SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Investing in employee development helps Valley City Public Works build strong leaders, retain skilled employees and provide reliable service to the communities they serve.
Cory Buck, line crew foreman for the City of Valley City, was among 23 utility professionals to earn leadership certification through the LEAD Course, a program offered by Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
LEAD –– short for Leadership, Excellence and Development –– is an advanced training program focused on the critical skills, awareness and perspective that drive success in municipal utility leadership. Participants completed four two-day sessions over the past year with coursework covering communication, collaboration, change management, accountability, learning from failure and applied leadership.
“We’re proud of Cory for the time and effort he’s put into this course,” said City Administrator Gwen Crawford. “What he’s learned will help him support his coworkers and work through the day-to-day challenges here in Valley City.”
The LEAD Course is part of MRES’ commitment to strengthening the utility workforce and helping member utilities prepare future leaders. Research shows that more than 60% of employees say they are more likely to stay with an employer that invests in their development, underscoring the value of leadership development programs for workforce effectiveness and customer service.
“LEAD gives people a chance to step back from their daily responsibilities and learn alongside others facing similar challenges,” said Matt Schull, MRES president and CEO. “We want them to leave with practical ideas they can put to work and connections they can turn to long after the course ends.”
MRES is a South Dakota-based, not-for-profit joint-action agency providing wholesale electricity and energy-related services to 61 member municipalities in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, including Valley City.
For more information, please contact MRES Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer Alex Abplanalp
at 605-338-4042 or info@mrenergy.com.