MGLA Foundation Series

Upcoming Foundation Series Courses

What is the MGLA Foundation Series? 

The Foundation Series offers 1-day, in-person courses featuring 6-7 interactive sessions focused on building leadership and management skills, fostering team development and communication, and covering essential HR topics and local government knowledge.  

Foundation Series courses blend learning with practical application in a classroom setting. 

Topics rotate approximately every six months, with four distinct courses cycling over a two-year period to provide comprehensive leadership development for Montana’s local government professionals. 

Who should participate? 

The Foundation Series courses are designed to benefit both established and emerging leaders. Experienced department heads and new supervisors alike will gain new insights, skills, and tools to manage and lead their teams more effectively. Foundation Series courses will provide participants with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in leading their own teams and better serving their communities. 

What will participants gain? 

The Foundation Series is designed to provide a number of benefits for both employees and the community. By investing in the professional development of its employees, a local government can improve its performance, increase employee satisfaction, reduce turnover, improve customer service, and build community trust. 

Participants can expect to enhance their: 

• Leadership and management skills 

• Emotional intelligence and personal development 

• Team development and communication 

• HR and local government knowledge 

What is the time commitment?  

Foundation Series courses are single-day events, typically from 9:00AM-4:30PM depending upon meeting space availability.  

What is the cost and how many people will participate? 

Each Foundation Series course is $250 per person for the single-day event. Workshops must include at least 15 participants, which encourages participant interaction among a variety of departments and local governments in the area.  

The registration fee includes access to the training, all applicable materials, lunch, and light refreshments.  

Current Offering: MGLA Foundation Series Course 1 

MGLA Foundation Series: Course 1 equips local government professionals with essential skills and knowledge to thrive as effective supervisors.  

Course 1 participants will: 

• Identify skills and perspectives needed to succeed as a local government supervisor 

• Recognize symptoms of imposter syndrome, explore strategies to address it, and develop a personal action plan for overcoming and preventing it 

• Define the four components of emotional intelligence and apply strategies to regulate self and others 

• Describe key elements of a positive work culture and identify practical strategies to foster trust, collaboration, and shared purpose within local government teams 

• Demonstrate strategies for setting clear expectations, fostering idea ownership and consensus, delegating effectively, and holding conversations to promote accountability within local government settings 

• Identify key indicators and situations that warrant contacting Human Resources regarding Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) concerns, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and proper support for employees. 

• Explain the impact of 15-10-420 and summarize key legislative developments relevant to local governments in 2025 

Course 1 is available through January 2026. 

Participant Information 

Program Preparation and Pre-work 

1. Complete the registration form (linked above)
2. Submit payment for registration through the MSU payment portal (link)

Cancellation Policy 

Participant cancellation requests must be emailed to Christine Hodges at (christine.hodges1@montana.edu). 

Full refunds are available if cancellation requests are received at least 7 business days prior to the event. 

Partial refunds (registration fee minus venue and meal expenses) are available if requests are received at least 3 business days before the event.  

No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the event starts. 

Future Offerings 

MGLA Foundation Series: Course 2 

MGLA Foundation Series: Course 2 empowers local government professionals to strengthen their leadership effectiveness.  

Course 2 participants will:  

• Use critical thinking and problem-solving tools to analyze situations, make decisions, and create action plans as local government supervisors 

• Identify factors that build or erode trust and apply strategies to foster psychological safety and inclusion 

• Apply perspective taking, empathy, and emotional agility to enhance communication and team dynamics 

• Differentiate between power, influence, and authority, and analyze how leadership dynamics affect supervisor effectiveness within local governments 

• Recognize common signs and situations that require involving Human Resources in matters related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ensuring appropriate accommodations and legal compliance. 

• Create a personal definition of the purpose of local government and identify ways to use organizational resources to help fulfill its mission 

MGLA Foundation Series: Course 3 

MGLA Foundation Series: Course 3 helps local government professionals advance their leadership capabilities through practical tools and personal development.  

Course 3 participants will: 

• Apply growth mindset principles and long-term planning tools to plan, prioritize, and lead as a local government supervisor 

• Demonstrate verbal communication skills by setting a vision, clarifying expectations, and communicating confidently as a local government supervisor 

• Examine ethics in local government and practice strategies for maintaining integrity, legal compliance, and professionalism 

• Gain practical insights from regional professionals on key aspects of the employment lifecycle—including position descriptions, job functions, interviews, application review, performance evaluations, and the discipline process—while understanding the importance of nondiscrimination and collaborating with HR to ensure fair and compliant personnel practices. 

• Assess personal emotional intelligence strengths and create a plan to enhance their emotional intelligence skills as local government supervisors 

• Develop strategies for preventing and treating burnout for themselves and their teams 

MGLA Foundation Series: Course 4 

MGLA Foundation Series: Course 4 equips local government supervisors with essential skills for fostering effective teams, engaging employees, and navigating transitions. 

Course 4 participants will: 

• Explore transitional change and apply communication and relationship strategies to manage the shift from peer to supervisor 

• Identify factors influencing employee engagement and motivation, and apply strategies to champion and support local government staff 

• Identify differences and apply strategies to foster collaboration, psychological safety, and mutual respect across multi-generational local government teams 

• Apply strategies to manage stress, communicate effectively under pressure, and build a resilient work culture within their local government 

• Explore strategies for collaboration, budget management, and project management to promote clear communication, resource stewardship, and practical tools for local government leadership 

• Identify key situations and employee reports that indicate the need to contact Human Resources regarding workers’ compensation, while avoiding actions or decisions that could be perceived as discriminatory, ensuring timely reporting, proper documentation, and legal compliance. 

• Differentiate between commonly confused emotions and apply emotional intelligence to build trust and connection as local government supervisors 

• Identify core principles and values of local government and reflect on ways to uphold a public service mindset 

Annual MGLA Foundation Series Schedule  

• September 11, 2025 - Great Falls, Foundations Course 1 

• October 28, 2025 - Havre, Foundation Series Course 1 

• November 12, 2025 - Colstrip, Foundation Series Course 1 

• December 1, 2025 - Bozeman, Foundation Series Course 1 

• December 2, 2025 – Bozeman, Foundation Series Course 2 

• January 12, 2026 - Red Lodge, Foundation Series Course 1 

• February 23, 2026 - Great Falls, Foundations Series Course 2 

• March 10, 2026 - Big Timber or Harlowton, Foundation Series Course 2 

• April 13, 2026 - Sidney, Foundation Series Course 2 

• May 11, 2026 - Missoula, Foundation Series Course 2 

Meet Your Instructors 

Christine Hodges

Lead Facilitator

Christine Hodges joined the Local Government Center in March 2025, where she evaluates the Montana Grown Leadership Academy (MGLA) programs and facilitates instruction for both the Foundation Series and Deep Dive courses. An educator at heart, Christine earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Montana (2010) and a Master of Arts in Literacy K–12 from Benedictine University (2015). She is currently pursuing a PhD in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University. Before joining the Center, she served as the Curriculum & Communications Specialist for Montana 4-H and spent ten years teaching, leading teams, and developing curriculum at schools across North and South America. Outside of work, you can find Christine running trails, skiing slopes, or climbing crags.

Ashley Kent

Co-facilitator

Ashley joined the Local Government Center (LGC) in July 2014. She currently manages LGC operations and offers a variety of professional development opportunities for local government officials across the state. Ashley also co-facilitates Montana Grown Leadership Academy (MGLA) Foundation Series courses, helping to build leadership capacity among Montana’s local government professionals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and entrepreneurship from Montana State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Montana. Ashley is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Prior to joining the Local Government Center, she worked in other departments at MSU, including Human Resources and Institutional Equity, and served as the governance leader for a regional healthcare nonprofit organization during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dan Clark

Co-facilitator

Dan Clark joined the Local Government Center in April 2008 and has been serving Montana communities since 1997. In addition to directing the Center’s work, Dan co-facilitates Montana Grown Leadership Academy (MGLA) Foundation Series courses, supporting leadership development for local government officials across the state. Prior to joining the MSU Local Government Center, he served as the Statewide Director for the Montana Horizons program from 2006 to 2008. He also worked as a Montana State University Extension faculty member in Teton County from 1997 to 2006 and served as Mayor of Choteau, Montana for four years. Dan earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural Education from the University of Arizona and taught high school agriculture for three years before joining Extension. Dan enjoys climbing ice, running trails, and bikepacking.

Questions 

Reach out to Christine Hodges (christine.hodges1@montana.edu) with any questions about the Foundation Series program.