Recruiting the Right Way: Insights from Christine Martin, Director at Tripepi Smith
Tune in to hear: The do’s and don’ts of career moves in city management What city leaders look for when hiring Why humor and humanity belong in every organization How Tripepi Smith helps agencies recruit the right way
Leading with Vision: Executive Recruitment, Strategic Planning, and Team Culture in Local Government
Local government leaders are tasked with guiding their communities into a more resilient and vibrant future. The journey from planner to Assistant City Manager—and now, executive recruiter and strategic planner with Tripepi Smith—gives Christine Martin a unique vantage point on what it takes to cultivate leadership, manage change, and build organizations where people thrive. Her story, and her practical advice, provide a modern roadmap for local government professionals who aspire to leave a lasting mark on their communities.
Navigating a Career in Local Government
For Christine, a career in local government was not preordained. Raised with modest means and watching her parents struggle to make ends meet, she saw firsthand the importance of grit, resilience, and self-reliance. Despite starting out with student loan debt and little financial safety net, she persisted—first as an intern, then as a community planner, and later as Assistant City Manager in Livermore, California. Her progress up the municipal ladder was powered by constant learning, a willingness to volunteer for new projects, and a commitment to growing her skills both inside and outside her agency.
Christine urges up-and-coming professionals to expand their horizons by joining professional associations, attending leadership summits, and seeking out mentors. She credits her shift into executive leadership partly to a chance encounter and a life-changing read—the book ”Playing Big” by Tara Mohr—which reframed her understanding of fear and opportunity in professional growth. “Be out there doing things and looking around, even if you don’t think you’re interested in them,” Christine advises. “You never know what’s going to pop up that sparks your fire.
Lessons in Executive Recruitment
Having moved into executive recruitment with Tripepi Smith, Christine draws a clear contrast between routine hiring and searching for transformational leaders. She explains that successful executive searches blend targeted outreach with broad-based communications. The process includes:
- Creating compelling, visually engaging recruitment brochures that speak to both the heart and experience of candidates.
- Using both active job postings and direct outreach via personal networks and peer referrals to find the ideal candidate.
- Screening for not just technical proficiency, but cultural fit, emotional intelligence, and a passion for public service.
Agencies frequently turn to firms like Tripepi Smith because internal HR departments are often stretched thin managing routine recruitments. Specialized recruiters have a broad professional network, marketing resources, and the capacity to focus intently on high-level roles, ultimately freeing city staff to manage other pressing priorities.
Strategic Planning: From Shelf Document to Action Plan
Strategic planning is a familiar buzzword in government circles, but as Christine notes, its quality and impact can vary widely. To be effective, a strategic plan should be “a living process” that includes meaningful input from elected officials, staff at all levels, and the community. Individual interviews with council members to surface genuine priorities and concerns.
- Engaging staff and the public through surveys, workshops (both virtual and in-person), and focused discussions—sometimes even in multiple languages.
- Distilling community and leadership feedback into actionable, measurable objectives that inform staff workplans and city budgets.
“The real meat and potatoes,” Christine sa
Leading with Vision: Executive Recruitment, Strategic Planning, and Team Culture in Local Government
Local government leaders are tasked with guiding their communities into a more resilient and vibrant future. The journey from planner to Assistant City Manager—and now, executive recruiter and strategic planner with Tripepi Smith—gives Christine Martin a unique vantage point on what it takes to cultivate leadership, manage change, and build organizations where people thrive. Her story, and her practical advice, provide a modern roadmap for local government professionals who aspire to leave a lasting mark on their communities.
Navigating a Career in Local Government
For Christine, a career in local government was not preordained. Raised with modest means and watching her parents struggle to make ends meet, she saw firsthand the importance of grit, resilience, and self-reliance. Despite starting out with student loan debt and little financial safety net, she persisted—first as an intern, then as a community planner, and later as Assistant City Manager in Livermore, California. Her progress up the municipal ladder was powered by constant learning, a willingness to volunteer for new projects, and a commitment to growing her skills both inside and outside her agency.
Christine urges up-and-coming professionals to expand their horizons by joining professional associations, attending leadership summits, and seeking out mentors. She credits her shift into executive leadership partly to a chance encounter and a life-changing read—the book “Playing Big” by Tara Mohr—which reframed her understanding of fear and opportunity in professional growth. “Be out there doing things and looking around, even if you don’t think you’re interested in them,” Christine advises. “You never know what’s going to pop up that sparks your fire.
Lessons in Executive Recruitment
Having moved into executive recruitment with Tripepi Smith, Christine draws a clear contrast between routine hiring and searching for transformational leaders. She explains that successful executive searches blend targeted outreach with broad-based communications. The process includes:
- Creating compelling, visually engaging recruitment brochures that speak to both the heart and experience of candidates.
- Using both active job postings and direct outreach via personal networks and peer referrals to find the ideal candidate.
- Screening for not just technical proficiency, but cultural fit, emotional intelligence, and a passion for public service.
Agencies frequently turn to firms like Tripepi Smith because internal HR departments are often stretched thin managing routine recruitments. Specialized recruiters have a broad professional network, marketing resources, and the capacity to focus intently on high-level roles, ultimately freeing city staff to manage other pressing priorities.
Strategic Planning: From Shelf Document to Action Plan
Strategic planning is a familiar buzzword in government circles, but as Christine notes, its quality and impact can vary widely. To be effective, a strategic plan should be “a living process” that includes meaningful input from elected officials, staff at all levels, and the community. Individual interviews with council members to surface genuine priorities and concerns.
- Engaging staff and the public through surveys, workshops (both virtual and in-person), and focused discussions—sometimes even in multiple languages.
- Distilling community and leadership feedback into actionable, measurable objectives that inform staff workplans and city budgets.
“The real meat and potatoes,” Christine says, “is creating a work plan for each objective. That’s what differentiates a plan that collects dust from one that drives real change.”
Building a Culture of Respect, Humor, and Shared Purpose
Christine is adamant that organizations function best when there is mutual respect, a sense of humor, and true shared purpose among team members. She calls this the “sunshine approach,” which she and her colleagues at Tripepi Smith try to bring to every client and project. Agencies that have high-performing, happy teams aren’t just more enjoyable—they also get better results and stronger retention outcomes.
Culture also matters in recruitment: some municipalities attract more interest because they’re known for family-friendly policies, mentorship opportunities, and a clear emphasis on work-life balance.
Advice for Aspiring Government Leaders
Christine’s key takeaways for those who want to advance in local government:
- Hone communication and public speaking skills—these are just as important as technical know-how in leadership roles.
- Learn to coach and mentor; organizations want to promote from within, and leaders grow talent by investing in their teams.
- Don’t be afraid to take risks, embrace change, and participate in community and professional activities outside your day job.
- Find joy in the work and bring positivity—it’s infectious and productive.
Conclusion
Christine Martin’s journey and multifaceted leadership philosophy are a blueprint for current and aspiring local government leaders. Her emphasis on the human side of public service, strategic focus, and purposeful team culture are essential to thriving in today’s rapidly changing municipal landscape. For those guiding cities through uncertainty, building these values into the DNA of their organizations will pay dividends for decades to come.