Since launching in January 2020, NAED’s Leadership Development Program (LDP) — a 12-month curriculum uniquely designed to develop leaders in the electrical distribution industry – has successfully prepared nearly 60 distributor and manufacturing individuals for greater levels of responsibility and success. Offering everything from personal leadership assessments to instruction in best leadership practices, training in communication styles, one-on-one coaching, networking opportunities, and more, the LDP also features another signature element – a several month-long “Capstone Project” enabling participants to tackle a specific issue, process, or program that can benefit their company.
Over the past three years, LDP participants’ Capstone Projects have focused on everything from finance, logistics, organizational, and marketing/sales-related initiatives and LDP graduates have raved about the unique opportunity to help lead and contribute to their company’s success.
In this second of a series of Exclusive Features, recent graduates of the NAED Leadership Development Program tell tED magazine how they benefitted personally from the program, and how their companies benefitted from their capstone projects.
See the first article in this series:
Stokes Electric: Refocusing Jobs Through Leadership Development
Company Issue/Need: The company’s training program for new employees had opportunities for improvement
Scope of Capstone Project: Creation of a committee that reworked training modules for easier comprehension and greater alignment with the company’s processes
For her Capstone Project, LDP graduate Kerith Richards, regional sales manager for Culloden, WV-based Service Wire, chose to revamp her company’s existing training policy. Specifically, “I created a committee to re-design the training around our company’s six-module ‘Wire and Cable 101’ series,” she said.
“This initiative was important to our company because, while we’ve been fortunate to hire more candidates with excellent sales skills, some may not have been as experienced in the electrical industry,” Richards explained. “This new training program has helped us track their progress and understanding, teach wire and cable at a more digestible level, and blend the product training with our manufacturing process.” As a result of the committee’s launch, “we’ve been able to improve training processes, employee retention of both product information and company procedures, and identify and address any breakdowns,” she said. “Since operating under the new training program, new employees are taking on territories faster than previously assigned and have a greater understanding of the technical aspects of our cable. All of our sales team is eager to continuously grow, learn, and be the best resource for our customers and the new program helps us provide quality training faster and with better results.”
“Overall, I’m thrilled that Service Wire allowed me to take part in the LDP,” Richards confirmed. “On top of the skills that I practice daily to make me a better leader for our sales team, I’ve made so many great friends and resources in the industry through the program.”
For More Information
NAED’s next LDP cohort begins in January 2023 and enrollment is now open! If you’re interested in attending or sending individuals from your company, please contact memberengagement@naed.org. For more information about a customized program for your company, please contact Catherine Viglione at cviglione@naed.org or Kitty Lasinski at klasinski@naed.org.
Tagged with LDP, Leadership Development Program, NAED