Session Objectives:

1. Introduction to NWWLA

2. Meet your cohort members and build an ongoing support network

3. Explore your aspects of leadership style, strengths, and challenges to include a personality and emotional intelligence assessment. 

Thursday, October 19

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Check-In for the Retreat and Continental Breakfast

When you arrive you can store your luggage at Guest Services until room check-in following today’s session. Join us for continental breakfast in the conference room area.

9:05 a.m. Welcome and Logistics

Co-Chairs of Curriculum Committee: Leslie Harris; Kristi Rowland

9:15 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

Stephanie Lucash, WCMA President & NWWLA Executive Board, Kenmore

Jessi Bon, ICMA Board and NWWLA Executive Board, 

Mercer Island

9:55 a.m. Topic 1: Know Yourself - Leadership Assessments Part 1

Nancy Campbell, Principle of Campbell Consulting

12:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m. Topic 1: Know Yourself - Leadership Assessments Part 2

Nancy Campbell, Principle of Campbell Consulting

5:00 p.m. Adjourn / Room Check-In 

5:30 p.m. Mixer with Alumni

Friday, October 20

7:30 – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:05 a.m NWWLA: How we got here & Why your participation matters

Julie Underwood, NWWLA Executive Board, Kirkland

Stephanie Lucash, WCMA President & NWWLA Executive Board, Kenmore

8:30 a.m. The Academy: Program Details, Expectations, & Tech Check

Kristi Rowland, Co-Chair of Curriculum Committee, Renton

Leslie Harris, Co-Chair of Curriculum Committee, Bonney Lake

9:00 a.m. Small Group Activity

11:30 a.m. Break to Check-Out

Check-out of your room by noon

12:00 p.m. Pick Up Boxed Lunch

Session Leads: 

Stacey Ray, Director of Strategic Planning & Performance, Office of Performance and Innovation, City of Olympia (NWWLA Cohort 1) 

Charisse Deschenes, Deputy City Manager/Director of Community &

Economic Development, City of Sequim (NWWLA Cohort 1)

NWWLA Curriculum Support:
Kristi Rowland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, City of Renton
(NWWLA Cohort 1)

Zoom Producer: 

Loreen Hamilton, Deputy Director Parks & Recreation, City of Redmond
(NWWLA Cohort 3)

About this session
This session will provide insights into how to authentically learn about your community, engage community members in City decision-making, center equity and reduce barriers to participation in local government, foster trust amongst community members, City staff, and elected officials,, and identify community-based priorities and solutions to more effectively, inclusively, and strategically plan for the future.  

Objectives

1. Develop an understanding of what prompts and undermines community members’ trust in local government, and strategies for fostering greater trust. 

2. Learn from practicing local government leaders what strategies and methods they’ve used to better know their community, improve community member engagement, and foster greater trust. 

3. Learn how to identify your desired outcomes for your engagement processes, situation, and your stakeholders, and identify and apply the right approach and methodologies for engagement to achieve your goals. 

4. Learn how to parlay input gathered from community members into actionable insights that drive effective and responsive strategic planning efforts that are reflective of your whole community. 

Part 1

Friday, October 27th

8:15 a.m. Sign in to Zoom, test your technology and say hello! 

8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Stacey Ray, NWWLA Cohort 1, City of Olympia
Charisse Deschenes, NWWLA Cohort 1, City of Sequim

8:45 a.m. How Leaders Built a Culture of Trust

Dr. Wendy Fraser 

Breakout Session Questions:

• What in the data is resonating for you? 

• Have you experienced high trust? What does that experience feel like? How does that show up? 

10:45 a.m. Break

10:55 a.m. Panel Discussion: How to Better Build Trust in your Community

Practicing local government leaders will share what strategies and 

methods they’ve used to better know their community, improve community member engagement, and foster greater trust amongst City electeds, staff, and community members.

Moderator: Stacey Ray, Director of Strategic Planning & Performance, City of Olympia

Participants:
Katie Johnston, Budget Officer, City of Tacoma;
Zac Davis, Policy Lead, Stopping the School to Prison Pipeline, King County Dept. of Community and Human Services
Dale Markey-Crimp, Assistant to the City Administrator, City of Issaquah 

12:10 p.m. Wrap-Up & Acknowledgments

12:15 p.m. Close 

Session Leads: 

Stacey Ray, Director of Strategic Planning & Performance, Office of Performance and Innovation, City of Olympia (NWWLA Cohort 1) 

Charisse Deschenes, Deputy City Manager/Director of Community &

Economic Development, City of Sequim (NWWLA Cohort 1)

NWWLA Curriculum Support:
Kristi Rowland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, City of Renton
(NWWLA Cohort 1)

Zoom Producer: 

Loreen Hamilton, Deputy Director Parks & Recreation, City of Redmond
(NWWLA Cohort 3)

About this session
This session will provide insights into how to authentically learn about your community, engage community members in City decision-making, center equity and reduce barriers to participation in local government, foster trust amongst community members, City staff, and elected officials,, and identify community-based priorities and solutions to more effectively, inclusively, and strategically plan for the future.  

Objectives

1. Develop an understanding of what prompts and undermines community members’ trust in local government, and strategies for fostering greater trust. 

2. Learn from practicing local government leaders what strategies and methods they’ve used to better know their community, improve community member engagement, and foster greater trust. 

3. Learn how to identify your desired outcomes for your engagement processes, situation, and your stakeholders, and identify and apply the right approach and methodologies for engagement to achieve your goals. 

4. Learn how to parlay input gathered from community members into actionable insights that drive effective and responsive strategic planning efforts that are reflective of your whole community. 

Part 2

Friday, November 3rd (details coming soon) 

8:00 a.m. Sign in to Zoom, test your technology and say hello! 

8:15 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Charisse Deschenes, NWWLA Cohort 1, City of Sequim
Stacey Ray, NWWLA Cohort 1, City of Olympia

8:45 a.m.

10:45 a.m. Break

10:55 a.m.

12:10 p.m. Wrap-Up & Acknowledgments

12:15 p.m. Close 

Session Leads and Presenters: 

Jennifer Ferrer-Santa Ines, Director of Finance & Budget
City of Marysville (NWWLA Cohort 2) 

Kari Roller, Finance Administrator
City of Renton

Katie Johnston, Budget Officer
City of Tacoma
 

NWWLA Curriculum Support:
Kristi Rowland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, City of Renton
(NWWLA Cohort 1)

Zoom Producer: 

Loreen Hamilton, Director of Parks & Recreation, City of Redmond
(NWWLA Cohort 3)

About this session
During this two-part session you will hear from experienced financial professionals, in the trenches of three unique communities.  What they share will empower you to navigate the fundamentals of local government finance and budgeting, learning about the financial drivers and constraints that underpin effective governance.  

Additionally you’ll hear insights and personal experiences related to leadership and career development, you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions, and practice what you’ve learned.  

Objectives

1. Strengthen understanding of how public financials work

2. Understand how to read a budget and find out the constraints

3. Demonstrate how to manage financials

4. What problems are WE trying to address 

5. How to be both a team player and represent your needs

6. How to understand the limits

7. How to talk about what you need

8. How to get to yes 

Part One – December 1st 

8:15 a.m. Sign in to Zoom, test your technology and say hello! 

8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Katie Johnston, City of Tacoma
Kari Roller, City of Renton

Jennifer Ferrer-Santa Ines, City of Marysville

8:40 a.m. Small Group Warm Up

8:55 a.m. Finance Fundamentals with Katie

9:00 a.m Small Group Discussion

9:30 a.m. Break

9:45 a.m. Financial Sustainability with Kari

10:15 a.m. Small Group Discussion

10:45 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. Budgeting with Jennifer

11:20 a.m. Small Group Discussion

11:45 a.m. Close 

Session Leads and Presenters: 

Jennifer Ferrer-Santa Ines, Director of Finance & Budget
City of Marysville (NWWLA Cohort 2) 

Kari Roller, Finance Administrator
City of Renton

Katie Johnston, Budget Officer
City of Tacoma
 

NWWLA Curriculum Support:
Kristi Rowland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, City of Renton
(NWWLA Cohort 1)

Zoom Producer: 

Loreen Hamilton, Director of Parks & Recreation, City of Redmond
(NWWLA Cohort 3)

About this session
During this two-part session you will hear from experienced financial professionals, in the trenches of three unique communities.  What they share will empower you to navigate the fundamentals of local government finance and budgeting, learning about the financial drivers and constraints that underpin effective governance.  

Additionally you’ll hear insights and personal experiences related to leadership and career development, you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions, and practice what you’ve learned.  

Objectives

1. Strengthen understanding of how public financials work

2. Understand how to read a budget and find out the constraints

3. Demonstrate how to manage financials

4. What problems are WE trying to address 

5. How to be both a team player and represent your needs

6. How to understand the limits

7. How to talk about what you need

8. How to get to yes 

Part Two – December 8th 

8:15 a.m. Sign in to Zoom, test your technology and say hello! 

8:30 a.m. Welcome and Jump Right In!

Three groups - Career and Financial Challenges with
              Kari, Katie, and Jennifer

9:00 a.m. Questions and Answers
- Cohort members may ask any lingering questions from Day One
- Kristi Rowland asks some questions

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Budget Presentation with Katie

10:25 a.m. Activity explained, small groups 

11:00 a.m. Proposals - who gets the money?

12:00 p.m. Close 

Session Presenters

Susie Kroll, Law Enforcement Co-Response Program Manager & Mental Health Professional, King County Sheriff’s Office

Manisha Paudel, Chief Equity Officer (a.k.a. Inequity Eliminator), City of Des Moines, Iowa

NWWLA Curriculum Support:

Leslie Harris, Assistant to the City Administrator, City of Bonney Lake (NWWLA Cohort 1)

Session Objectives:

1. Cohort members gain a better understanding of themselves in relation to the context of their personal mindset and experiences touching upon age, race, gender, and other cultural aspects.

2. Cohort members leave with action steps to move forward in their personal and organizational journeys as it relates to addressing barriers and diversity and equity.

Agenda

8:25 a.m. Zoom Room Opens

Join the Zoom meeting, settle-in, check audio/video, and say hello

8:30 – 10:15 a.m. Mindset, Barriers, Bridges, and You

Susie Kroll, King County Sheriff’s Office

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. BREAK

Refresh, reset, and recharge

10:30 – 12:00 p.m. Authentic Leadership and Finding a Way to Influence

Manisha Paudel, City of Des Moines, Iowa

11:45 – 12:30 p.m. Wrap-up 

Session Presenters

Julie Underwood, Deputy City Manager of Operations, City of Kirkland

Prins Cowin, Administrative Services Manager, Planning and Building Department, City of Kirkland

NWWLA Curriculum Support:

Leslie Harris, Assistant to the City Administrator, City of Bonney Lake (NWWLA Cohort 1)

Session Objectives:

1. Cohort members gain a better understanding of themselves in relation to the context of their personal mindset and experiences touching upon age, race, gender, and other cultural aspects

2. Cohort members leave with action steps to move forward in their personal and organizational journeys as it relates to addressing barriers

Agenda: Gender Barriers

8:20 – 8:30 a.m.           Zoom Room Opens

Join the Zoom meeting, settle-in, check audio/video, and say hello

8:30 – 8:40 a.m.           Introduction, Ground Rules, Why We Are Here

Julie Underwood, Deputy City Manager of Operations, City of Kirkland

Prins Cowin, Administrative Services Manager, Planning & Building Department, City of Kirkland

8:40 – 9:45 a.m.           TOPICS

Gender Bias/ Microaggressions

Different Standards for Women vs. Men

Likeability Penalty

Balancing & Integrating Life/Family/Work Priorities

9:45 – 10:15 a.m.        SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

Please see question prompts in the chat

10:15 – 10:30 a.m.     BREAK #1

                                             Refresh, reset, and recharge

10:30 – 11:15 a.m.     TOPICS

Confidence/Self-Doubt/Fear

Mentor or Sponsor

Race/Ethnicity/Religion/Ageism/Sexual Orientation/Intersectionality

11:15 – 11:45 a.m.     SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

Please see question prompts in the chat

11:45 – 12:00 p.m.     BREAK #2

                                             Refresh, reset, and recharge

12:00 – 12:15 p.m.     TOPICS

Is there a barrier we missed talking about?

Any aha moments or key takeaways?

Where do we go from here?

12:15 – 12:30 p.m.     Wrap-up

Session Presenter:  Mary Morrison, Retired Organizational Development Manager at City of Tacoma and Toastmasters International member/Former Director 

Curriculum Assistants
Shannon Kelley-Fong, Assistant City Manager, City of Lacey, Washington
Gwen Voelpel, Deputy City Manager, City of SeaTac, Washington

Session Objectives:

• Understand how and why public speaking is a common fear

• Increase confidence in your skills and abilities to speak in public

• Have tips and techniques to practice to improve public speaking skills

• Have feedback techniques for improving public speaking skills

Agenda: “If you can’t get out of it, step into it!”

8:30 – 8:45 a.m. Introduce Topic/Survey Results

Overview of recent survey on building confidence and introduction to public speaking topics

8:45-9:10 a.m. The Neuroscience of Public Speaking

9:10-9:40 a.m. Ten Tips for Speaking with Practice in Small Groups

9:50-10:15 a.m. Continued Ten Tips for Speaking with Practice in Small Group

10:15-10:25 a.m. Tips for Impromptu Speaking

10:25-11:15 a.m. Panel Discussion: Failing Forward

Mary (moderator), Shannon, Gwen, Courtney Brunell, City Administrator of Buckley, Washington; Kris Abrudan, Communications Director for the Washington State Department of Transportation; and Amy Scarton, VP of Business Development for HNTB

11:25-11:40 a.m. Key Take-aways (Small Groups with Report Out) Mary, Shannon, Gwen

11:40-11:45 a.m. Resources, Mary

11:45-11:50 a.m. Next Week First Part of Session: Pitch a Policy, Shannon

11:55-Noon. Reminders, Announcements, Kristi Rowland, Deputy City Administrator, Renton, Washington

Session Presenters

Janelle Tarasewicz, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Principal Consultant, Aperture EQ
Mary Morrison, Retired Organizational Development Manager at City of Tacoma and Toastmasters International member/Former Director

Curriculum Assistants
Shannon Kelley-Fong, Assistant City Manager, City of Lacey, Washington
Gwen Voelpel, Deputy City Manager, City of SeaTac, Washington

Session Objectives:

1. Gain confidence in public speaking by pitching a policy and getting feedback.

2. The science behind how our brain and bodies react to stress, including how our communication processes are impacted.

3. Understanding how defensiveness surfaces and learning techniques to decrease your own defenses, as well as mitigate defensiveness in others.

4. Understanding team norms and the importance of setting clear expectations.

5. Basic skills for conflict resolution and how to navigate a conversation to help build trust during these contentious moments.

6. Coaching and feedback outlines that help guide supervisors through the process of a difficult conversation, including helpful tips and scripts.

Training Description: “Staying Engaged in Critical Conversations”  Whether we are giving feedback or receiving it, I think we can all agree on one thing – a conversation involving constructive feedback is difficult! Our bodies have a physical defensive response during times of stress and it’s important to understand these defenses if we are going to accept feedback for what it’s intended to be – an opportunity to learn and grow in our roles. As leaders, it is an essential function of our jobs to turn these difficult conversations into constructive dialogues so that our employees can stay engaged and productive members of our team.

8:15 – 8:20 a.m. Welcome, Gwen

8:20 – 8:30 am. Icebreaker (Whole cohort as you join), Shannon

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Pitch a Policy, Shannon

9:25 – 10:25 a.m. TOPIC: Staying Engaged in Critical Conversations, Janelle

• Communicating in Stress

• Tools to Mitigate Defensiveness

• Checking Our Assumptions

• A Feedback Framework