Winder Works is the official podcast of the City of Winder, Georgia, bringing you behind the scenes of the people, projects, and progress shaping our community. Hosted by City administrator Jonathan Lynn, each episode dives into the initiatives that make Winder a great place to live, work, and visit.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this episode takes a different approach. Instead of focusing on projects or updates, City Administrator Jonathan Lynn talks about something that affects every part of the job—mental health. From the pressure of public service to handling tough conversations, emotional reactions, and the challenge of leaving work at work, he shares real examples and practical ways to manage it.
7 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
Inside the Role of Police Chief
What does a day in the life of a police officer really look like—and what does it take to lead a modern police department? In this episode, Winder Police Chief Jim Fullington shares his path from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to leading a 44-officer department serving a growing community. He breaks down the realities of policing, from responding to everyday calls to addressing common issues like theft and domestic violence, and offers practical tips residents can use to stay safe.
1 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT
Greens, Growth, and the Future of The Chimneys with Elizabeth Clarkson
In this episode of Winder Works, Jonathan Lynn talks with Elizabeth Clarkson, General Manager of The Chimneys Golf Course, about the course’s story, its city-owned roots, and what’s changed over the last few years. Elizabeth explains how the team improved operations, renovated greens, expanded programs for juniors and new golfers, and helped The Chimneys move from losses to profitability—while keeping it a public course built for the community.
2 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
Behind the Screens: How Technology Keeps Winder Working
What does it really take to keep a city running in a digital world—and protect it from threats most residents never see? In this episode, City Administrator Jonathan Lynn sits down with John Rorke, the City of Winder’s Chief Information Officer, to pull back the curtain on the technology quietly powering everyday city services.
John shares his journey from the private sector and education into local government, and explains how modern city operations—from water treatment and utilities to public safety and finance—depend on secure, reliable technology. He discusses the growing reality of cybersecurity threats, why cities are targeted daily by global attacks, and how phishing, social engineering, and AI-driven scams have become some of the most serious risks facing governments today.
1 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT
Firefighting, Leadership, and 50 Pit Vipers: Chief Matt Whiting’s Story
What does it take to serve a city for more than three decades—and still show up every day with purpose? In this episode, Winder Fire Chief Matt Whiting shares his journey from a 20-year-old part-timer to leading a modern, 42-member fire department.
Chief Whiting talks about the passion that drew him into the fire service, how Winder has changed over 33 years, and why leadership, at its core, is about trusting your team and taking care of your people. He also discusses how technology like thermal imaging cameras has transformed firefighting, the rise of battery-related fires, and why medical calls now make up the majority of the department’s workload.
1 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Behind the Scenes of Winder’s Signature Events
Ever wonder how Spooktacular comes together, how many pieces of candy it takes to keep thousands of trick-or-treaters happy, or why Winder’s events seem to get bigger every year? In this episode, Winder’s Director of Special Events, Talore Ruedt, pulls back the curtain on what it takes to plan the city’s most popular community experiences.
1 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Behind the Scenes with Public Works
Ever wonder who maintains the street signs, why the White’s Mill Trail is always packed, or what really happens when you call in a pothole? In this episode, Winder Public Works Director Clint Cannon shares what it takes to keep the city running day to day.
2 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT
Inside the Role of Customer Service
What’s it really like to run the hub where thousands of Winder residents go to pay bills, ask questions, and solve problems? In this episode, Michele Melville, Director of the City of Winder’s Customer Service Center, takes us behind the counter.
From water bills and property taxes to leak adjustments and garbage service, Michele’s team serves more than 22,000 customers with accuracy, kindness, and a steady hand—even when emotions run high. She shares her journey from cashier to director, explains how smart meter technology helps residents track their usage, and highlights the importance of empathy and active listening in every interaction.
1 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT
Captain Rob Curott Signs Off After 31 Years
In this special episode of Winder Works, retiring Winder Police Captain Rob Curott looks back on 31 years of service to the city. He shares reflections from his decades in uniform, including chasing down drug dealers, working the 1996 Olympics, and the time he watched Animal Control wrestle a furious muskrat.
1 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
What’s Going On With Winder’s Roads? A Q&A with City Engineer Gerard Brewer
City Engineer Gerard Brewer discusses Winder's road maintenance, explaining how the engineering team addresses infrastructure challenges, growth, and resource constraints to maximize taxpayer value in this interview.
2 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT
Inside the Role of City Utilities
Utilities Director Horace Gee explains the complex operations of Winder's utility systems, including water, gas, and wastewater management, and details the city's innovative reservoir project to ensure future water security; this is an interview.
1 May 2025
Inside the Role of City Planning & Development
Beth Reynolds, Director of Development Services for the City of Winder, discusses why planning and development matters for a city. She shares her journey into city planning and zoning, and even a few fun facts—like her love for kayaking and mapping historic cemeteries.
8 Apr 2025
Inside the Role of a City Administrator
Winder’s City Administrator Jonathan Lynn discusses what it takes to keep the City running smoothly. He talks about how he got his start in city government and the path that led him to Winder.
29 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Self-Sufficiency Rhymes with Wimberly
Executive Director of the Winder Housing Authority Michelle Yawn shares the incredible turnaround for the organization, and the City's partnership efforts in a $1 million grant. Yawn's decade of service, leadership, and vision has come to fruition through the Wimberly Center, a community hub delivering education, food security, child enrichment, job training, and other community development services to an estimated 8,000 people annually and up to 150 children daily.
1 Oct 2024TRANSCRIPT
Mobilizing In Response to the Apalachee High School Tragedy
Angela Yarman from the Barrow Community Foundation talks about the importance of the impact her organization is making in Winder and the surrounding area, and how the Barrow Crisis Fund was quickly mobilized in response to the recent tragedy at Apalachee High School.
3 Sept 2024TRANSCRIPT
Miss Georgia USA's Journey from Winder to Winning the Crown
Winder native Emmaline Farmer sits down with us to chat about her pageant journey to becoming 2024's Miss Georgia USA, and why she is an advocate for healthy living after facing a health scare with her father.
2 Aug 2024TRANSCRIPT
Meet Barrow County's New School Superintendent Dallas LeDuff
In this first episode of our podcast, Communications Director Katie Strickland chats with Barrow County School System's new superintendent Dallas LeDuff about the new school year, what parents can expect, and what he believes is the biggest challenge right now in education.
Inside a recent episode
Mental Health, Pressure, and Showing Up Every Day
Published 8 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] So this month, it's our opportunity to recognize that reality, possibly normalize the conversation that people would have and just reinforce a simple truth that taking care of your mental health is not separate from the day job, whatever that job is, but it's what allows you to continue doing it well. So here we go. Now, if you're working local government, you already understand it a little bit because you live it, you experience it, and some of us may even disown it to an extent. It's not about something that you can clock in and clock out of. The stress, the mental health component, it's something that you carry with you. […]
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