Forward Together

Join nine other fellow ACMs on a year-long leadership development journey — Forward Partners Fellowship.

Apply Now

Develop Your Leadership

Over the course of a year, you’ll develop new tools to lead yourself, win the battle against burnout, and create a thriving team culture.

Build Your Circle

We’ll help you develop deep connections with fellow leaders on the journey. We want your Fellowship group to continue forward together long after the year is over.

Strategically Solve Problems

We’ll bring strategic coaching to help with the big challenges you wrestle with as you lead multiple departments in a growing city.

The Fellowship will begin in January 2026 with a full-day, in-person retreat in Georgetown, Texas. This will be a time to get away and build the foundation of this group — relationships. After that, we’ll meet virtually each month for 2 hours. Those two hours will be designed to invest in the three pillars (Leadership, Circle, Strategy).

Full-Day In-Person Retreat*
11 Monthly 2-Hour Virtual Sessions
Access to The Leadership Foundation Course
116-Page Leadership Foundation Course Workbook
2 Personality Assessments (Enneagram + CliftonStrengths)
Custom Personality Profile
Advanced copy of Chad’s book Win the Battle Against Burnout (April 2026)
In-Person 2026 TCMA & ICMA Group Events

*January 7th, 2026 in Georgetown, Texas. This is the most vital part of The Fellowship. If you cannot attend the retreat in person, please do not apply. The investment includes all of the list above plus breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the in-person retreat, and some pretty cool swag (if we do say so ourselves). Does not include hotel or travel.

The Fellowship is limited to just 10 members.

Our first Fellowship Group is a pilot group limited to Assistant or Deputy City Managers, and we are limiting the groups to a maximum of 10 to ensure everyone gets the most value possible. Submit your application below to be one of our first ten Fellowship members. Once you apply, we’ll review applications and choose the first group. We’ll work with the members to invoice them or their cities for the program.

Investment: $3,500

Apply Now

Fellowship Application

Please remember this pilot group is limited to Assistant and Deputy City Managers. Later in 2026, we will open up Fellowship groups specifically for City Managers and for Directors.

Again, if you cannot attend the in-person retreat on January 7th in Georgetown, Texas, please do not apply.