City Celebrates Leadership Training Success

The City of Crawfordsville is proud to announce the successful completion of the 2025 Manager’s Essentials professional development training program, continuing a commitment to leadership growth and workforce excellence.

Launched in 2022 in response to needs expressed by area employers during Mayor Barton’s monthly Workforce Alliance meeting, Manager’s Essentials is designed specifically for individuals that are stepping into their first leadership role. The program’s consortium-style format allows companies of all sizes to participate through a cost-sharing model, ensuring broader access to high-quality professional development.

This year, 23 participants from six local organizations completed the program: Acuity Brands, Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power, Closure Systems International, Crawfordsville Parks & Recreation, Lakeside Book Company, and PolyCycle.

Facilitation for the 2025 series was provided by Dr. Ali Atkison, Vice President of Learning & Development at HRD* – A Leadership Development Company based out of Indianapolis. Prior to starting the program, each participant completed a DiSC Assessment. DiSC is an acronym that stands for the four main personality profiles described in the DiSC model: (D)ominance, (i)nfluence, (S)teadiness and (C)onscientiousness. Completion of this assessment provides a better understanding of one’s behavioral styles, best strategies for engaging with others, and how to apply these qualities in different environments. Throughout the program, participants engaged in sessions focused on essential leadership competencies including:

• Developing a leadership mindset
• Developing a team
• Feedback & accountability
• Decision making & problem solving
• Listening and communicating as a leader
• Leadership through change and conflict
• Building strong team culture

Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Levi McCloud, Supervisor at PolyCycle shared “we’re all loving the class…we have all learned so much already!”.

The City of Crawfordsville is encouraged by the continued success of the Manager’s Essentials program and the commitment from our local employers to invest in the future leaders.