'26 Skills Development Webinar Series - Thursday Subscription Sessions

Strong organizations and successful careers are built on consistent community outreach, meaningful relationships, and a clear sense of purpose. This session will help participants set strategic engagement goals and strengthen the connections that drive long-term success. Learn how to identify and approach valuable contacts, nurture relationships that lead to collaboration, and build partnerships that benefit both your agency and the community. We’ll explore effective networking techniques, smart follow-up strategies, and ways to transform casual interactions into lasting alliances. Participants will leave with practical tools to set outreach goals, measure progress, and cultivate authentic connections that deliver real, measurable impact.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how park and recreation agencies plan, operate, and engage with their communities. This session explores real-world examples and insights from the national Perception and Impact of AI in Parks and Recreation Study, highlighting emerging trends from agencies in Illinois and across the country. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how AI is being used to improve efficiency, enhance customer service, and inform data-driven decision-making. Together, we’ll discuss what’s next for the field — and how to embrace technology while preserving the human connection and community focus that define parks and recreation.

Successful teams don’t happen by chance—they thrive in environments that accelerate competence and encourage continuous growth. In this interactive session, Dean Heffta shares the three essential practices organizational leaders can implement right away to build a culture where learning happens faster, innovation is embraced, and collaboration drives results. Participants will explore how to reduce barriers to learning, empower employees to take ownership of their development, and connect daily actions to community impact. Walk away with practical strategies to strengthen your team’s confidence, creativity, and capacity to serve—no matter the size of your organization.

Budget cuts, staffing shortages, and growing community needs are realities for many park and recreation professionals. The good news? Collaboration can turn limited resources into expanded impact. This session explores practical, creative ways to do more with less by partnering across departments, organizations, and communities. Participants will learn how to identify shared goals, pool resources, and build sustainable partnerships that amplify results without overextending staff or budgets. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, you’ll discover how collaboration can foster innovation, efficiency, and stronger community connections — even in lean times.

More than one in four Americans lives with a disability — some visible, many not. Yet ableism, or bias against people with disabilities, often appears in ways we don’t even recognize. From the words we choose to the systems we design, these subtle barriers can undermine equity, dignity, and belonging. In this interactive session, participants will learn to identify both overt and hidden forms of ableism, explore their impact on customers and colleagues, and practice strategies for fostering inclusion in everyday communication and decision-making. By shifting from assumptions to awareness, staff can help create workplaces and public spaces where people of all abilities feel respected, valued, and supported.

During this interactive session, you’ll explore one of today’s most valuable workplace skills: critical thinking. We’ve all known smart people who make poor decisions, proving that intelligence alone isn’t enough. Practical thinking requires curiosity, perspective, and new approaches to problem-solving. The good news? Critical thinking is a skill anyone can learn. In this engaging, low-risk, high-energy session, you’ll discover how thinking can get derailed and what you can do to stay on track. You’ll leave with practical tools to strengthen collaboration, support inclusive decision-making, and approach challenges with renewed clarity and confidence.

In today’s parks and recreation teams, five generations work side by side — each bringing unique strengths, values, and communication styles. This energizing one-hour workshop gives leaders and team members practical tools to bridge generational gaps and turn differences into opportunities for collaboration. Participants will learn how to build trust across age groups, communicate more effectively, and leverage each generation’s strengths to create inclusive, high-performing teams. You’ll leave with strategies to strengthen teamwork, boost engagement, and enhance your organization’s community impact — one generation at a time.

In an era of constant change, conflict, and public scrutiny, maintaining a positive outlook can be one of a leader’s greatest challenges — and most powerful tools. This interactive webinar offers practical, evidence-based strategies for leading with steadiness and optimism, even when circumstances are difficult. Participants will explore how negativity bias affects morale and decision-making, and learn simple ways to reframe challenges, stay composed under stress, and model solution-oriented leadership behaviors that build trust, collaboration, and engagement across teams and communities. Discover how to cultivate calm confidence and inspire others — no matter what’s happening around you.

Amid uncertainty and rising public incivility, maintaining composure has never been more essential for today’s professionals. This webinar helps participants recognize their personal triggers, communicate calmly during tense interactions, and refocus their energy to stay effective when challenges arise. Through real-world examples and simple, actionable tools you can use immediately, you’ll learn how to respond—not react—when the pressure is on. Build the confidence, self-awareness, and steadiness that allow you to lead with calm and credibility, even in the toughest moments.

When storms approach, bison don’t run away—they face the wind and move through it together. The Bison Principle applies that instinct to the challenges of modern public service. This session explores how courage, clarity, and stewardship can guide tough fiscal decisions and strengthen organizational resilience. Through practical examples and reflection, participants will discover how values-driven leadership transforms financial responsibility from a routine task into a shared ethical commitment. You’ll leave with actionable strategies to foster fiscal resilience, reinforce public trust, and lead your organization forward—together—no matter how strong the headwinds. Participants will: · Understand how courage and clarity serve as leadership essentials in times of fiscal pressure. · Learn how to translate stewardship into daily work. · Identify one actionable step to help strengthen your organization’s financial resilience and public trust.

The pace and scale of change today are unlike anything we've experienced before. Economic volatility, demographic diversification, technological acceleration, and environmental disruption are reshaping the landscape of public service. While these shifts bring undeniable challenges, they also offer a powerful invitation: to reexamine our systems, rethink our roles, and realign our work for long-term resilience. This session will explore how embracing change—rather than resisting it—can lead to stronger, more adaptive systems that serve the citizens of 2050. What do you need to shift?