MBN 2025 Notebook - Course Material Archive
MBN Course Material Archive
All webinars and recordings use the same password, provided in the weekly email. Please do not share outside of class.
Presentations, Assignments, and Additional Resources will be available through June 30, 2026.
Questions? Reach out to info@partnership-academy.net.
January 15 & 16 - Orientation and Tech Test (Optional)
Agenda
- Welcome
- Classroom Set up
- Webinars and Self Study
- Course Communications
Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Jane Hanson, Academy
Presentations
Additional Resources
Before you come to your first session:
- Learn more accessing webinars and using Webex here.
- Download Webex. Installation may take several minutes and may require approval from your IT department.
- You do NOT need to set up a Webex account or purchase a license.
If your agency has not approved Webex for download, join by browser instead.
- Use the links above to “Join Webinar” for the group you wish to attend.
- Follow the prompt and select “join from your browser” to enter the webinar.
January 29 & 30 - Session 1: Charting Our Course
Agenda
- Welcome
- Course Overview
- Introductions: Getting to Know You
- Active Listening
Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Leigh Goldberg, and Jane Hanson, Academy
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Managing by Network Scavenger Hunt
- Homework: Build Your Network
Additional Resources
- Managing by Network 2025 Course Roster by Agency
- Managing by Network 2025 Course Roster by Webinar Group
- Videos: Social Network Analysis
- Open-Ended Question Prompts
- Active Listening Checklist
- Level 3 Listening article (thanks to Emily M!)
- MbN Class of 2025 Group Agreements
February 5 & 6 - Session 2: See the Possibilities
Agenda
- Welcome
- Agency Leadership Perspectives on Partnership and Community Collaboration
- The 22 Competencies and 21 Partnership Success Factors
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Leigh Goldberg, and Jane Hanson, Academy
ALPHA Guest Speakers:
Gary Barrett, Director
Maya Bhadury, Partnership Coordinator, Partnership Support Team
National Partnership Office
USDA Forest Service
BETA Guest Speaker:
National Partnership Coordinator
National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships Directorate
Bureau of Land Management
GAMMA Guest Speakers:
Dr. Rebecca Stanfield McCown, Director, Stewardship Institute
Christina Marts, Deputy Superintendent, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
National Park Service
DELTA Guest Speaker:
Regional Partners for Fish and Wildlife Coordinator
Midwest Regional Office
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Presentations
- Agency Leadership Perspectives on Partnership and Community Collaboration
- 21 Partnership Success Factors and 22 Competencies
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Read: 21 Partnership Success Factors
- Homework: 21 Partnership Success Factors and 22 Competencies Gap Assessment
Additional Resources
- The 22 Competencies
- BLM Partnership Toolkit: Engaging with Communities in Public Land Stewardship
February 12 & 13 - Session 3: Head, Heart, and Hands
Agenda
- Welcome
- Collaborative Leadership
- Partnering and Managing by Network
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Leigh Goldberg, Academy; Gary Barrett, Director USDA FS National Partnership Office
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Watch Three Elements of Collaborative Leadership, with Liz Madison (video/podcast)
- Homework: Shifting to a Network Mindset
Additional Resources
February 19 & 20 - Session 4: Connect to Community
Agenda
- Welcome
- Community Collaboration and Process Design
- Partner Culture Awareness
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Leigh Goldberg, Academy; and Dr. Laura Van Riper, Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution Field Lead, BLM
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Watch Partner Culture Awareness with Liz Madison (video/podcast)
- Homework: Community Collaboration Situation Assessment
Additional Resources
- Situation Assessments: An Overview video, with Laura Van Riper
- Collaboration Toolbox videos: Stakeholder Analysis and Decision Space, with Joy Lujan
- Understanding Collaboration, USDA FS Collaboration Cadre
- USFWS Stakeholder Engagement Wayfinder
February 26 & 27 - Session 5: Look Beneath the Surface
Agenda
- Welcome
- Partnership Assessment and the Partnership Impact Model (TM)
- Partnership Network Life Cycle
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Leigh Goldberg, Academy
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Read the Partnership Impact Model Executive Summary
- Homework: Partnership Impact Self-Assessment
Additional Resources
- Generating, Scaling Up, and Sustaining Impact: One Tam’s First Four Years
- Partnership Impact Evaluation Guide
- High resolution Partnership Impact Model graphics:
- Partnership Network Life-Cycle video/podcast with Liz Madison
- USDA FS Collaboration Cadre: Building a Solid Foundation for Collaborative Efforts (4Ps); and Maintaining the Foundation of Collaborative Groups
- Foundations for Strong Collaboration, with Cate Bradley
- Tearless Logic Model A Facilitated Approach
March 5 & 6 - Session 6: Paddle Together
Agenda
- Welcome
- Alumni Case Study Presentations
- Launching the 2025 Case Study Program
- Foundations of Collaboration Skill Check
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Jane Hanson, Academy, and MbN Alumni Presenters
ALPHA Guest Speaker:
JoAnna Lutmerding
Biologist
Migratory Bird Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
BETA Guest Speaker:
Chris Otahal
Wildlife Biologist
Barstow Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
GAMMA Guest Speaker:
John Langdon
Partnership Coordinator
Uwharrie and Croatan National Forests
USDA Forest Service
DELTA Guest Speaker:
Linda Naoi Goetz
Archaeologist
Kemmerer Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
Presentations
- Alumni Case Study Presentations
- Artificial Lighting at Night, JoAnna Lutmerding, USFWS
- Amargosa Vole Case Study, Chris Otahal, BLM
- Croatan Fireshed Partnership, John Langdon, USDA Forest Service
- Kemmerer Historic Preservation Commission, Linda Naoi Goetz, BLM
- Launching the 2025 Case Study Program
- Foundations of Collaboration Skill Check
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Explore the Case Study Catalog
- Homework: Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory
Additional Resources
- Explore the Case Study Catalog
- Case Study Checklist
March 19 & 20 - Session 7: Find the Common Threads
Agenda
- Welcome
- Partnering through Change
- Engaging with Partners: Motivation, Involvement, and Recognition
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Academy and Lisa Van Alstyne, USFWS
Additional Resources
- USDA FS Handover Memo
- Transforming through Crisis: Building Tomorrow’s Organization Today, by Carina Cortese
- Coaching People Through the Change Curve, by Brad Gentry
March 26 & 27 - Session 8: Walk a Mile in their Shoes
Agenda
- Welcome
- Shoe Stories
- Facilitation
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Academy and Lisa Van Alstyne, USFWS
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Bring to class a pair of shoes that tell a story about you. We will share in breakouts during our Welcome.
- Homework: Facilitation Competency Self-Assessment
Additional Resources
- Making Meetings Work video
- A Facilitator’s Best Practices video
- Facilitation Prep Checklists
- Liberating Structures facilitation tools
- Session Lab facilitation tools
- “Our Favorite Facilitation Things” Padlet: click the + to add your favorite tool, link, or practice
April 2 & 3 - Session 9: Calm the Waters
Agenda
- Welcome
- Conflict Management
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Academy and Susan Goodwin, Good Solutions
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Watch Ladder of Inference video, with Susan Goodwin
- Homework: DOI CADR GTC3 Preparing for a Challenging Conversation Worksheet
Additional Resources
- Circle of Conflict Adaptation
- Elements of an Effective Apology
- Strengthening Your Conflict Management Skills (video/podcast) with Susan Goodwin
- DOI CADR Getting To the Core of Conflict and Communication (GTC3) Participant Workbook
- DOI CADR website and External Collaboration and Conflict Resolution (ECCR) resources
April 9 & 10 - Session 10: Change Your Tack
Agenda
- Welcome
- Principled Negotiation
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Academy and Denis Desmarais, Academy
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Watch The Story of the Orange (video)
- Homework: Principled Negotiation Planning Worksheet
Additional Resources
- Comparing Negotiation Strategies Chart
- Interest-Based Problem Solving, USDA FS
- Tips for Managing Difficult Decisions, MIT
- Principled Negotiation (video/podcast) with Denis Desmarais
April 16 & 17 - Session 11: Dig Deeper
Agenda
- Welcome
- Persuasion
- Social Science Tools
- Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais, Academy and Lisa Van Alstyne, Academy
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Watch Persuasion (video)
- Homework: Improve Your Persuasion Strategy
- Homework: Expore the EPS Tool
Additional Resources
- Headwaters Economics Tools website
April 23 & 24 - Session 12: Put the Wind in Your Sails
Agenda
- Welcome
- Trust Ecology
- Aha
Instructors: Kiandra Rajala and Sarah Gray, USFWS; Anne Desmarais, Academy
Presentation
Self-Study
May 7 & 8 - Session 13: Smart Moves
Agenda
Welcome
Political Savvy and External Awareness
Entrepreneurship and Risk Assessment
Aha
Instructors: Jackie Leyba, BLM; Anne Desmarais, and Denis Desmarais, Academy
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Watch: Entrepreneurship and Partnerships
- Homework: Entrepreneurship and Risk Assessment
- Pre-webinar work for Session 14:
Complete the Wildlife Value Orientation Survey. Share your results in this form by May 9.
Additional Resources
- Video: Political Savvy
- Building Savvy and Resilience in Partnership Networks reference slides
May 14 & 15 - Session 14: New Paths to Follow
Agenda
Welcome
MBN 2025 Peer Case Studies
Conservation Social Science
Aha
Instructors: Peer presenters; Andrew Don Carlos, USFWS; Anne Desmarais and Lisa Van Alstyne, Academy
ALPHA Case Study:
Cheryl Coon, USDA FS Economic Partnership Coordinator, Hoosier National Forest, IN.
BETA Case Study:
Tonee Davis, USDA FS Program Specialist, Eastern Region, WI.
GAMMA Case Study:
Bob Klein, USACE Ret. Risk Manager, CA.
DELTA Case Study:
Sheila Larsen, Recreation Planner & Graydon Bascom, Landscape Architect, USDA FS. Mountain Planning Services Group.
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and Scenery Management Systems for Land Management Plans
Presentations
- Peer Case Studies – see above
- Thinking Like a Social Scientist
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Complete the Wildlife Value Orientation Survey
- Homework: Practical Considerations for Social Science Research
May 21 & 22 - Session 15: Get Your Ducks in A Row
Agenda
Welcome
Managing Partnerships and Agreements in a Changing Environment
Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Lisa Van Alstyne, Academy
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Share your Timely Resources with peers on this Padlet
- Homework: Managing Agency Agreements Best Practices
Additional Resources
- Formal Agreements video
- Fundraising Agreements, Policies, and Practices video
- Examples of agency authorities and agreements: USDA FS Authorities Brochure 2019; USDA FS Agreements Decision Tree
May 28 & 29 - Session 16: Putting it All Together
Agenda
Welcome
MBN 2025 Peer Case Studies
Accountability in Partnerships
Aha
Instructors: Peer presenters; Anne Desmarais and Lisa Van Alstyne, Academy
ALPHA Case Study:
Earnie Robinson, NPS. Park Ranger and Volunteer Coordinator – Interpretation & Education, Gateway National Recreation Area, NY.
Aging With Dignity and Joy: Elevating Senior Voices Through Creative Collaboration.
BETA Case Study:
Catie Geib, University of Wisconsin. Lake Superior Collaborative Program Coordinator, Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, WI.
GAMMA Case Study:
Laura Cattell Noll, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Local Government Initiative Director, Chesapeake Bay Program, PA.
DELTA Case Study:
Yvette Carrasco, USFWS. Urban Ranger, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, FL.
Presentations
Self-Study
- Pre-webinar: Watch Accountability When Working with Partnerships
- Homework: Accountability Practices Checklist
Additional Resources
- Share your Timely Resources with peers
- Case Study Resource Checklist
- Aligning Expectations for Effective Collaborative Work, USDA FS
- Partnership Charter Example, USFWS (coming soon)
- Partnership Charter Template, National Rural Health Resource Center
June 4 & 5 - Session 17: Reflect on the Journey
Agenda
Welcome
Vision and Strategic Thinking
The Road Behind, The Path Ahead
Aha
Instructors: Anne Desmarais and Denis Desmarais, Academy
Additional Resources
- San Bernardino Superior Court Strategic Plan example
- Article and Templates on Strategic Planning in Times of Change
- Videos: Technical and Adaptive Challenges; Moving Between the Balcony and the Dance Floor, Kansas Leadership Center
- Article: The Balcony and the Dance Floor, Ed Batista
- Community Tool Box, University of Kansas
- Share your Timely Resources with peers (Padlet)
June 11 & 12 - Session 18: Commencement
Agenda
Welcome
MBN 2025 Peer Case Studies
Gatherining In Reflection
Graduation
Instructors: Peer presenters; Anne Desmarais, Lisa Van Alstyne, and Jane Hanson, Academy
ALPHA Case Study:
Kelly Sczomak, NPS, Program Specialist,
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Parks, VT.
BETA Case Study:
Vicente (Vincent) Diaz, NPS, Tribal Affairs Coordinator, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ.
Tribal Consultation and Engagement in Grand Canyon National Park
GAMMA Case Study:
Bevin Horn, Program Analyst, OCFO, and Tara O’Hare, Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Water, EPA.
DELTA Case Study:
Michelle Horn, USACE. Tribal Liaison / Tribal Program Manager, Tulsa District, OK.
Working with Tribal Nations to preserve historic and cultural resources.
This case study was not recorded to maintain the privacy of the cultural resources.
Presentations
Assignments
- Complete the MbN Course Evaluation by June 27
- Design Your Graduation Cap! (Padlet)
Additional Resources
- Case Study Resource Checklist
- Share your Timely Resources with peers (Padlet)
