By Katherine Barrett, Greenebarrett.com and Liz Steward, Envisio

Hazel Wetherford, Deputy City Manager, Dublin, California

A natural leader, Wetherford is passionate about her career.  She describes herself as a “true local government geek,” who loves giving back to the community and seeing the changes that hard work and dedicated public servants make possible.  She is known not only for her commitment to her community, to her team, and her Latina heritage, but also as an active member of local government professional associations, and a devoted mentor to women who are interested in entering, learning, and rising in local government. “If my name is on something, you know I’ve given my heart and soul to it,” she says.

What are you reading right now? And is there a book that you’ve read in the past that was particularly meaningful to you?

Each week, I try to do a “Motivational Monday” with my team. Recently, I read and gained knowledge from John Maxwell’s “21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day,” and I shared tidbits with my team. The last book I shared before that was Brené Brown’s “Dare to Lead”. I have a passion for reading and firmly believe in the importance of ongoing education and personal growth.

I want to be the kind of leader that shows up. I do that each week by asking myself, what am I doing to show up and how can I show up for my team? We all have a job to do, but how we do it speaks volumes to those around you. My team knows I have no problem rolling up my sleeves and working alongside them. I have a colleague, Scott Andrews, Assistant City Manager of Bakersfield, who recently wrote an article on “All you need is love” which may seem a bit odd when talking about local government, but it’s a good read as it looks at empathy and vulnerability as superpowers to leadership. That’s the type of leader I strive to be.

A large part of my leadership journey is attributed to personal relationships that I’ve built along my journey; those are especially meaningful to me. I’ve had some incredible leaders and mentors in my life, and I can only hope that I can give back in the same meaningful way. The women leaders who have paved the way for me have influenced my own journey, and in turn, I want to help the next generation as they navigate their own path. This commitment is so very important to me.

Tell us a little about your community and your role.

Dublin is a newer community in comparison to our neighbors, and it has been named as one of the fastest-growing cities in California. Our community has young professionals starting families and many of them are workers who commute to Silicon Valley because when you compare prices to the South Bay Area, Dublin is more affordable. In addition, we have a very safe community and a great quality of life with amazing parks, schools, and amenities.

Dublin is nestled in the Tri-Valley region — one of five communities that spread over Alameda County and Contra Costa County. These five cities work very collaboratively together, which is not something you always find. 

I’ve worked in different cities and there’s just something truly distinctive here. The five mayors collaborate closely on state and federal advocacy matters, spanning from transportation to securing grants and funding. They even unite in trips to Sacramento and Washington DC to meet with representatives, collectively advocating for the advancement of our region.

We’ve successfully provided affordable housing in our community, and we are a business attractor because of our location; we sit at the crossroads of two main interstate freeways, I-580 and I-680, and we have two Bay Area Rapid Transit stops, more commonly known as BART. This combination of assets serves as a draw for businesses.

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