Episode #194: John Boehm – Building Talent Pipelines Through Local Government Internships

John Boehm, Assistant to the City Manager at Palm Beach Gardens, joins host Steve Vancore to discuss the success of the FCCMA municipal internship program and its impact on both students and host communities. John shares his city's positive experience hosting an intern who contributed to an economic development project while gaining real-world exposure to public service through shadowing and team engagement.The conversation highlights the value of paid, structured internships as a tool for both workforce development and internal staff inspiration. John reflects on his own career path through an FCCMA internship and emphasizes the importance of mentorship, matching intern skills with project needs, and providing meaningful, hands-on work.The two discuss the competitive nature of the FCCMA’s stipend-based internship funding program, which encourages cities to create and prioritize internship opportunities. They underline how these programs strengthen the talent pipeline and help local governments meet staffing needs while cultivating the next generation of public leaders.