LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy

Are you looking for the skills that will take you to that next level of leadership?

Library leaders are constantly managing teams of trustees, staff, volunteers and others. It takes dedicated leadership to turn these groups into one cohesive team striving for a single vision. The Michigan Library Association’s Leadership Academy has a strong history of providing leadership training to librarians across the state and offers the kind of information you wish you could have learned in library school. In the process, you will develop a cohort of colleagues from across the state to call on for support and inspiration as you navigate your way throughout your career. A variety of topics are presented over five days and cover everything from leadership fundamentals to successfully managing the politics inherent in every library position.

Register for Leadership Academy 2020

2020 Leadership Academy Schedule

Leadership Academy – Days 1 & 2 – March 3-4, 2020

Included: Continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, overnight room accommodations at the event hotel

Location

Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac
3600 Centerpoint Parkway
Pontiac, MI, 48341

Schedule at a Glance

Sessions

Leadership Fundamentals

Great leaders communicate clearly and effectively with all people in a variety of situations. Participants will take a communication assessment and learn new strategies for creating and building positive relationships and communicating more effectively.   

This highly interactive session helps participants explore the dimensions of managing to the next level for themselves and others. This program will provide you with a strong foundation of tools and skills to help you understand yourself and your team and how to work more effectively in your crucial capacity as a role model. This program will also include skill practice and experiential activities and hands-on learning opportunities.

Cindy Jeanguenat
Strategic Performance Consultant, MBC Training and Development, Inc.
Cindy Jeanguenat is a strategic performance consultant with MBC Training and Development, Inc. headquartered in southeast Michigan. Her 25 years of real-life experience offers participants tips and strategies of what really works in today’s highly competitive and fast-paced world. Cindy engages participants through a variety of activities that make working with her interesting, fast-paced and fun. Cindy involves participants in a way that allows for self-reflection and practice to ensure sustainable results. Cindy has worked with a variety of industries to include education, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit and retail. She has been in business for herself and worked for an international company offering her vast insight into business at all levels.

Human Resource Fundamentals

Human resource administration is vital to the success of every library and every employee. This session will give you a solid overview and understanding of essential HR functions. Topics include legal responsibilities, talent acquisition, coaching and development, and difficult conversations.

Joan Morehead
Vice President of Human Resources, HRPro
Joan Morehead joins the Pro Team as our Vice President of HR Services. With over 20 years’ experience in Human Resource and Business operations and as Immediate Past President of Detroit SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), Joan brings her wealth of experience and vast network of HR professionals to her new position here at HRPro/BenePro. Joan will work to grow our HR Consulting and support services.

Joan has worked in the public and non-profit segments with the Michigan Public Health Institute, Matrix Human Services, Blue Care Network and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Joan is respected for her practice knowledge and outcomes focus. 

Creating a Positive and Productive Culture

Did you know that the average person spends 90,000 hours of their life at work? And all of us want to spend this time in a positive, productive environment feeling like our work matters! This session will help you learn to be a more positive and selfless leader and increase your emotional intelligence. You will learn to recognize different types of work cultures and begin to craft a positive emotional culture. Strategies for building safety, increasing trust and handling conflict will be shared as well as an example of and checklist for a great culture. We’ll also talk about the importance of self-care, stress reduction strategies and morale boosters.

Karlene Belyea
Chief Culture Officer, Mission Veterinary Partners
Karlene is the Chief Culture Officer for Mission Veterinary Partners. She was the CEO of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association for 15 years and has more than 30 years of experience in management and working with a wide variety of work teams. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications from Michigan State University, so she can cheer for whoever is winning. She speaks to a wide variety of groups nationally and sings and plays keyboard for a band called The Remnants. Karlene focuses on how to work together more effectively through understanding and appreciating the differences in people while working to improve communications, team building, customer service and conflict resolution.

Leadership Academy – Day 3 – May 11, 2020

Included: Continental breakfast and lunch

Location

KDL Cascade Branch
2870 Jacksmith Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49546

*Free parking is available at the library

Schedule at a Glance

**TBD Evening activity

Sessions:

Finance and Budgeting Fundamentals

Comprehensive budgeting, sound financial management, and transparent fiscal management is not just knowing how to develop a budget, but also how to manage and update it. With this session you will increase your financial awareness from finance and accounting professionals.

Brian Camiller, CPA
Government Accounting Professionals Group, Plante Moran
Brian provides permanent and temporary accounting assistance to all types of government entities and has spoken to numerous municipal groups throughout Michigan covering topics such as budget preparation, new GASB pronouncements, and ways to manage a diverse group of employees. He is a member of the Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association, Michigan Municipal Executives, the AICPA, and the Michigan Association of CPAs and received his accounting degree from Michigan State University.

Finance and Budgeting for Libraries

Learn how accounting principles and sound financial management are critically important to the well being and success of any library and receive feedback from a library professional on implementing finance and accounting tools and best practices in the real world. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions and challenges from their own library to discuss.

Laura Powers
Director of Finance, Kent District Library

Library Fund Development and Grant Writing

Libraries of all kinds can benefit by understanding funding sources and finding ways to fill gaps in financial support. Learn about the grant application process and best practices for grant writing as well as principles of fund development and how to partner with local philanthropic organizations willing to invest in your library.

Claire Horlings
Development Manager, Kent District Library

Moving Your Leadership Teams to Become Effective, Efficient, and Strategic

Research shows that high performing boards require a staff who can effectively support a strategic board. This session will offer tips to assist your board in becoming more efficient, effective, and strategic. It will cover effective agenda planning, time and meeting management, tips on keeping the board focused on the agenda, and effective facilitation tips. The agenda will be supplemented by participant-identified challenges. This session is geared toward public librarians who work under boards of directors, but the skills can be applicable to special and academic librarians that need to understand best practices of “managing up”.

Susan Radwan
Leading Edge Mentoring
Susan Radwan owns Leading Edge Mentoring, a consulting firm that specializes in governance and leadership issues. Radwan’s work focuses on the structure and process which impacts effective growth of individuals and organizations.

Since 1985, Radwan has served the association industry as a teacher, facilitator, and executive staff person. She has a master’s degree in education from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Aquinas College, and professional certifications in association management and insurance.

Leadership Academy – Day 4 – August 7, 2020

Location

Delta Township Library
5130 Davenport Drive
Lansing, MI, 48917
Included: Continental breakfast and lunch

Schedule at a Glance

**TBD Evening activity (Lugnuts gametime TBD)

Sessions

Library Legislation and Advocacy

Understanding basic advocacy and how to and when to contact your elected officials is critical in promoting your library. Being effective in this kind of politics can often mean the difference between success and failure. Learn firsthand what is happening in Lansing and how you can make a difference.

Bob Devries
Government Consulting Services, Inc.
Before joining GCSI, Mr. DeVries served for 10 years as Chief of Staff to Senator Arlan Meekhof, the Republican Senate Majority Leader. During his time in the legislature, he managed many difficult legislative issues and became one of Lansing’s leading experts on the legislative process. Bob has his bachelor’s degree in political science from Grand Valley State University and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Media Relations for Libraries

As a library leader, you will likely encounter opportunities to mold your library’s image in the media when you only have a minute to react to a news incident. This session will describe how to talk journalists’ language, anticipate their needs, and reach out to new mediums. Learn how to manage social media, get free coverage, create a photo policy, and develop an emergency communication plan.

Barb Lezotte
President and Senior Counselor, Lezotte Miller Public Relations
Barbara Lezotte, APR, founded Lezotte Miller Public Relations Inc. in 1995 after more than 12 years in agency public relations and stints in radio and newspapers. During her 30+ year career, she has counseled clients in the environmental, health care, economic development, insurance, education and manufacturing industries.  She specializes in strategic communication planning and issue management.

Lezotte has presented numerous spokesperson training and crisis communication workshops to state and national associations and corporate clients.She earned both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in journalism at Michigan State University and is a frequent guest lecturer at the college. In April 2004, she was named “PACEMaker of the Year” by the Central Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She earned national accreditation (APR) in 1988.   

Lezotte currently serves on the boards of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Michigan Youth in Government and Michigan Dyslexia Institute. She is a former chair of the board of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and served for six years on its board of directors. She is a former board member of Highfields and the Sparrow Coaches for Kids Committee. She chaired the Public Relations Society of America’s Central Michigan Chapter in 1996 and served on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Lansing from 2004 to 2006.

Crucial Coaching Conversations: Getting the Best from Everyone!

Having successful coaching conversations with others defines your leadership ability and success in influencing. Focus is on effective listening to what others are really saying, asking the right questions without judgment and probing for clarity to get others to become open-minded and view options with clarity. Use encouragement and development feedback to reinforce and guide successful performance to improve individual and your department’s morale, motivation AND productivity. Through discussion and case studies you will map an action plan to help develop your leadership skills

Cindy Jeanguenat
Strategic Performance Consultant, MBC Training and Development, Inc.
Cindy Jeanguenat is a strategic performance consultant with MBC Training and Development, Inc. headquartered in southeast Michigan. Her 25 years of real-life experience offers participants tips and strategies of what really works in today’s highly competitive and fast-paced world. Cindy engages participants through a variety of activities that make working with her interesting, fast-paced and fun. Cindy involves participants in a way that allows for self-reflection and practice to ensure sustainable results. Cindy has worked with a variety of industries to include education, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit and retail. She has been in business for herself and worked for an international company offering her vast insight to business at all levels.

Leadership Academy – Days 5 & 6 – October 27-28, 2020

• Included: Continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, overnight accommodations at the event hotel, Leadership Academy Breakfast, Wednesday.
• A 10% discount on MLA 2020 Annual Conference Registration is available

Location

Radisson Plaza Hotel at Kalamazoo Center
100 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI, 49007

Schedule at a Glance

Sessions

Leadership Part 2: Championship Teamwork

Together Everyone Accomplishes More! Strengthen your teamwork and optimize productivity throughout your library. When employees are engaged they are more committed. In this session you will learn how to work together cohesively. You will explore how to motivate, engage and retain employees.

Cindy Jeanguenat
Strategic Performance Consultant, MBC Training and Development, Inc.
Cindy Jeanguenat is a strategic performance consultant with MBC Training and Development, Inc. headquartered in southeast Michigan. Her 25 years of real-life experience offers participants tips and strategies of what really works in today’s highly competitive and fast-paced world. Cindy engages participants through a variety of activities that make working with her interesting, fast-paced and fun. Cindy involves participants in a way that allows for self-reflection and practice to ensure sustainable results. Cindy has worked with a variety of industries to include education, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit and retail. She has been in business for herself and worked for an international company offering her vast insight to business at all levels.

*Schedule subject to change.

Register for Leadership Academy 2020

Training Rates

*Early bird pricing expires December 13, 2019

Member pricing is dependent upon affiliated or unaffiliated individual membership status. Organizational membership is not applicable. In order to receive the discounted member price, individual membership must be current at the time of registration and maintained throughout the entire 2020 MLA Leadership Academy program. No refunds will be given for uncompleted programs and sessions are not available on an a la carte basis.