The 2026 NEO-RLS New Supervisors' Academy is looking for new attendees.
Becoming a supervisor adds new and different challenges to your workday, 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.

A review of the past two years of surveys has shown that attendees find the most value in attending in-person workshops. Therefore, we have transitioned this year’s academy to an all in-person format.

Past participants had this to say:

"It was fantastic. As a very new supervisor, being in a room with so many different people was so helpful and informative. Each session was very informative and helpful, and I am very glad I got to attend."

"I thought it was a great academy. Having been a supervisor, for many years in different fields, I was uncertain that I would learn new skills. I was pleasantly surprised that I did take away new, valuable tips, tricks and strategies.​"

Session 1
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - Twinsburg Public Library
9:30 am -  3:30 pm

Morning Session-It all Starts with Attitude 
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:
Cheryl Grizzell, Director Ritter Public Library
Eric Linderman, Director, Willoughby Eastlake Public Library
Scott Trimmer, Director, Learning Commons, Cuyahoga Community College, Eastern Campus
Andrea Legg, Director, North Canton Public Library

Afternoon Session-Myers-Briggs Type Indicator:  Get to Know Yourself
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:
Holly Klingler, an MBTI Certified Practitioner and Facilitator, has over 16 years of experience empowering professionals across various fields to enhance their careers and personal growth. Specializing in MBTI-based approaches, she helps individuals maximize their communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills. With 12 years dedicated to training library staff and communities, Holly offers personalized insights that help professionals showcase their strengths and grow their confidence.




Session 2
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 - Cuyahoga Falls Library

• Gain the confidence needed to lead proactively and make informed decisions. 
• Analyze potential scenarios, responses, and outcomes encountered in a supervisory role. 
• Participate in group activities and engage with peers to collaboratively explore and share insights, offer mutual support, and exchange best practices. 

Session 3
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - Brooklyn Branch, Cuyahoga County Public Library
9:30 am - 3:30 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-Servant Leadership: A Service First Approach to Supervising & Developing People
Whether you’re new to leadership or a seasoned pro, this session will take a deep dive into leading through the lens of service. Learn tips on finding and growing talent, creating a sense of ownership, and building an engaged, effective team full of people who love their jobs. Many of the customer service skills you already know will help you to be a manager you’d love to have. Learn how great service will help you manage conflict resolution, high emotions, and course corrections while still building a culture of empowerment and belonging.
 
Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to translate customer service skills to leadership success.
• Learn the nuts and bolts of navigating high emotions and difficult employees with a positive over punitive approach
• Develop strategies to identify, develop, and empower employees to contribute to an outstanding culture 

​Presenter:

Ben Heckman, Director, Bexley Public Library
Ben Heckman has loved books, conversation, and people since he can remember. So, it is no surprise that after obtaining his undergraduate degree, his career first took him into teaching and then on to management at Starbucks Coffee Company. Eventually, his passion for learning and his curious nature led him into the library world. In 2014, he earned his Master’s in Library Science. He began his library career at Bexley Public Library at the circulation desk, moving on to managing public services, and then served as Assistant Library Director before becoming the Library’s tenth director in 2017. Having the opportunity to work every day with the incredible staff at Bexley Public Library is one of his greatest joys.


Session 4
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 - Location TBD
9:30 am - 3:30 pm

• Understanding the relevant legal landscape as related to leading and supervising employees;
• Recognizing inappropriate workplace behavior (e.g., misconduct, job performance deficiencies, harassment, tardiness and attendance);
• Knowing how to respond lawfully and effectively to inappropriate behaviors in the workplace
• Development of effective leadership and employee relations skills, particularly for new supervisors and those who have been promoted from within;
• Considering effective performance management and corrective action techniques.
• Developing effective documentation

Presenter:
Kim DeNero-Ackroyd has been the Deputy Director of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library for 13 years. In this role, she supervises eight public service managers directly, as well as leads all public service activities. She currently serves on as the chair of ALA’s Committee on Organization, is a member of PLA’s Continuing Education Advisory Group and is on the OLC Board of Directors. 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.

Afternoon Session:  Executive Presence: Influence Through Relationships & Networking
Executive presence is more than polish—it is the ability to connect, communicate, and influence in a way that earns trust and inspires confidence. In this one-hour program, participants will explore the most practical and impactful elements of executive presence: building meaningful relationships, strengthening networks, and influencing others through credibility, clarity, and connection. While the full model of the Five Categories and Sixteen Behaviors will be introduced as a brief framework, the primary focus will be on interpersonal influence—the behaviors that determine how others experience you and how effectively you move ideas forward.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Five Categories of Executive Presence as a high-level framework
• Strengthen key relationship-building behaviors that drive influence
• Expand their internal and external networks with purpose and confidence
• Communicate in ways that increase credibility, connection, and followership
• Demonstrate presence through listening, curiosity, and collaborative dialogue
• Apply practical influence skills—even without formal authority

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 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
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 - Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library

Performance Improvement Discussions
9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Whether you want a refresher of the basics or are looking for new and different ways to manage and lead others in your organization, this interactive one-day workshop helps supervisors to grow their management and leadership skills fast.

Get the “Knowledge Before the Need” by learning ways to help you better manage yourself and others. You will leave this workshop with techniques and phraseology that you’ll begin using the very next day at work! Whether you have been managing others for 10 years or 10 days, you’ll benefit from attending these sessions!
 
Learning Objectives:

• Communicating more effectively with employees who see things differently than you do
• Working with employee attendance, behavior and performance issues
• Giving constructive feedback to employees positively and confidently
• Delegation and other tools to more effectively managing yourself and your time

Presenter: 
Andrew Sanderbeck is a respected expert presenter and consultant for libraries and library organizations on critical people skills including managing others, communication more effectively and improving customer service and the customer experience. He has worked with public and academic libraries for more than 20 years. He champions Meliorism (mēl′yə-rĭz″əm), the belief that we can contribute to positive change and improve the world through acts of love, creativity, compassion, and kindness. He now resides in Wadsworth, Ohio with his wife, Michelle, and enjoys visiting his grandchildren in Pennsylvania.
 

Final Session
Thursday, September 17, 2026 - Location TBD
9:30 am -3:30 pm

Morning Session-Boosting Leadership Self-Confidence
As leaders, we often prioritize supporting others over our own well-being, but neglecting self-care can harm both us and our teams. Recognizing and prioritizing self-care is essential for effective leadership. At the same time, many leaders grapple with impostor syndrome and self-doubt, which can lead to stress, perfectionism, and hesitation. This workshop will guide you in recognizing and re framing these thoughts while equipping you with actionable strategies to build confidence and resilience.
 
Learning Objectives:

• Prioritize self-care to enhance your leadership capacity.
• Overcome impostor syndrome and re frame self-doubt.
• Speak and act with greater confidence and assertiveness.
• Build resilience and recover from setbacks effectively.

 

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.