The Common Thread

In the final episode of The Common Thread, Governing CEO Cathilea Robinett sits down with Andrew Ginther, Mayor of Columbus, Ohio and a 2025 Governing Public Official of the Year. Mayor Ginther shares how a deep-rooted commitment to service, regional collaboration, and intentional growth has helped transform one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing cities.

In this week’s episode of The Common Thread, Governing CEO Cathilea Robinett sits down with Michael G. Adams, Kentucky’s Secretary of State and a 2025 Governing Public Official of the Year. Adams reflects on his unexpected path into election law and discusses how bipartisan collaboration, modernization, and a customer-service mindset helped reshape Kentucky’s election system.

In this week’s episode of The Common Thread, Governing CEO Cathilea Robinett sits down with Felecia Alston Green, retired Deputy CIO of DeKalb County and a 2025 Governing Public Official of the Year. Felecia reflects on her extensive career in public service, sharing how persistence, innovation, and a commitment to modernizing government systems helped transform DeKalb County. From navigating culture shock to championing cloud modernization despite years of budget hurdles, she offers candid insights on resilience, leadership, and the power of keeping the end goal in sight.

In the second episode of The Common Thread, Governing CEO Cathilea Robinett sits down with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and one of Governing’s 2025 Public Officials of the Year. William shares how growing up working in his parents’ Chinese restaurant shaped his lifelong commitment to fighting for working families, why bipartisan problem-solving is essential to holding the country together, and how he helped lead landmark national settlements in the opioid crisis. He reflects on the human stories that fuel his work, the responsibility of public officials to strengthen civic trust, and the power of relationships to shape the future of government.

In the premiere episode of The Common Thread, Governing CEO Cathilea Robinett sits down with Ted Ross, Los Angeles Chief Information Officer and one of Governing's 2025 Public Officials of the Year. Ross shares how he rose from accountant to CIO, why 9/11 changed his career path, and how he leads modernization across one of the nation’s largest cities. Stay tuned throughout the series as we highlight public leaders who are reshaping government for the better.