Kim Awrey says it was a presentation by Mason City Administrator Deborah Stuart that allowed her to see herself as leading her own hometown of Gaylord.
The current city manager has more than 30 years of experience in everything from waste-water treatment plants to roads. The thought of following in his footsteps used to terrify her.
“Debbie talked about having a great staff and how it’s their job to know,” Awrey recalled. “You don’t have to have all that knowledge. It was like a load was lifted off me.”
Awrey, a controller and financial officer in the private sector for 23 years, was named Gaylord’s assistant city manager in January.
She credits her training through the League’s Women’s Municipal Leadership Program for giving her the skills and confidence to apply for – and get selected – for her new role.
“It made me more confident,” Awrey said. “I was lagging back. I wasn’t confident enough to apply. I think I would have done it eventually, but not as quickly as I did. Maybe on the next go-round. Maybe not in Gaylord.”
That confidence has translated to her everyday role, helping her with municipal finance and budgeting as the city begins its next budget cycle. She also serves as the city clerk.
The leadership program is part of the League’s 16/50 Project, which seeks to remove barriers and provide training to increase the number of women in leadership roles in local government with support from the MML Foundation. Only about 16 percent of local chief administrative officers are women, even though they make up more than half the population.
Participants get training in areas, including municipal budgeting and finance; economic development; and council-manager relations. They dive in on key topics instructed by municipal experts, build their executive leadership expertise, and gain insight on the application of their new skills from current municipal managers.
This International Women’s Day, please consider making a gift of $16.50, $165 or even $1,650 to help remove barriers for highly qualified women entering the field – women like Awrey. You can make sure that we have strong local managers—and strong local communities.
Celebrated on March 8, this year’s International Women’s Day focuses on forging a more gender-balanced world, celebrating women’s achievements and raising awareness against bias.
As for Awrey, she’s digging in and learning as much as she can. After all, the current Gaylord city manager is planning to retire next year – and Awrey already sees herself as a strong contender in that role.
(You may also make your gift by check, mailed to MML Foundation, 1675 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Please note that it is for the 16/50 Project.)