Building a supportive and inclusive workplace has never been more critical. As retirements continue to impact local power companies and applicants have become more selective about where they work, businesses hoping to thrive now have to compete for the best talent. Ensuring your organization is built upon a welcoming work environment that embraces the qualities of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging can open up a broader base of job applicants and set your organization up for greater success.

Join TVPPA and professional leadership development trainer Tangela Johnson on March 29-30 for Leaders First, Culture Second: Inclusion – The Way Forward, a two-day workshop designed for local power company general managers and senior leaders who want to understand how to face these workforce challenges and build a welcoming and inclusive work environment.

Emotionally intelligent, self-aware leaders are powerful influencers and agents of change who drive the culture of their organizations. In this course, senior and executive leaders will self-examine and focus on their level of emotional intelligence when it comes to their ability to lead inclusion. They will learn how to better communicate with all stakeholders and how to create a strategic framework that will help guide the process for building a more diverse and inclusive culture.

Chattanooga EPB’s Director of Procurement & Vendor Relations Ken Jones participated in the class last winter. Noting the value of this workshop among TVPPA’s Education & Training leadership development offerings Jones said that the class can help facilitate “needed changes within our respective organizations with regard to DEI efforts.” He added,  “Tangela Johnson is a world-class facilitator. Her ability to deliver a tough discussion in a way that is non-threatening but impactful is second to none. She really creates a safe space for everyone to speak up and feel heard.”

The March class will be held at Gallatin Department of Electricity, Gallatin, Tenn. To register for this course, please visit tvppa.com/training. If you have questions or would like more information, please email TVPPA EVP of Member Services & Strategic Relations, Danette Scudder.

If you’re unable to join us for the March workshop, a second session is scheduled for December 6-7; be sure to save the date.