Do you run a Tri-Cities community agency? Need help tackling a pending project? Let’s team up!

Leadership Tri-Cities Class 27 is gearing up to complete their class project, and is accepting RFP’s from local agencies.

Download the RFP Guidelines here (or read below)

Introduction and Purpose

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:

1. How will this project serve our community?
2. How many families or individuals will be positively impacted by this project?
3. How does this project support or provide service across lines of social diversity?
4. Is there funding available for the project or will funding need to be raised?
5. If funding needs to be raised, estimate how much needs to be raised.
6. 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.

Name: Dana Dollarhyde

Company: City of Kennewick

Title: Executive Assistant

My Superpower is: Organization 

Six Questions with Dana

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.

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.

You can learn more about Columbia Industries here.

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
• Dana Dollarhyde, City of Kennewick
• Kelly Ebert, United States Department of Energy
• Mauricio Gomez, Lourdes Health
• Holly Harmon, Numerica Credit Union
• Jill Harvill, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions
• Darrell Herling, Battelle NW Division
• Cara M. Hernandez, Chaplaincy Healthcare
• Karlee Hodges, Richland School District
• Avonte Jackson, Grace Clinic
• Jessie Tomren, Mid-Columbia Libraries
• David Jordan, Energy Northwest
• Wendy J Krause, Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center
• Jennifer Kuklinski, Energy Northwest
• Kevin Lewis, Visit Tri-Cities
• 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
• Events: Amy Marioni and Alice Amaya

Class 27’s values are:

• Teamwork
• Open-Mindedness
• Growth
• Courage
• Humor
• Communication! 

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.”

In episode 81 of the Tri-Cities Influencer Podcast, there were numerous insights like these, including:

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!