our mission
Civic Way’s mission is to help communities attain their potential. By providing reliable data, we will inspire citizens to move from the sidelines to the frontlines. By linking local leaders to the resources they need, we will help build community. By supporting public executives, we will restore public faith in state and local government. By building a national civic network, we will be a catalyst for community-driven progress and achieving a better America.
our values
Civic Way has built a framework of aspirational values, public policies and progressive metrics around five broad civic themes:
- Economic prosperity
- Educational excellence
- Healthy places and people
- Strong communities and families
- Modern infrastructure and institutions.
Its values, as summarized below, provide the foundation for long-term progress--from the ground up.
| Theme | Civic Way's Values |
|---|---|
| Economic | Broad-based, enduring economic prosperity through dynamic economic growth, cultivation of emerging economy sectors, revitalization of traditional economic sectors, ample safe, dignified & rewarding jobs, sensible immigration reform, financial self-reliance & equitable economic opportunity for all |
| Education | Innovative pre-school offerings, competitive, agile & accountable public schools (K-12), world-class public higher education system (universities, colleges & community colleges), seamless K-20 integration, productive research & development incentives, cost-effective, responsive & market-driven worker training & ample, accessible lifelong learning |
| Healthy Places & People | Healthy environment, clean air & water, effective natural resource preservation, fact-driven climate change mitigation, vibrant public health systems, superb, affordable & accessible health care (regardless of income, employment & location) & smart healthy lifestyle incentives |
| Communities & Families | Full civic engagement (fewer voting restrictions), vibrant, efficient & safe neighborhoods, ample, affordable housing, smart growth (e.g., New Urbanism design), stable, nurturing families, social tolerance for all (regardless of gender, race, color, place of origin, creed & sexual preference), fair, cost-effective law enforcement, judicial systems & correctional facilities |
| Infrastructure & Institutions | Safe, efficient & balanced transportation system, abundant, efficient & affordable energy, ample, efficient public water & sewer systems, thriving technology network (e.g., broadband), efficient, effective & accountable government, equitable, dynamic & competitive tax structure, responsive state, regional & local governments & sound public stewardship (e.g., need-based revenues & fact-based cost management) |
Civic Way will serve leaders and groups that champion data-driven policies, far-sighted investments and responsive public initiatives most likely to honor its charitable, nonpartisan values. Civic Way believes that, to achieve enduring civic progress, our states, regions and localities must offer a dynamic economy, plentiful educational opportunities, safe, vibrant communities, affordable health care, clean air and water, modern infrastructure and innovative, accountable civic institutions. Such attributes provide the foundation for a superior and sustainable quality of life.
our model
The Civic Way model is designed to broaden civic engagement, strengthen civic leadership, enhance governance, and remind citizens that government belongs to them. It entails a closed system that will enable communities to:
- See It – Illuminate issues that shape our future (e.g., jobs, education, community, health care, environment, infrastructure and governance)
- Fix It – Inspire, engage and mobilize citizens to fix the problems they see
- Own It – Prepare our emerging leaders for the challenges of governance
- Track It – Hold our governments and other civic institutions accountable
This model will spur better governance and other civic reforms at the local level, but also galvanize a collaborative national network of local civic action groups. As the national network grows, it will share best practices, expand training programs and build a portfolio of efficient, flexible civic data products.
our organization
Civic Way is an independent, non-partisan nonprofit founded to improve local governance, and galvanize enlightened civic engagement and leadership from the ground up. Organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, it will fulfill its civic mission and satisfy applicable federal Internal Revenue Service requirements for maintaining its tax-exempt status. Since Civic Way is exempt from federal income taxes, any contributions it receives are deductible for income tax purposes.
Civic Way’s leaders have dedicated their lives to improving their communities—most have held public office or led nonprofits—and want to share their insights with emerging activists, leaders and executives. Together, they represent regions throughout the US as well as many professions and disciplines (e.g., education, public service, financial services, healthcare, business, law and accounting).
| Person | Professional Credentials | Academic Credentials |
|---|---|---|
| Sharon Murphy President Houston, TX | Partner, McConnell, Jones, Lanier & Murphy, a large public accounting and management advisory firm. Over 35 years of professional management experience in the public and private sectors. | MBA in Finance, Clark Atlanta University. |
| Betsy Reveal Vice President Minneapolis, Minnesota | A management consultant and financial advisor with over 40 years of public and nonprofit management experience, including CFO for Amtrak, DC, Philadelphia, Seattle, Harvard JFK School and the UN Foundation. | MPA from Harvard University. |
| Gary Levinbook Treasurer Denver, Colorado | Partner with Ernst & Young’s Transaction Advisory Services (recently retired) and over 35 years of consulting, financial management and accounting experience. | MBA from University of Miami and CPA. |
| Jennie Wahl Secretary Durham, North Carolina | Strategic Planning Specialist for Duke University Hospital with over 20 years of health care management experience. | MBA from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. |
| Dorinda Floyd Washington, DC | Chief Administrative Officer for DC's Transportation Department, ex-CFO for the Colorado Revenue Department and ex-Chief Operating Officer for Milwaukee's Public Works Department, with over 25 years of public sector management experience. | MA in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin. |
| Timothy Hagan Cleveland, Ohio | Over 40 years of civic leadership, including 24 years as a Cuyahoga County Commissioner (12 years as President of the Board) and service on several national and local civic boards (e.g., the RFK Foundation and Cleveland Metro Hospital). | BA Political Science from Cleveland State University. |
| William Kuehling St. Louis, Missouri | Senior Partner at Thompson Coburn LLP with over 35 years of legal and public sector experience (e.g., St. Louis Public Safety Director and St. Louis Board of Education member). | MBA from Washington University and JD from Georgetown University. |
| Jeffry Melville Seattle, Washington | Financial manager with Boeing and over 30 years of professional experience in the private and public sectors, including Weyerhaeuser, Arthur Andersen and Price Waterhouse. | MBA from University of Colorado, CPA and CFA. |
| Mack Pearsall Asheville, North Carolina | President, Pearsall Operating Company, a holding company for hotels, auto dealerships and other ventures, former Vice-Chair of the North Carolina Progress Board and long-time civic leader. | JD from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. |
| Karl Singleton Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Senior Advisor to the Mayor of the City of Harrisburg and over 15 years of experience as and educator and school administrator. | MA in Education and BS in Secondary Education from Clarion University. |
The board makes policy decisions that guide Civic Way’s operations. It sets organizational policies, oversees the Executive Director, approves major contracts and monitors activities. It has adopted a business plan as well as bylaws and other policies governing board authority, selection and meetings, managerial duties and operating controls.
our team
Bob Melville, Civic Way’s founder, has over 45 years of public sector experience, with an MPA and JD. He managed government consulting projects for two national firms, including PWC, for 13 years. He has helped many public sector agencies, including federal entities (e.g., Amtrak and Interior), states (e.g., Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Puerto Rico), cities (e.g., Los Angeles, St. Louis, San Antonio and Denver), counties (e.g., Orange and Hillsborough), and others (e.g., District of Columbia, Chicago Public Schools, Denver Regional Transportation District and South Broward Hospital District). He also has served many governing boards (e.g., community college, public pension board and health care agency).
Civic Way has assembled a large team of dedicated professionals with a life-long commitment to the public sector, and extensive experience with states, localities and nonprofits throughout the US. As such, Civic Way understands what it takes to make government accountable, civic leaders effective and communities more competitive. To find an advisor for your community, just scan the Civic Way resources listed below.
| Name | Area | Current Status | Career Summary | Special Expertise | Other Credentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Anderson | Charlotte | Principal, Andiaz Group | Project manager for state and local agencies (e.g., colleges, schools, cities and counties) and CIO for large utility firms | State and local government, utilities, technology and broadband | MBA |
| Larry Avila | Cleveland | Independent management consultant | Accounting and financial management for large public transit system and project manager for financial, payment and capital systems | Public sector accounting, revenue management, budgeting and transit | BA, Accounting |
| Dempsey Benton | Raleigh | Independent management consultant | Proven executive public sector management experience, including city and state agencies | Municipal operations, environment, health and human services | MBA |
| Joan Bray | St. Louis | Civic leader | Nonprofit executive, term-limited state legislator (Senator and Representative), adjunct faculty, nonprofit board member and journalist | Strategic communications and urban planning | MA |
| Ben Brown | Asheville | Partner, PlaceMakers | Communications advisor for urban planning firm & many public and non-profit enities and ex-journalist (e.g., USA TODAY) | Strategic communications and urban planning | MA |
| Kelly Clark Boldt | Chapel Hill | Independent financial advisor | Financial manager and advisor for public and non-profit entities, including cities, states and educational entities | Public finance, capital project management and real estate | MPA, MA Public Policy |
| Courtney Crowder | Raleigh | Principal, Crowder Consulting | State government experience (e.g., Governor's Office) and strategic communications work for private firms | Public affairs, government relations and political strategy | MA |
| JB Culpepper | Chapel Hill | Independent planning consultant | Ex-city Planning Director, with broad growth management, comprehensive planning and neighborhood planning experience | Small area planning, transportation and affordable housing | Master Urban Regional Planning |
| Matt Dhillon | Los Angeles | Principal, Dhillon Management Services | Extensive local government management, operations improvement and project management experience | Public safety, public works, parks, recreation, community development and service costing | MPA |
| Emilio Echave | Charlotte | Managing Director, Blue Moon Rising | Founder or co-founder of health care start-ups and senior executive with wireless firms (e.g., AT&T) | Accounting, finance, sales, distribution and supply chain management | MBA and CPA |
| Ira Forman | DC | Independent consultant and faculty | Senior level federal government and nonprofit management experience, including US State Department and US Office of Personnel | Public and nonprofit sector management, human resources and anti-semitism training | MBA |
| Wilfredo Honores | Charlotte | Independent management consultant | Executive management for Baker Hughes and other public and private sector energy entities (quality control, construction, safety and security) | Project management, public utilities and EPA/OSHA compliance | |
| Mike Koetting | Chicago | Health Care Consultant | VP of Planning at University of Chicago Medical Center and Deputy Director for Planning at Illinois Department of Health and Family Services | Healthcare planning, hospital administration and Medicaid expansion and administration | PhD in Sociology from Harvard with healthcare specialization |
| Doug McArthur | Denver | Senior Manager, Oracle | Senior management experience (e.g., Oracle and PWC) and strategic technology expertise (e.g., AB, BP, Exxon, Egypt, S&P and Sprint) | Strategic management, software marketing and cloud consulting | MBA |
| Henry McKoy | Durham | Professor and Entrepreneurship Director, NCCU Business School | Assistant Secretary of Commerce for state, banking executive (operations, finance and technology) and entrepreneur | Public policy, community development, finance and nonprofit leadership | PhD, MS |
| Wes Melville | DC | Independent business consultant | Business planning, marketing and operations consulting for public and private sectors (e.g., Booz Allen Hamilton, ASHOKA and China-based marketing firm) | Strategic planning, marketing and business process improvement | MBA |
| Travis Miller | Boston | Independent public sector consultant | Public sector consultant (planning, assessing and improving public service delivery, operations and management) | Public safety, public finance and economic analysis | MS, Public Policy |
| David Nwokocha | Raleigh | Managing Director, XCEL Consulting | Management consultant and private executive (Strategy Director, Product Manager and Sales Manager) | Leadership development, talent management, process improvement and technology | MBA |
| Lindsay Pace | Chattanooga | Environmental consultant | Voter engagement and environmental action consulting and nonprofit management (e.g., Clean TN) | Non-profit management and environmental education | BS, Sociology |
| Betsy Reveal | St. Paul | Independent management consultant | Project manager for public sector entities and senior executive experience (e.g., CFO for Amtrak, DC, Philadelphia, Seattle, JFK School & UN Foundation) | Public finance, budgeting, human services and change management | MPA and MSW |
| Dennis Roche | Cleveland | Independent consultant and board member (Medical Mutual) | COO, Greater Cleveland Growth Association, campaign manager for stadium financing and CFO for local government entities | Community marketing, economic development, public sector budgeting and public finance | MA Accounting and CPA |
| Kari Sederburg | Lansing | Healthy Aging Director, MI Health Endowment Fund | Manager and program director for state government and nonprofit aging and health care entities | State health care, aging and budget management | MPA |
| Peg Seibel | Cleveland | Civic volunteer | Public school principal and teacher for diverse student populations and transition leader for closed schools | Public education (K-12) and civic engagement | MEA |
| Karl Singleton | Harrisburg | Independent diversity consultant | Mayoral advisor, school administrator and community leader | Civic leadership, civic engagement and diversity management | MA, Education |
| Mike Sudsina | Cleveland | Principal, Sudsina and Associates | Financial advisor for many cities, counties, schools and special districts, and countless public financings | Public finance, debt structuring and credit rating presentations | MBA and CPA |
| Robbyn Wahby | St. Louis | Executive Director, Missouri Charter Public School Commission | Deputy Chief of Staff, City of St. Louis and manager for other civic entities (e.g., University of Missouri-St. Louis, Family Investment Trust and CORO) | Public administration, public policy, public education, leadership development and technology | MA, Public Policy Administration |
| Richard Watkins | Chapel Hill | Founder, Span and Faculty, UNC-Chapel Hill | Young scholar development (e.g., research, graduate program and community service support) | Project management, data analysis, survey design and entrepreneurship | PhD |
| Al Yates | Fort Collins | Advisor, Bohemian Companies | Senior level leadership for universities, public boards and nonprofits (e.g., President Emeritus, Colorado State University) | Public policy, higher education, health care and executive transition | PhD |