving six years as the city manager of Normandy Park, Washington, and previously held the positions of city administrator in Gig Harbor and Black Diamond.  He served local Puget Sound jurisdictions for 17 years as a public educator and 30 years as a municipal official.

His municipal service also included roles as a city council member, public works director, community development director, interim chief operating officer of a health district, flood district executive director, and member of the Washington State Public Works Board. He is currently serving a second term on the International City County Management Association’s Sustainable Communities Committee.

He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington (1981) and an Ed.D. in the study of leadership and local governance from Seattle University (1997).

He is a past member and president of the Rotary Club of Gig Harbor Midday (2003-2013), currently a member of Gig Harbor Rotary, and has been a Rotarian in Gig Harbor since 1992. 

Mark and his wife Marilyn live in Gig Harbor, not far away from Eddon Boat Park, the site of his boyhood home and father’s boatyard from 1950-1978, now a nonprofit wooden boat center called Gig Harbor Boatshop.