Beech Tree News Network

Kentucky county staff members graduated from the NACo Leadership Academy, a 12-week online program that empowers frontline county government employees with fundamental leadership skills.

Across the country, 812 county employees participated.

Butler County had four of the nine Kentucky graduates, including Judge/Executive Tim Flener, Magistrate Dillon Bryant, treasurer Rebecca Jacobs and finance officer LaDonna Nave.

Flener said the course served as an important reminder to listen to everyone’s opinion and to not let heated conversations get out of control.

“I would like to thank NACo for the Leadership Academy,” Flener said. “Two things that stand out to me: It’s OK to get mad. Just remember to get over it and move on. The second thing is to listen more to what people are really saying and to talk less.”

Bryant serves as District 5 magistrate in Butler County.

“I would like to thank the county for the opportunity to take this course and improve upon my leadership abilities,” Bryant said. “For anyone wanting to become a more efficient leader in their community or workplace, I would recommend them taking this course. Through this course a lot of my views have changed, from what I might think the best idea may be for the county, to making sure everyone has a seat at the table and take all the ideas to form a more comprehensive plan on the idea.

“Another great point made in the course is to always have a positive mindset,” Bryant added. “If you go into a project or a workplace with negative mindset, how do you think anything positive will result from the actions? Three of Gen. Collin Powell’s rules that I think about every morning before starting my day now are 1. It can be done, 2. Have a vision, and 3. Don’t take counsel of your fears and naysayers.”

Also graduating from the academy were:

Anderson County Magistrate Meredith Lewis;

Shelby County Deputy Judge/Executive Jon Park; and

Mason County Road Department Administrator Nathan Truesdell.

In addition, two KACo directors graduated from the academy: Director of Policy, Research and Communications Jennifer Burnett and Director of Insurance and Business Temple Juett.

“The openness and honesty that was shared in the small group created a great space to let down our guard and discuss the material in the context of our own experience,” Juett said. “I found this to be very helpful in assessing my own leadership style.”

Congratulations to all of these individuals who completed the program.

By Susan Riddell, Communications Manager