Local Government Insights

Technology and Alleviating City Pain Points w/ Mike Whitehead

For the City of Rolling Hills Estates in California, the adoption of new technology has already paid off with a unique approach to administering and maximizing compliance of business license tax revenues.
In this episode, we talked with Mike Whitehead, Administrative Services Director and City Treasurer for the City of Rolling Hills Estates in California. We covered:
Challenges faced with business license administration and overall compliance
Finding solutions tailored to the unique needs and problems cities are facing
Responsibilities of staff and the shifting priorities with the use of new technology
Cost savings with technology partnerships and client facing portals
This discussion with Mike Whitehead was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.

The COVID-19 Effect on California Sales & Property Tax

As the nation begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, jurisdictions across the country are assessing the impacts. Understanding the unique impacts of the pandemic on different revenue streams is key to building accurate forecasts.
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Leila Bengali, an Economist at the UCLA Anderson Forecast, and Fran Mancia, Avenu’s VP of Government Relations. Together, they bring years of insight into what California’s future tax situation has in-store.
In this episode we cover:
• Sales tax and property tax trends in 2021
• The landscape for local governments
• What societal changes may carry over from the pandemic and impact future revenue
• Tactics jurisdictions can take to prepare for a post-COVID world
This discussion was taken from our show Local Government Insights: Modernizing Government Leadership. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Local Government Insights in your favorite podcast player.

Bridging the Gap of Women in Leadership in 2021 w/ Sharon Matthews

With ongoing national conversations about diversity in tech, it is important to remember that, mixed leadership teams perform better simply because they can solve problems more quickly and more creatively than less diverse teams.
In this episode, I talk with Sharon Matthews, Avenu's Vice Chairwoman about why tech needs women leaders and how to get them.
What we talked about:
The major milestones of Sharon's successful career in technology
The unique qualities women bring to leadership in organizations
Advice for women as they bridge the gap
Her life mantra
This discussion with Sharon Matthews was taken from our show Local Government Insights: Modernizing Government Leadership. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Local Government Insights in your favorite podcast player.

Preparing for a Post-COVID World w/ John Russo & Fran Mancia

As the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel continues to grow brighter, local governments are now setting their sights on what a post-COVID world might look like.
In this episode, I talk with John Russo, Founder and Principal of Synchronicity, and Fran Mancia, Avenu’s VP of Government Relations, about the myriad ways the pandemic has altered the work of the public and private sector.
What we talked about:
The changes that are here to stay and how they will affect local and state governments
The impact on work at public agencies and in the private sector
The challenges of moving government services online
This discussion with John Russo and Fran Mancia was taken from our show Local Government Insights: Modernizing Government Leadership. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Local Government Insights in your favorite podcast player.

Digital Citizens Deserve Digital Courts

While jury duty is not the most exciting thing to look forward to, todays citizens deserve a digital court experience and technology is providing a more streamlined jury experience for citizens.
In this episode, I talk with Michael Payton, the justice solution leader at Avenu, about how digitization can help increase jury response rates and improve the citizen experience.
What we discussed:
Challenges the courts face with day to day operations
How automation changes the way courts operate
How digitization impacts juror response rates and helps create diverse jury pools
The impact of the pandemic on our courts
This discussion with Michael Payton was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here .

Digital Government: Now More Critical Than Ever w/ Ann Kirkbride

Now more than ever, public sector entities need to invest in digital initiatives that can preserve documentation and make their offices more accessible in times of crisis.
Though getting started may seem like a gargantuan task, there are ways to make the transformation a painless and exciting journey for those involved.
In this episode, I talk with Ann Kirkbride, Business Unit Director at Avenu Insights & Analytics, about how digitization can benefit local governments.
What we discussed:
Why investment in digitalization critical for preservation and the future
How can a local government start digitizing their documentation
How can offices offer “traditionally analogue” essential services during crisis
What steps are non-negotiable when digitizing local governments
Highlighted the most influential digitization successes
This discussion with Ann Kirkbride was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.

Why You Need a Security Strategy for Long-Term Remote Operations w/ Roger Murphy

In a rush to mobilize workers in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, many local government agencies overlooked security measures and made themselves vulnerable to various cyberattacks.
In 2021, agencies are beginning to understand that the long term effects of a remote workforce aren’t going to go away so easily. In light of these long-term operations, local governments need to brace themselves for cyberattacks by designing a strategy to keep infrastructure and data secure.
In this episode, I talk with Roger Murphy, Director of Information Technology Managed Services at Avenu Insights & Analytics, about strategies local governments should implement to enhance security for their remote workforce.
We also discussed:
What local governments should be doing to prepare for cyber attacks.
Which security strategies governments should focus on first.
How organizations can train their employees on digital threats.
What to consider when moving an aging workforce into a remote environment.
This discussion with Roger Murphy was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.

How Automation Helps Local Governments Thrive in a Post-Covid World w/ Christy Cato

Across the country, cities are facing severe budget shortfalls because of COVID-19 and its consequences.
In this landscape, city and county governments are struggling to consistently do more with less.
As local governments are looking for new ways to balance their budget and streamline their services, they should look to this innovative solution: automated revenue management.
In this episode, I talk with Christy Cato, Vice President of Tax Administration at Avenu Insights & Analytics, about how automation can benefit local governments.
What we discussed:
How automated revenue management works.
How automation can generate new revenue and keep employees on staff.
How governments can implement automation for more efficient workflows.
What processes you should avoid automating.
This discussion with Christy Cato was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.

Local Government Insights: An Introduction to Avenu’s New Podcast w/ Brennan Middleton

For governments to serve their communities, they need solutions they can depend on.
That’s where Avenu Insights & Analytics steps in. Whether it be funding insights grounded in regional revenue trends or administrative functions such as record management and human resource operations, Avenu’s software solutions are built on proven success at every level of government operation.
And now, they’ve started a podcast to provide insights from and for government officials of all different government sizes and departments.
In this inaugural episode of Local Government Insights, producer Kelsey Kohrs talks with Brennan Middleton, director of marketing at Avenu Insights & Analytics, about the mission and vision of this podcast.
Brennan also talked about:
His marketing experience and his role at Avenu.
How Avenu helps local governments sustain a high quality of life.
What listeners can expect to hear in future episodes.
This discussion with Brennan Middleton was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.