2018 NDAREC Menu

2018 NDAREC Education ProgramsProfessional development services provided by the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC)

Contents 3 and 4Director Education Suite

6 to 8 Employee and Employee Association Education Suite

10 and 11 Employee and Supervisory Leadership Webinar Suite

12 to 15Roster of Guest Instructors

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Pamela Clark-Stein, NDAREC director of education and member [email protected]

2018 NDAREC Education Programs | 1

Director Education Suite

Cooperative Principle #5 Education, Training and Information

Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback,NRECA Board Leadership #944 January 6 — Mandan

Director Duties and Liabilities, NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director #2600February 3 — Mandan

Cooperative Foundations: Co-op Legacy, Principles and Impact on Communities, NRECA Board Leadership #913March 3 — Mandan

Is feedback necessary? Studies show that giving and receiving feedback is a requirement of any functional relationship. However, many lack the confidence

and skill to both deliver and receive feedback successfully.

Electric cooperative boards must give feedback to the chief executive officer (CEO) if the relationship with its only employee is to be effective and productive. Directors receiving feedback from members is the bedrock principle of co-op democracy and member engagement.

This course will provide valuable skills and instructor-guided practice opportunities to sharpen the skills needed to successfully give and receive both types of feedback.

KEY TOPICS:-The importance of giving and receiving feedback effectively

-Effective feedback practices-Techniques for delivering feedback to CEOs of different generations and gender

-Practice opportunities for giving and receiving feedback to fellow board members

INSTRUCTOR: Jody Severson

Boards are responsible for directing the affairs of the corporation. This course addresses the duties of loyalty, obedience and due care, and the need for directors to acquire the minimum knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their responsibilities within the cooperative context.

KEY TOPICS:-An overview of today’s multi-billion-dollar electric utility business

-Concepts and values that govern cooperatively owned businesses and related types of organizations

-Legal and regulatory concepts affecting public utilities

-Key legal documents such as articles of incorporation and bylaws

-The role of management and guidelines for maintaining an effective relationship with the CEO

INSTRUCTOR: Adam Schwartz

Understanding the unique aspects of the cooperative business model better prepares directors to lead organizations with purpose, not profit, at their core.

Course participants will explore the cooperative principles and define how they provide a competitive advantage for today’s co-op organizations.

KEY TOPICS:-The role of cooperatives in today’s global economy

-Co-op business model and types of cooperatives

-Cooperative principles-The history of electric cooperatives

INSTRUCTOR: Mary McLaury

NEW!


Financial Decision Making, NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director #2640October 12 and 13 (1.5 days) — Mandan

Equity Management and Boardroom Decision Making, NRECA Board Leadership #977November 17 — Mandan

Board Operations and Process, NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director #2620 December 1 — Mandan

This course helps directors understand the role of the board in financial planning, including identifying the basic documents used in financial planning and reporting. It also covers assessing the issues that drive financial decisions, balancing competing goals, and taking responsibility to monitor and evaluate results.

KEY TOPICS:-Key financial decisions boards must make-Three key financial documents and three key financial ratios

-The basics of allocating and retiring capital credits policy

-Key elements of an equity management policy

-Rate-making basics

INSTRUCTOR: Mike Bunney

In this course, board members consider common boardroom decisions and how these decisions impact the cooperative’s financial strength and equity position.

Concepts will be reinforced through practical and strategic exercises designed to provide a theoretical understanding for board members to apply back at their own cooperative.

KEY TOPICS:-The purpose and function of key financial statements (balance sheet, statement of cash flows, statement of operations)

-Process for determining a board’s philosophy regarding key financial metrics (TIER, equity, MDSC)

-Impact of boardroom decisions (plant growth, construction, etc.) and trade-offs between key financial areas such as rates, equity and capital credits

-Communication of clear guidance to the CEO regarding financial decisions

Special note for prerequisite: It is suggested but not required that participants first take Financial Decision Making, Credentialed Cooperative Director #2640.

INSTRUCTOR: John Penry

The board of directors is responsible for managing the affairs of the corporation. In fulfilling its duties, the board typically can only take official action via majority vote in a duly convened meeting. This course focuses on the legal requirements for holding board meetings and also on the human factors and group processes that make such meetings productive and effective.

KEY TOPICS:-Effective board relationships with individuals and groups

-The impact of public officials and opinion leaders on cooperatives and the board’s role in building and maintaining effective relationships

-Members’ needs: the board’s obligation to understand, work with, and respond

-Lessons and guidelines regarding key internal relationships with the board chair, with the attorney, and within the cooperative

INSTRUCTOR: Pat Mangan

NEW!

4 | 2018 NDAREC Education Programs

Employee and Employee Association Education Suite


Leadership Challenge: What Gets Between You and Your GreatnessFebruary 15 — Bismarck

Engineering and Operations ConferenceMarch 20 to 22 — Fargo

Looking for simple solutions to manage regional, cultural and ethnic differences at work? Confused with your changing community culture? Not sure how to communicate and collaborate with different generations? This session will explore strategies for making diversity work.

KEY TOPICS:-North Dakota’s new demographic landscape and how it affects communications

-Cultural and other differences that affect communication, relationships, productivity and how that translates to the bottom line of an organization

-Effective communications with people from different cultures, generations and ethnicities

-The aging workforce

INSTRUCTOR: Kostas Voutsas

Maximize effectiveness and efficiency in your workplace through effective leadership, communications and working relationships.

KEY TOPICS:-How leadership affects communication, relationships and productivity in the workplace

-How effective leaders influence attitudes and behaviors

-Leading teams effectively-Creating an environment of trust-Defining strategies for optimal leadership and communication

-Working with different personalities

These two learning programs, set for Feb. 15, are co-sponsored by the N.D. Member Services Association (NDMSA), and will be held in conjunction with the NDMSA meeting scheduled for February 15 and 16.

INSTRUCTOR: Kostas Voutsas

The N.D. REC Engineering and Operations Association provides technical training for engineers, operations and construction personnel at its annual conference. This year’s conference will feature a special session on the “Cooperative Advantage,” in addition to other topics selected by the conference-planning committee.

KEY TOPICS:-The business purpose and structure of member-owned utilities

-The cooperative network and alliances-The players in today’s electric system: generation, transmission and distribution

-Technology and trends-Legislation and regulations that impact electric cooperatives and their members

-Contemporary issues and big-picture developments

INSTRUCTOR: Bryan Singletary

Don’t Be a Stranger in Your Own Land: Diversity and Inclusion at WorkFebruary 15 — Bismarck


5 Choices™ to Extraordinary Productivity by Franklin Covey

The Supervisor and Human Resources, NRECA #386.05May 17 — Mandan

Tools for Effective Performance Management, NRECA #387.05May 17 — Mandan

When it comes to human resources (HR) issues, doing what is the most convenient or nice thing to do might not be the legal or right thing to do. Whether your cooperative has a full-time HR staff to help you or not, to successfully supervise co-op employees, you need to understand the HR function and your liability with regard to employment laws.

This half-day course focuses on the co-op supervisor’s role in compensation and benefi ts, training and development, employee and labor relations, and interviewing.

KEY TOPICS:-The functions of an HR department-Compliance with all applicable laws and cooperative policies

-Liability with regard to employment laws-The relationship between your supervisory responsibilities and those of HR

INSTRUCTOR: Jean Freeman

Conducting annual performance reviews is often one of the most diffi cult things for a supervisor to do. In reality, they can be done with greater ease and with better results if performance is addressed daily, rather than once a year.

This half-day course introduces participants to effective activities, including disciplinary action, that can help supervisors and employees create and meet development goals that benefi t the individual employee and the cooperative.

KEY TOPICS:-Aspects and value of performance management at your cooperative

-Day-to-day planning, monitoring and evaluation skills needed for effective performance management

-Improved working relationships with effective coaching techniques and the use of feedback

-The types of performance appraisals and techniques for conducting an effective appraisal

-When to use formal discipline

INSTRUCTOR: Jean Freeman

August 1 — Fargo August 16 — BismarckThis professional development program will be held in conjunction with the North Dakota Offi ce Managers and Accountants Association meeting. October 18 — Watford City

In today’s world, we are drowning in email, overwhelmed with demands, and trying to do more with less. As a 5 Choices participant, you will learn to fi lter the vitally important priorities from distractions so you can focus on making a real contribution.

Everyone wants to make a difference, but competing priorities often prevent us from achieving extraordinary results. As a 5 Choices participant, you will redefi ne your roles in terms of extraordinary results to achieve high-priority goals.

The crushing increase in workday pressures can make us feel helpless and out of control. As a 5 Choices participant, learn how to regain control of your work and life through a cadence of planning and execution that produces extraordinary outcomes.

An electronic avalanche of email, texts, and social media alerts threaten productivity as never before. As a 5 Choices participant, you will learn to leverage your technology


5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity by Franklin Covey (continued)

Conflict Resolution: Principles, Practices and ProcessDate and location to be announced

As long as people are different, with diverse backgrounds, experiences and education, they will have varying opinions, approaches and perspectives. This is natural, and adds great variety, interest and expertise to any workplace. However, it can also make for contention and disagreements. This can cause great stress for employees and the organization, unless and until the organization sets clear standards for behavior in those situations, and employees become skilled in the art of handling their feelings and disagreements.

This course will teach the art of conflict resolution: the ten basic principles, the five most important practices, and a clear five-step process to resolve any conflict. Conflict can be the most destructive force in any organization, but it also can serve a very positive, useful purpose. This course will address what conflict is — and what it isn’t.

KEY TOPICS:-The thinking that makes conflict resolution possible, and that which makes it impossible

-Options to resolving conflict-The role of anger and defensiveness, and how to manage them

-The most common mistakes made when attempting any conflict resolution, and alternative ways of handling them

-Resolving workplace conflicts, using the five-step process as a model

INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Rebecca Monley

and fend off distractions by optimizing platforms like Microsoft and Outlook to boost productivity.

Today’s high-pressure work environment burns people out at an alarming rate. This coursework advances the latest in brain science to consistently recharge mental and physical energy.

KEY TOPICS:-Act on the important: Don’t react to the urgent.

-Go for the extraordinary: Don’t settle for ordinary.

-Schedule the big rocks: Don’t sort gravel.-Rule your technology: Don’t let it rule you.-Fuel your fire: Don’t burn out.

INSTRUCTORS: Jason Matthews and John Sandbakken


Employee and Supervisory Leadership Webinar Suite

The following employee and supervisory leadership webinars provide learning opportunities from the convenience of

your offi ce. Each webinar is a 60-minute presentation; each webinar is also

recorded to afford increased accessibility for those who might have a confl ict with a particular webinar date. For continuity

in instruction, Kayla Barrett, Organization Impact, will serve as the instructor for all

four webinars


Crucial Conversations: Pushing Progress and Preserving RelationshipsApril 18For all employees

Engagement and Loyalty: Two Sides of the Same CoinMay 2For supervisors and co-op management team

X, Y and Now Z: Meet the Newest Generation to Impact Your WorkplaceJuly 18For all employees

Let’s face it. Regardless of your role, there will be times when those difficult conversations must occur. Whether it is a tough interaction with a member-owner, vendor, peer or your supervisor, learning how to conduct the conversation in a way that creates progress — but still maintains the relationship — can be difficult. In this webinar, participants will learn a proven five-step approach that helps to tackle even the most difficult conversation.

KEY TOPICS:-The complexity of barriers in leading difficult conversations

-Action steps that manage both the issue and the relational dynamics of the relationship

-Closure and momentum following a crucial conversation

Every business wants loyal employees. But in today’s competitive environment, what prevents a valued employee from leaving to go to work for a competitor? This webinar will address the financial and psychological connection between engagement and loyalty; creating a unique engagement formula; and identifying the loyalty connects and disconnects employees may be demonstrating.

KEY TOPICS:-Cultural factors that are contributing to poor employee engagement and loyalty

-The psychology behind an employee’s decision to stay with an organization

-Unique characteristics of your cooperative’s loyalty equation and practical steps to promote loyalty

Millennials may be the largest population group, but the country’s newest group — Generation Z — is a force every business must understand. During this webinar, you will learn the latest statistics and trends about each generation in the workplace and the latest generational group that will have a significant impact on today’s business environment.

KEY TOPICS:-Current statistics and trends of each generational group

-The values and influence of Generation Z and the impact on your cooperative, as a customer and as an employee

-Ways to succeed and thrive in a workplace that blends each generational group


Your Culture Strategy: Five Building Blocks of Your Competitive AdvantageOctober 3For supervisors and co-op management team

Developing a strong culture is a journey; every business is at a different place in this journey. This webinar will highlight key principles and decisions needed to support a strong culture. The next step is to make sure employees know and understand them.

KEY TOPICS:-Three business benefits of a strong culture-Five culture building blocks and how they function inside your cooperative to drive retention of high-performing employees

-An action plan to integrate your culture building blocks with the cooperative’s leaders and teams


JODY SEVERSONJODY SEVERSON is a political and marketing consultant who has been helping electric cooperatives deal with difficult communication and political challenges for 25 years.

Since 1987, he has been helping electric cooperatives face difficult challenges such as hostile takeovers, municipal annexations or takeovers, territorial threats, diversification issues, franchise acquisitions, mergers and local controversies — from the Carolinas to Oregon and Hawaii and from northern Minnesota to Louisiana and Texas. He also played a major role in the creation of the Communication Planning Toolkit that the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) provides to communication professionals.

Severson provides strategic consulting, political advice, poll interpretation, media coaching, and marketing and communications guidance for electric and telephone cooperatives as well as numerous commercial businesses and political clients, including U.S. senators, representatives, governors and state legislators.

ADAM SCHWARTZADAM SCHWARTZ is the founder and principal of The Cooperative Way, a consulting firm dedicated to helping cooperative businesses succeed. Schwartz has served cooperatives from different sectors for 22 years.

Schwartz leverages his extensive cooperative network to create marketing materials, training guides and articles to convey the strategic advantages co-ops enjoy in the marketplace. He is a frequent speaker and author on cooperative business, and has appeared on MSNBC and CNN to promote cooperatives as the better business model for economic and social change.

Prior to founding The Cooperative Way, Schwartz served as vice president for public affairs and member services from 2005 to 2011 for the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA), the only national cross-sector member association with a mission of developing, protecting and advancing cooperative businesses.

Before joining NCBA, he served as vice president of external affairs for the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative in Herndon, Va. and as senior legislative representative for NRECA in Washington, D.C.

MARY MCLAURYMARY MCLAURY brings more than 35 years of experience working for electric cooperatives. She retired in May 2017 as chief operating officer of Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives. She previously served as vice president of education and training for NRECA.

Before joining NRECA in 2001, McLaury was the director of communications for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives and the director of economic development for Corn Belt Power Cooperative, a generation and transmission cooperative in north central Iowa. She also headed up the Iowa Marketing Group and worked for a cooperative economic development organization called the Iowa Area Development Group. McLaury is a former president of the National Rural Economic Developers Association and a former board member of the Cooperative Development Foundation.

MIKE BUNNEYMIKE BUNNEY began his career with electric cooperatives in 1976. He served in the following positions with two electric cooperatives in South Dakota: accountant and

Roster of Guest Instructors


office manager at Butte Electric Cooperative, and manager of administrative services and general manager at Black Hills Electric Cooperative. Bunney brings 14 years of experience on the distribution side of the electric utility industry and approximately 27 years with the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) on the financing side. With more than 40 years in the cooperative network, Bunney is a proven and trusted advocate for electric cooperatives.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business with an accounting emphasis from Black Hills State and an MBA from the University of South Dakota.

JOHN PENRYJOHN PENRY has 15 years of public utility experience, including nine years at Salt River Project (SRP), a large water and public power company in Phoenix, Ariz. While at SRP, he had assignments in strategic planning, resource planning, customer billing and competitive provider services, and supply and trading.

At the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), Penry created and managed the Cooperative Financial

Professional Certificate (CFPC), a joint program with NRECA. John managed and instructed the CFPC for seven years with more than 220 cooperative chief executive officers, chief financial officers and other senior accounting and finance professionals in attendance.

In collaboration with CFC and the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, Penry created a model to estimate the impact of distributed solar generation on a cooperative’s operating statement.

PAT MANGANPAT MANGAN serves as NRECA’s director of governance education and is responsible for strategic planning and development of curricula and educational programs. His responsibilities also include the planning and development of NRECA’s annual directors conference and serving as an instructor for board-governance courses.

Mangan is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, holding the Certified Association Executive certification since 2005. He is also a member and Governance Fellow at the National Association of Corporate Directors. Mangan holds a

bachelor’s degree in journalism from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York and a master’s degree in educational media and instructional design from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

KOSTAS VOUTSASKOSTAS VOUTSAS has been teaching management and human resource courses for more than 20 years. He is a tenured assistant professor of business at Dickinson State University, Bismarck campus. He is also an author, a corporate trainer and a motivational speaker.

Voutsas is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences, and publishes his research in scholarly journals. He also serves as a consultant for organizations, and provides customized training. His book, “Secrets to Making Diversity Work” addresses gender, cultural and generational differences. He also writes articles for the City Magazine.

Voutsas has a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management and Organizational Development and a Master of Business Administration degree.

Roster of Guest Instructors (continued)


BRYAN SINGLETARYBRYAN SINGLETARY began his career with Florida Power Corporation, advancing rapidly to the position of vice president before he was 30 years old. For more than 20 years, Singletary has owned and operated Practical Energies, a utility consulting firm specializing in assisting client companies to meet the needs of their consumers.

With more than 30 years in the electric utility industry, Singletary has consulted with hundreds of utilities in the design, development and implementation of a wide range of customer programs. His client list includes both the largest and smallest utilities in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

An accomplished speaker and writer, Singletary is a nationally sought-after lecturer and trainer in the areas of utility competition and strategic planning, key accounts management, distributed generation, technology implementation, demand-side management, customer service and power quality.

JEAN FREEMANJEAN FREEMAN is a management and governance consultant who has worked with

electric cooperatives for more than 20 years. She joined the co-op family, first working with the Louisiana Electric Cooperatives Association for nine years. She left the statewide association to start her consulting practice.

Freeman’s comprehensive utility management experience includes a strong background in competitive issues, governance, utility communications and marketing, as well as customer needs satisfaction.

Freeman holds a Master of Arts degree in communication and has completed post-graduate studies in environmental law, safety and industrial hygiene, management and governance. She is a certified safety professional and author of many articles on a variety of management and communication issues. She has been a certified rural electric communicator since 1986.

JASON MATTHEWSJASON MATTHEWS, owner of JM Strategies, has more than a decade of experience in strategic planning, facilitation, public relations, association management, public speaking and public affairs. He partners with Bismarck State College (BSC) in providing

professional development programs, contract training services, and presentations.

Matthews is a graduate of the Leadership Bismarck-Mandan program, a board member for the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation, and is a member of the Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, the Bismarck Rotary Club and the Sons of the American Legion.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Dakota and master’s degree in management from the University of Mary.

JOHN SANDBAKKENJOHN SANDBAKKEN has worked with Bismarck State College (BSC) since 2014 when he received his Franklin Covey certification. During this time, he has delivered “The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity” through BSC’s professional development coursework, which serves business and industry.

He was named executive director of the National Sunflower Association, located in Mandan, N.D. in January 2012. Prior to this, he served as the international marketing director for 16 years.

Sandbakken also worked for the North



Dakota Department of Agriculture’s marketing division for 11 years, heading the division for the last seven years. In that position, he assisted various commodity groups and private companies in their international marketing programs.

DR. REBECCA MONLEYDR. REBECCA MONLEY holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a licensed psychologist in the state of Minnesota. She is a certified mediator and has successfully mediated workplace conflicts and disputes for 25 years. Dr. Monley is the author of the book, “In This Together: The Art of Shared Leadership and Its Ten Communication Mandates,” and also of the tape series, “I Don’t Care Who Started It.” She was also a featured columnist for the bi-monthly employee publication, the Co-op Communicator, published by the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives.

Dr. Monley’s areas of expertise range from individual, adolescent, marriage and family therapy, to business and executive coaching. She has helped numerous teams and executive officers find ways to work and succeed with each other, and successfully

meet their personal and professional goals. She serves as a consultant and trainer to corporations, family businesses, public and governmental agencies, and business firms of many varieties and sizes. As a trainer, she teaches extensively in the areas of leadership, communication and conflict resolution, business writing, public speaking, goal setting and time management, business etiquette and stress management.

KAYLA BARRETTKAYLA BARRETT has been involved with human resources, training and development since 1991. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Communication and Master of Science degree in Organizational Communication with an emphasis in training and development from Murray State University.

Barrett previously served as a director of human resources. In addition, she served as Director of Organizational Strategy for the Gaylord Entertainment Hotels division. Her additional work experience includes sales training with a large corporation and technology training with another.



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