Twenty-two employees with the City of Moose Jaw have earned certificates in professional leadership through a University of Regina program that has helped them develop into a more cohesive team.
City council recognized the 22 staff members during the Feb. 13 regular council meeting.
Those employees include Derek Blais, Sandy Campbell, Mark Caringal, Jason Casemore, Staci Dobrescu, Chelsey Domes, Craig Hemingway, Shelly Howe, Travis LeBlanc, Wade McKay, Stephanie Meyer, Rod Montgomery, Ryan Nelson, Cory Oakes, Scott Osmachenko, Sarah Regent, Mike Russell, Michelle Sanson, Heather St. Dennis, Darrin Stephanson, Jason Trzaskowski and Tracy Wittke.
“I’m very proud. I want to congratulate all our staff members who put the time and effort in to obtain this qualification,” city manager Jim Puffalt said. “When we completed strategic planning in 2018, we want to have a higher level of customer service (and) a better and more enhanced administration.”
City administration wanted a program designed and developed for staff specific to municipalities, considering that not all educational programs are geared toward those who work for municipalities, he continued.
The previous and current human resources directors worked with the U of R to develop a program while considering current staff and directors to determine how they could be successful in the future.
“… they all passed with flying colours. As (a) council and as the city, we should be very proud of all these people that literally went above and beyond to become better managers and supervisors and leaders,” Puffalt added.
“I think it’s very important for everyone to continue to take education programs. And I certainly congratulate all of the people there,” said Coun. Doug Blanc. “And I’m glad that the city was able to do that for them. I think this is a great adventure.”
The 22 employees completed the leadership development program through the U of R’s Centre for Continuing Education, while the program represented a significant investment by the municipality and the participants with their time and efforts, a council report explained.
Besides developing them as individual leaders, the program also allowed the participants to work together as a group, which has helped develop the leadership team into a collective unit, the report continued.
“The team now has a common set of principles and practices, which will lead to a more cohesive management approach across the organization and a greater ability to work as leaders across department lines,” the document added.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Feb. 27.
