The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Mid-Level Participants Complete 2011-12 Program

Congratulations to the following participants who completed the Mid-Level Leadership Program 2011-12 sessions last week:

Joshua Clevenger, Detective/Forensic Examiner/Secretary, Kansas City Police Dept./KCFOP Lodge 99

Brian Dietz, Associate Counsel, J.E. Dunn Construction Co.

Jacqueline A. Dillard, Human Resources Liaison, Kansas City, Mo. Health Department

Cemal Umut Gungor, Manager of Administration & Analysis, City of Kansas City, Mo.

Ronzil Holland, Maintenance Mechanic, Kansas City Water Services/AFSCME Local 500

Lisa Holleron, Manager, Labor Relations, Kansas Gas Service

Christopher G. Merchant, Senior Fleet Maintenance Technician, City of Kansas City, MO/AFSCME Local 500

Joseph R. Moreno, Business Agent, IBEW Local 124

Kenneth G. Schaefer, Project Executive, The Weitz Company

Andrew F. Young, Quality Control Software System Manager, Burd & Fletcher

Mary Zonnooz, Senior Human Resources Specialist, City of Kansas City, Mo.

Look for information on when applications open for the 2012-13 program this summer.

KCMO Council Honors Mid-Level Grad

The Kansas City, Mo. Council today honored Mid-Level Leadership Program grad Ted Turney upon his retirement.  Ted served more than 30 years in the city's Water Department manager and had a significant impact on the department's operations.  He also kept in touch with his fellow Mid-Level graduates and with the LMC after his participation.

Congratulations to Ted on a well-earned retirement and recognition from the city.

Mid-Level Grad in Spotlight

Anita Maltbia, Mid-Level Leadership Program graduate and director of the Green Zone project in Kansas City, was seated near the First Lady at last night's State of the Union address by President Obama.  The Green Zone is an example of economic development initiatives that combine environmental enhancement with job creation.  Anita is retired from the city of Kansas City, Mo., where she served while attending the Mid-Level program.

Another Mid-Level Participant in the News

Pete Raya business representative for IBEW Local 124 and current participant in the Mid-Level Leadership Program, was quoted in the Jan. 19 Kansas City Star regarding his activities as president of the Kansas City chapter of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus.  The article noted chapter members participation in service projects at the national caucus meeting last week in Portland, Ore.  Star columnist Randy Heaster is the article's author.

Mid-Level Grads Hit News

In addition to Joe Vitale, a frequent spokesperson for the Kansas City Fire Department, other graduates of the LMC's Mid-Level Leadership Program made today's news thanks to our record winter storms.  Sean Vaughan, senior superintendent for Walton Construction, explained to the Kansas City Star how construction work and workers adapt to bitter cold and heavy snow.  Rich Weems, Kansas City Aviation Department, described the challenges faced in keeping enough snow removed from KCI runways for the airport to remain open in a Ch. 41 report.

The current class resumes Jan. 27 for future media stars.

Mid-Level Participants Learn From Experts

The 2009-2010 Mid-Level Leadership Program nears the end of its Fall term with presentations from top area experts.

On Nov. 4 the focus was labor and employment law.  This is an exciting time in labor law, with a new majority coming on the National Labor Relations Board, possible historic changes in the NLRA and a new legal frontier for Missouri public employees, the panel of attorneys told participants.  Other key trends include:

•More cooperation where existing union-management relations exist, and continued management resistance to organizing in the private sector;

•Pensions are quickly emerging as the next major challenging issue as health care has been (and may continue to be) for successful contract negotiations.

•Increased use of state court in Missouri for employment discrimination cases rather than federal court.

The panel including Angie Atkinson, Blake & Uhlig; John Phillips, Husch Blackwell Sanders and LMC executive committee; and Louie Wright, Fire Fighters Local 42 president, an attorney and past LMC Co-Chair.

On Nov. 11 participants engaged in an in-depth discussion and heard a presentation on generational diversity in the workplace from Gary O'Bannon, director of human resources for the city of Kansas City, Mo., and a Mid-Level graduate.  O'Bannon provided understanding of how generational differences affect workplace relationships as well as tools for bridging the gaps.

Mid-Level Leadership Starts Sept. 30

The LMC's 2009-2010 Mid-Level Leadership Program at Rockhurst University is filling fast as we close in on the first session on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 4 p.m.

Please contact the LMC as soon as possible if you plan to attend but have not yet submitted application materials.

Mid-Level Directory Planned

All participants in the Mid-Level Leadership Program since its inception in 1986 are invited to submit info to a new directory that will be published in electronic (and depending uopon demand in print) later this summer.  Any participant who does not receive an email or letter with a directory form by the end of June, please contact the LMC at bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu.

Mid-Level Applications Open

The LMC's Mid-Level Leadership Program will begin its next round of classes Sept. 30 at Rockhurst University.

A 16-week program, the Mid-Level Leadership experience gives participants the opportunity to learn and to test themselves in the context in the 21st century unionized workplace, and to discover and develop the leader within them.

For more information and an application form, contact Bob Jacobi at bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu.

Survival and Success in the Recession

A tough economy means those with the best skills will not only survive but are prepared to take full advantage when the economy recovers. And this applies to both invdividuals and to organizations.

For individuals, enhancing communication skills to identify and address issues quickly and completely.  Darrel Ray, Ph.D. from the Institute for Performance Culture, last week helped Mid-Level Leadership Program participants learn to avoid generating defensiveness and to use Socratic questioning when talking with others.  This week participants will learn about the "Phenomena of Communication" from Jim Maloney, Ph.D., executive director of the Community Leadership Association.

For organizations, last week's Insight Kansas City seminar presented by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce provided concrete examples of area organizations that engage employees in providing quality experiences for their customers.  Keynote speaker John Lowry from Harley-Davidson Motor Co. outlined how labor-management cooperation works at the Kansas City plant and how it is a critical component to the firm's success.  Speakers from General Motors and the Olathe School District also explained how their union-management relationships were key tools to involving employees in producing quality.

There are no short cuts to longterm success.  But building skills for ourselves and others and engaging all of the organization's members provides the best opportunities to survive and succeed.