Carla Prock, Senior Manger at the Benton-Franklin Health District (our session day sponsor) and Class XX alumni speaks with Leadership Tri-Cities Class XXVII about the 2023 Community Health Improvement plan
On October 18, 2023, Class XXVII experienced a session of thought-provoking insights during their Human Needs and Services Day.
The focus of this session was to be introduced to the services and programs available to meet human needs in the community, the challenges these agencies face, and how they plan to improve their services in the future.
The session featured a comprehensive and engaging agenda courtesy of our Session Day Sponsor, the Benton-Franklin Health District. We also would like to thank Columbia Industries for providing the session’s meals.
Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance
Class XXVII started with a presentation by Carla Prock, a Class XX alum member and a Senior Manager of Healthy People & Communities at the Benton Franklin Health District.
As noted in the report, “CHIP established the groundwork for addressing some of the most pressing public health challenges facing our bi-county region to foster more equitable health outcomes and well-being for all residents in our community.”
The four CHIP priorities included:
Housing and Homelessness
Behavioral Health
Access to Health
Community Partnership Development
Youth Homelessness in the Community
Omar Escalera is the Executive Director of Equity, Partnerships & Family Engagement Migrant Program in the Pasco School District, presented on Youth Homelessness.
At the national level, the McKinney-Vento Act is federal legislation that has been in effect since 1987 to support children and youth.
Mr. Escalera then discussed the challenges the District faces and the resources they have to ensure that children and youth experiencing housing instability can still access the educational system.
Support, Advocacy and Resource Center
The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center (SARC) is dedicated to providing trauma-informed crisis services and support to victims/survivors of crime, along with their families and others affected.
SARC’s Executive Director, JoDee Garretson, an LTC Class 2 Alumni, delivered a compelling presentation on SARC’s history and service. SARC advocates for the rights of all crime victims, offering information, advocacy, crisis intervention, and treatment to those affected.
They promote victims’ choices in reporting, prosecution, safety, and more while also working to prevent violence.
Tri-Cities Residential Services
Paul Singer, an LTC Alumni from Class XX, and the Executive Director of Tri-Cities Residential Services, discussed their person-centered approach to teaching vital life skills and offering support to individuals with disabilities.
TCRS fosters self-esteem, personal growth, and self-sufficiency, enabling these individuals to function independently.
Their services encompass supported living and behavior support services.
B5 Learning Center
For over 13 years, the B5 Learning Center has delivered education classes and after-school programs for refugee families.
Theresa Roosendaal (Executive Director) and Tho Paw (Family Support Specialist) discussed the history and programs of the B5 Learning Center, “since our founding, we have helped more than 2,000 newcomers learn, grow, and thrive.”
The B5 Learning Center offers English and digital literacy classes to adults and after-school programs for K-8 and High School students.
Homeless & Poverty Panel
Two panelists discussed current challenges and services offered to alleviate homelessness and poverty in the Tri-Cities.
The panelists included:
Heather Shindehite, Ph.D., Program Director, Safe Harbor & My Friends Place
Debra Biondolilo, Humans Services Case Management Director, Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission.
Columbia Industries
Columbia Industries is a mission-based organization dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals with disabilities and other challenges.
Columbia Industries CEO, Michael Novakovich, a LTC Class 10 Alumni, spoke about the organization, “One of the core values at Columbia Industries is social inclusion – we want all our people to fell as if they belong to our community.
Youth Services Panel
There were three panelists who talked about youth services in the Tri-Cities.
The panelists included:
Brian Ace, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club, Class XIII
Steve Howland, Executive Director, YMCA
Amber Gonzalez, Program Manager, Communities in School
Brian Ace finished up with a discussion of donor principles and non-profits.
Question 1: What excites you most about Leadership Tri-Cities?
Our class of amazing professionals with varied experiences and backgrounds. I’m excited to get to know everyone better and work together!
Question 2: If you could meet one person, who would it be?
My great-great grandparents. I had the fortune to know my great grandparents as a child, but have heard so many amazing stories of their parents, I’d love to know them as an adult.
Question 3: What word or sentence would people close to you use to describe you?
Active
Question 4: What is one project you would be excited to work on in the Tri-Cities?
Improving awareness and access to community resources.
Question 5: My favorite spot in the Tri-Cities is:
My home!
Question 6: Something that deserves more recognition in the Tri-Cities is:
Everything locally owned! Farmer’s markets, restaurants and small businesses.
My Superpower is: Making to-do lists and crossing things off
Six Questions with Jessie
Question 1: What excites you most about Leadership Tri-Cities?
The opportunity to get more in depth knowledge of our community both via the in-depth session days, but also through my classmates.
Question 2: If you could meet one person, who would it be?
Trevor Noah – I love his comedic and insightful view on life, especially with his unique experience of growing up in Apartheid South Africa.
Question 3: What word or sentence would people close to you use to describe you?
That being in a “helping” profession aligns with who I am.
Question 4: What is one project you would be excited to work on in the Tri-Cities?
Something impacting social issues (like people experiencing homelessness or addiction) or preparing our kids for success.
Question 5: My favorite spot in the Tri-Cities is:
Chiawana Park, the far west end that’s just beyond the edge of the grass. There’s a short clearing & path of sorts that the trees arch over… It’s also where my husband and I said our vows and eloped.
Question 6: Something that deserves more recognition in the Tri-Cities is:
bias here…Our libraries. They’re great, and everyone who is not using them should!
Each Leadership Tri-Cities class is presented with the challenge of completing a “Class Project.” The LTC Class XXVII is seeking opportunities to serve our community via the application.
Want to see a previous project example?
Watch Class 26’s project with Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin Counties below.
Review and Selection Process
All applications will go through a multi-phase approval process, including:
Proposals will be screened by the Leadership Tri-Cities Project Team
All applicants will be notified by November 3, 2023 of the recommended project that is selected to bring to LTC Board of Directors for final approval
The selected project will be voted on during the November 9, 2023 LTC Special Board Meeting
Proposal Content Requirements
Please note all applications submitted must have a project proposal that is shovel ready and a great need for the organization.
Provide a detailed written narrative of your proposed project that follows the outline below.
Narrative should not exceed one page. Your proposal should include a Budget Worksheet. This does not count towards the one page limit to your proposal.
Answer the following questions:
How will this project serve our community?
How many families or individuals will be positively impacted by this project?
How does this project support or provide service across lines of social diversity?
Is there funding available for the project or will funding need to be raised?
If funding needs to be raised, estimate how much needs to be raised.
How long as this project been needed for your organization.
Proposal Content Requirements
Please take note of the following project requirements to ensure the potential project is one that meets these guidelines:
Selection: The project must address a local community need in partnership with a community agency.
A community agency is loosely defined as a 501c3, school district, municipality, county, or civic group with the primary or secondary goal of improving our community
Must be feasible for completion within 120 days
The project must not promote any religious or political overtones
Project Execution
There must be an activity during the project execution that allows engagement of LTC class members to serve in the project.
Must be completed within 120 days from date of approval by the LTC Board of Directors
Any required permits, licenses, or insurance must be clearly identified
Local, state, and federal guidelines will be adhered to throughout the project. Additional precautions appropriate to the project location should be communicated to the Project Team.
Project Submission
Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. PST on October 16, 2023 via email to Chris Mortensen at topher.mortensen@gmail.com
Questions? Contact Chris Mortensen, Class Project Manager, at topher.mortensen@gmail.com.
Question 1: What excites you most about Leadership Tri-Cities?
I am most looking forward to getting a behind-the-scenes look at the different industries that make our community prosper.
Question 2: If you could meet one person, who would it be?
My grandmother Susan passed away when I was too young to remember her. I have heard so many great stories from my mother about her and would love to get to know her as an adult.
Question 3: What word or sentence would people close to you use to describe you?
“Always wanting to help”
Question 4: What is one project you would be excited to work on in the Tri-Cities?
I would be happy to work on anything that would benefit the homeless population/housing crisis we are experiencing.
Question 5: My favorite spot in the Tri-Cities is:
Two Rivers Park.
I love taking my paddleboard out to watch the sunset.
Question 6: Something that deserves more recognition in the Tri-Cities is:
The river!
I think the Tri-Cities can be a huge destination based on all or our recreational activities surrounding the waterfront.
Leadership Tri-Cities Executive Director, Paul Casey, with Michael Novakovich and the Columbia Industries team
Is leadership intuitive, or can it be learned?
Count Michael Novakovich, the CEO of Columbia Industries, as part of team learn.
“Leadership isn’t intuitive – it needs to be molded,” Michael said.
He notes that building leadership skills in all team members – communication, empathy, and conflict resolution – is key to delivering on Columbia Industries’ mission.
“At Columbia Industries, our mission is critical – we are committed to supporting and empowering individuals with disabilities and other challenges in order to help them achieve personal success and community engagement…
To do that, we need a highly skilled team.”
Who is Columbia Industries?
We met Columbia Industries staff and clients at the Mid-Columbia Library.
The clients browsed around the bookshelves and created artwork.
One client showed-off their portrait with a big grin.
“One of the core values at Columbia Industries is social inclusion,” Michael explained, “we want all our people to feel as if they belong to our community.”
CI Staff noted how the library is a great place to start.
“Clients feel self-sufficient with a library card, and check out the books they want to read,” a CI manager noted.
Leadership Development as a Catalyst for Success
A crucial aspect of Columbia Industries’ approach is their commitment to leadership development.
Michael, a member of Leadership Tri-Cities Class 10, recognizes the pivotal role that leadership plays in the organization’s ability to deliver exceptional services.
Michael notes, “Leadership requires continuous learning and growth.”
Through their investment in leadership development, Columbia Industries is not only bettering their internal teams but also enhancing the quality of services they provide.
Part of this investment is sponsoring Leadership Tri-Cities.
“If we truly want to Build a Better Community we need a program like Leadership Tri-Cities,” Michael explained.
Class 27 at Ohme Gardens in Wenatchee for the annual class retreat
Class 27 kicked off on August 9th with a team-building ropes course activity and class reception and then finished their first week at the class retreat in Wenatchee.
Meet Class 27
Class 27 members include:
Karina Aispuro, Washington State University
Alice Amaya, Pasco School District
Megan Biever, Kennewick School District
David Chavey-Reynaus, Benton Franklin Workforce Development Council
Amy Marinoni, Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Christopher Michael Mortensen, City of Pasco Fire Department
Ryan Nell, INTERA Incorporated
Kylie Peel, City of Kennewick
Timothy (Timmy) Song, Columbia Basin College
Madison Evangelista, Mid-Columbia Libraries
Max Schneider, Community Advocate
Mike Saffell, PNNL
The Ropes Course
The ropes course is now led by Challenge Tri-Cities in Columbia Park, and they facilitated the low ropes elements (the Nitro Swing!) and high ropes elements (the Squirrel!) on August 9, 2023. We even had rain for the first time in LTC history!
The Welcome Reception
The welcome reception was held at Events at Sunset on August 9, 2023, catered by Fat Olives, and our session directors and board members introduced themselves and their roles/days to the new class and their loved ones — building anticipation for their year.
The Wenatchee Retreat
The Wenatchee retreat moved locations to the Hilton Garden Inn for its accommodations, meals, and activities on August 11-12. Paul led the class through Personify Leadership: 8 leadership competencies to embody. The class took the DISC assessment: all I’s, S’s, and C’s–not a D in the group! And one of the typical highlights was, of course, Ohme Gardens on Friday night.
Class 27 Officers
President- Megan Biever
Project Manager- Chris Mortensen
Vice President- Madison Rosenbaum
Secretary-Dana Dollarhyde
Treasurer-Holly Harmon
Sergeant of Arms- Karina Aispuro
Historians- Kevin Lewis and Jen Kuklinski
Hospitality Coordinators- Ryan Nell and Cara Hernandez
Communications: Kylie Peel and David Chavey-Reynaud
Leadership Tri-Cities Class 26 and their Class Director, Kyle Cox, meeting Governor Jay Inslee
Kyle Cox sat down with Leadership Tri-Cities new executive director, Paul Casey, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership and learning.
In the conversation, he discussed his deep love for libraries and what they represent.
“I was on the State Library Board for six years, and we had meetings all over the State,” said Kyle.
On one trip back to Seattle, Kyle had a break between meetings and visited his childhood library in West Seattle.
“It’s a beautiful old Carnegie Building, and I had not been there for 20 years. So, I thought – you know what, I’m going to go to my childhood library. And walking up those steps into this very old, beautiful brick building, I was overwhelmed by how much I loved being in that space and how many memories I had of learning.”
His lifelong love of learning was developed in that library, and in his view, this love was central to his ability to be an effective leader.
“If I’m not learning, I’m actually not very happy…[When entering the library], I am reminded of being small again, a small child walking up to what I thought was a huge building, which in retrospect was not that big. But to me, it was gigantic. I just remembered I could find anything I ever wanted to learn about or listen to and that people at the library are not there to tell me what is good or bad but to help you find it.”
In the conversation with Paul, they discussed that to develop as a leader, you have to be a little uncomfortable:
“A good indicator of growth is being a bit uncomfortable. Our experience is designed to be as comfortable as possible in our society. But, I have found that you must be a little uncomfortable to evolve. I need to have something that challenges me…. I think that the more you learn, the more empathy you build in yourself and towards others,” said Kyle.
Paul replied:
“It reminds me of the red, yellow, and green zones model of learning. Where green is just…we’re in that productivity. It feels comfortable, almost too easy, and some complacency sets in. Yellow is that stretch zone that somebody wouldn’t call fun or comfortable, right? You have to put on a smile and say, “Alright, I’m going to go into this zone where I’m a little uncomfortable because I know I need to push myself with a challenge. And then, red zone, you don’t want to go there because that’s the burnout zone where you just freak out and go into a panic attack. So, we just need more yellow zone in our life.”
Lesson 1: Empathy and Self Care are Essential Leadership Traits
Kyle emphasized the significance of empathy and self-care in effective leadership.
He shared how he learned to balance being directive during crises while nurturing genuine care and support for his team.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of being kind to oneself to foster the capacity to be kind and empathetic towards others.
Lesson 2: Difficult Conversations and Growth
Kyle described how difficult conversations are an inevitable part of leadership.
Whether it’s providing constructive feedback or addressing challenging situations, leaders must be prepared to engage in honest dialogues with their team members.
To navigate these conversations effectively, leaders should prepare, practice, and focus on making things better, rather than just fixing problems.
Taking the time to understand the other person’s perspective and being mindful of emotions can lead to more productive outcomes.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the full conversation with Paul and Kyle. Follow the link below to listen now and take your leadership journey forward!
Shortly before his death in 2005, Peter Drucker was celebrated by BusinessWeek magazine as the, “The man who invented management.”
In a career that spanned 65-years, Drucker, an Austrian-American management consultant, educator and author, significantly contributed to the philosophical and practical foundations of modern business management.
And, his insights can be found throughout management literature, including in his 1954 book The Practice of Management, and in his Harvard Business Review article “What Makes an Effective Executive.”
In this article, he outlined eight fundamental practices executives should develop.
While all eight of these qualities are important, they can be distilled into three essential takeaways, providing a valuable resource for professionals interested in honing their leadership and management skills.
Leadership Skill 1: Acquiring Necessary Knowledge
One crucial aspect is to ask two vital questions:
“What needs to be done?”
“What is best for the enterprise?”
By genuinely contemplating and answering these questions, executives can determine the projects and tasks that will bring the most significant benefits to their organization.
Leadership Skill 2: Translating Knowledge into Action
While action plans are familiar to many, the key lies in their execution.
Effective executives focus on one or two priorities at a time, assign high-performing individuals to critical tasks, and concentrate on seizing opportunities rather than dwelling on problems.
This approach doesn’t mean they disregard problems; rather, they prioritize forward momentum over extensive problem-solving.
Leadership Skill 3: Embracing Responsibility and Accountability
Successful executives earn the trust of their organization through:
Effective communication
Taking ownership of decisions while delegating authority to subject matter experts
Embracing a collective mindset by using “we” instead of “I.”
Final Thought
It is important to note that Drucker acknowledged the inherent fallibility of humans, and even adhering to these practices religiously cannot guarantee absolute success.
However, he emphasizes that failing to ask these essential questions will almost certainly lead to making incorrect decisions.
The insights discussed in this review were based on an article published in the June 2004 issue of the Harvard Business Review.
