The Reins Taking Over

Kevin Barnhardt knew the County of Berks was facing a tall task last summer. With then-Chief Administrative Officer Ron Seaman announcing his plans to retire the following spring, County officials would need to find a new captain to steer the ship.

Seaman possessed knowledge that could only be accessed by spending decades serving in various roles within local government. To find someone with that type of background, passion and knowledge of the County’s people, processes and projects felt nearly impossible.

Then, like most of his best ideas, ingenuity struck Barnhardt while he was riding his bike. He could apply.

So instead of gearing up to run for his fifth term as a County Commissioner, Barnhardt submitted his application to be the County’s new Chief Operations Officer.

A few floors lower, Larry Medaglia felt a similar urge to rise to the occasion. After 27 years as the Berks County Register of Wills, Medaglia was hoping to vie for one more term before retiring. But the allure of this new professional challenge had him rethinking those plans.

“There are so many really exciting things happening in this county and County government is right in the thick of it,” he said. “I’ve always said that everything I had done professionally over the years had led me to the next step. This was now a chance to utilize those connections and experiences in a way that could benefit a much broader base.”

After a six-month hiring process that involved numerous interviews, the County Commissioners announced in December that Barnhardt would be the new Chief Operations Officer and Medaglia would be the Deputy COO. Both men resigned from their elected positions in January to spend a few months learning from Seaman before his retirement on April 11.

Barnhardt said he wouldn’t be surprised if there was at least a bit of apprehension about how the two strong-willed, Type A personalities would mesh in their new roles, but so far, it’s been a dream.

“We’re like a hand and glove here,” he said.

Medaglia agreed, noting that for two elected officials who never worked together previously, they’ve quickly found their rhythm. With a significant assist from their executive assistants Jessica Blauser and Brittney Frankowski, the new team is doing its best to hit the ground running under the guidance of Seaman. Or as Medaglia aptly referred to him, Master Yoda.

But even Seaman has been impressed with the uncanny chemistry that’s blossomed between his two successors.

“The dovetailing I see taking place, where one person fits in very nicely in a particular niche that the other one doesn’t, is a tremendous asset that I didn’t have,” he said. “The knowledge that they bring with them was unparalleled in relation to the other potential applicants. And they bring an interest and zeal that I only hope is sustainable.” continued on next page

Constant flow of information

While Barnhardt and Medaglia have synched up smoothly, neither was fully prepared for what awaited them in their new positions. Whether comparing it to trying to drink from the forceful spray of a fire hose or discovering the true mass of the iceberg that had been hiding beneath the water, the blistering pace of the job isn’t for the faint of heart.

“The amount of information that comes at you in a day is mind-boggling,” Medaglia said. “You think you have an idea of what’s in store for you, but most days never resemble what the morning calendar looked like. But that’s the nature of a very large, diverse and dynamic organization.”

Barnhardt thought he had a decent grasp on the County’s various projects and initiatives when he was a commissioner, but he never realized all the administrative tasks Seaman was also juggling behind the scenes. He said his biggest challenge so far has been determining how to prioritize all of those moving pieces each day and still produce results.

But the biggest piece of advice he’s received from Seaman is to simply slow down.

“You have to sip instead of gulp,” Barnhardt said. “And if you’re going to sink or swim, you’ve got to delegate. You can’t just handle it all because there’s this constant churning of things.”

Barnhardt and Medaglia both praised the County’s various department heads for the leadership, expertise and energy they pour into their demanding roles. Barnhardt said one of his main objectives as COO is to provide the department heads with the support they need.

“They’re all tremendous and dedicated people,” he said. “And when they need help, we need to be there to support them and be their advocate to the Board, because we believe in them. I can’t say enough about some of these people. I really don’t know how some of them do it.”

Even though their first few weeks have been a whirlwind, both Barnhardt and Medaglia said they are enjoying the wild ride and are eager to continue to learn and move the County forward. And hopefully, when it eventually becomes time for them to pass along the well-worn reins, they’ll have left their own unique stamps in the County of Berks history book.

“No matter what you do, your goal should be to do the right thing and to bring integrity to every choice that you make,” Medaglia said. “The Commissioners are the ones who establish the vision for the organization and our job is to execute that vision. To the extent that we have success, I’ll know that I had some part in that, and that’s a very rewarding thing.

Age: 63

Lives in South Heidelberg Township

Prior Positions: County Commissioner (15 years), Mayor of West Reading (9 years), and West Reading Borough Council (15 years).

Other Work Experience: Food wholesale

Barnhardt loves to clear his mind by being active, whether its swimming at the YMCA, riding his bike or walking his beloved dog, Buddy. “I do some of my best thinking when I’m not sitting in the office.”

Larry Medaglia

Age: 60

Lives in Wyomissing

Prior Positions: Register of Wills (27 years), Administrator in the DA’s Office (4 years), and Wyomissing Hills Borough Council (2 years)

Other Work Experience:

Co-owner of a painting and contracting business

Medaglia served as a youth football coach for 22 years and said that experience lends well to his new role in County leadership. “You rely on specific coaches for the talents they bring and then you try to synthesize that into something that is going to lead to success. And you also learn that there is never a substitute for preparation or hard work.”

Ronald Seaman

Age: 70

Lives in Albany Township

Prior Positions: County Chief Administrative Officer (6.5 years), South Heidelberg Township Manager (13 years), Chief Clerk, HR manager, and other County government positions (23 years and 9 months)

Other Work Experience:

Constable, Truck Driver, Realtor and more

In addition to the wide variety of jobs he’s held, Seaman’s also dabbled as a semi-professional magician, hosted mobile record shows, sings with both his church choir and the Blue Mountain Heritage Chorus, and is learning to play the bagpipes to join the Hawk Mountain Highlanders. “I’ve done so many different things and there are so many more I want to do. Life holds so much out there, and I want to taste a part of as much of it as I can.”