Todd Leopold Recounts His Experiences Working within the Public Service

Todd Leopold was born and raised in Thornton, Colorado. His household performed an energetic position of their local people and it was his father’s twelve 12 months run on Metropolis Council that fueled his early curiosity within the public sector.

Todd obtained an Affiliate’s Diploma from Southeast Neighborhood School in Beatrice, Nebraska earlier than graduating with a Bachelor of Science diploma in Political Science from Jap New Mexico College. By 1999, Todd had earned a Grasp of Public Administration from the College of Colorado at Denver and had his sights set on a profession in public service targeted on native authorities.

Todd Leopold has labored for numerous metropolis, county and regional organizations. He spent 13 years working for Jefferson County in a wide range of administrative roles  and serving because the Administrative Providers  director earlier than he was recruited to Adams County to serve in an government management capability. Throughout this time there he served as each the deputy county supervisor and county supervisor and performed an instrumental position within the development of the northern Denver area.

Todd brings greater than 20 years {of professional} expertise to his present place. Starting September 2022, he will probably be returning to his roots working for the State of Colorado the place he will probably be collaborating on a wide range of initiatives with the varied counties, cities, particular districts, and regional authorities organizations across the State.

Once I was rising up, I used to be uncovered to the native authorities career, with my dad serving as a metropolis council member for numerous years. That public service I noticed  impressed me to pursue a profession in public service that will give again to the group wherein I lived and labored. I’ve been lucky to have been in numerous totally different native authorities organizations over the previous 25 years, however I’ve all the time beloved being concerned within the “boots on the bottom” work since you see the direct affect you’re making in the neighborhood the place you reside and work. That’s what has all the time pushed me and the rationale I’ve stayed within the public sector for the size of time that I’ve.

I really like main organizations, so I’d love to remain in roles the place I get to steer inside a metropolis or county or different governmental entity. I believe I’m going to like what I’m doing now the place I will probably be serving to and consulting with a wide range of native authorities entities to satisfy their funding and operational challenges. The state will be an integral participant in that effort and having the background and experience of getting direct expertise in an area authorities management position so long as I’ve, it provides a great perspective on how the state can function efficient associate with our cities and counties and making a distinction in the neighborhood.

Personally, I believe success is feeling like I’m making a distinction and including worth. Professionally, it’s that in addition to seeing tangible advantages the place folks’s lives are modified and leaving them higher off than they have been earlier than. What I’ve carried out has made a distinction straight and not directly in bettering the lives of these I’ve are available in contact with throughout my profession. I gauge success by seeing how enhancements have been made within the lives of people that dwell in my neighborhood and my group.

For me, it’s about understanding true friendships and recognizing areas the place you haven’t been profitable. You’re going to be taught extra from these failures or these issues that you could possibly do higher going ahead than any of the successes you may need skilled beforehand. The opposite piece for me is the understanding that life is brief and I wish to be sure that what I’m doing is sweet, honorable, makes a distinction, has integrity, and leaves a legacy. These are the issues I’ve realized through the years. Success is nice, however I believe that you simply be taught extra from failures or issues that might have been carried out otherwise that the short-term satisfaction from these

I really like spending time with my spouse and household. We get pleasure from stepping into the outside, mountain climbing and issues like that, so the place we’re at in California and the place we’re at in Colorado lend themselves to that. I get pleasure from {golfing}, all kinds of various sports activities. Basketball’s clearly been a ardour and one thing I’ve grown up with. 

I believe it’s actually about prioritizing what’s necessary as a result of we dwell on this instantaneous society the place there are these expectations that staff and employers ought to be accessible 24/7. One of many issues I’ve tried to do and that I proceed to work on is time administration and setting stability to be sure that, until there are critically necessary points, most issues can wait. There are some issues I’ll handle and get taken care of, however I believe society usually pushes us to be energetic and alert and responding 24/7, so we have to consciously give attention to taking time for ourselves and setting boundaries round that. That is among the issues that I wish to proceed to give attention to bettering for myself.

I make the most of my cellular phone for various features and functions, so it’s been a lifeline for me. I additionally use numerous enterprise useful resource planning methods like Workday, Oracle, and JD Edwards. I exploit these fairly a bit and really feel snug within the expertise area, however my telephone appears to be the primary factor because it has the twin function of calendaring and staying linked with people.

I used to be concerned in a tragic automotive accident, so the toughest factor for me was coping with the grief and ache of that. It was very tragic, but it surely was additionally unavoidable, so I believe it’s been actually arduous to get previous that and transfer on. It has additionally profoundly impacted me to the purpose the place I’m actually targeted on what’s necessary in life and mates, household, and people who care about you.

The county supervisor that I labored for in Jefferson County, Jim Moore, was a person who believed in me. He noticed potential and development and believed in you whenever you didn’t really feel like you could possibly do it. Jim and I keep involved to at the present time and he has been such an incredible particular person, however he additionally provides nice perspective. I’d say he’s the one which has actually had a big affect on me, not solely beginning out my profession, however up so far, he’s been such an inspiration and an incredible particular person usually.

I believe it’s actually been to give attention to what’s necessary. Your loved ones is a very powerful factor. In case you don’t have a powerful basis of your loved ones and your loved ones construction, you’re not going to be as profitable as if in case you have a supporting and loving household that surrounds you and embraces you in occasions when it’s going effectively and when it’s going robust.