Management Development Academy
Schedule
Class Fifteen Session Two - Oct 27-29, 2025
RENAISSANCE ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN HOTEL | Ashville, North Carolina
Day One: MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2025
Welcome to MDA, Session Activities and MDA News

Introductions and Opening Orientation

Social and Dinner
Restaurant TBD
DAY TWO: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025
Breakfast
Topic One:
Managing and Developing Your Human Resources to Attract, Retain and Engage Talent

Managing and developing your human resources in order to attract, retain and engage talent is a component of Human Resource Management (HRM), which is the use of individuals to achieve organizational objectives. During this session we will explore some essential elements and tools to help you maximize your partnership and relationship with your HR team and employees. There are four sections that will be addressed:
- You and Your Business Partner
- The link between you and HR
- Recruitment (Staffing and Your Talent Strategy)
- Recruitment
- Outsourcing
- Myths vs. Reality
- Effective Performance Appraisals
- Retention
- Human Resource and Employee Development (HRD)
- Training and Development
- Organizational Development
- Career Planning
- Career Development
- Developing Talent
- Growing Your Own
- Promoting from Within
- Employee Engagement
- Understanding Your Organizational Culture
Lunch and Break
Topic Two :
Community at the Core: The Essence of People-Centric Leadership

Imagine a leadership style that’s not just about goals and outcomes, but about fostering a true sense of community. Join Rita Goodroe, renowned for transforming connections into powerful relationships, in a session that redefines leadership from the ground up. 'Community at the Core' is an exploration into leading with a focus on people, not just processes.
In this engaging talk, Rita dives into how values and vision are not just corporate buzzwords, but the heartbeat of a thriving workplace community. Learn how setting collaborative goals and embracing servant leadership can uplift your entire team. She'll discuss how a coaching approach to conversations can build trust, encourage authenticity and enhance empathy among your team members.
Attendees will walk away with:
- Strategies to embed community-building principles into everyday leadership.
- Insights on aligning personal and organizational values for a cohesive vision.
- Techniques for fostering collaboration and servant leadership in your team.
- A deeper understanding of how empathetic leadership can create a supportive and vibrant community at work.
'Community at the Core' goes beyond traditional leadership paradigms. It’s about inspiring a culture where people feel valued, understood and integral to the organization’s success.
Dinner
Restaurant TBD
DAY THREE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025
Breakfast
Topic Three :
Building Blocks for Continuous Professional Development and Growth

You can’t change your Intelligence Quotient (IQ), but you can change your Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ). That’s excellent news since your EQ significantly impacts your personal fulfillment and professional success. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to integrate EQ into practical skills that will help you lead yourself and your team in a more organized, effective and fulfilling way.
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ): what it is and how to use it on purpose
- Secrets to effective and confident communication
- Unleashing the power of your network: learning and leading in your industry
- Self-leadership tools for fulfillment
Conclusion of Session Two
Wrap-up, next steps and program evaluation
