The Peer Group provides me an opportunity to meet with an assembly of people facing similar personal and business challenges. This type of group would have been challenging to put together without the aid of Decision Associates, whose experienced moderators bring it invaluable structure, guidance and thought provocation.
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Finish Thompson
June 2011 Newsletter
Accelerate Your Leadership Skills:
Join the Executive Leadership Academy at Penn State Behrend
By Alice Winkleman, Guest Writer
In early 2009, Don Moore and Joe Gausman of Decision Associates approached Penn State Behrend about the need for a high-quality, executive leadership program to refresh skills of current executive leaders and build a foundation for those in line to assume executive roles. Working as a team, Behrend’s Continuing Education Department, the Behrend School of Business and Decision Associates worked with Behrend’s MBA faculty members to select topics and design the model. The first Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) was launched in September, 2009.
The Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) provides a unique opportunity to learn the leadership components that will keep you and your company moving forward. Top Penn State Behrend faculty will teach you how to power up your current leadership skills and equip you with tools to improve your company’s operations. The targeted, condensed subjects are designed for immediate, practical application. This year’s classes begin September 7 and include strategy, economics, business law, supply chain/operations, finance, international business, leadership, marketing, human capital management and managing innovation and change.
Unlike many other executive development programs, the ELA is conveniently offered four half-days per month on non-consecutive days. You can learn locally and keep your fingers on the pulse of your business.
I invite you to attend one of the information sessions shown below to learn more, meet faculty, and visit the campus. Call 814-898-6103 to register for one of the following dates:
June 30, 8:30-9:30
July 19, 4:00-5:00
August 10, 8:30-9:30
You can learn more by visiting our web page at: Behrend.psu.edu/ela or by contacting Alice Winkleman at 814-898-6005.
Take your Leadership to the Next Level by Don Moore
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We invited Alice Winkleman to write about Penn State Behrend’s Executive Leadership Academy because we believe strongly in the program’s benefit. It is the only way to obtain high quality executive development with this depth without traveling to a four-six week programs at colleges such as Penn State Main Campus, Stanford, Kellogg, Wharton and others. In addition to pulling you away from your business for a long period of time, these are very costly – typically $15,000 to $25,000.
We applaud Behrend for the commitment they have made in developing this program. The professors have real world experience and the class sizes are small. The curriculum is designed to provide an MBA-like experience in a condensed timeline.
The ELA is strongly supported by several area executives who have gone through the program and they have all spoken highly of the classes, the information and the instructors. If you are interested in a mini-MBA program, we would highly recommend that you attend one of the information classes listed above, or call us for more information.
Peer Groups: Leadership in the Making By Mike Estrich
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Dealing with personal and business issues is an ongoing challenge for the entrepreneur, CEO or Executive Director. Grappling with the complexities of their enterprise, assessing options, making critical decisions and dealing with personal issues are often done solo. Subjects are often too sensitive to share with others in the business or require a level of understanding beyond the scope of employees. Hence, the saying, “it is lonely at the top”, takes on real meaning.
The reality is that most issues facing business owners/leaders are not unique, whether personal or business related. Others have gone through or are facing similar situations. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to tap into that experience and wisdom instead of going it alone?
360 Degree Feedback: A Leadership Assessment By Jim Ryan
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How do you truly know what leadership competencies your managers possess? It is impossible to see all they do in interacting with peers, direct reports…even you. And how often is an assessment of leadership behaviors performed to gain objective insight into how a leader or manager is perceived? What are the similarities and differences in their behaviors based upon the people with whom that leader interacts? The 360 Degree Feedback process is one means used by thousands of companies worldwide.
The feedback system examines Eight Universal Leadership Competencies in 18 Skill Sets. Respondents are asked to rate the leader on 70 behaviors to enable you to gain insight into these skill sets. Using these data, you can then prepare a real, meaningful development and coaching plan for that manager.
It’s Not Too Late To Apply For the Decision Associates $30,000 Services Grant By Emily Wachter
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This fall, one local nonprofit organization will be awarded up to $30,000 in FREE Services to be used towards building their organizational capacity. Nonprofits interested in applying for the grant must fill out the organizational assessment form by June 17th. The organizational assessment was provided to Decision Associates by the Nonprofit Partnership and will assist in determining the greatest areas of capacity building needs for your nonprofit. Assessments can be mailed to Decision Associates at 1540 East Lake Road, Suite 100 Erie, PA 16511 or emailed to emilywachter@decisionassociates.net.
HANDS recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony at Ridgebury Apartments on West Ridge Road. Congratulations and best wishes for their continued success!
The Rouse Estate in Warren County recently had an Open House to showcase their new Adult Day Center, Bridges at Rouse. Best wishes to them on this new endeavor!
Jim Ryan has recently completed a certification training session in Chicago for the Profile XT, Profiles Sales Assessment and the Checkpoint 360 Feedback System. These instruments are used across the globe to measure Job Fit and Leadership Performance. Congratulations Jim!
Kudos to Don Moore who was the Keynote Speaker at the recent Erie Area Adult (GED) graduation ceremony. Lots of great people with great stories received their diploma. Congratulations to all of them!
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In this month’s issue of the Web Wire, we are profiling Jim Ryan. He has been a member of the Decision Associates team since 2006 and specializes in Organizational Development/Human Capital Management, Executive Recruitment and Strategy. Jim has taken extensive training at Profiles International and holds a lifetime certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and a Master Human Capital Strategist designation from the Human Capital Institute.
Prior to coming to Decision Associates, Jim had more than 30 years of experience in human resource management, was the CEO of his own company and served as a senior executive for Welch Foods and Frito-Lay. He is a graduate of Ohio State University and received his MBA from Gannon University.
In his spare time, Jim serves as Board Chairman of Opportunities Unlimited, Board Member of Stairways and the Erie Club Admissions Committee and was previously on the Millcreek Sewer Authority and Erie Ambassadors Steering Committee. He is also an avid golfer.
Jim is married to Anne and they have three children: Tom, Jennifer and Katie (who some may remember as being a member of the Decision Associates staff before her move to Ohio).
We are proud to have Jim as a member of our team. If he can be of assistance to you or your business, he can be reached at jimryan@decisionassociates.net or 814-528-9406.
Did we raise any questions for you and your business or nonprofit organization? If so, please contact us.
Send your suggestions for future topics of interest to: SueMoore@DecisionAssociates.net.
