Ever wonder how Spooktacular comes together, how many pieces of candy it takes to keep thousands of trick-or-treaters happy, or why Winder’s events seem to get bigger every year? In this episode, Winder’s Director of Special Events, Talore Ruedt, pulls back the curtain on what it takes to plan the city’s most popular community experiences.

Ever wonder who maintains the street signs, why the White’s Mill Trail is always packed, or what really happens when you call in a pothole? In this episode, Winder Public Works Director Clint Cannon shares what it takes to keep the city running day to day.

What’s it really like to run the hub where thousands of Winder residents go to pay bills, ask questions, and solve problems? In this episode, Michele Melville, Director of the City of Winder’s Customer Service Center, takes us behind the counter. From water bills and property taxes to leak adjustments and garbage service, Michele’s team serves more than 22,000 customers with accuracy, kindness, and a steady hand—even when emotions run high. She shares her journey from cashier to director, explains how smart meter technology helps residents track their usage, and highlights the importance of empathy and active listening in every interaction.

In this special episode of Winder Works, retiring Winder Police Captain Rob Curott looks back on 31 years of service to the city. He shares reflections from his decades in uniform, including chasing down drug dealers, working the 1996 Olympics, and the time he watched Animal Control wrestle a furious muskrat.

Ever wonder who decides which streets get paved—or why that traffic light never seems to be in sync? In this episode, Winder City Engineer Gerard Brewer pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to keep a city running. From potholes to pavement condition scores, from drainage to development, Gerard explains how the engineering team is tackling Winder’s aging roads, explosive growth, and limited resources—all while staying laser-focused on getting the most value for your tax dollars.

Horace Gee, Utilities Director for the City of Winder, discusses what it really takes to keep a city running behind the scenes. From managing water, gas, wastewater, and stormwater systems to preparing for population growth and extreme weather, Horace offers an eye-opening look at the essential work his team does every single day. He also shares one of the city’s most ambitious projects to date: converting an old rock quarry into a billion-gallon water reservoir that will secure Winder’s water future for decades. Learn how this forward-thinking initiative—and smart reuse of treated wastewater—supports sustainable growth while protecting vital natural resources.

Beth Reynolds, Director of Development Services for the City of Winder, discusses why planning and development matters for a city. She shares her journey into city planning and zoning, and even a few fun facts—like her love for kayaking and mapping historic cemeteries.

Winder’s City Administrator Jonathan Lynn discusses what it takes to keep the City running smoothly. He talks about how he got his start in city government and the path that led him to Winder.

Executive Director of the Winder Housing Authority Michelle Yawn shares the incredible turnaround for the organization, and the City's partnership efforts in a $1 million grant. Yawn's decade of service, leadership, and vision has come to fruition through the Wimberly Center, a community hub delivering education, food security, child enrichment, job training, and other community development services to an estimated 8,000 people annually and up to 150 children daily.

Angela Yarman from the Barrow Community Foundation talks about the importance of the impact her organization is making in Winder and the surrounding area, and how the Barrow Crisis Fund was quickly mobilized in response to the recent tragedy at Apalachee High School.

Winder native Emmaline Farmer sits down with us to chat about her pageant journey to becoming 2024's Miss Georgia USA, and why she is an advocate for healthy living after facing a health scare with her father.

In this first episode of our podcast, Communications Director Katie Strickland chats with Barrow County School System's new superintendent Dallas LeDuff about the new school year, what parents can expect, and what he believes is the biggest challenge right now in education.