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Event Details

    Moving Beyond Support Roles to Becoming Essential Strategic Advisors

    Date: September 9, 2026, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
    Organizer:
    SEIA Chaper
    Location:
    This is an in-person OR virtual meeting

    Mahaska Health -- Enter through door 2 (brick building), take a right at the top of the flight of stairs.
    1229 C Ave East
    Oskaloosa, IA 52577

    Microsoft Teams
    Meeting ID: 289 515 540 112 36
    Passcode: zh9fR6LX
    Event Type:
    Meeting
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    Topic: Moving Beyond Support Roles to Becoming Essential Strategic Advisors

    Speaker: Todd McDonald

    Overview: This session will help HR professionals shift from transactional support to trusted strategic advisors. Participants will explore practical methods for building trust and influence, uncovering real needs, structuring clear agreements, and offering authentic, actionable feedback. The emphasis is on both mindset and concrete skills that drive organizational success.

    Key Takeaways:

     Build trust-based relationships: Develop the skills to establish credibility and trust with business leaders and stakeholders through consistent, values-driven interactions.

    · Conduct effective discovery conversations: Learn how to ask insightful questions and actively listen to uncover real needs and underlying concerns.

    · Formulate clear and actionable agreements: Gain the ability to create structured, mutually understood agreements that define roles, responsibilities, and success measures.

    · Deliver honest and impactful feedback: Practice techniques for providing feedback that is both authentic and constructive, enabling growth while maintaining trust.

    · Strengthen strategic influence: Understand how to shift from a transitional support role to a proactive strategic advisor who contributes to organizational success.

    Todd McDonald founded ATW in 1999 after spending 15 years in various Human Resource and Training roles in industries such as finance, insurance, banking, and manufacturing. He also served as Executive Vice President of American Media, Inc., the largest producer of training videos at the time with products in 72 countries and 27 languages. Todd has authored two books:

    · I Wish You Would Just… on communication between managers and their employees

    · How to Find 100 Extra Minutes a Day – on time management

    When not leading the efforts of ATW, Todd volunteers and serves on numerous boards on a local and national level. In his free time, he spends time with his wife, kids, and growing family of grandchildren.

    Microsoft Teams 

    Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/28951554011236?p=uOdlaGvobrxBCCMpip

    Meeting ID: 289 515 540 112 36

    Passcode: zh9fR6LX