UpNext

Introduction

MMANC is thrilled to host UpNext, a leadership community designed for municipal leaders in cities, counties and special districts in leadership roles like Assistant City Manager, Assistant County Executive, Deputy City Manager/County Executive, Director, Assistant/Deputy Director, and Assistant to the City Manager – or like titles at your agency.

UpNext aims to serve these executive leaders by providing a structured community through small cohorts of up to 20 professionals who meet for curated personal and professional development, individual coaching, and to support one another as they prepare to take the next step in their careers.

New for 2026: longer monthly sessions and a mid-year event to allow for even more connection and learning!

Program Details

UpNext Cohorts will meet over 9 months, generally on the second Thursday (Cohort 1) or Friday (Cohort 2) of each month for a 3-hour cohort session with professional development training and facilitated breakout sessions. We’ll kick off the program with an in-person, full-day launch retreat to deepen connections, support and learning and will celebrate your progress with an in-person closing session at the MMANC Annual Conference.

Examples of session programming include:

• Leadership Style and Personality Assessments
• Personal & Leadership Resiliency
• Executive Presence
• Courageous Conversations
• Navigating Conflict
• Decision making as an Executive
• Behind the Curtain Conversations with Current and Former City Managers and other experts
• MasterMind Problem Solving and Group Support

As a participant in UpNext, you will also receive 4 personal one-on-one coaching sessions with one of the Cohort facilitators, Cathy Capriola and Lisa Alessi.

Eligibility Requirements

UpNext is open to those local government professionals serving the public sector at cities, counties and special districts in leadership roles such as as Assistant City Manager, Assistant County Executive, Deputy City Manager/County Executive, Director, Assistant/Deputy Director, and Assistant to the City Manager – or like titles at your agency.

We welcome applications from any public sector employee employed in California! Participants must be current members of MMANC or MMASC.

Applications

Due to the demand for this program, UpNext Cohorts will be selected through an application process. Applications for the 2026 cohorts are now closed. Applicants for the 2026 cohorts will hear the status of their application by December 1, 2025.

Aside from serving in a current role as defined above, prior leadership development work, leading a team or having to work on behalf of a City or County Manager and thoroughness of your application answers are helpful in considering your application. Please note: We ask some demographic questions as we would like a balance of experience, both personal and professional, to ensure that the program is a richer experience for all.

Cost

The 2026 cost of UpNext is $4,500 for the year. This includes four one-on-one executive coaching sessions, over 24 hours of virtual facilitated content, leadership assessments, access to dinners and community building activities for UpNexters throughout the year and registration for the in-person kickoff, the mid-year retreat and registration for the 2026 MMANC Annual Conference.