Losing a CAO is scary – Register for October 13 webinar

Register today for a virtual discussion with the authors of the latest Future of Municipal Government (FOMG) paper, Lonely at the Top: An Examination of the Changing Dynamics of CAOs, on Friday, October 13, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.

Report authors Kate Graham and Jesse Helmer conclude that, overall, Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) are community-minded public servants who take pride in and ownership of their work and have strong relationships with their administrations. The paper also reveals concerning trends of decreasing CAO tenure. Negative political dynamics is identified as the greatest challenge associated with the CAO role and a factor in increased CAO turnover.

Kate and Jessie will outline their key findings and discuss potential solutions identified in the paper including greater role clarity, onboarding for CAOs and education for elected officials. They will also discuss opportunities to enhance the success and stability of the CAO position and municipalities overall.