Professional Development School - Jurassic Parks & Rec Sessions

We are all improvising. We face challenges, disruption, change, and obstacles without a script or rehearsal. To find success, we need to work together, build trust, and create opportunity. During this session, Joel will discuss how the tenets of improvisation create successful teams during change and disruption. Joel has spent the past 30 years performing and teaching the lessons of improvisation. This interactive, engaging and hilarious session will focus on staying in the game; facing fear; building trust, and asking the important question, “How do I help the people around me be successful?” Joel will also bring his famous TA DA energy as he discusses the importance of opportunity, positive support, and active listening in collaboration. Yes, you will have fun and laugh during this session. You will also learn how to collaborate more successfully as a team, and navigate change. Are you ready for the TA DA? Learning Objectives: 1. Creating opportunity and positive support for your team. 2. How to Stay in the Game when faced with challenges, change and disruption. 3. Thrive during change by making the choice to be prepared and open and flexible.

In the ever-changing world of parks and recreation, chaos is part of the landscape—and so is opportunity. Inspired by the spirit of Jurassic Park, this session invites you to explore how your unique strengths help you stay grounded in what you do best—even when the terrain gets wild. Using the CliftonStrengths assessment as our guide, we’ll uncover your talent DNA. Just like the characters in Jurassic Park who faced unexpected twists, shifting priorities, and more than a few surprises, you’ll learn how to navigate your own dynamic environment with greater self-awareness and agility. Because in a field where the only constant is change, it’s not about avoiding chaos—it’s about evolving through it. And remember: “Life finds a way.” When you lead with your strengths, you chart a path forward—with greater clarity, confidence, and impact. Learning Objectives: 1. Describe your Top 10 Talent Themes, what they need to thrive, and how they contribute to your career success. 2. Identify how your talents help you build strong teams, influence outcomes, get things done, and think strategically—even when the unexpected strikes. 3. Develop strategies to evolve your talents into strengths—so you can experience greater impact and fulfillment in your career and life.

Strong leadership is not aggressive or forceful, it is about understanding who you are and what motivates others. The second-year Professional Development School attendees will spend time digging through their fossils of self-discovery and learning leadership concepts that will help them grow and learn, as well as looking to the future to set goals. We will start by exploring the different characteristics of our personalities and the personalities of those we lead, and move toward innovative thinking about leadership. Participants will discover new ways to see the world around them and work on their own personal growth by making plans for continued leadership growth for themselves and those around them. Be prepared for small group work and projects that you will take away from the 2025 Professional Development School. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify personality styles and learn how to use them to be better leaders. 2. Detect communication pitfalls and techniques to help yourself and your teams. 3. Create personal and professional goals that will help you map where you are going in your career.

How do your employees and managers embrace the Spirit of TA DA? We all must take ownership of our work environment and create a foundation of opportunity and positive support. We can choose to be patient, supportive, and more flexible to change. We can choose to have fun in the workplace and still be productive. Joel teaches us just how easy it is to make these choices. In The Spirit of TA DA, Joel shares his experience and insight on creativity, communication, teamwork, passion, and fun. With wit, a sharp observational eye, and playful irreverence, he discusses the choices we all encounter in our careers. We each have the ability to take initiative and make the right choice to live a more creative, passionate, effective, and productive life. Learning Objectives: 1. Learn to celebrate work and create a positive environment. 2. Learn to improve teamwork and help all partners find success. 3. Learn the key to success: staying in the game and keeping your passion.

In the ever-changing world of parks and recreation, chaos is part of the landscape—and so is opportunity. Inspired by the spirit of Jurassic Park, this session invites you to explore how your unique strengths help you stay grounded in what you do best—even when the terrain gets wild. Using the CliftonStrengths assessment as our guide, we’ll uncover your talent DNA. Just like the characters in Jurassic Park who faced unexpected twists, shifting priorities, and more than a few surprises, you’ll learn how to navigate your own dynamic environment with greater self-awareness and agility. Because in a field where the only constant is change, it’s not about avoiding chaos—it’s about evolving through it. And remember: “Life finds a way.” When you lead with your strengths, you chart a path forward—with greater clarity, confidence, and impact. Learning Objectives: 1. Describe your Top 10 Talent Themes, what they need to thrive, and how they contribute to your career success. 2. Identify how your talents help you build strong teams, influence outcomes, get things done, and think strategically—even when the unexpected strikes. 3. Develop strategies to evolve your talents into strengths—so you can experience greater impact and fulfillment in your career and life.

Strong leadership is not aggressive or forceful, it is about understanding who you are and what motivates others. The second-year Professional Development School attendees will spend time digging through their fossils of self-discovery and learning leadership concepts that will help them grow and learn, as well as looking to the future to set goals. We will start by exploring the different characteristics of our personalities and the personalities of those we lead, and move toward innovative thinking about leadership. Participants will discover new ways to see the world around them and work on their own personal growth by making plans for continued leadership growth for themselves and those around them. Be prepared for small group work and projects that you will take away from the 2025 Professional Development School. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify personality styles and learn how to use them to be better leaders. 2. Detect communication pitfalls and techniques to help yourself and your teams. 3. Create personal and professional goals that will help you map where you are going in your career.

Session 1 - Authenticity and Belonging: Advancing Your Career by Embracing Who You Are Presented By: Phili Schraeder As you move forward in your professional development, one of the most powerful tools you have is your authentic self. This session invites advanced PDS students to examine how embracing their unique identities and honoring the lived experiences of others can create meaningful impact in the workplace. We’ll explore how authenticity strengthens leadership, builds trust, and fuels innovation. Participants will reflect on the role of belonging in professional growth and discover how creating inclusive spaces not only benefits teams but can also unlock new career possibilities. Through real-world examples and guided discussion, this session offers insight and strategies for leading with integrity in increasingly diverse and dynamic environments. Learning Objectives: 1. Reflect on how your values and identity shape your professional path. 2. Discover how authenticity and inclusion can set you apart and open doors. 3. Learn practical ways to celebrate diversity and foster inclusion throughout your career. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Session 2 - Jurassic Perk: Authentic Leadership (presented by Mike Bork) Presented By: Mike Bork Authentic Leadership is more than just another leadership “style.” If you can master even a few key elements of authenticity and leading authentically, you will walk away a better leader. Plan to spend some quality time in this speed session with organizational psychology and workplace wellness specialist Michael “Mr. Mirth” Bork, exploring the basic elements of authentic leadership. Discover what distinguishes an authentic leader from others and explore eight effective ways to create an authentically happy workplace. We will take what is learned here and extend it to the longer Graduate session PERMA, PANAS, and Positive Psychology, but each class can stand alone, too. Learning Objectives: 1. Explain authenticity and how authentic leadership is applied to organizational development. 2. Complete an Emotional Intelligence (EQ) measure, and discover the importance of EQ in the workplace. 3. Explore the five characteristics of an authentic leader and self-identify which of these they are most aligned.

Figuring out how to sustain a successful career can feel overwhelming, but a few key principles can set the stage for long-term fulfillment. This session offers candid, practical advice for first-year PDS students looking to build a meaningful professional journey. Through insights drawn from real-world experiences, participants will explore the importance of curiosity, lifelong learning, and resilience. They’ll also gain perspective on how to navigate ambiguity, grow from setbacks, and build authentic relationships that support both personal and professional development. Whether you’re unsure where to begin or eager to take the next step, this session will equip you with tools and inspiration to move forward with confidence and purpose. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, and adaptability in early career development. 2. Recognize the role of mentorship, feedback, and authentic relationships in long-term success. 3. Learn how to align personal values with career goals and develop resilience through challenges.

Strong leadership is not aggressive or forceful, it is about understanding who you are and what motivates others. The second-year Professional Development School attendees will spend time digging through their fossils of self-discovery and learning leadership concepts that will help them grow and learn, as well as looking to the future to set goals. We will start by exploring the different characteristics of our personalities and the personalities of those we lead, and move toward innovative thinking about leadership. Participants will discover new ways to see the world around them and work on their own personal growth by making plans for continued leadership growth for themselves and those around them. Be prepared for small group work and projects that you will take away from the 2025 Professional Development School. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify personality styles and learn how to use them to be better leaders. 2. Detect communication pitfalls and techniques to help yourself and your teams. 3. Create personal and professional goals that will help you map where you are going in your career.

Strengths-based positive psychology is certainly not new – it has been studied and developed for over 60 years. What may be new (to you) is understanding WHAT positive psychology is all about, and how we can use elements of positive psychology to create a more fulfilling personal and work life. Building off the speed session on authentic leadership, this class will delve into the exciting fields and practical applications of both authentic leadership and positive psychology – especially how it relates to being better parks and recreation leaders. With a mix of lecture, coaching exercises, and interactive discussions, you will review the basic elements of authenticity, discover what it means to be a “positive” leader, and engage in self-awareness exercises. All of this will help to give you a different perspective on how we lead, how we manage people and systems, and how we can navigate between a good life, a pleasant life, and a meaningful life. Learning Objectives: 1. Complete, discuss, and self-reflect on the PANAS measurement; and determine whether this is an accurate reflection of their own affect orientation. 2. Explore the history and foundations of authentic leadership and positive psychology, and how the two fields are connected. 3. Discover and internalize the PERMA model of Well-Being, and complete at least two coaching self-assessments of leadership skill.

Stressed? Of COURSE we are stressed! Everyone experience stress in both their personal and professional lives; and this is especially true as public servants and parks and recreation professionals. Knowing the types of stress we encounter, the different stressors we face, and effective ways to think about stress in our daily lives can mean the difference between a happy life or one filled with crisis and burnout. Using an eclectic mix of learning styles, students in this class will discover how different types of stress can either be our friend or enemy, learn how optimism, grit, and resiliency are connected to how effectively we lead, and what we can do to manage it all. Using humor, laughter, interactive exercises, coaching discussions; and through the popping of some unfortunate balloon animals, students will learn effective ways to “deal” with stress, and hopefully live (and work) with a better perspective on how we can manage the unavoidable stress monster! Learning Objectives: 1. Explore and discuss the different types of stress, and how to recognize when someone is moving from one to another. 2. Engage in group-interaction exercises, exploring stress, optimism, and dimensions of resilience, and engage in self-reflection about these exercises. 3. Explain how stress impacts the mind and body, and what happens when too many stressors pile up.

Strong leadership is not aggressive or forceful, it is about understanding who you are and what motivates others. The second-year Professional Development School attendees will spend time digging through their fossils of self-discovery and learning leadership concepts that will help them grow and learn, as well as looking to the future to set goals. We will start by exploring the different characteristics of our personalities and the personalities of those we lead, and move toward innovative thinking about leadership. Participants will discover new ways to see the world around them and work on their own personal growth by making plans for continued leadership growth for themselves and those around them. Be prepared for small group work and projects that you will take away from the 2025 Professional Development School. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify personality styles and learn how to use them to be better leaders. 2. Detect communication pitfalls and techniques to help yourself and your teams. 3. Create personal and professional goals that will help you map where you are going in your career.

A CEO-led session for advanced students, focusing on authenticity and intentional career growth as essential leadership qualities. Gain insights through personal stories of overcoming challenges, staying true to values, and navigating imposter syndrome. Learn practical strategies for continuous growth, networking, and aligning your “why” with organizational and community needs. Learning Objectives: 1. Authenticity is vital for effective leadership and long-term satisfaction, especially in public service. 2. Career growth is a continuous journey of learning, resilience, and mentorship. 3. Leave with actionable steps for advancing your career while staying true to yourself and your community.