With Demand for Talent, Retaining Your Top Performers is the
Key Element to Your Firms Success
Give Employees the Knowledge They Need at Each Stage in Their Paths to Leadership
Enrollment Fees| Earn Up to 36 PDHs*
Successful organizations invest in their leaders at all levels because they know employees join organizations, but leave supervisors. Ensuring the sustainability and growth of a firm requires it to retain and develop top performers into leaders and managers.

 In response to this need, ACEC Colorado created the Leadership Development Program to assist firms with providing four levels of training on the skills necessary to be effective and successful in pre-supervisory through senior leadership roles within a firm.

 This program is developed and taught primarily by Calla Pott, SPHR, SHRM-SCP -- an expert in issues related to professional development. Also, guest lecturer Lee James, CPA, CMC, CBI,  offers training in project financial management. These two seasoned professionals brings an abundance of knowledge to the Leadership Development Program, which begins in August 2019 and focuses on nine areas of competency:
  - Relationships & Communication    -  Coaching & Development                     -  Employment Law            -  Staffing                                            - Project Financial Management             - Team Dynamics 
  - Change Management                    - Results Focus                                       -  Leadership In Action
What Workshop Participants Are Saying...
  • "Developing new skills learned immediately through the role play and discussion."
  • "The interaction and discussion is good, enjoy hearing and understanding different approaches."
  • "Topics presented in a relevant manner, so that I can use them in my job. There is also required follow-up which helps reinforce what I have learned."
  • "Friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Knowledgeable and insightful instructor."
Member-firm Employees:
Early Registration (March 1-June 30): $1,899
Late Registration (June 30-Aug. 14): $2,199  
  Nonmembers:  $3,299
Contact ACEC Colorado at 303.832.2200 or email email@acec-co.org or
click here to register.

Faculty
Calla Pott, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Pott has 25 years of human resource (HR) and organizational development experience with
small to medium-size for-profit and non-profit organizations. Prior to starting Align By Design,
Pott was an HR consultant with a professional employer organization, where she partnered
with organizations from diverse industries to align their HR processes and strategy to support their business objectives. Pott completed her thesis in leadership development 30 years ago.
Lee R. James, CPA, CMC, CBI
James is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Consultant and Certified Business Intermediary with more than 30 years of experience as a business and management consulting expert who brings immediate value and specializes in serving engineering/architect/construction firms. 
Program Overview: Level I, Level II & Level III
Level I Program
For pre-supervisory project engineers and planners
Select one:  Morning Option from 8 a.m. - Noon or 
Afternoon Option from 1 - 5 p.m.
Second Wednesday (unless noted by *)
Held at ACEC Colorado Training Room (800 Grant Street, Suite 100, Denver)

Aug. 14 
Communication & Relationships: Interpersonal Communication
Learn different verbal and non-verbal skills to effectively communicate with others. Develop techniques to build collaboration, increase your influence and successfully resolve conflicts.
Sept. 11
Coaching & Development: Continuous Learner
Becoming a continuous learner is critical for leaders at all levels. Learn how to seek and receive feedback, identify areas for improvement and align your development plans with your organization's strategies.
Oct. 9
Employment Law: Harassment & Discrimination
Your ability to recognize and address harassment in the workplace is not just a legal issue, but a culture one as well. The risk of silence is too great even for emerging leaders. Develop skills to recognize it, then speak up with effectiveness and establish.
Nov. 13
Staffing: Welcome  New Employee!
As a trusted leader, often you are called upon to provide on the job training to new employees. Learn how to help your new team members assimilate into the organizational culture and how to structure on the job training to meet their learning style. 
Jan. 8
Project Financial Management:  Managing Self
This workshop will be facilitated by Lee James.
Broaden your understanding of principles of project financial management, including understanding financial and operational performance metrics and ratios in the reporting process. Program will also build greater appreciation and understanding of the business of engineering.
Feb. 12
Change Management: Managing Self
Leading change requires you know your own personal reaction to change before you can lead others. Learn the differences between change and transition plus how people typically respond to change. You will explore techniques to better manage your response with Who Moved My Cheese.
March10
Teams: Group Dynamics
Explore the different team dynamic theories and stages that impact how individuals work together. You will review social styles, generational differences and more to help you better understand group influences.
April 7
Results Focus: Continuous Improvement
Effective leaders know how to set goals, manage time, take initiative and solve problems. Explore tips and best practices in these areas so you achieve the results you are working so hard to accomplish.
May 5*
Leadership Theories:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People 
This Stephen Covey book is the foundation for professional effectiveness and personal awareness that focuses on timeless principles to help you become a more successful leader. Develop new skills in which The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are rooted and adopt paradigms of effectiveness.
Level II Program
For project managers, senior technical leads, team leads and task leads who manage people
8 a.m. - Noon | Third Wednesday (unless noted by *)
Held at ACEC Colorado Training Room (800 Grant Street, Suite 100, Denver)
Aug. 21
Communication & Relationships:
Difficult Conversations
Difficult conversations with direct reports are never fun, but they can be easier and more effective. Learn how to successfully listen
to concerns and reflect to show understanding, then set expectations and gain agreement.
Sept. 18
Coaching & Development:
For Success & Defense
Performance improvement entails coaching, motivation, delegation and follow up. You will review concepts and methods for these skills plus explore how to recognize and motivate un-engaged employees so that they bring discretionary energy to your team.
Oct. 16
Employment Law:
Recognize Legal Issues
Your ability to recognize potential legal issues is critical to the moral of your employees, your team and your organization. You will explore the most common laws you may encounter and how to respond effectively while minimizing risk to your organization.
Nov. 20
Staffing: Hire the Best! 
If you could only hire more people like your star performers! Increase your odds by identifying the behaviors of your stars, developing behavioral interview questions and ensuring your questions are legal. We will also examine best practices for conducting an effective interview-selection process.


Jan. 15   
Project Financial
Management: 
Managing
Self & Others
This workshop will be facilitated by Lee James.
 You will learn about leading the implementation of project financial management principles throughout the project management process, including planning and reporting of financial and operational performance.  Interactive exercises include analysis of company-reported results and determining appropriate questions and conclusions from those.
Feb. 19
Change Management: Managing Others
Change ≠ Transition
Recognizing that transition allows people to adapt to change will help your team get on board sooner. Learn the four stages of transition and how you can effectively assist others through the change curve so that your team can move forward.





March 18
Teams: Introduction to Social Styles
Leaders not only have the ability to "read" others but are also able to adapt their work style to meet the needs of others. You will take a self-assessment plus learn the four social styles and key elements to versatility to increase your effectiveness
as a leader.
April 15
Results Focus: Stepping Up From Individual Contributor
Congratulations, you received a promotion! Now the hard work begins. We will address the more common challenges new leads face, including understanding the metrics you are accountable for, establishing credibility and trust, and balancing competing priorities.
May 13*
Leadership Theories: Situational Leadership II
The foundation of Situational Leadership II (SLII) lies in teaching leaders to diagnose the needs of an individual or a team, then using the appropriate leadership style to respond to the needs of the person, team and situation. This session will provide an overview of the SLII concepts and effective-leader behaviors.
Level II Program
For project managers, senior technical leads, team leads and task leads who manage people

1 - 5 p.m. | Third Wednesday (unless noted by *)
Held at ACEC Colorado Training Room (800 Grant Street, Suite 100, Denver)

Aug. 21
Communication & Relationships: Balancing Relationship Tensions
Customers, employees, suppliers, contractors and regulatory agencies are just some of your key stakeholders that at times have varying and competing interests. You will explore how to balance these relationships and manage tensions to achieve desired outcomes and effective working relationships.
Sept. 18
Coaching & Development: Manage Performance Beyond Write-ups
Effective performance management ensures expectations are clear, rewards encourage preferred behavior and progressive discipline is fair and consistent. You will discuss performance management systems that incentivize with rewards and recognition, coaching documentation that helps move people up or out, and evaluations that celebrate past performance and inspire professional growth.
Oct. 16
Employment Law: Managing The Injured Employee
You will discuss performance management systems that incentivize with rewards and recognition, coaching documentation that helps move people up or out, and evaluations that celebrate past performance and inspire professional growth. 


Nov. 20
Staffing: On-boarding
for Retention 
Orientation ≠ on-boarding. A thought-out on-boarding process goes beyond orientation to ensure your newest employee does not have buyer's remorse. Learn how to engage your new employee, increase his/her likelihood of long-term retention and help them become a contributing team member. 
Jan. 15
Understanding Project/Operational/Financial Performance: Managing Self, Others & Your Firm
This workshop will be facilitated by Lee James.
 You will learn about leading through the project and company lifecycle to assure project, operational and financial performance success, as well as planning, tracking, reporting, understanding key metrics, and utilizing metrics to make needed, timely changes.  You will review of internal and external reporting with exercises to embed understanding.
Feb. 19
Change Management: Leading Change
When it comes to leading change, your initiative and team will need you to respond and adapt your leadership style to be more effective. You will review the four stages of transition, then examine the different dimensions of change leadership styles and assess your change intelligence (CQ).
March 18
Teams: Five Dysfunctions
of a Team
Using the best-selling leadership fable by Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, you will explore the pitfalls that sidetrack teams. You will start with an assessment then be introduced to the five steps of rebuilding a cohesive team.
April 15
Results Focus:
Decision-making
Knowing when you have enough information and input from the best sources for decisions is ever-changing. You will explore important factors and criteria to consider for those short- and long-term decisions, plus steps to help avoid analysis paralysis.
May 13*
Leadership in Action: Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Your success is more than your IQ; your EQ is the single biggest predictor of performance in the workplace and the strongest contributor to leadership and personal effectiveness. In this session you will develop a better understanding of and the steps to increasing your EQ. 
Northern Colorado 
Level I  Program

For pre-supervisory project engineers and planners
8 a.m. - Noon | Second Tuesday (unless noted by *) | Limit to 20 Registrants
Held at CTL/Thompson (400 N. Link Lane, Fort Collins)
Aug. 13 
Communication & Relationships: Interpersonal Communication
Learn different verbal and nonverbal skills to effectively communicate with others. Develop techniques to build collaboration, increase your influence and successfully resolve conflicts.
Sept. 10
Coaching & Development: Continuous Learner
Becoming a continuous learner is critical for leaders at all levels. Learn how to seek and receive feedback, identify areas for improvement and align your development plans with the organization's strategies.
Oct. 8
Employment Law: Harassment & Discrimination
Your ability to recognize and address harassment in the workplace is not just a legal issue, but a culture one as well. The risk of silence is too great even for emerging leaders. Develop skills to recognize it, then speak up with effectiveness and establish.
Nov. 12
Staffing:
Welcome  New Employee!
As a trusted leader, often you are called upon to provide on the job training to new employees. Learn how to help your new team members assimilate into the organizational culture and how to structure on the job training to meet their learning style. 
Jan. 7
Project Financial Management:
Managing Self
This workshop will be facilitated by Lee James.
Broadens your understanding of principles of project financial management, including understanding financial and operational performance metrics and ratios in the reporting process. You also will build greater appreciation and understanding of the business of engineering.
Feb. 11
Change Management: Managing Self
Leading change requires you know your own personal reaction to change before you can lead others. Learn the differences between change and transition plus how people typically respond to change. You will explore techniques to better manage your response with Who Moved My Cheese.


March 10
Teams: Group Dynamics
Explore the different team dynamic theories and stages that impact how individuals work together. You will review social styles, generational differences and more to help you better understand group influences.
April 7
Results Focus:
Continuous Improvement
Effective leaders know how to set goals, manage time, take initiative and solve problems. You will explore tips and best practices in these areas so that you achieve the results you are working so hard to accomplish.
May 5*
Leadership Theories:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People 
This Stephen Covey book is the foundation for professional effectiveness and personal awareness that focuses on timeless principles to help you become a more successful leader. Develop new skills in which The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are rooted and adopt paradigms of effectiveness.
Program Notes
Each program is limited to three employees from the same firm per workshop. Availability of each workshop is based on minimum of 15 registrants. Each workshop limited to 24 registrants.

Registration Policies
  • Registration and attendance at or participation in ACEC Colorado-sponsored events/activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant for the Council's use and distribution the attendee's image and/or voice in photographs, videos, electronic reproductions, and audio recordings of such events/activities.
  • ACEC Colorado seeks to avoid antitrust violations in connection with its activities, so participants should avoid engaging in conduct that gives even the appearance of an impermissible conversation, agreement, alliance, or impropriety. Discussions among attendees, speakers, exhibitors, board members, and staff must be kept free of even the suggestion of restraint of trade or the selection of suppliers, customers, or prices.
  • Cancellations must be received prior to Friday, Aug. 9. Cancellations received on or after that date will not receive a refund.
Graduation Ceremony:  June 2020 
All graduates will be recognized for their achievement and commitment to excellence at the
ACEC Colorado Leadership Development Graduation