Agenda – Next-Level Leaders (Alexandria)

Friday, Feb. 21

Mayors Program

8:30 a.m.
Welcome & check-in open (Mayors Program ONLY)

9-10:30 a.m.
Own Your Mayoral Moments: Personal Branding Built by Every Gesture

Paul Omodt, Omodt & Associates Critical Communications LLC
As a mayor, you play a unique role in shaping your city, how your residents feel about their community, and spearheading effective change. But are you leaving important pieces of yourself out of the equation? This session will discuss how you can fully utilize the power of your personal brand – a brand built through every word, gesture, and moment you create – a brand you have control over! Learn how to craft what is said, what is not said, and what is felt to leave a lasting impression.

Next-Level Leaders Program – Day 1 

10 a.m.
Welcome & check-in open!

10:45 a.m.
Greeting from Host City

Nicole Mace, council member, Alexandria

10:50 a.m.
Welcome from League of Minnesota Cities Leadership

11 a.m.
Trust Starts Here: Communicating Confidence in Local Government

Paul Omodt, Omodt & Associates Critical Communications LLC
Today’s post-truth and post-trust world poses a unique challenge to those who work and serve in government. Across the country, people are reporting an erosion of trust in established institutions and a lack of confidence in finding accurate sources of information. But within this widening problem are promising strategies to find new ways forward – ways that local level elected officials like you have a role in. In this workshop we will delve into the latest research on strategies you can deploy to build confidence in local government.  

12:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch

1 p.m.
Public Participation and Community Engagement for Senior Leaders 

Justin Schneider and Craddock Stropes, facilitators, International Association for Public Participation (iap2)
This workshop will guide you through the important process of community engagement, looking at what makes engagement meaningful, and how to apply standards of practice that will enhance the public participation process. Through examples from cities from all sizes across the nation, we will explore your critical role as elected officials in building a positive culture of engagement that improves results, credibility and performance. Led by two skilled iap2 facilitators with national local government experience you will be introduced to the public participation framework, get a chance to explore the role of trust and culture in the engagement process, consider ways power and influence challenge engagement contexts, and evaluate your own city practices in public participation.

**This session includes a break at 2:45 p.m.

4:45 p.m.
Social time 

5:30 p.m.
Dinner

6:30 p.m.
Adjourn for the day

Saturday, Feb. 21

Next-Level Leaders Program – Day 2

7:45 – 8:20 a.m.
Breakfast

8:30 a.m.
Panel discussion on emergency management – more details coming soon!

9:30 a.m.
Leading with Heart and Vision: Advancing Government Leadership in Complex Times

Daniel Jasper, keynote speaker and strategic advisor, Mall of America
Effective government leadership today requires more than managing daily operations—it calls for clarity, empathy, and the ability to lead through complexity. Daniel Jasper draws on real-world experiences from his work with the Mall of America, including crisis response and community engagement, to share practical strategies for stronger public leadership. Participants will learn how to balance strategic vision with authentic connection, communicate clearly under pressure, and lead with confidence and purpose.

**This session includes a break at 10:30 a.m.

12 p.m.
Adjourn