The CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government has an awesome fall schedule of classes for your professional development. September and October highlights include great leadership courses such as: Polish the Presentation, How to be Human at Work, and Resiliency: Recover, Adapt and Sustain. Highlights on the policy and governance side include: Capital Improvement Planning and Funding this month, and in October – Making an Impression: Working with the Media, and IT Executive Cybersecurity. Check out all our upcoming classes for September and get registered! They fill up fast.

The CSAC Institute provides county officials, senior executives and managers with consummate opportunities to expand your capacity to exercise leadership and governance in volatile and uncertain times. Classes are open to all county staff and elected officials. They are an affordable $149 each and include instruction, class materials and lunch.

Register today!

September Course Highlights

Resiliency: Build an Organization to Recover, Adapt and Sustain (323)

Thursday, Sept. 12  - 10:00 to 3:30 – Shasta/Tehama County Campus
Thursday, Sept. 19  – 10:00 to 3:30 – Santa Cruz County Campus

Counties operate in a volatile and complex world, where anticipated and unanticipated challenges emerge regularly. The key is to not only survive such events, but to prosper as an organization. Resilience is the ability to cope with the challenges, problems and set-backs organizations and individuals face. This class defines the attributes of resiliency and focuses on strategies to build a culture of resiliency in your organization and employees. Exercises and discussion focus on three traits of resiliency: staunch acceptance and communication of reality; ability to observe and interpret meaning in messy and terrible situations; and the skills to innovate with resources at hand. Course exercises and discussion provide practical tools to build an organizational culture of resiliency.

Instructor is Bill Chiat Dean of CSAC Institute.  He has worked with local governments across the West in building organizational capacity.

Polish Your Presentation: Advanced Practices in Communication (125)

Thursday, September 5 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus

This intense class helps senior managers and elected officials better present their ideas with conviction, control and poise - and without fear. The course covers specific skills and advanced techniques for delivering professional presentations that get results. Participants examine their presentation style, learn to use tools to organize their presentation and communicate their thoughts, and handle difficult situations. A straightforward presentation model helps participants build their self-confidence and overcome the common mistakes which turn off audiences. Use of graphics and presentation tools are also examined. Through a lab, participants work on improving one of their own presentations.

Instructor is Bill Chiat, Dean of CSAC Institute and an accomplished presenter with city, county and state governments.

GASB Financial Reporting Requirements (364)

Thursday, September 13 – 9:30 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus

GASB 34, Basic Financial Statements – and Management’s Discussion and Analysis – continues to change the way counties prepare and review their financial reports. This course will build you understanding of GASB 34, and implementation of recent GASB pronouncements — including GASB 75, exposure drafts and future agenda items. Participants review key concepts such as basic financial statement formats, reconciliations of government-wide financial statements to the funds financial statements, note disclosures and infrastructure capital assets. The class also highlights accounting, financial reporting and disclosure issues; new pension standards: GASB 67 and 68; and review of the county Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Eligible for CPE credits for CPAs and MCLE credits for members of the California Bar.

Instructor is Kenneth H. Pun, CPA, CGMA, Managing Partner of the Pun Group Accountants and Advisors. 

Leadership and Change: Practices to Move People and Organizations (124)

Friday, September 13 – 10:00 to 3:30 – San Diego County Campus
Friday, September 20 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Tulare County Campus

County officials and managers discuss the need for change in their organizations, yet struggle when change is difficult to accomplish within the depths of the organization. This course helps participants move past technical solutions to the practices for approaching adoptive challenges. Discussion highlights why some changes happen relatively quickly while others are stymied. Participants explore change from the perspective of those whom the change affects. Practical discussions focus on design of a change process; practices to diagnose, interpret and select interventions; barriers; and creating an environment in which people can expand their capacity to address adaptive change.

Instructor is Bill Chiat, Dean of CSAC Institute. For the last 35 years he has worked with hundreds of local agencies in crafting change. 

Capital Improvement Planning and Funding (155)

Thursday, September 26 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus

You’ve heard about a “CIP” in your county? This class will help you better understand what it is, how a Capital Improvement Plan is developed, management of CIP projects and programs, funding sources, and what questions you should be asking. The class examines a range of CIP projects, including county facilities and jails. Discussion reviews types of information that should be available to decision-makers and the community.

Instructors include: Andy Freeman, Chief Operating Officer, Vanir Construction Management, Inc.; Tracy Librea, Director of Business Development, Vanir Construction Management, county partners and finance experts. 

County Budgeting and Financial Planning (116)

Friday, September 27 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento Campus

Counties have complex systems for budgeting and financial management. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of county budgeting and the budget process. Discussion includes a review of the County Budget Act, a year in the county budget cycle, key elements of a budget, and integration of strategic plans into the annual budget. Participants also examine county revenue sources, sales and property tax allocation, General Fund and special funds, creating and integrating department-recommended budgets, and public involvement in the budget process. The class explores key elements in longer-term county financial planning and management. Class is a must for everyone involved in the budget process.

Instructors are Patrick Blacklock, County Administrator of Yolo County; and Robert Bendorf, County Administrator of Yuba County. 

To register for these courses, click here!