Core Consulting Group, a Cincinnati-based organizational development and communication strategies consulting company recently launched an emerging leader program targeted at the wastewater utility industry, and it’s getting national attention.
With retirement rates in this industry on the rise, the five-month program designed to grow utility leaders of the future kicked off in Chicago on February 8 with six wastewater utilities from the Midwest.
“As a professional who spent over seven years in the wastewater and stormwater industry, I noticed a lack of learning opportunities targeted at emerging utility leaders,” said Maggie Frye, Founder and Principal Consultant of Core. “Core Growth was designed to help enhance the potential of utility leaders whose span of influence and impact is growing in a meaningful way.”
Frye
Frye started Core Consulting Group in early 2014, a boutique practice located in Newport. The business was founded on building people’s potential – the core of any organization. After hosting several local Core Growth emerging leadership classes, the concept evolved into an industry-specific program that is supported by a national leader.
The National Association for Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), known as the nation’s leader in legislative, regulatory and legal clean water advocacy, has taken an interest in the utility leadership program and has formed a soft partnership with Core Consulting. NACWA offered the initial pilot to utilities who expressed interest, and six utilities in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota jumped on board. The pilot is already gaining traction and getting positive feedback and will be open to additional regions in 2018.
“I believe utilities can shape the course of environmental protection into the next century by working together,” said Adam Krantz, Chief Executive Officer of NACWA. “Core Growth offers utilities a unique learning opportunity while also inspiring collaboration that betters the industry. I hope to see utilities in other regions take advantage of this program.”
The program allows participants to explore strengths and leadership styles through four learning modules including self-discovery, crafting a vision, building alignment and championing execution.
Holtzapfel
It also helps build regional cohorts and collaborative partnerships, a benefit that appeals to utilities. This shared learning experience enables participants to move forward the leadership skills and ideation necessary for improving the utility industry.
Jamie Holtzapfel, previous Director of Communication for Sanitation District No. 1, is now a principal consultant for Core and helping to lead the program. “My career of nearly a decade in the utility industry was able to grow because others believed in my potential and presented me with opportunities,” said Holtzapfel. “I am grateful to be a part of a program that supports mentorships and helps create opportunities for others.”
Since learning happens from real experiences, class members build upon the four learning modules by completing an industry-specific capstone project. The project is based on exploring real challenges that leaders are facing in the wastewater utility industry. The first class will use their collective expertise to develop real solutions to a selected challenge and present the results at graduation this July in Milwaukee.
Registration is now open for the local Core Growth class. Professionals from all industries are welcome to join the fall session. To learn more about the local program, click here .
Core Consulting
