In this episode, host Corey Nathan reconnects with Lisa Willey Knierim—Mayor of Cranbury Township, NJ, President of 1880 Hospitality, and high school pal. Lisa shares powerful insights into the realities of small-town governance, the impact of state housing mandates, and the ripple effects of national political discourse. From boardrooms to township meetings, she brings candor, civility, and a healthy dose of humor to the conversation.
What We Discuss:
How national political polarization affects small-town governments.
What the Mount Laurel Doctrine means for affordable housing in NJ.
The value of listening and transparency in political leadership.
How Six Sigma strategies works in business—and public service.
Real-world consequences of recent U.S. tariff policy from a global trade professional.
Episode Highlights:
[00:03:00] The structure of Cranbury’s local government and Lisa’s role as mayor
[00:07:00] Breaking down the affordable housing mandate and land challenges
[00:14:00] How partisan behavior has filtered into local meetings
[00:24:00] Six Sigma in practice: business problem-solving that works
[00:27:00] Why abrupt tariff policy changes hurt American businesses
[00:34:00] Lisa’s close election win and continued work with her predecessor
[00:45:00] Remembering the best of our communities post-pandemic
[00:53:00] Lisa’s campaign to bring back civility in politics
Featured Quotes:
“At the local level, I wish I didn’t even have to declare my party. It feels absolutely irrelevant.” – Lisa Willey Knierim
“You’ve got to create a vanilla ice cream environment—not too spicy. Be compassionate, be practical, be human.”
“National-level problems shouldn’t be light-switch decisions.”
“It’s not that I can’t solve the problem. But I can listen. That’s halfway there.”
Resources Mentioned:
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