As part of the Women’s History Month/Women in Leadership series, this episode features Deputy Chief Linnea Rivard of the Roswell Police Department. The conversation explores leadership in public safety and what it means to serve in a profession that has traditionally been male-dominated. Deputy Chief Rivard shares insights on responsibility, resilience, and the evolving role of women in law enforcement, highlighting how strong leadership helps shape both department culture and community trust.

This episode continues the retreat series, highlighting how the Mayor and Council build shared understanding and work collaboratively to serve the community.

Councilmember Jennifer Philippi, newly elected to City Council, joins the conversation to share her perspective as a first-time retreat participant. She reflects on how the retreat helped clarify the City’s decision-making process, strengthened relationships between Council and staff, and provided deeper insight into major issues facing Roswell—from public safety and infrastructure to long-term planning and communication with residents.

Together, we discuss why these retreats matter, how open dialogue and trust shape better outcomes, and what excites her most about serving the community moving forward.

This episode is part of the retreat series, which shares different perspectives on how the City plans, leads, and works together to serve the community.

Councilmember Sarah Beeson, Mayor Pro Tem, joins the conversation. Elected in 2022, she has attended multiple Mayor and Council retreats, offering valuable insight into how the retreat process influences decision-making and shapes City priorities over time.

Welcome to the first episode of Inside Roswell, a podcast offering a closer look at how the City of Roswell operates through conversations with the people doing the work every day.

This episode focuses on leadership and alignment, beginning with the City’s recent Mayor and Council retreat. Joe Pennino, one of Roswell’s three Deputy City Administrators, joins the discussion.

Joe oversees the Planning, Performance, and Innovation team, which includes Human Resources, Communications & Engagement, and Information Technology. He also helped facilitate the retreat and shares insight into its purpose, key outcomes, and how it helps guide the City’s priorities moving forward.