Consultant Spotlight: Amy Howorth

Amy Howorth is an MRG affiliated consultant leveraging nearly 20 years of experience as an elected official to help Councils and Boards with governance and leadership training. She has been elected to the City Council in Manhattan Beach three times, served as Mayor three times and has been elected twice to the Manhattan Beach School Board.

What should your clients know about you from the start? What is your superpower?

As a Council member myself, and as someone who cares very much about the community and using public dollars wisely, I would want that client to know that I’m dialed in. I really get to know each client’s needs, and I tailor my approach to be as value-additive as possible.

I have a lot of expertise in the public sector, but an insight I bring to consulting is that I have a unique perspective into the mind of an elected official. Elected Officials trust me because I know what it’s like to be in their shoes: Some of my clients have called me the “Council Whisperer.”   They listen when I tell them how I would handle a situation and that helps smooth communication and improve relations between Council and staff.

In my work, I always conduct one-on-one calls with Council members. I try to learn about the situation at hand without judgment or taking sides, and I help them navigate their own situation.  So much of what Council members do is in public, and it’s not very comfortable to be vulnerable or explore compromise in public. Those kickoff one-on-one meetings are where a lot of the good stuff happens.

Do you have a motto, a word, or a phrase that people tend to associate with you?

I’ve got a bit of a shtick. Ever since I was a freshman in college, I’ve worn a lot of pink (and my entire dorm décor was pink). My mother would never let me have a pink bedroom because she didn’t want me to be too girly which of course meant that I became uber girly. That was my rebellious act! And so I’m always wearing pink—It’s become my brand.

I think the color pink has been helpful in my career because it’s disarming, and makes people smile. It’s been an absolute asset, so much so that during my last campaign, my name on the campaign signs was bright pink. I think it tells people that I show up authentically, as myself, all the way, head to toe.

What other career paths have called to you in life?

I love what I do. It is what I was called to do.

I started my career as a photo editor, working in the background, getting photos for magazines or books. I loved what I did and I could’ve pursued that path: doing something in the creative field, whether it’s photography, set design or writing.

I also seriously considered becoming a librarian. I was really tempted to follow that path because I can go really deep into research and cataloging. At home, I’ve even saved everything that my husband and the kids have ever done in a family archive closet. I think I have the right mentality for a librarian.

What inspires you about the public sector? What do you find inspiring about this work?

Oh, everything! I’m very inspired by the Manhattan Beach staff.  Our people give their all, are so professional and the community well and provide everyone with great information. I’m inspired by our staff every day.

Another source of inspiration is when youth get involved in local government. I’m inspired by moments when Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops attend City Council meetings and engage or when high school students come to Council with suggestions.

I remember the night of our last Council session during my first City Council term.  The meeting let out late. It was quiet and as I walked out of City Hall, I felt humbled.  I thought, ‘I had something to do with all this’. It was inspiring to be even a small part of all the work that goes into running a city.

What made you want to work with MRG?

I love this question. I will say the reason is Mary Egan. I first met her when we hired her in Manhattan Beach. Early in my first term, we had a City Manager who was ready for an evaluation. The Council that I was on was intent on getting the process right and wanted to hire an outside consultant to facilitate the process and an Attorney recommended MRG.

So, Mary came in and I was immediately inspired by her. I’m not easily impressed by intelligence, but Mary impressed me.  She didn’t sugarcoat anything. She pulled out key insights and brought them to our attention. I had never seen anyone really do it like that. I thought to myself, ‘this woman is amazing! I can learn a lot from her’. I think every individual Council member definitely felt supported by her.

A few years later, I reached the soft term limit for my service in the Manhattan Beach City Council and I found myself unsure of what I wanted to do next. It was important to me that I make use of the valuable experiences I had as a 16-year elected official and though I was offered several lobbying positions, I didn’t want that path. So, I gave Mary a call to ask her, “What should I do next?” She immediately replied: “You’re going to come work with me” – I knew immediately that she was right!

The work I’ve been doing at MRG has made me a better Councilmember. I’ve learned so much from all the Councils I’ve worked with and of course, all of the folks at MRG. It’s been the best thing!

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