Effective and productive management is a critically important aspect of every well-run organization.
Top-level and middle-management personnel need to know and understand the principles of such skills as leadership, communication, and delegation of authority. Management in the public sector is uniquely challenging because—unlike in the private sector where profit is the ultimate motive—a municipality’s main goal is to provide the “highest quality of public services at the lowest possible cost.” Understanding their environment and the culture of local government are critical components of public sector management that all effective managers must need to understand and apply every day.
The Meyner Center will provide half-day and whole-day sessions on management in the public sector. During this session, we will review the principles of:
We will create a dialogue with attendees as to why it is so challenging to manage in the public sector. We will discuss with attendees how important it is for all managers and middle managers to establish an effective team approach to their municipality or to their department. We will review how important it is to establish the following core values that will guide them through their decisions:
Attendees will learn about how to deal with difficult employees, manage the constant rumor mill that runs through the public sector workplace, and create a productive and positive environment in your municipality or department.
Examples of training and education programs include:
Author/Instructor of Program (2022): “Reconnecting and Building the Team: The Workplace Post COVID.”
Program on Local Government Reality (2022): The Center presented a program titled “Trust in Government: The Federalism Perspective and Local Government Reality” at the Pennsylvania Municipal Electric Association (PMEA) Conference.
Training on Leadership (2021): The Center presented a program titled “The Science of Interviewing” to various municipal officials of the Bucks and Montgomery County Managers Association.
Training on Communication (2021): The Center presented a program titled “The Science and Art of Communication” to the Executive Board of the New Jersey Statewide Insurance Fund.
Training Program on Leadership(2020): The Center provided a program entitled “The Importance of Communication” to various municipal officials through the Statewide Insurance Program.
Maille, LLP (2019): The Center provided a program entitled “The Importance of Customer Service” to 100 municipal officials on behalf of the accounting firm of Maille, LLP, and also to several municipalities in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Next Era Power Summit (2019): The Center provided a program entitled “The Importance of Customer Service” to 100 municipal officials at the Next Era Power Summit in Palm Beach, Florida.
Maille, LLP (2018): The Center’s associate director provided a program entitled “The Importance of Customer Service” to 100 municipal officials on behalf of the accounting firm, Maille, LLP, and also to several municipalities in central Bucks County, Pennsylvania ($200).
New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool (2018): The Center’s associate director provided several regional training programs for New Jersey local officials on various leadership and communication programs for the New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool ($1,195).
Congressional Primary Candidates’ Debate (2018): The Center’s director co-moderated this debate with Monica Evans of PBS39, which was sponsored by Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters at Northampton Community College, May 2.
Northampton County Council Candidates’ Debate (2017): The Center’s director moderated this debate, which was sponsored by the Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters at the Forks Township Municipal Building, November 1.
Northampton County Executive Candidates’ Debate (2017): The Center’s director moderated this debate, which was co-sponsored by the Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters and the NAACP at Northampton Community College, October 26.
Race for Peace (2017): The Center’s associate director for public service served on the Race for Peace Steering Committee and facilitated several community summits in Philadelphia at the Sister Clara Muhammed School, Stephen Girard High School, and Harold Davis Baptist Church, as well as the Main Line Reformed Synagogue in Wynnewood.
Grand Ethiopians’ Conference (2017): The Center’s director served as keynote speaker for this Washington, DC, metropolitan area conference of first- and second-generation immigrants from Ethiopia
Medical Marijuana Program (2017): The Center hosted a program for local government officials in February on “The Legalization of Marijuana and Its Effects on Municipalities.” John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution, Washington, DC, reviewed the history of marijuana in the United States. William Roark, an attorney, explained Pennsylvania’s new law and regulations and their impacts on municipalities. Josh Genderson, president and CEO of Holistic Industries, explained how marijuana is grown commercially where it is legal.
New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool (2017): The Center provided several regional training programs for New Jersey local officials on various leadership and communication programs for the New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool ($1,328) and for Plainsboro, NJ.
Maille, LLP (2017): The Center provided a program entitled “The Challenge of Managing in the Public Sector” to 100 municipal officials on behalf of the accounting firm Maille, LLP.
New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool (2016): The Center provided several regional training programs for New Jersey local officials on various leadership and communication programs for the New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool.
New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool (2014): The Center provided ten regional training programs for New Jersey local officials on “Effective and Productive Decision-Making” for the New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool.
Stormwater Program (2014): Together with T&M Associates, the Center conducted, in November, a training program on stormwater regulations in King of Prussia.
Newark, Delaware (2014): In June, the Center facilitated a one-day retreat of the city council of the City of Newark, Delaware.
Montgomery County Association of Township Officials (2014): In January, the Center developed and trained newly elected township officials for the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials.
Pottstown (2013): The Center provided training in customer service to borough employees.
Regional Management and Leadership Training (2013): The Center organized and conducted a program on management and leadership for about 120 municipal employees in the Lehigh Valley and suburban Philadelphia.
New Jersey Statewide Insurance Pool (2013): The Center organized and conducted three training programs on “Effective Customer Service” for Statewide Insurance municipal employees.
Bucks County (2013): The Center organized and conducted a training program on “Effective Customer Service” for municipal employees in Bucks County.
Pennsylvania Storm-Water Regulation Workshop (2011): The Center provided training for about 90 municipal officials on new storm-water regulations issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and how they will affect municipal government.
The principal presenter/organizer is Associate Director Nicole Beckett, who has 21 years of experience in municipal management in northeast Pennsylvania, including 12 years as the Borough Manager in Lehighton, where she managed a full-service municipality with a total budget of $20 million. Her experience in municipal government provides her with an excellent background to assist municipalities in managerial recruitment, administrative studies, financial analysis, and preparation of strategic plans. She understands the culture of municipal government and the importance of the services provided by efficient and productive management personnel who work closely with the elected board.