This $495/person 5-class series is intended to help mid-level leaders who have 2-5 years of managerial experience and have a desire to grow in their professional leadership skills. (While prior participation in our Leadership Development Academy is beneficial, it is not required for the more experienced leader.) The class will help participants discover how emotional intelligence influences decision-making and strengthens communication, explore practical strategies for navigating and recovering from workplace conflict, develop tools for giving feedback that drives behavior change, build skills to lead with intention and consistency, and learn ways to foster trust and create clarity within goal-driven teams.
Location
Portland campus, 3500 NW 150th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73134, Seminar Room 2125B
Dates
Tuesdays - Oct. 13th, Oct. 20th, Oct 27th, Nov. 10th, Nov. 17th 2026
Times
9:00 am – Noon
To Pre-Register
Contact Missy Moore at 405.717.4236 or missy.moore@francistuttle.edu if you have questions or to register. (Or see the Sign-Up Form below to register).
Deadline: Monday, September 29, 2026, at Noon
Class Descriptions
Emotional Intelligence for Leaders - Jim Friedemann
Explore how the brain influences emotions and decision-making by understanding the key components of emotional intelligence (EQ). Elevate your leadership by harnessing the power of emotional intelligence. Learn how to better manage your emotions, navigate challenging conversations, and build stronger, more resilient teams. Create a personalized plan to help you grow in EQ as well as lead with greater clarity, empathy, and impact.
Conflict Transformation - Krista Scammahorn
Discover the transformative power of navigating conflicts in the workplace. Dive into the realm of human interaction and embrace the opportunity to foster positive connections. This engaging session will guide you through effective strategies and techniques to promote conflict recovery and uncover your potential for personal and professional growth and development.
Performance Management – Melody Edwards
This session helps leaders strengthen their approach to performance management by focusing on clear expectations, ongoing feedback, and accountability. Participants will explore practical strategies for addressing performance challenges, coaching employees effectively, and creating a culture of continuous improvement through real-world scenarios and guided practice.
Leading with Intent – Keith Varner
This workshop equips leaders with a practical, high-impact approach to communication that drives clarity, trust, and performance. Instead of relying on task-based direction, participants learn to consistently communicate purpose, method, and end state—ensuring employees understand not just what to do, but why it matters and what success looks like. The result is a workforce that operates with confidence, makes better decisions, and stays aligned even as conditions change.
The Speed of Trust – Jim Friedemann
Trust is not something which is merely “touchy-feely” or “nice-to-have”. Rather, trust is a hard-nosed business asset that can deliver quantifiable economic value. When trust is high, the speed of execution goes up and costs go down. For that and other sound reasons, it makes good financial sense to consistently find ways to enhance trust levels both within and external to your business organization.
Instructors
Jim Friedemann
Jim Friedemann is the president and founder of Focal Point Consulting, LLC and has over 25 years’ experience in organizational development and leadership consulting. He is an executive coach and leadership consultant who has helped dozens of leaders achieve their career and personal goals. Jim also trains and facilitates programs in Leadership Development, Strategic Planning, Customer Service, Teambuilding, Adventure Education and other related topics. Jim received both B.A. and M.A. in Communication Consultancy from Oklahoma State University. He is an executive coach holding a PCC credential from the International Coaching Federation, a facilitator of Strategic Planning, Crucial Conversations, Achieve Global, DDI, QBQ, Denison Organizational Culture Survey, FIRO-B, CPI 260, DiSC® and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. He is also a certified ropes instructor.
Krista Scammahorn
Krista Scammahorn, a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, is a dynamic author, speaker, and trainer with a passion for igniting personal growth and leadership. With over two decades of corporate experience, she empowers individuals and teams to unlock their potential through strategic development and productivity techniques. Known for her candid and inspiring approach, Krista has become a sought-after expert in personal development, leadership skills, and email efficiency.
Melody Edwards
Melody Edwards is an HR educator, consultant, and organizational development trainer with over 20 years of experience in human resources, employee relations, leadership development, and workplace effectiveness. She holds both the SHRM-SCP and SPHR certifications and has taught human resources and management courses at the university level for more than a decade. Melody brings a practical, engaging approach to training in areas such as leadership, communication, conflict resolution, customer service, management skills, and HR best practices. Through her consulting and training work, she helps leaders strengthen communication, navigate workplace challenges, build employee relations skills, and create more effective, people-centered workplaces.
Keith Varner
Keith Varner is a senior HR executive, leadership development strategist, and decorated US Army veteran with over 30 years of experience leading high-performing teams across corporate and military sectors. He is the Founder and President of Praesidium HR Consulting LLC, a firm focused on delivering practical, scalable HR solutions to small businesses, helping them build people-centered workplaces that support employee growth and retention. Most recently, Keith has led enterprise-wide Leadership Development programs for Love’s Travel Stops & The Love’s Family of Companies, impacting over 40,000 employees nationwide. His expertise spans Leader Development, HR strategy & operations, change management, and the delivery of proven results in employee engagement and organizational effectiveness. Before his corporate roles, Keith served 31 years in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He led statewide recruiting efforts, large-scale HR operations, and leadership development programs for thousands of service members. Keith holds a BBA in HR Management, an MA in History, and a Graduate Certificate in HR Strategy from Cornell University. He is certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and is a certified workplace coach. He is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and serves on the boards of the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and of the Oklahoma State University Center for the Future of Work.