EXECUTIVE
EDUCATION

NLC University Provides Cutting Edge Education for Executive Leaders

NLC University (NLCU) is designed for executive leaders, providing new and emerging information. The certificate and continuing education programs deliver real-world solutions and innovative new approaches to address the challenges city leaders face every day.

At City Summit, sign up for NLC’s Executive Education Program to enhance your leadership development and strengthen your skills building. Focused on skill and knowledge exchange, NLCU brings leading national experts and practitioners to local leaders to support and coach you on your leadership journey.

Important Details

Choose our Learning Package or attend sessions a la carte. Add any NLCU session to your conference registration to secure your seat. Already registered? Click the link in your confirmation email to edit your registration details.   

Date
All sessions will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Price
Individual courses are $185 each 
NLCU Learning Package (all 5 courses) for $640* – a savings of $100.00. The NLCU Learning Package includes a ticket to the Awards Luncheon Wednesday, 11/15 from 12:30 –1:30 pm. 

Location
This year, NLCU Executive Education will be hosting sessions in person at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.

NLCU Executive Education Agenda

Best Practices in Council/Staff Relations: Creating a High-performing Team for Your Residents 
9:00 – 10:15 AM   |   $185.00 

Effective local government without acrimony and hyperbole requires deliberate work to create a high-performing team between city staff, elected officials and the public they serve.  In this session, Mayor Jake Spano of St. Louis Park, MN will reveal the “one thing” that is most important to this work, share lessons learned, and deliver a practical model for implementing this in your city. This interactive session will engage attendees in a robust Q&A about creating a culture of collaboration, respect and teamwork, especially when not everyone agrees. 

Centering Racial Equity in Infrastructure, Capital Decisions & Municipal Bond Investments 
10:30 – 11:45 AM    |    FREE 

Learn how to apply an equity lens to infrastructure investments and capital decisions, particularly those funded with municipal bonds. Jurisdictions who want to attract investors from the sustainable and impact investment movement and seeking federal aid programs should consider how to integrate equality and social justice in their municipal bond programs. Register for this course and learn about the new Municipal Bond Markets & Racial Equity framework, developed by the Public Finance Initiative with insights from city leaders convened by the National League of Cities and the input of other leading partners. The framework provides a roadmap for city leaders seeking to center racial equity, social justice, and other equity principles in infrastructure and capital decisions funded with bonds and other revenue sources. This session is open to cities in varying states of preparation. Scholarships are available for registration – email university@nlc.org for more information.

Retail as a Catalyst for Economic Development 
2:00 – 3:15 PM  | $185.00 

Retail is a critical aspect of community development that is often misunderstood. Hear from municipal staff and local elected officials the strategies they have incorporated into their city’s operations to boost and strengthen economic development. Panelists will represent small, medium and large communities who participated in NLCU’s 8-week course “Retail as a Catalyst for Economic Development.” The panel will be moderated by Lacy Beasley, course instructor and President of Retail Strategies. 

Strategic Communications for Local Leaders 
3:30 – 4:45 PM   | $185.00 

In today’s fast-paced world where local leaders are the face of their communities, effective communication is more important than ever. Elected officials must master various communication channels, adapt to diverse audiences, and deliver their messages with clarity, authenticity, and impact. This training will provide local leaders with the tools and techniques they need to excel in their public roles. Through a mix of best practice content, interactive group exercises, and expert feedback, this session will empower local leaders to find their voice and improve their communication skills, including during times of crisis. 

Understanding the Fiscal Health of Your Community 
5:00 – 6:15 PM   | FREE

This session will build the capacity of city leaders to develop a framework for effective action, understand the elements of a financial statement, learn their community’s net position vs. fund balance, and deepen their understanding of budgeting basics. During the session we will walk through the various elements of local government financial statements that are included in balance sheets and income statements. Part of the discussion includes understanding the auditor’s opinion, the section called “management’s discussion and analysis” (MD&A), the importance of footnotes and supplemental information.