Emerging Leaders in Transportation
Drive Your Leadership Forward.
As the transportation industry grows and changes exponentially, the need to upskill workers in their current and future leadership roles is more critical than ever.
The Emerging Leaders in Transportation Certificate is a custom-built, 10-session leadership program, facilitated and taught by a variety of industry professionals.
New and emerging leaders, managers who want improved results, or professionals wanting to advance their careers will gain valuable insights and be guided through discussions about the industry while applying their leadership skills directly to their workplace.
Program Dates: January 12 - May 18, 2027 (Meets twice a month)
Time: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Kirkwood Continuing Education Training Center, 101 50th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Please submit one form per participant.
Program Price: $1,750 per person
Tuition Assistance may be available to eligible employers. Click the link below to explore workforce funding opportunities.
Topics and Speakers
Each session is facilitated by industry professional Kara Hinzie. With experience in both the transportation industry and in teaching/coaching, Kara brings valuable insights to the group as she guides your future leaders through discussions about the industry and helps them apply their leadership skills.
Kara Hinzie is a forward-thinking leader with 20 years of expertise in developing people, building relationships, and managing through change. She has a track record of high performance by cultivating a positive work environment and a proactive approach to obstacles that focuses on continuous improvement. Kara is also a certified Health & Wellness Coach, specializing in helping professionals balance their workload and prevent burnout. She is an advocate for mental health, lifelong learning and supporting one's community.
Date: Jan. 12, 2027
Attendees will learn about all facets of the transportation industry and the global supply chain. Dive into the invisible pathway of transportation and logistics that gets goods from point A to point B seamlessly. Understand how recent surges in demand clogged the system for transporting goods and what we can do about it.
Date: Jan. 12, 2027
During this discussion, we will review the recruitment of, and regulations for, truck drivers. We will also dive into technology, safety, compliance, career opportunities, and numerous additional items. There will be plenty of room for group discussion and time to answer any questions these topics may present.
Date: Jan. 26, 2027
Attendees will take the StrengthsFinder assessment, which is a personal development tool developed by Gallup. This tool provides an individual with their “Top 5” strengths. Thirty-four different strength themes are divided into four domains of Strategic Thinking, Relationship Building, Influencing, and Executing. In this workshop, you will explore your strengths and how to maximize them.
As a bonus, all participants will receive a one-hour long additional strengths based coaching session with Laurie to be used before the end of the program.
Date: Feb. 9, 2027
People-related costs are a significant cost of any organization’s operating costs. Learn more about the legal requirements of human resource management. Review best practices for hiring, employee relations, and gain a new understanding for organization decisions and costs associated with total compensation, benefits management, and staffing strategies.
Date: Feb. 23, 2027
Conflict is a necessary and inherent part of organizations. Recognize the various types of conflict and the various styles to respond. Learn to identify and diagnosis core issue. Participants will practice critical conversations to begin dialogue when conflict impacts team and performance.
Date: March 9, 2027
In today’s business environment, we use more rapid-fire communications than ever before; we spend hours each day checking and responding to messages. In this workshop, we will learn professional written and verbal communication techniques to use with both internal and external customers.
Date: March 23, 2027
The customer may not always be right, but the customer is always the customer. In this interactive workshop we will identify why good service is hard to offer and why some companies fail to offer it. And the connection between customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and company profitability will be explored. We will wrap up by demonstrating how effective listening and word choices coupled with utilizing our voice and body language effectively can get desired outcomes.
Date: April 6, 2027
Join us for an engaging year-end review designed to maximize your operational success. Our experts will guide you through key industry challenges and emerging opportunities, offering practical insights on optimizing claims, mastering Bills of Lading (BOLs), and refining negotiation strategies. This is a collaborative learning experience aimed at fostering shared knowledge and actionable takeaways for everyone in attendance.
Date: April 20, 2027
In this workshop, you will learn about the essentials of business acumen and gain a basic understanding of key financial terms, concepts, and metrics used in budgeting and accounting, all presented with a sense of humor. Participants will develop the knowledge and skills they need to more confidently participate in decisions related to financial matters. This includes knowing what questions to be asking their supervisors that relate to financial metrics and being better able to justify their requests by framing them within the profitability context (e.g., ROI).
Date: May 4, 2027
Learn firsthand from a Department of Transportation investigator what they expect from drivers and equipment while on the road. The most common infractions for being pulled over will be reviewed and the importance of safety on the road will be discussed.
Date: May 18, 2027
In times of crisis or uncertainty, the leader's character shines through. Have you found yourself wanting more skills to manage stress and overcome the fear of change? In this session, we will explore the steps to be resilient when setbacks or stress increase. The focus will be an 8-step process to coach yourself and others in the areas of choice management, delegation, stress management and creating a culture of caring.