Willmar Invests in Supervisor and Leadership Training

The Sun is Shining And So Are Local Leaders

WILLMAR INVESTS IN SUPERVISOR AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING

It’s a nice day and the sun is shining, so John Harren, general manager of Willmar Municipal Utilities, is happy.

Of course, he’s happy when customers are using electric and water, too.

Managing the city’s municipal electrical and water, John and his team face the same challenges of any utility: staffing, budgeting and making sure the work gets done.

One challenge Harren and his team have addressed head-on is developing their hard working team into proven leaders. Over the years, Willmar has sent four employees through the MRES Supervisor Essentials and Leadership Excellence and Development (LEAD) courses. The valuable leadership training is one way MRES supports members like Willmar Municipal Utilities.

“We send supervisors and other leaders to management courses to help give them the tools to be fantastic leaders,” said Harren. ”When anyone gets promoted, it’s a change in responsibility from what they are used to. We feel it’s essential to give them the tools to be successful with their new responsibilities.”

The MRES Supervisor Essentials course emphasizes the tools, knowledge and connections for new leaders to accelerate the transition into a supervisory role. The four-session course is geared specifically toward frontline staff either in the field, the front office or in customer service. 

The LEAD course is designed for utility and city staff at all levels who are currently, or aspiring to become, leaders and influencers in their work. The one-year course provides a wealth of knowledge, awareness, perspective, and skill development that is required for utility teams and their cities.

Ed Zurn, line distribution supervisor for Willmar Municipal Utilities attended Supervisor Essentials and has plans to attend LEAD this coming year. “I have attended other training courses, but the Supervisor Essentials course was hands down a much better training tool for me,” said Zurn.

“I got a lot more out of it because the training was more involved. They went a lot deeper into discussion on various important topics. I would highly recommend Supervisor Essentials to everyone.”

An everyday leader is a person who thinks more about the needs of others than themselves, speaks with integrity and acts with purpose, consistently, positively impacting the lives of others every day!

Jeron Smith, staff electric engineer attended LEAD in 2023 and the class slogan has stuck with him. “An everyday leader is a person who thinks more about the needs of others than themselves, speaks with integrity and acts with purpose, consistently, positively impacting the lives of others every day!” cites Smith.

Training on teamwork, accountability, strategies to be present and having crucial conversations made a big impression on Smith. “A successful workplace requires competence and character. The courses taught and reinforced skills in both,” said Smith.

“That’s why we continue to send our staff,” says Harren. “It’s very noticeable in the difference it makes for our people. The training gets high reviews and really helps make a difference in getting buy in. It’s time very well spent.”

Whether or not the sun is shining, Harren and his team are making sure their leaders always do.