Managing by Network

2023 Course Schedule

Start Date: January 11 and 12, 2023

Course End Date: May 31 and June 1, 2023

Course Format: 18 live webinars and 5 study hall weeks, 38 hours. All coursework is completed online, no travel is required. Participants meet weekly for two hours, in one of four seminar sized groups. Attendees may participate on the day and time of their choice based on 4 options. 

• Sessions 1-6:  Explore Practices

• Sessions 7-12:  Strengthen Skills

• Sessions 13-18:  Build Trust

On Wednesdays or Thursdays from January to June, participants attend a live, two-hour webinar. 

Regular sessions are interspersed with Study Hall weeks. During this time, participants can enrich and apply their learning through optional activities such as networking sessions, homework, and self-study to make up missed sessions.

Each of the 18 sessions is offered as a live webinar, in seminar sized groups, at four different times. 

During the application process, individuals indicate a preferred day and time for the webinar that best fits their schedule. We make every effort to accommodate these preferences. 

Managing by Network webinars meet as follows:

Wednesdays

• Alpha Group: 11 AM to 1 PM ET
• Beta Group: 2 PM to 4 PM ET

Thursdays

• Gamma Group: 11 AM to 1 PM ET
• Delta Group: 2 PM to 4 PM ET 

Because the Academy observes Daylight Saving Time, class times will change accordingly in March.

MBN 2023 Schedule

January 11 & 12 - Session 1: Charting our Course

• Welcome and Introductions

• Course Overview

• Partnering and Managing by Network

Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Jane Hanson, Leigh Goldberg and Liz Madison, Academy

January 18 & 19 - Session 2: See the Possibilities

• Agency Leadership Perspectives on Partnership and Community Collaboration 

  • Alpha: USFWS

  • Beta: BLM

  • Gamma: USDA FS

  • Delta: DOI CADR, BLM CADR

• The 22 Competencies and Accountability

Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Liz Madison, Academy

January 25 & 26 - Session 3: Head, Heart, Hands

• Collaborative Leadership

• Partnership Network Life Cycle

Instructors, Anne Desmarais, Leigh Goldberg, Academy

February 1 & 2 - Session 4: Connect to Community

• Community Collaboration 

• Working with FACA and Advisory Committees

• Active Listening

Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Leigh Goldberg, Academy

Guest Instructor: Laura Van Riper, BLM

February 8 &  9 - Session 5: Look Beneath the Surface

• Restorative Lens on Partnerships

• Partner Culture Awareness

Instructors: Leigh Goldberg and Anne Desmarais, Academy

Guest Instructor: Rebecca Stanfield-McCown, NPS

Week of February 13: Study Hall Week 1 

Study Hall work is optional and designed to help you apply what you learn.

• Agency-Specific Networking Sessions

• Homework: workbook exercises and self-assessments

• Self-study: catch up on any sessions you missed

• Apply your learning on the job

Optional Networking Sessions

Meet up with agency colleagues from the class. Participants may attend any session(s).

• USFWS: Wednesday, February 15, 11 AM - 12 PM ET

• NOAA: Wednesday, February 15, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET

• BLM: Wednesday, February 15, 2 PM - 3 PM ET

• NPS: Thursday, February 16, 11 AM - 12 PM ET

• USACE: Thursday, February 16, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET

• USDA FS: Thursday, February 16, 2 PM - 3 PM ET

February 22 & 23 - Session 6: Paddle Together

• Launching the 2023 Case Study Program

• Alumni Case Studies, MBN Alumni Peer Presenters will be announced in 2023

• Appreciative Inquiry and Asset Based Community Development

Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Leigh Goldberg, Academy

March 1 & 2 - Session 7: Find the Common Threads

• Engaging with Tribes and Indigenous Communities. 

  • Agency Guest Speakers will be announced in 2023.

• 21 Partnership Success Factors

Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Liz Madison, Academy 

March 8 & 9 - Session 8: Put the Wind in Your Sails

• Facilitation in Action

• Seven Faces of Partnership and Philanthropy

Instructors: Liz Madison and Anne Desmarais, Academy

Guests Instructor: Hunter Merritt, USACE

March 15 & 16 - Session 9: Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

• Interest-based Negotiation 

Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Leigh Goldberg, Academy

Week of March 20 - Study Hall Week 2 

Study Hall work is optional and designed to help you apply what you learn.

• Networking Sessions 

• Homework: workbook exercises and self-assessments

• Self-study: catch up on any sessions you missed

• Apply your learning on the job

March 29 & 30 - Session 10: Calm the Waters

• Strengthen Your Conflict Management Skills

Instructor: Anne Desmarais, Academy

Guest Instructor: Jacki Wilson, DOI CADR

April 5 & 6 - Session 11: Valuing Nature

Instructor: Anne Desmarais, Academy

Guest Instructor: Natalie Sexton, USFWS

April 12 & 13 - Session 12: Smart Moves 

• Political Savvy and External Awareness

• Partnership Assessment 

Instructors: Leigh Goldberg and Anne Desmarais

Guest Instructor: Gary Barrett, USDA FS

April 19 & 20 - Session 13: Change Your Tack

Week of April 24 - Study Hall Week 3

Study Hall work is optional and designed to help you apply what you learn.

• Networking Sessions

• Homework: workbook exercises and self-assessments

• Self-study: catch up on any sessions you missed

• Apply your learning on the job

Optional Networking Sessions

Meet up with agency colleagues from the class. 

• ALPHA: Wednesday Apr 26, 11 AM - 12 PM ET

• BETA: Wednesday Apr 26, 2 PM - 3 PM ET

• GAMMA: Thursday Apr 27, 11 AM - 12 PM ET

• DELTA: Thursday Apr 27, 2 PM - 3 PM ET

May 3 & 4 - Session 14: Get Your Ducks in a Row

• Peer to Peer Presentations: 2023 Case Studies

• Managing Agreements and Pooled Funding

Case Study presenters:

• Alpha: Matt Fockler, BLM, Socioeconomic Specialist, Great Basin Zone (NV, ID, UT), Reno, NV
• Beta: Laura Rear McLaughlin, NOAA, Chief, Stakeholder Services Branch, NOAA/Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, Silver Spring, MD
• Gamma: Mags Rheude, USFWS, Wildlife Biologist, Midwest Regional Office - Migratory Birds, Bloomington, MN
• Delta: Tami Church, USACE, Environmental Planning Team Lead, San Francisco District, San Francisco, CA

Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Liz Madison, Academy 

May 10 & 11 - Session 15: New Paths to Follow

• Sustaining Partnerships and Community Collaboratives

• Trust Ecology

Instructors: Leigh Goldberg and Anne Desmarais, Academy

Guest Instructor: Kiandra Rijala, USFWS

May 17 & 18 - Session 16: Reflect on the Journey

• Peer to Peer Presentations: 2023 Case Studies

• Organizational Change and Succession Planning

Case Study presenters:

• Alpha: Teri Tucker, NPS, Planning & Compliance Lead (Environmental Protection Specialist), Mount Rainier National Park, Ashford, WA
• Beta: Heather Coleman, NOAA, Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program Manager, Office of Habitat Conservation, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD
• Gamma: Daniel Meden, USACE, Biologist, St Paul District (Regional Planning and Environmental Division North), Bettendorf, IA
• Delta: Marina Cucuzza Tomer, USGS, Research Coordinator, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Norman, OK

Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Leigh Goldberg, Academy

May 24 & 25 - Session 17: Putting it All Together

• Next Generation Conservation

• Vision and Strategic Thinking: What's Possible Now

May 31 & June 1 - Session 18: Commencement 

• Peer to Peer Presentations: 2023 Case Studies 

• Gathering In 

• Graduation

Case Study presenters:

• Alpha: Philomena West, USDA FS, Assistant Deputy Area Budget Coordinator, Washington Office Research and Development, Fort Washington, MD
• Beta: USACE: Connie Chan-Le, Park Ranger, Los Angeles District, South El Monte, CA and Henry Csaposs, Park Ranger, Los Angeles District, South El Monte, CA
• Gamma: Wayne Nelson-Stastny, USFWS, Missouri River Recovery Project Leader, Missouri River Coordination Office, Yankton, SD
• Delta: TBA

Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Leigh Goldberg, Jane Hanson, and Liz Madison, Academy

June 5-16: Study Hall Weeks 4 & 5

This final study hall period allows time to complete and submit any additional self-study for the course. All coursework must be completed two weeks after the final webinar to receive credit.

• Self-study: catch up on any sessions you missed
• Homework: workbook exercises and self-assessments 
• Apply your learning on the job