Upstart Municipal Management is built upon a simple premise: every community deserves access to professional, high-quality city management, regardless of tax base. Smaller Texas municipalities face increasing demands but often lack the resources to hire full-time, experienced administrators.
Upstart addresses this need through two pathways: 1) We provide part-time contract administrators who offer immediate expertise; and 2) we connect communities to full-time emerging professionals, who work for moderate salaries as they receive ongoing mentorship from seasoned managers.
This approach strengthens a city’s capacity today - at reduced cost - while developing the next generation of municipal leaders for the future.
About Upstart Municipal Management
Why Cities Choose Upstart:
Upstart is not a conventional consulting firm. We do not deliver reports and then disappear when it’s time for implementation.
We are here for the long haul.
We work alongside your community to support elected officials, staff, and residents as we help bring your plans from vision to reality. Our model is intentionally affordable so that small and growing communities can access the same professional capacity as larger cities. By picking from services offered by both seasoned administrators and emerging professionals, each community benefits from a blend of experience and fresh perspective.
Upstart is designed for cities that want to lead with purpose and for leaders who want a partner who is fully committed to their success.
Principles That Shape Our Work
These principles reflect our belief in strong policy leadership, accessible professional administration, and the untapped potential within both cities and the people who serve them.
Administration Should Serve Policy
Elected officials set the vision, and administrators bring that vision to life. Upstart strengthens policymaking by managing daily operations, providing accurate information, and keeping the organization running smoothly so leaders can stay focused on governing and long-term priorities.
Professional Governance is a Right, not a Luxury
Every community deserves access to skilled administrative support, regardless of size or budget. Upstart offers high-quality management through an affordable, partnership-focused model that brings experienced professionals within reach. Our approach delivers continuity, expertise, and dependable support that helps small and growing cities operate with confidence.
Places and People Hold Untapped Potential
Communities and emerging professionals both hold tremendous capacity for growth. Upstart connects cities with talented early-career administrators who are supported by experienced mentors, creating an environment where creativity, expertise, and long-term strength can fully develop.
Harrison Willeford
Harrison founded Upstart Municipal Management with a simple conviction: small and growing communities deserve professional administrative support just as much as large, well-funded cities do.
Prior to his municipal service, Harrison served seven years as an active-duty officer in the United States Marine Corps. His time in uniform taught him a lesson that shapes Upstart’s philosophy today: solid administrative foundations are essential for mission success, and poor administration places unnecessary pressure on leaders, teams, and entire organizations.
After leaving the military, Harrison earned his Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas and transitioned into municipal government, beginning his civilian career at the Town of Northlake. There, he witnessed firsthand how rapid population growth demands stable administrative leadership.
Later, as the lead administrator in the City of Paradise, Texas, he saw how even small communities with limited budgets could dramatically expand their capacity when clear strategic guidance is combined with thoughtful and deliberate administration.
These experiences shaped Upstart’s core philosophy: cities deserve the bandwidth to think clearly and govern confidently. External pressures will always exist, but internal pressures — limited staff, insufficient expertise, lack of administrative continuity — can be dramatically reduced. Through hands-on support, long-term partnership, and a model that cultivates emerging public servants, Harrison helps communities make deliberate, informed decisions without being overwhelmed by day-to-day constraints.
A fourth-generation Texan and third-generation military veteran, Harrison believes deeply in public service, democratic institutions, and the right of local communities to determine their own future.
Founder & Managing Director
Contact Us
Whether you’re facing a challenge or planning for the future, Upstart is ready to partner with you. Let’s start the conversation.