Building High Performing Board-Manager Relations

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Description

The governing process in this new environment of political division and agendas is challenging. How can public managers be more proactive and less reactive in working with their governing boards? There are a lot of theories on how to work effectively with your governing board, but very few examples of practical tools to make it happen. In this workshop, Bill Stipp, council member from Goodyear Arizona, president of Leading-Edge Consulting, and senior associate for the Mercer Group Associates; and Mike Letcher, president and CEO of BridgeGroup LLC and senior associate for Mercer Group Associates will present six tools to help you work more effectively with your governing board. Do these tools work? The answer is yes! We will provide examples from our experiences and clients who are effectively using the tools. In this hands-on, interactive session, participants will learn how these tools work and have opportunities to discuss in small groups how they might be used in their communities.

Learning Objectives

Create effective strategic plans to guide the priorities of the governing board
Develop a shared governance evaluation system for the board and manager
Develop a collaborative budget development process with the board

Format

In-Person or Live-Online

About the Presenter

Mike Letcher

Mike Letcher is President and CEO of BridgeGroup LLC and a Senior Associate with the Mercer Group Associates (MGA). Mike has over 30 years of top City Management experience in cities ranging from 6,000 in population to over 500,000. He is a recognized leader in municipal innovation with numerous awards, a certified manager by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and is certified in Total Quality Management (TQM). Mike is a recognized leader in strategic planning, performance measurement systems and developing innovative sustainable solutions to improving human resources, budget, finance, and internal operating processes for governments with positive bottom-line results. He is a dynamic speaker and trainer with national and state conference experience. Mike was an instructor in the Executive Leadership Program for 10 years at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He has worked with Graduate programs in Public Administration at the University of Kansas, University of Vermont and is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona MPA Program. He has worked in municipal governments as a City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Budget Director, Finance Director, and Human Resources Director. He has experience consulting with State, Federal, Tribal and Municipal clients. He has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas and has published national articles on improving customer service, strategic policy development and redefining the relationship between the Mayor, Council and the City Manager.

Bill Stipp

Bill Stipp has over 30 years of top operational and executive governmental experience and currently is in his third term as an elected At-Large Councilmember for a community of over 105,000 in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the regional public transportation authority to plan, develop and operate regional bus service, a light rail system and alternative transportation programs for the metropolitan Phoenix Region with an annual ridership of over 65 million fares. He has previously served on several national, state, and regional boards including the Board of Directors for the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association and the State of Massachusetts’ Joint Labor-Management Commission mediating municipal contract disputes.