Tioga County working to fill the ranks

Nineteen Tioga County employees were recognized on Dec. 5 for completing a yearlong educational endeavor entitled the “Institute for Advancement” (I4A). The program was established as a succession planning effort to develop existing employees for advancement within their positions in the County.  

Five training sessions delivered by I4A committee members who work in various county capacities, along with representatives from a State office, a local community college and contracted services, started in January and concluded in November.  

LeeAnn Tinney, director of Economic Development and Planning, explained that the need for internal succession planning was identified when the County previously updated its strategic plan. The I4A was established this year as part of the Tioga County 2020 Strategic Plan.

County department leaders were involved in an analysis that revealed nearly 40 percent of all County employees are currently retirement eligible. Defining further, and in five departments alone, 100 percent of essential employees meet retirement criteria. Furthermore, 50 percent or more essential employees in another five departments also satisfy the eligibility.

I4A committee members for 2018 included Marte Sauerbrey, legislative chair, Joy Bennett of the Probation Department, Elaine Jardine from Economic Development and Planning, Personnel Representative Bethany O’Rourke, Ellen Pratt of the Public Works Department and LeeAnn Tinney.

Several County department leaders nominated their employees for the training program. Topics covered included Tioga County Government 101, County Operational Procedures, Management/Hiring/Performance Evaluations and Supervision, Conflict Management, Team Building and Goal Setting, Real Colors/How to Identify and Work with Personality Temperaments and Budget Preparation and Fiscal Skills.

The 2018 I4A Graduates are Mickelle Andrews (Social Services), Sarah Begeal (Mental Hygiene), Larry Brink (Public Works), Linn Bruce (Personnel), Brian Cain (Probation), Drew Griffin (Information Technology), Suellen Griffin (County Clerk’s office), Cathy Haskell (Legislative office), Andrea Klett (County Clerk), Todd Kopalek (Public Health), Vera Linnea Layman (Board of Elections), Michael Middaugh (Veterans’ Service Agency), Elizabeth Myers (Social Services), Steven Palinosky (Real Property), Amy Potter (Treasurer’s office), Arrah Richards (Sheriff’s office), Debora Stubecki (Emergency Services), John VanWert (Law department), Brittany Woodburn (Economic Development and Planning).

During the ceremony, graduates were given the opportunity to speak as they were called up individually to accept their completion certificate. A number of graduates expressed that the sessions were of high quality, beneficial to their current positions, and that they took away new knowledge from each class.

Several graduates acknowledged that they now better understand how the County Government operates, and many were pleased to get to know others who work for the County. A nod was also extended to the County Legislature for their role in supporting the I4A. 

Now that I4A participants have successfully completed the 2018 training, Sauerbrey remarked, “The County will offer an extended I4A training in 2019.”

Graduates Sarah Begeal and Steven Palinosky were invited to join the 2019 I4A Committee.