1/6/2025 Update: 113 Create Inspiration and Engagement with Charisma with Dr. Ulrich Jensen was initially scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2026 and has been rescheduled to Friday, March 6, 2025
The CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government is excited to unveil our 2026 Winter–Spring course offerings—designed for county leaders. This season’s lineup features timely, relevant, and engaging virtual courses that empower you to lead with clarity, resilience, and innovation in today’s complex public sector landscape. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of a polarized environment, strengthening your leadership toolkit, or prioritizing project management our expert-led sessions provide the insights and strategies you need to thrive.
Friday, January 9, 2026 – 373 Leading with Impact: Project Management Excellence for California County Executives with Ruth McCormack
In an era of constrained budgets, increasing complexity, and heightened public accountability, effective project management is no longer optional—it’s essential for counties to successfully deliver critical infrastructure, technology, and service improvements to their communities. This virtual course on project management equips California county leaders with essential project management frameworks specifically adapted for public sector contexts, drawing from the California Project Management Framework (CA-PMF), PMBOK Government Extension, and Agile methodologies for government. Designed for county executives, CAOs, department directors, and senior managers, this interactive program provides strategic-level tools for governing complex initiatives with accountability and efficiency.
Friday, January 16, 2026 – 116 County Budgeting and Financial Reporting with Leanne Link
Counties have complex systems for budgeting and financial management. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of county budgeting and the budget process. Discussion includes a review of the County Budget Act, a year in the county budget cycle, key elements of a budget, and the integration of strategic plans into the annual budget. Participants also examine county revenue sources, sales and property tax allocation, General Fund and special funds, creating and integrating department-recommended budgets, and public involvement in the budget process. The class explores key elements in longer-term county financial planning and management.
Friday, January 30, 2026 – 115 Situational Leadership in the Public Sector with Phin Xaypanga
This workshop is designed to provide leaders with an understanding of the principles and objectives of Situational Leadership. During the session, participants will explore essential leadership skills, including accurately diagnosing team situations, tailoring their approach to meet the unique needs of each circumstance, and fostering effective partnerships. Through interactive breakout activities and practical examples, attendees will learn how to identify the varying stages of individual development among team members. They will also learn how to align their leadership style with these development levels, ensuring that their guidance is both appropriate and impactful. By learning to select and apply the most suitable leadership approach and embracing collaborative practices, leaders will be better equipped to enhance team performance, encourage professional growth, and implement well-constructed action plans.
Friday, February 6, 2026 – 361 Self Improvement and Optimal Performance with Rueben Brock, PhD
This course is designed specifically for public sector leaders seeking to enhance their personal effectiveness, resilience, and overall well-being in high-impact roles. Grounded in the principles of mental health, emotional intelligence, and sustainable performance, the course offers a holistic approach to self-improvement that supports both professional excellence and personal fulfillment.
Participants will explore the intersection of leadership, mental wellness, and optimal performance through evidence-based strategies drawn from psychology, neuroscience, and organizational behavior. Topics include stress management, burnout prevention, mindful leadership, habit formation, and values-driven goal setting. The course emphasizes practical tools and reflective practices that help leaders navigate complexity, foster healthy work cultures, and lead with clarity and purpose.
Friday, February 27, 2026 – 376 Applying Appreciative Inquiry for Positive Change in County Government with Mercy Santoro
This course introduces the Appreciative Inquiry 5-D approach—Define, Discover, Dream, Design, and Deliver—as a people-centered framework for managing change, leading teams, and advancing strategic initiatives in county government. Participants learn how to leverage strengths and shared values to foster collaboration and teams, inspire innovation, and long-term organizational change. Through interactive discussion, self-assessment, and practical application, leaders will explore how positive inquiry can transform challenges into opportunities, align staff and community around a shared vision, and sustain a culture of people-centered service excellence. Appreciative inquiry can be applied to various leadership and management styles such as transformational. If used intentionally, this positive approach will set you apart from others in your servant leadership practices. Let’s make positive shifts happen in government service together, let’s start a movement. Pre-work is required to identify a topic you wish explore in the training, and to customize the overall experience to areas attendees are most interested in. Prework is due two weeks before class.
Friday, March 6, 2026 – 113 Create Inspiration and Engagement with Charisma: Influencing Tactics All County Leaders Should Master with Dr. Ulrich Jensen
County leaders need to communicate effectively to lead organizational change, inspire staff with their vision for public service, share county programs with residents, and engage with elected officials. This workshop introduces leaders to a set of specific influencing tactics – known as charismatic leadership tactics – they can use in their own leadership to drive change, motivate, and engage others, and create a pathway for inspiration in their organization. This workshop builds on a one-of-a-kind, science-based leadership development program designed and evaluated by Dr. Ulrich Jensen and has proven to enhance and refine participants’ leadership skills, including their ability to motivate others and retain talent in their organizations.
Friday, March 13, 2026 – 362 Critical Thinking Skills for 21st Century Complexities with Laree Kiely
The word “critical” here means crucial thinking, not judgmental thinking.
Do you sometimes wish decisions and thinking processes could be more reliable, rational, effective, and efficient? Most people and groups today are still using “gut feelings” and past experiences and expertise to guide their thinking and decision-making. The problem is many of the issues we face today are places we have never been before.
This course will help you learn the mental tools that help you understand how you currently make decisions and how to build in more disciplined thought. We will introduce you to simple, yet powerful skills for individuals and groups to reason well through the problems and issues you face so you can take command of the thinking that ultimately shapes the quality of your life and work.
You’ll be surprised by what you learn about yourself and what you can add to your tool kit. Highly interactive, experiential, and entertaining as well. Come for the discovery and have fun learning great tools!
Friday, March 27, 2026 – 118 Character-Driven Leadership for Public Service with Paul Danczyk, PhD
Public sector leaders face unique challenges—balancing accountability, transparency, and service with the need for innovation and adaptability. This course introduces the Tilt365 Framework, a character science-based model designed to help leaders in government and civic organizations develop greater agility, emotional intelligence, and influence.
Participants will explore the four core Tilt patterns—Clarity, Connection, Impact, and Structure—and learn how to flex their leadership style to meet the evolving demands of public service. Through interactive assessments, reflective exercises, and practical applications, leaders will gain insight into their natural leadership tendencies, uncover blind spots, and build the character agility needed to lead with integrity and effectiveness. Pre-work is required.
Friday, April 17, 2026 – 136 Navigating Non-Partisan roles in a Partisan World with Angela Andrews
Leaders in Local Government often operate in environments shaped by political dynamics, yet their roles demand neutrality, integrity, and a commitment to serving all constituents equitably. This course equips local government professionals with the tools and strategies to maintain non-partisan professionalism while effectively navigating politically charged contexts.
Participants will explore the ethical foundations of public service, develop skills for managing stakeholder relationships across the political spectrum, and learn techniques for fostering trust and credibility in polarized settings. The course emphasizes emotional intelligence, communication, and mental resilience—recognizing the personal toll that political tension can take on public servants. Through case studies, peer dialogue, and reflective practice, leaders will strengthen their ability to lead with clarity, fairness, and purpose.