Master Academy Curriculum - Sample from 2009
| Sunday, July 26 | 6:30 – 7:30 pm | Registration |
| Monday, July 27 | 7:00 am |
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE (continued) |
| Tuesday, July 28 | Registration Networking Lunch |
|
| Wednesday, July 29 | 7:00 am 5:15 pm |
THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN |
| Thursday, July 30 | 8:00
am |
|
Curriculum Descriptions
OPTIONAL ENRICHMENT SESSIONS
STATE OF WISCONSIN’S GRANT OPPORTUNITES
Instructor: Brian Driscoll is the Community Relations Director for Wisconsin’s Office of Energy Independence. Previously he was Governor Doyle’s policy advisor on the environment and agriculture.
A solution on how to pay for important energy projects! Hear about the many energy grants that are available through the State of Wisconsin. Discover the key elements that are considered and find out from past years applications what types of projects were funded.
REDUCE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPENSES
Instructor: Jeff Roemer is the Chief of the Green Bay Fire Department. His 30 years of experience working in municipal public safety management at various capacities throughout the country will bring you many fresh ideas.
Save money! There are ways to reduce your Fire Department’s expenses. Roemer’s multifaceted experience in a multitude of Fire Departments give come with many new ideas.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Instructor: Adolfo Garcia is an Assistant Professor at UW-Green Bay. He teaches and conducts research in conflict management. Dr. Garcia is specifically interested in effective communication and third party intervention strategies during conflict situations.
In our current state of the economy people are more edgy and prone to escalated confrontation. In your municipalities you are also seeing more diverse cultures and generational differences. All of these factors and more contribute to increased stress and a need to be more sensitive to our internal and external customers. This one day workshop emphasizes practical knowledge by using role-play scenarios. You will learn core communication skills that can help managers and employees better deal with workplace conflict. These skills include effective listening, appropriate confrontation, and the basic principles of mediation.
PERSONALITY & VALUES
Instructor: Lucy Arendt is an Assistant Professor at UW-Green Bay and conducts research on top management judgment and decision making; leaders’ use of humor and followers’ creative performance; and psychological stress and goal setting.
Personality and values shape our behavior. If you want to understand why people do what they do within your organization, you need to learn what you can about their personality and values. In this workshop Dr. Arendt will:
- describe several personality trait including the BIG FIVE (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness to experience.).
- link various personality traits to important organizational outcomes, including performance and satisfaction.
- describe the effects of age, profession, and culture on values.
TIFs
Instructor: Bradley Viegut is an investment banker in the Public Finance Department of Robert W. Baird & Co. He serves Wisconsin counties, cities, villages, and towns in municipal finance, tax incremental district creation, and economic development initiatives.
Learn the reasons why and how you create a TIF; the advantages and disadvantages, good financially management techniques, and the red flags to watch out for.
ARE YOU READY FOR A RECOUNT?
Instructors: Robert Ohlsen is the Dane County Clerk. As Dane’s County Clerk, his office is closely connected to the State Election Board. Dane County serves as a test pilot for many of the election changes that occur. For several years Ohlsen has taught election classes at UW-Green Bay’s Clerks Institute and Master Academy. His love for his students and expertise on elections has served as a valuable resource for our students.
The class Are You Ready for a Recount? will cover what you should know and do if you are faced with this situation. Recounts are becoming more and more common. Make sure you are prepared and can handle a recount with confidence.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STANDARDS
Instructor: Brian Ohm is one of the foremost experts in Wisconsin on land use. He is a professor at UW-Madison and holds a joint appointment with UW-Extension and the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies.
Learn the current techniques of land use planning, neighborhood and cluster type developments, updates in the law, and the final Smart Growth implication from January 1st law changes. Poor planning and not knowing the law can cost your communities a lot of money!
COACHING FOR DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
Instructor: Steve Pearson is the Director of Employee Assistance at UW-Madison
As a supervisor you are responsible for establishing and communicating performance expectation to your employees. Since most employees are successful in their efforts, supervisory feedback is generally positive and encouraging. However, there are employees that do not meet performance expectations. This workshop will examine the reasons for this situation and provide participants with a structured approach to use when difficult conversations are needed.
HIRING WITH CONFIDENCE
Instructor: Pat Lucas has twenty years of Human Resources and Business Management experience and is owner of Lucas Training & Consulting.
Hiring the wrong person costs organizations money. Become skilled at screening and developing interview questions that will extract the information you need. This process will translate into hiring with confidence.
VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE
We would like to think we are safe at work, but the nature of the issues we handle are not always pleasant. Pressures from the economic downturn, home environment problems, depression and so much more can influence a person’s behavior and turn a normally calm person into a raging violent situation. Do you have an emergency plan in your office if someone enters with a knife or gun? Do you know the signs when a situation could turn deadly? Learn what action plans your office should be taking to prevent such an event.
THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
Instructor: John Koskinen serves as the Chief Economist and Division Administrator for the Division of Research and Policy Analysis, Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Koskinen has had an impressive career as an economist. He has been heard as a commentator for Wisconsin’s economy on several radio and television stations. His expert remarks have been cited in newspapers and magazines, and he has presented at innumerable economic conference on Wisconsin’s economic outlook.
Learn the latest on Wisconsin’s current and future economic outlook.
ENGAGING IN PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL RENEWAL
Instructor: David Radosevich is an Associate Professor at UW-Green Bay in Business Administration. He is a former consultant for Fortune 500 firm executives and has published several journal articles.
This session will focus on the challenges facing municipal clerks now and in the changing future. We will discuss strategies to positively engage in transformational change and renewal efforts. Through active learning, we will examine the skills that are necessary to deliver both personal and professional effectiveness. We will share best practices and participate in group exercises aimed at developing creative strategies that will help clerks continually provide valuable results to their communities.
LEADING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Instructor: Lucy Arendt is an Assistant Professor at UW-Green Bay and conducts research on top management judgment and decision making; leaders’ use of humor and followers’ creative performance; and psychological stress and goal setting.
The ever-changing environment facing communities today demands successful development and implementation of comprehensive change programs. Creating and executing change can stress managers and Administrators to the maximum of their abilities and resources. Still, failing to change and adapt will threaten a community’s future. Learn NOW about the nature of change, the processes and methods of change management, and about the possible consequences associated with change.
