The workplace is a constantly evolving landscape. Employees are often called upon to take on additional responsibilities or step into leadership roles without formal training.

The Intensive Leadership Certificate from the University of Wisconsin–Superior’s Center for Continuing Education was designed specifically for mid-level managers seeking to grow as leaders, build professional networks and create actionable development plans for immediate implementation.

“That program idea really started in 2024,” said Danielle Fagen, Outreach Program Associate Director for the Center for Continuing Education at UW–Superior. “We conducted several focus groups with industry partners, and a clear need emerged: training for mid-level managers.”

Bruce Beilfuss, Director of Engineering at C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc. in Ashland, Wisconsin, played a key role in developing the program after seeking leadership training opportunities for his team.

“Here at Bretting, our workforce is aging,” said Beilfuss. “We’ve had many retirements over the past several years, and a number of capable employees have moved into supervisory roles. But being good at your day job doesn’t automatically make you a good supervisor. We knew there was a need for training.”

That search led Beilfuss to UW–Superior’s Center for Continuing Education. After meeting with Fagen, he was confident the university could provide the kind of training Bretting employees needed.

“We’ve sent a total of 19 employees through the intensive leadership training developed by Danielle and the Center for Continuing Education team,” he said. “I was involved in shaping elements of the program, including the certificate design and the offsite format we requested. Danielle and her team were collaborative and receptive throughout the process.

“The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Even after the formal training ended, many of them continued meeting on their own to reinforce what they learned and share progress – demonstrating the program’s lasting impact.”

The program has also welcomed employees from Fraser Shipyards, Lake Assault Boats LLC, Miner’s Inc., Cirrus Aircraft, Exodus Global and UW-Superior University Police.

“We’re hopeful the program will continue expanding across sectors – nonprofits, education, manufacturing,” said Fagen. “Each participant develops a personalized action plan as part of the program. That’s where we expect to see meaningful application of the content.”

PROGRAM FOCUS

The Intensive Leadership Certificate is a four-day retreat designed to help participants identify and apply their leadership strengths. The retreat is currently offered twice a year in May and November.

Participants begin with self-assessments to uncover their natural leadership traits. These insights serve as the foundation for sessions on key organizational leadership topics such as conflict management, team building, organizational culture, employee engagement, ethical leadership and strategic thinking.

In addition to leadership skill-building, the program emphasizes meaningful dialogue, relationship development and peer networking. Participants leave the retreat with a customized working document that supports the implementation of their professional goals.

REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE

The certificate program is led by two instructors with extensive industry experience.

Shannon Studden is Principal Consultant at Shannon Studden Consulting, a firm specializing in leadership and team development. She holds a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has worked with leaders across the country on strategic planning, change management, and organizational development. Her previous roles include Talent Management and Leadership Development at Cleveland-Cliffs, Program Development Manager at the University of Minnesota Duluth and faculty at the Labovitz School of Business and Economics.

Ken Stocco brings over 35 years of leadership experience and owns Practical Process Improvements, a consulting practice focused on streamlining operations and implementing sustainable strategies. He is also an adjunct instructor with Advanced Minnesota. Stocco has held senior roles in engineering, maintenance and continuous improvement, leading ISO-certified initiatives and large-scale process improvement projects.

A Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Stocco has trained professionals across the mining, manufacturing, aerospace and defense industries. He is a retired Major in the Minnesota Army National Guard and holds a B.S. in Chemistry, an M.A. in Management, and has completed doctoral coursework in Organization and Management.

“We appreciated that the instructors were not strictly academic,” said Beilfuss. “We weren’t looking for a traditional classroom experience. The Continuing Education team selected instructors with real-world corporate backgrounds, which made the training more relatable and impactful for our staff.”

OFFSITE OPPORTUNITY

The Intensive Leadership Certificate is held at Minnesuing Acres, an all-inclusive resort in Douglas County. The retreat setting – complete with meals, social hours and accommodations – offers an ideal environment for focused personal and professional development alongside a cohort of peers.

Upon completion, participants receive a digital badge and certificate.