NEW ULM — Tom Fischer, Nick Francis and Chris Gieseke of New Ulm recently completed the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association Firstline Supervision/Leadership course through Central Lakes College. Over 300 municipal employees have completed the leadership series which is offered at CLC’s Brainerd campus and MMUA headquarters in Plymouth.

The utility management program was developed in 1988 and has graduates in MMUA member cities all over Minnesota. The program is a cooperative effort, between MMUA and the CLC Business and Industry Center, designed to provide the leadership skills needed in challenging times. The 68-hour course is offered in four three-day sessions over two years. Participants work with and learn from each other, trained facilitators and instructors, internationally recognized Miller Heiman/Achieve Global leadership materials and specially created units with a utility focus.

Public works directors, finance and office managers, customer service personnel, utility superintendents, crew supervisors, parks directors, and other municipal employees from a variety municipal departments have benefited from this highly interactive program that emphasizes core leadership skills, performance management, communication, and handling challenging situations.