Supervisory Skills Certificate Series: Fall 2025

HSF’s most popular workshop series is returning.

Give new supervisors the skills they need to succeed.  If you are planning on promoting, or have just promoted someone to a supervisory position help them hit the ground running with this 8 week course.  With HSF’s strong team of seasoned presenters covering a wide range of knowledge from different points of view, we cover theory, soft skills, and hard facts.  Conversation topics range from harassment law and insurance liability to finding common purpose in a team and how to show faith in those who work for you, and much much more.

Register an individual who is eligible for a certificate, or a space for your agency to send someone different to each session depending on who the topic will benefit most.  Select to attend in person at our offices in Easthampton or virtually over Zoom.

This series is presented over Zoom. Series runs 8 consecutive weeks starting October 1st to November 19th 9am-12:30pm all session.  Full series is $650 for members, $1300 for nonmembers.

Series Dates and Topics:

Retention: Rewards and Accountability Wed October 1st 2025

People don’t leave jobs; they leave bad supervisors. This session puts a focus on how a supervisor can strengthen and grow those who report to them, creating an environment where employees want to stay.  Covering how to multiple the strengths of your team, how to discipline in a way that productive, and how to praise, we will learn how to create a work environment centered on retention.

Presented by Diana Brooks

Team Building and Conflict Resolution Thurs October 9th 2025

Through discussions that will include team activities and individual reflection, forge a shared understanding of team-building and the essential skills for conflict resolution and negotiation that facilitate the development of strong, cohesive, effective teams. Make your team stronger than the sum of their parts, drive unity, and be able to address conflict when it does happen.

Presented by Dr. Lucie Lewis and Janine Fondon

Culturally Responsive Supervision- Wed October 15th 2025

Join us as we take a deep look at the many aspects that make up our identities and how they impact our leadership,  our organizations and the people we serve.  Improve our skills in having conversations about our differences in a way that encourages learning and growth while building intersectional resilience.  We will strengthen our ability to have important dialogues, navigate predictable tensions and avoid pitfalls that lead to disconnection. This session helps supervisors cultivate trusting, creative and connected diverse working relationships.

Presented by Regi Wingo and JAC Patriss; Growing a New Heart

Liability and Benefit- Wed October 22nd 2025

Gain a better understanding of Insurance, and how it affects you, your team and your organizations. Understand what coverage you have, and might need, in a variety of situations from daily operations to special fundraising events.  Learn the various forms of benefits available to understand what you have and be able to help explain to your team what their options are.

Presented by Ben Garvey and Val Francis; Hub International

Employment Law Wed October 29th 2025

Avoid missteps that can lead to expensive and time-consuming litigation.  Learn from practicing attorneys on the wording of the law, along with how that wording is actually applied. Covering a wide range of subjects to clear up misconceptions and acknowledging pitfalls, this session is packed with useful information that every organization needs.

Presented by Skoler-Abbott

Cyber Security Wed November 5th 2025

With the threat of cyber attacks continuing to rise, with an increased focus on social engineering, no one can afford to hide their heads in the sand and pretend that everything is ok.  With a focus on practical, simple, daily steps that one can take, this session seeks to minimize risk to you, your organization, and your clients.

Presented by Chris Wisneski; Whittlesey

Lead with Influence- Wed November 12th 2025

Whether they mean to or not, each person exerts influence over others.  With this session learn 10 steps a person could take to add intentionality to that and influence people like a leader. Create a sphere of impact that leaves a lasting positing impression on those you work closely with, leading to them influencing others positively as well.

Presented by Will Weche; Willful Change LLC

Leadership Communication Wed November 19th 2025

This session looks at the building blocks of communicating clear messages to others.  In a core aspect of leadership that is often taken for granted, those who excel at communicating often excel in supervision.  Learn to avoid noise and interference, and how to properly process feedback to fine tune your messages for clearer understanding.

Presented by Jeff Tingley; Human Service Forum

Supervisory Skills Series Sponsor:

HSF Annual Sponsors: