December 7 Deadline to Register for Wi11 Advanced Learning Sessions

Owners and managers who are interested in attending any of Winter Institute 2016’’s four Advanced Learning Education sessions must register by Monday, December 7.

Advanced learning session topics include:

• Human Resources Essentials for Bookstores. Dr. John Sherlock, director of the Master of Science Program in Human Resources at Western Carolina University, will present an overview and best practices for small businesses on the topics of recruiting, judging staff performance, and what owners and managers need to know about the law.
   
• Advanced Topics in Human Resources. Dr. John Sherlock will lead a group workshop to help booksellers think about the link between their business strategy and human resources. Booksellers should review their current and future business objectives before attending.
   
• The Open-Book Management Method and the Bookstore. Panelists Bradley Graham of Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C.; Carole Horne of Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Peter Schertz of Maria’s Bookshop in Durango, Colorado, will discuss the various ways that open-book management has helped them to empower employees, establish a better working environment, and build a cohesive team.
   
• Effective Leadership for the Retail Setting. Ed O’Malley, president and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center, and Matt Jordan, business development officer, Kansas Leadership Center, will facilitate a conversation and workshop exercise to help owners and managers embrace their leadership positions. Participants will learn and practice a set of skills that helps transform the way they exercise leadership in their stores and communities and will be introduced to a mindset and approach that will help them make progress on daunting challenges as well as gain tools they can introduce to their employees.

The American Booksellers Association will try to accommodate all stores that register with at least one ALE placement, but space for each session is limited. Interested booksellers are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Assignments will be e-mailed the week of January 11, 2016.

More information about the sessions is available here, and the registration form is available here.