Derek Ferland, County Manager of Sullivan County, New Hampshire

"Mission, People, and Process"

What does it take to build trust, inspire collaboration, and drive meaningful change in our communities?

This week on Community Catalysts, I interview Derek Ferland, County Manager of Sullivan County, New Hampshire, who shares his journey from military service to municipal leadership. He shares how “mission, people, and process” are at the heart of his approach.

If you haven’t served, you may be as surprised as I was to learn that Derek’s military training didn’t just emphasize discipline and following orders—it also taught the importance of collaboration. As Derek says, “When you’re not being shot at, you have time to think and seek input.” This is a powerful leadership insight, that even in structured environments, listening and teamwork are essential to improvement and progress. It’s the kind of lesson that can make you fundamentally rethink how you lead in your own community.

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