A cornucopia of executive learning opportunities awaits you in October at the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government. The Institute has an awesome upcoming schedule of classes including the updated Leadership by Values and two featured back-to-back classes highlighting practical skills in county management: Capital Improvement Planning and Funding and County Budgeting and Financial Planning. Later in the month we haveUnraveling Public Pensions and Retirement Benefits. Check out all our upcoming classes for October and get registered! They fill up fast. For all our upcoming classes download the updated July-December Course Guide and Schedule.

The CSAC Institute provide 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. 

IT-Focused Contracting

Thursday, Oct.4 - 10:00 to 3:30
Sacramento Campus

External services are attractive. They enable organizations to tap into economies of scale – and with the advent of cloud/hosted deployments, IT services can be procured at exponentially cheaper rates. However, entering into complicated agreements with multiple vendors requires an equally sophisticated contract administration system to manage procurement, negotiate (and renegotiate) terms, take advantage of promotional pricing and licensing, and coordinate payment schedules. Without proper vendor management, organizations miss out on potential cost savings to be realized within their contracts, and in a county government a dollar saved on service agreements is an additional dollar to create municipal services. This course examines concepts and tools to establish a process to govern the selection of vendors and subsequent management of vendor relationships, risk and performance.

Instructor is Valence Howden, Research Director in the CIO Advisory Group at Info-Tech Research Group. 

Leadership by Values: Strategies for Success in Public Service

Friday, Oct. 5 - 10:00 to 3:30
Sacramento Campus

UPDATED! Understanding the relationship of values to decisions can be a helpful decision-making tool. Focusing on commonly held (although sometimes competing) values underlying difficult policy dilemmas can help leaders bridge differing perspectives-either while policies are being debated or after difficult decisions have been made and need to be explained. In addition, clearly articulated organizational values provide staff with important information on an organization’s priorities. This course explores the role values play in both personal and organizational leadership, strategies to consider in modeling organizational values, and approaches to making and explaining difficult decisions.

Instructor is Dr. Rich Callahan, professor of management at the University of San Francisco and one of the founding faculty of the Institute. 

Manage Conflict (Even Hostility) in Comfort

Thursday, Oct. 11 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Shasta/Tehama Campus 
Friday, Oct. 12 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Orange County Campus

Conflicts and disagreements are a fact of life. They can contribute to better outcomes or can lead to an escalating situation. Transform the most difficult circumstances into a satisfying experience for all involved. This course helps County elected officials and executives identify constructive approaches to positively managing conflict whether from the dais, in a meeting, or one-on-one. Participants analyze their own response to conflict and develop tools to quickly assess and respond to difficult situations and create practical, positive outcomes.

Instructor is Laree Kiely, Ph.D., president and CEO of We Will, Inc. and professor at the USC Marshall School of Business. 

Polish Your Presentation: Advanced Practices in Communication

Thursday, Oct. 18 – 10:00 to 3:30
Contra Costa County 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. 

Capital Improvement Planning and Funding

Thursday, Oct. 18 – 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 Capitol 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 from county facilities and jails, to roads and county infrastructure. Discussion reviews types of information that should be available to decision-makers and the community.

Instructors include: Tracy Librea, Senior Associate, DLR Group; Scott Powers, Deputy County Executive Officer, Ventura County; Steve Newsom, AIA, Deputy Public Works Director, Placer County; and Caroline Judy, Director, Sonoma County General Services Agency

County Budgeting and Financial Planning

Friday, Oct. 19 - 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. 

Purpose, Outcomes and Intentionality: Make Things Happen in Your Agency

Friday, Oct. 19 - 10:00 to 3:30 – Tulare County Campus 
 

We all have those nagging problems that lurk in the background, the ones you know you should tackle but never seem to have time. They are often the big hairy ugly ones we really don’t want to tackle. Or worse, we’ve made them “unsolvable”, working around rather than tackling them. This class provides a much needed break to really examine these issues. Participants take a step back to identify the roots of the issues, re-frame them as necessary, and then identify alternative strategies, reducing roadblocks, sequencing steps, identifying stakeholders and developing flexibility in getting to your goals. The class is about creating a mind-set for tackling problems and knowing whether you’re making progress or not. Be prepared to be challenged, and encouraged to think in new ways.

Instructor is Dr. Mary Kirlin, former professor and department chair in public policy at Sacramento State University.

Unraveling Public Employment Pensions and Retirement Benefits

Thursday, Oct. 25 - 10:00 to 3:30
Sacramento Campus

Provides a policy overview of county retirement systems and examines other post employment benefits (OPEB) and their collective impact on county finances. It covers both PERS and 1937 Act programs, how they originated, the benefits, and how they are funded. Reporting requirements and county liabilities are part of the conversation. It unveils the mysteries of understanding costs and projections and explores options and case examples for funding, reforming and managing costs (including rate stabilization funds) of pension and OPEB systems, other post-employment benefits and their impact on county finances. An emphasis is placed on recent reforms to state law and county retirement systems and how is affecting county policies and operations.
Instructor is John Bartel, president of Bartel Associates, LLC and brings over 35 years experience in pension and retiree healthcare consulting.