32 County Employees Graduate from the Spring S.T.A.R.T. Program
Author: Human Resources
Date: 3/26/2019 4:34 PM
Over 300 employees have now attended the S.T.A.R.T. program.
Since 2014, the County has offered the S.T.A.R.T. (Supervisors Transition and Readiness Training) program for employees considering a career move into first-line supervision. About 300 employees have attended to date, with 32 graduating in March. Executives and managers from each participant’s department attended the latest graduation ceremony on March 21st.
The program is one of several leadership programs offered by the Learning and Development Center in partnership with the Centre for Organization Effectiveness.
S.T.A.R.T. contains four modules in two days: 1) What are you getting yourself into? (The nature of supervision), 2) Getting from here to there (managing change and transition), 3) Practical issues you may face (such as supervising people who are friends and/or peers), and 4) creating a Transition Action Plan.
Among the content in the workshop, participants explore the skill sets they’ll need to be successful, what they’ll gain and give up if they choose to become a supervisor, the differences and experience of change and transition, how to start managing people who are friends and/or peers, and how to plan for their transition.
Leslie Brown, Manager of the Learning and Development Center, says “The S.T.A.R.T. program has been filling a vital role in the development of leaders for the County. It helps people truly understand the role they are about to play and the challenges they may face as a supervisor.”
Tami Douglas-Schatz, Human Resources Director, told participants at the recent graduation, “This is an invaluable first step for people about to lead other people. It’s about being fully prepared to make a critical transition from being an individual contributor to being someone who’s responsible for the performance of others.”
Employees have endorsed S.T.A.R.T. with testimonials like these:
- “What was most beneficial? The portion on Practical Issues You May Face. The instructor gave real-world examples for every issue at hand, with suggestions on the best ways to handle those issues.”
- “Great class! I’m happy to have confirmed that I’m not alone in my concerns about how to transition to a supervisory role.”
- “I liked hearing about the situations other classmates had to offer and comparing them to my own. Quite powerful to find out that we have much more in common than not – even when we do very different things.”
If you’re interested about pursuing a career in supervision and management, let your manager know. Participants are selected from manager nominations.
Graduates of the Spring 2019 START Program
Department |
Employee |
Ag |
Jodie Eckard |
ACTTC |
Louanne Vane |
Assessor |
Jen Carter |
Central Services |
Jay Hebrard |
Child Support Services |
Micaela Anthony |
Child Support Services |
Martina Ruiz |
Child Support Services |
Ron Chilcott |
Clerk-Recorder |
Ashley Gibson |
Clerk-Recorder |
Julianne Goble |
District Attorney |
Jennifer Love |
Health Agency |
Kristin Ventresca |
Health Agency |
Breanne Salmon |
Human Resources |
Marisa Araujo |
Parks |
Sean Gabriel |
Parks |
Cody Brindley |
Planning |
Tony Navarro |
Planning |
Holly Phillips |
Probation |
Stephen (Sam) Newnham |
Probation |
Tony Verdugo |
Public Works |
Kari Francis Gephart |
Public Works |
Eric Zatt |
Public Works |
Jenny Williamson |
Public Works |
Ryan Monie |
Public Works |
Brian Uder |
Public Works |
Jeromy Caldero |
Social Services |
Dawn Smith |
Social Services |
Robin Mason |
Social Services |
Mike Olsen |
Sheriff |
Danny Moran |