Marine Industry and LSU Launch WorkBoat Strategic Leadership Development Program

BATON ROUGE, LA, March 13, 2014 (Press-News.org) Developing and retaining strong, strategic leaders is one of the most important investments that an organization can make to ensure future growth and sustainability. That's why the commercial marine industry, Louisiana State University (LSU) and the WorkBoat Professional Series have launched the WorkBoat Strategic Leadership Development Program.

"The program offers an excellent curriculum that captures all the necessary building blocks for an individual to begin the journey from a manager to a senior executive," said Gary Faber, senior vice president, Foss Maritime Company and advisory board member, WorkBoat Strategic Leadership Development Program.

"This 12-month certificate program offers unparalleled access to LSU executive coaches and faculty along with thought leaders in the maritime industry," said Robin Kistler, director of LSU Education at the Stephenson Entrepreneurship at the E.J. Ourso College of Business. "We are proud to collaborate with the commercial maritime industry and WorkBoat on this program that focuses on the most pressing needs of the commercial marine business community and its most important resource - people."

The program launches in September 2014 and will incorporate face-to-face instruction, online instruction and one-on-one business success coaching. The curriculum will focus on leadership development, self-development, teamwork, strategic planning, innovation, problem solving, conflict management and communication. The program will provide participants with an intellectually stimulating learning atmosphere. Participants will assess their effectiveness, learn to capitalize on their strengths, identify and improve upon their weaknesses, and increase their awareness of the economic, social and legal environments in which their companies operate.

Key topics specific to the marine industry have been included in the program with the guidance of an advisory board of industry leaders, who believe in the need and vision for this type of training. Advisory Board members include: Richard Bludworth, owner, Bludworth Marine LLC; Ben Bordelon, chief operating officer, Bollinger Shipyards; Wes Bordelon, president and owner, Bordelon Marine; Gary Faber, senior vice president, Foss Maritime Company; Frank Foti, president and CEO, Vigor Industrial; and, Christian Vaccari, president, Leevac Shipyards LLC.

"The inclusion of maritime industry input in the planning and execution stages will ensure relevant value and content for the program," said Bludworth. "The opportunity to offer a university-level education program with specific maritime emphasis for mid and line level managers will create a much needed professional path to help replace retiring senior managers within the industry."

WorkBoat magazine, through its WorkBoat Professional Series, was the catalyst in bringing together the commercial marine industry with LSU Executive Education to form this unique and innovative program, according to Ken Hocke, senior editor, WorkBoat and an LSU graduate. "Research tells us that today's top marine industry executives have legitimate concerns about where and how the generation that succeeds them will acquire the leadership skills necessary to compete in an increasingly complex environment," Hocke said. "Now there is a ground-breaking program designed to respond to this need."

The cost to attend this 12-month program is $9,500 per student. For more information, visit
http://www.workboat.com/leadership-development/ or contact WorkBoat Professional Series Manager Lisa Keller at 207- 842-5624 or at LKeller@DivCom.com.

The Curriculum
Through experiential learning participants will receive training in the following areas: Strategic Planning and Decision Making, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Crucial Communications, Negotiations/Managing Conflict, HR/Employee Relations, Needs and Opportunity Assessment, The Language of Business, Understanding Business Financials and Financial Stability, Managing Up, Down and Across Organizations, International Business Ethics and Etiquette, International Maritime Regulations and their impact on US flag Vessels, Emissions Regulations and Environmental Impacts, Ballast Water and Air Pollution, Maritime Law, OSHA/ IMO/Coast Guard Regulations for the Maritime Industry and Maritime Management.

Who Should Attend
- Managers who are working in technical/functional areas of the organization where an organization-wide point of view will prove helpful in their development.
- Managers who have progressed rapidly within the organization or managers who have been identified as having the capacity for greater responsibilities within the near future.
- Individuals who desire to sharpen their analytical and decision making skills.

Participant Benefits
- Three days of face-to-face group instruction at the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La.
- Seven one-on-one coaching sessions with an assigned LSU Executive Education business coach.
- Six on-line learning sessions with LSU Executive Education faculty members and industry executives.
- Four online learning sessions presented by LSU Executive Education faculty.
- Two online learning sessions presented by industry related experts.
- Mentoring by individual industry professionals.
- A pre-course online 360--degree assessment conducted in an online, anonymous format. Coaching will include a personalized review of 360 assessment results.
- A pre-course online DISC personality assessment. Coaching will include a review of personal DISC assessment results.
- An individualized professional development action plan designed by the participant and their assigned LSU Executive Education business coach.
- Benefits also include: mentoring, networking, and the opportunities to embark on relationships that will last a career.

Program Fee
The cost to attend this 12-month program is $9,500 per student. The program fee includes tuition and hotel accommodations, including continental breakfasts, lunches, for the three-day face to face event in at LSU in Baton Rouge, all virtual learning sessions and all education materials. The fee is subject to change and is payable in advance upon receipt of invoice for registration.

How to Enroll
To enroll in this innovative new program, visit http://lsu.qualtrics.com//SE/?SID=SV_7PBAlNTFMwQaIkJ.

Application to this program is required. Class members are selected to ensure diversity of industry, experience, function, and size of organization to promote a strong peer learning environment. The program is open to members of the public and private sectors.

The deadline for admission is one month prior to the start of the program. After the deadline date, each applicant will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis depending upon space availability. WorkBoat and LSU Executive Education reserve the right to cancel any program.

"As part of the WorkBoat magazine staff for the past 16 years and a graduate of LSU ('78), I have the highest regard for both institutions," Hocke said. "Therefore, I could not be more enthusiastic about their collaborating in the Strategic Leadership Development Program for executives in the marine industry."

For further information visit http://www.workboat.com/leadership-development/ or contact WorkBoat Professional Series Manager Lisa Keller at 207-842-5624 or at LKeller@DivCom.com. For further information on the LSU Executive Education program, please visit http://business.lsu.edu/executive-education/Pages/ExecEd.aspx.

For more information:
Lisa Keller
Diversified Business Communications
LKeller@DivCom.com
Phone: (207) 842-5624

About the WorkBoat Professional Series
The WorkBoat Professional Series provides the marine industry professionals with a way to stay on top of what's going on in the workboat industry and its outlook for 2014 and beyond -- from business management to marine industry specific topics. With over 30,000 members, WorkBoat.com is the largest commercial marine member supported website.