Leadership Academy - Session 1

Back to Calendar

Leadership Academy - Session 1

Leadership Academy - Session 1

Date: February 8-9, 2017
Time:
  • Day 1: Feb 8, 2017 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
  • Day 2: Feb 9, 2017 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: MMUA Office, 3025 Harbor Lane North, Suite 400, Plymouth, MN 55447
Get Directions
This event is now closed for online registration

The MMUA Leadership Academy is a locally-based and affordable, high-level executive leadership development course, focused on meeting the needs of Minnesota's municipal utilities. The curriculum was developed and tailored to your needs based on feedback from current and recently retired municipal utility leaders at a series of focus groups. The Academy is designed to instill key skills, awareness, and perspective that 21st Century municipal utility leaders need.

The Leadership Academy is so much more than a speaker series or training. It is true leadership development that is relevant and sustainable. In this program we will utilize time-tested content, approach and activities that will enable leaders to become aware of any executive leadership blind spots, and then to actualize a pathway for becoming a better leader.

Structure

The Leadership Academy is a two-year program designed for both current and future senior leaders. Four two-day sessions per year will be held at the MMUA office, with an allowance for travel time on both days. The first day of each session will feature a networking dinner and focused discussion. Class size is limited to 25 students.

The lifecycle of a typical session begins with prior weeks of preparation in reading, assessments and thought provoking questions. There will also be individual and team assignments that prepare you to be engaged during the session. During your time together, the group will discuss the preparation materials, accountability group reports, perform team and individual based exercises, gain insight from speakers, and frame and initiate next session homework.

In order to gain additional insight on your skills and blind spots, each participant will be asked to select an Accountability Group that will serve for the duration of the Academy. This small group will be asked questions (after each session) about your leadership and exemplification of the topics discussed. These answers will be aggregated into an Accountability Report which will give you great insight on your impact.

Curriculum

The curriculum will consist primarily of various articles and materials provided electronically. Typically, a book on leadership will be assigned for reading prior to each session. Students will go through an assessment between the first and second course sessions to help the instructor and the students understand their styles, strengths and potential deficiencies in key competencies. Students will have tasks to work on between sessions and will be expected to do some journaling.

Each session is a crucial building block in developing the skills, awareness, and perspective of a true leader.

Year One Sessions

  • Building Great Teams
  • Political Intelligence and Conflict Navigating the Minefields
  • Communications Presence of a Leader
  • Building the Toolbox of Leadership

Year Two Sessions

  • Character Mind of a Leader and Human Resource Strategies
  • Behaviors of a Leader Organization and Administration
  • Financial Leadership and Stewardship
  • Seeing the Big Picture Strategic Planning

Session One Building Great Teams

In preparation for this first session, participants will read the book “5 Dysfunctions of a Team”. The foundational concepts of this book will be utilized as a guide through discussions of the anatomy of great teams. Instructor Kent Myers will speak on the subject and bring some unique insights to the topic.

The first day will wrap up with team exercises and “thought homework for the night”. The following day, the messages will be reinforced with further discussion and team-based work to serve as the foundation for the next session. Attendees should walk away from these two days with a clear understanding of practical and real ways to not only help people work better as a team to achieve great results, but should also understand their role as a leader and how to be a great team member. 

Schedule

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
9:45 am — Registration
10:00 am - 5:00 pm — Instruction
6:00 pm — Group Dinner? (at Grizzly's connected to Country Inn & Suites)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
8:30 am - noon — Instruction

The Instructors

The primary instructor for the Academy is Kent Myers, Managing Partner of VISION Companies. Kent has over 25 years of experience providing strategic visioning, operational effectiveness, and technology alignment consulting services to global companies. He has a decade of experience working with Minnesota municipal utilities on leadership and culture development and strategic visioning. In addition to his extensive consulting practice, Kent is an adjunct professor at the Harvard Business School.

Additional Instructors

Dr. Wes Feltner, PHD, Leadership Development
Bruce Moyer, prior CFO and COO, United HealthCare

Executive Guest Speakers

Some sessions will feature guest speakers who have been through their own journey of adversity and triumph and have expertise in that session's leadership topic.

Program Cost

Each session is priced at $600, which includes books and materials as well as the cost of the group dinner. The annual cost is $2,400 and the full two-year program fee is $4,800. You can opt to pay for the full tuition ($4,800), two annual payments ($2,400 each) or by session ($600 each).

Note: Our website will only show the $600 charge at check-out. If you opt for the full or annual payments, select the BILL UTILITY OR COMPANY option and we will bill you accordingly.

Scholarship Opportunity

MMUA will offer three partial scholarships to applicants from member utilities serving 2,500 customers or less. Each scholarship will reduce the cost of the program by $150 per session, or $600 per year for the full two-year term of the course. Scholarships will be awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis. A member utility will be eligible for a scholarship for only one student at a time. Students are expected to complete the full two-year program.

To apply, students must complete the Scholarship Application Form on page three.

Recognition

Students who fulfill all course requirements will receive recognition from the Academy that attests to the various competencies they have demonstrated.

Hotel Information

MMUA has made special arrangements with two hotels in the area.

Country Inn & Suites
210 Carlson Parkway North, Plymouth, MN 55447
Phone: 763.473.3008
Ask for MMUA's corporate rate—$85 per night plus tax for standard King or 2-Queen; $95-$100 per night plus tax for King Suites.
Our group dinner will be at Grizzly's which is connected to the Country Inn & Suites.
Use our special link to make reservations online. MMUA's corporate ID is 113714.
More information about the hotel can be found at this link: www.countryinns.com/plymouthmn

Comfort Inn
3000 Harbor Lane, Plymouth, MN 55447
Phone: 763.559.1222
Ask for MMUA's corporate rate—$75 per night plus tax. You must call to get our rate.
More information about the hotel can be found at this link: www.choicehotels.com/minnesota/plymouth/comfort-inn-hotels/mn055

Cancellations/Refunds

MMUA will issue a refund on advanced registration, less $25 per person processing fee, provided MMUA is notified by 4:30 pm on/before January 24, 2017. No refunds after January 24.

Photographs

By registering for this event I/we authorize Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) to photograph me at this event and use such photographs in MMUA marketing materials (both electronic and print). I/we understand that I/we will not be paid for giving this consent.

Questions?

Contact Rita Kelly by email rkelly@mmua.org or phone 763.746.0707.
 

printable brochure is also available.