The 2024 NEO-RLS New Supervisors' Academy is looking for new attendees.
Becoming a supervisor adds new and different challenges to your work day regardless of the type or size of library you work in. The Academy's courses will provide you with the skills and confidence you need to handle the many and varied challenges of being a supervisor. Programs will focus on three key areas: leadership, communication and staff development. The Academy is appropriate for new supervisors in multi-type libraries and for those who want a refresher.

Past participants had this to say:
"This was a great program. I enjoyed meeting everyone who also attended. The conversations and exercises were extremely helpful. My boss has already said he has seen an improvement in my leadership skills thanks to this program."

"I ABSOLUTELY loved this series and think NEO-RLS did an amazing job of offering varied topics that pertain to new supervisors!"

Session 1
Thursday, February 22, 2024 - Twinsburg Public Library
9:30 am -  4:00 pm
It all Starts with Attitude and Knowing Yourself
Being a good supervisor starts with having a great attitude and our series will begin with the opportunity to listen and interact with leaders as they share their experiences regarding the impact of attitude. Be sure to bring your most pressing questions.

The panel will consist of:
Jonathan Harris, Director, Portage County District Library
Carla Sarratt, Director of Libraries, University of Mount Union
Aurora Martinez, Director, Morley Library
Trent Ross, Deputy Director, Rocky River Public Library
Mariana Branch, DIrector, Kingsville Public Library

The afternoon will focus on a Myers Briggs assessment. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment provides a useful method for understanding people by looking at eight personality preferences that everyone uses at different times. One of the most critical aspects of the MBTI is that it identifies preferences, not abilities or skills. It is designed to bring type awareness to those who might find growth and learning within its ideas. You will have fun exploring and validating your type preferences. The MBTI is the most popular assessment in the world and has been applied as a tool for many years by a variety of users around the globe. This assessment will not only help you to know yourself but give you insights into how your employees work.

Presenter:
Marti Peden is the owner and principal of Peden & Associates, a training and consulting company based in Akron, Ohio.  For more than 30 years, she has been a trainer, facilitator, speaker and organizational development professional.  She specializes in conflict resolution, managing change, strategic planning, team building and positive approaches to life’s challenges. 
 
For over 25 years, Marti has worked with numerous libraries as a speaker, facilitator and strategic planning consultant.  She has worked with many of the libraries within the NEO-RLS regional library system as well as facilitating staff days for various public libraries.  She presented at the 2013 ALA convention in Chicago, IL and the 2014 PLA convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Marti holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from The University of Steubenville and a Master’s of Education Degree from Kent State University.  She is an annual presenter for executive leadership programs such as the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and the Executive Education Program at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Session 2
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - Cuyahoga Falls Library
9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Morning Session: Change Course without Rocking the Boat
As new supervisors you may find unresolved challenges with your staff that need to be addressed sooner rather than later.  How do you go about addressing something that might have been brewing for a long time without Rocking the Boat?  Learn how to use expectations, goals, communication, follow-up and follow-through to right the ship and move forward with confidence.

Presenter:
Cheryl Kuonen, Director, Mentor Public Library







Afternoon Session-Resolving Conflict through Trust and Team Building
Whether you are a new a supervisor or a seasoned manager, this interactive session will help you enhance your skills in managing your team. The discussion will focus on building a cohesive team and creating and maintaining trust. It will also provide a step-by-step guide for having difficult conversations and give participants the opportunity to practice conversations about common work situations.
 
Learning Objectives:

Presenter:
Taurean J. Johnson (who also goes by TJ) serves as a Commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). In his capacity as Commissioner, Mr. Johnson works with parties in the private, public and federal sectors, mediating collective bargaining agreements, grievances, and employment disputes. In addition to his mediation work, Mr. Johnson frequently delivers training programs to labor and management groups.  Taurean attended the University of Cincinnati (UC) earning dual degrees in Political Science and African American Studies.


Session 3
Tuesday, Apri 16, 2024 - Bainbridge Branch, Geauga County Public Library
 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Leading with Assurance: Decision-Making and Effective Supervision 
This workshop is designed for library supervisors seeking to enhance their leadership skills, focusing on confident decision-making and effective supervision strategies. Participants will engage in interactive discussions, real-life scenarios, and collaborative activities to strengthen their ability to navigate challenges, set strategic goals, and cultivate accountability within their teams. 
Learning Objectives: 

Presenter:
Ragan Snead, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Regional Library System, has 12 years of experience in public and academic libraries. She has a passion for staff development and helping library staff reach their full potential. In addition to her work in various areas of librarianship, Ragan has experience in management, community outreach, and strategic planning. She received her MLIS from Kent State University and her MBA from Lake Erie College. 



Session 4
Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am From Your Desktop
Time Management Yours and Theirs
Time management is one of the most important skills that any manager/supervisor should have. Understanding, implementing and following effective time management practices will help you accomplish more.
 
Learning objectives:

Presenter:
Kim DeNero-Ackroyd has been the Deputy Director of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library for 11 years. In this role, she supervises eight public service managers directly, as well as leads all public service activities. She currently serves on ALA Council, ALA’s Committee on Organizations and co-chairs PLA’s Membership Advisory Group. Prior to her current role, she has twice been a branch manager, in addition to other supervisory positions. In all of her positions, effective time management has been one of the critical components of success. She is passionate about helping to develop future and current library leaders.

Session 5
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 -- Twinsburg Public Library
9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Morning Session
HR Stuff Every New Supervisor Should Know: Having a Solid Legal Foundation

Learning Objectives:

Presenter:
Jim P. Wilkins,  Shareholder, OSBA Certified Specialist in Labor & Employment Law, Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLC
Jim began his law career more than thirty years ago when labor law – dealing with unions -- was in full bloom, and employment law was still emerging. As a result, he has a depth and breadth of experience in labor law that many younger lawyers won’t have because of the decline in the unionized segment of the American workforce.

Throughout his career, he has devoted significant time to representing and counseling employers on union relations matters, including collective bargaining negotiations, arbitration proceedings, and maintaining non-union status. He has negotiated countless labor contracts in both the private and public sectors, both blue collar and white collar. He regularly represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board and Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board in representation and unfair labor practice proceedings.

At the same time, Jim is as much an employment lawyer as he is a labor lawyer. He has been around from the outset of such landmark legislation as the ADA and FMLA. Both have a tremendous impact on the day-to-day advice he provides to employers who look to him to keep them out of trouble. When discrimination claims arise, Jim represents employers in state and federal courts and before the EEOC and state fair employment practice agencies. Jim also assists employers who have federal contracts with their affirmative action obligations, including the preparation of affirmative action plans.

Afternoon Session:
Interviewing Techniques for New Supervisors
Hiring great employees is critical to an organization's success and makes life easier for everyone.  The key to hiring the right person starts with the application and interview process. You will learn how to create an interview plan, how to construct appropriate interview questions that provide the information you need, and how to avoid common interview mistakes.  In addition, we will cover what is and isn't legal to ask a candidate and how to evaluate the information you have received in order to make the best decision.

Presenter:
Amy B. Shannon, President, Pinnacle Leadership Solutions, LLC, and a Partner in Your Partner in HR has specialized in Organizational Development, Human Resources and Training for over 25 years. For the past 13 years, Amy has been an Organizational Development consultant working with clients in manufacturing, service, financial and healthcare industries. Most recently, Amy served as the Executive Director II/Vice President of Corporate College where she built a robust leadership training curriculum to serve her clients.  Amy also holds certifications with numerous nationally known training vendors. She is a regular speaker at national conferences such as The Corporate University Week at the Disney Institute. She is a seasoned speaker for the HR Star Conference Cleveland. As a result of her high ratings, she has also been a key speaker at the HR Star Atlanta and received the Gold Medal Award three years in a row for best session speaker. Amy was a recipient of the 2015 HR Awards presented by ERC & CSHRM.

Session 6
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 10 am - 11 am From Your Desktop
Practical Budget Management: How to Avoid Disaster, Make Smart Moves, Report Responsibly, and Stress Less About your Budget! 
Whether you’re a newly minted library staffer responsible for the budget for Summer Reading, a Director concerned with making the most of your budget, or have budgeting responsibilities somewhere in-between, budgeting can be intimidating. Join Wendy Bartlett, Collection Development & Acquisitions Manager for Cuyahoga County Public Library, and learn basic budgeting do’s and don’ts, how to be ready for unexpected decreases in funding, how to cope if you mess up, and how to educate yourself about the bigger budgeting picture. You’ll leave with practical ideas (and tools!) that will make working with the budget a pleasure rather than a chore.

Learning Objectives:

Presenter:
Wendy Bartlett serves as the Collection Development & Acquisitions Manager for Cuyahoga County Public Library, a position she has held since 2009. Before that, Wendy was the branch manager for the Beachwood Branch of CCPL, and before that, the Assistant Director of the Kent Free Library. Wendy was the Regional Manager of the Cleveland-Pittsburgh Borders stories before joining the library world. She also served as a Councilperson for the Village of Lodi, her hometown in her twenties, where she first learned about budgeting for government agencies.



Session 7
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 -Location TBD
 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Setting Performance Goals and Evaluations
In the morning session we will learn about setting performance goals, monitoring performance, and conducting periodic evaluations - all critical job skills for all supervisors. We will utilize real-life scenarios through group activities to reinforce these skills.

Performance Planning
The afternoon session will focus on professional language to use in writing the evaluation that will provide clear, empowering conversations with employees.  Scenario-based group learning will also be used in this session.  Handouts will give those in attendance useful takeaways to assist in all aspects of the performance process.

Presenter:

Colleen Kelly, MATLT, MAED
Colleen spent 28 ½ years working for the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library in a variety of roles.  She started her library career as a part-time circulation clerk, worked as the Head of Circulation at the Eastlake Library, served as the Technology Coordinator for 15 years and ended her career as the first Human Resources Coordinator.  Colleen also served as a member of many committees and chaired the Staff Recognition, Staff Development Day and Staff Training committees.  Along the way, she helped form the union and served as the Union President for 6 years – negotiating two contracts.

Serving in her many roles at the library gave Colleen a varied experience with the performance evaluation process.   She supervised several clerks and computer technicians over the years and used many different types of evaluations.  She also served on 2 committees that created the different evaluation forms and processes.

Colleen retired on July 1^st of 2021.  She spends most days enjoying the company of her 12 grandchildren.  She has a passion for training and is working on developing training programs on several topics.
 

Session 8
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 -at 10 am - 11 am From Your Desktop
Prioritizing Self-Care 
In our roles as supervisors and leaders, the importance of self-care is often acknowledged but frequently overlooked. Our attention is dedicated to managing our organizations, supporting our employees, and achieving our objectives. Neglecting personal well-being can detrimentally impact our teams, whereas embracing a regimen of healthy self-care can significantly enhance both our effectiveness and that of our employees. Recognizing the importance of self-care is a key characteristic of effective leaders. This session will guide you in identifying when to shift your focus inward and provide essential insights into the questions to ask to begin prioritizing self-care. 
 

Presenter: 
Ragan Snead, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Regional Library System







Final Session - Thursday, October 3, 2024 at a Location TBD
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Morning Session
Boosting Your Leadership Self Confidence
This workshop offers positive actions leaders must take to help break free from stress, perfectionism and self-doubt so they can find the confidence to work and lead effectively.

Learning Objectives:

Presenter:
Marti Peden is the owner and principal of Peden & Associates, a training and consulting company based in Akron, Ohio.  For more than 30 years, she has been a trainer, facilitator, speaker and organizational development professional.  She specializes in conflict resolution, managing change, strategic planning, team building and positive approaches to life’s challenges. 




Afternoon Session

We will conclude the academy with the return of first day panel of speakers with time to network and get those final questions answered.