By Kim McDarison
A group of 12 students, all participants in a program called “Leadership Development Academy,” graduated Monday during a ceremony held at Opportunities, Inc., Fort Atkinson.
The ongoing program has produced several workforce leadership graduates, with a first group graduating from the program last October.
The program was developed by the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW) and is facilitated in partnership with Opportunities, Inc., and Madison College.
The development of the academy’s programming began in 2022, when Opportunities, Inc., partnered with the WDBSCW through the organization’s WorkSmart program, Robin Kennedy, vice president of mission advancement with Opportunities Inc., and a teacher of some of the program’s instructional sessions, said during a graduation ceremony held last year.
The Leadership Development Academy was facilitated through use of a grant received by the WDBSCW. The academy’s mission is to engage with and help advance new leaders in the manufacturing sector, she noted, describing the group as a “critical and essential workforce.”
Those enrolled in the academy attend workshops focused on such topics as essentials of leadership, building high-trust relationships, leading and facilitating teams, diversity and inclusion, time management and personal productivity, navigating conflict and crucial conversations, and bullying and harassment in the workplace, Kennedy continued.
The WorkSmart program is described on the WDBSCW’s website as a network used to connect underserved populations with services and opportunities.
Opportunities, Inc., Career Planner Rachel Stewart and her counterpart Career Planner Ellen Bittner, both of whom were on hand Monday, help administrate the program, which, they said, is funded through the Wisconsin Worker Advancement Initiative.
This fall, five Jefferson County-based organizations identified employees whom they believed could bring added value their workforce by undergoing completing the academy. They are Basin Precision Machining, Jones Dairy Farm, Nestle Purina, Palermo’s Pizza and Opportunities, Inc.
Some 30 people attended Monday’s ceremony, which included two guest speakers: Jessica Mills of WDBSCW, and Nicholas Wade, who is employed by Nestle Purina Pet Care Company.
The ceremony further included speeches made by two of the graduates: Jason Hrobsky of Nestle Purina, and jacob Foth of Opportunities, Inc.
Graduates next received a certificate and joined their guests for well-wishing and refreshments.
Among graduates recognized Monday were: Jason Dys and Chad Mengel, both of Basin Precision Machining; Travis Terhall and Joseph Meinhotz, both of Jones Dairy Farm; Zachary Hamil, Hrobsky and Randy Schoenherr, each of whom is employed by Nestle Purina; Kim Neumann, Matthew Moore and Foth, each of whom is employed by Opportunities, Inc., and Jason Biegemann and Nathan Stauffer, both of Palermo’s Pizza.
Photos from the event follow.
Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW) representative Jessica Mills addresses graduates and their guests.
Nestle Purina Pet Care Company representative Nicholas Wade addresses the graduates and their guests.
Nestle Purina employee and program graduate Jason Hrobsky addresses his classmates.
Opportunities, Inc., employee and program graduate Jacob Foth addresses his classmates.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Jason Dys receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Chad Mengel receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Travis Terhall receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Joseph Meinholz receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Zachary Hamil receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Jason Hrobsky receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Randy Schoenherr receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Kim Neumann receives her certificate. She is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Matthew Moore receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Jacob Foth receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Jason Biegemann receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Recent Leadership Development Academy graduate Nathan Stauffer receives his certificate. He is flanked by Jim Froh, a state advocate with the Knights of Columbus Wisconsin State Council, at left, and Robin Kennedy, from Opportunities, Inc.
Academy graduates Travis Terhall, back row, from left, and Joseph Meinholz, are surrounded by well-wishers and co-workers from Fort Atkinson-based Jones Dairy Farm.
Academy graduates Nathan Stauffer, at left, and Jason Biegemann, at right, are surrounded by well-wishers and co-workers from Palermo’s Pizza. The company has a facility in Jefferson.
Academy graduates Jason Hrobsky, back row, at left, Zachary Hamil, front row, at center, and Randy Schoenherr, at right, are surrounded by well-wishers and co-workers from Nestle Purina. The company has a facility in Jefferson.
Academy graduates Kim Neumann, front row, from left, and Jacob Foth, are surrounded by well-wishers and co-workers from Fort Atkinson-based Opportunities, Inc.
Receiving recognition as a group, the 12 most recent graduates of the Leadership Academy are: Jason Dys, back row, from left; Chad Mengel; Joseph Meinholz, and Travis Terhall, followed by Rachel Stewart, a career planner with Opportunities, Inc., working with the WorkSmart Network, middle row, from left; Matthew Moore; Zachary Hamil; Jason Hrobsky; Jacob Foth, and Opportunities Inc., Career Planner Ellen Bittner, along with Jessica Mills, a Workforce Development South Central Wisconsin Region Board representative, seated, from left; Kim Neumann; Nathan Stauffer; Zachary Hamil, and Jason Biegermann.
Kim McDarison photos.
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