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.