A DAO in the Life

By Cody Sexton, Vinton Assistant Town Manager

Riding the High

I wished the high had lasted. The 48 hours, give or take, with friends at the beach seemed like it would never end, and the feeling that lingered was energizing. Unfortunately, each passing mile westward and the crash of reality upon return the next Monday were the sprays of a metaphorical cold shower. The following two weeks were miserably busy. I dodged a COVID scare, onboarded a new employee, and rushed to vacation. The high was over.

Have you ever had a time in your career that you just did not want to end? The VLGMA conference last summer was one of those times. Everything seemed to click. The speakers and sessions were different yet insightful (kudos to all of the music), my tablemates were engaging and intentional in their interest, and even though we only caught the end of the band, the Irish pub was not to be missed. With a little beach volleyball, the conference truly stood out.

What also made the summer conference special is the overwhelming acceptance I felt and have always experienced with the VLGMA family. As a DAO who has spent most of his career so far firmly in the “O” category, I have never felt like an “other”. The most tenured and respected managers sit next to the greenest graduate students. The largest localities swap stories with the smallest. Managers from cities and counties have friendly arguments over which type of government is more preferable (hint: towns win!). No matter where you come from or where you are at, you are welcome.

Now, the winter conference is around the corner, and I find myself almost giddy with anticipation. I look forward to seeing my friends, to learning to be a better local government leader, and to snow tubing. Especially as a DAO, I see the conference as an opportunity both to reflect on where I have been and to prepare for whatever may come next. These really are the best times of my professional career, and I hope they are for you as well. Let’s ride the high together!