Expanded Essential Skills Workshop Equips Managers for Success

The 2026 Essential Skills Workshop will take place Monday, April 20 through Wednesday, April 22 at the Holiday Inn Express on Kruse Way in Springfield. It will consist of three half-day sessions running from 8:00am-12:30pm. Registration opens Monday, March 23. Save the date!

Strong managers are essential to strong organizations. This spring, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce will once again offer its Essential Skills Workshop, a professional development program of three morning sessions designed to provide practical tools that help managers communicated clearly, build trust, coach employees, and strengthen workplace culture.

The program is one facet of the Springfield Chamber’s WorkReady initiative, which is committed to building a robust education and workforce development ecosystem, recognizing its significance in driving economic prosperity.

Now entering its fourth year, the no-cost workshop has quickly become one of the Chamber’s most sought-after workforce development programs. Since its launch, more than 120 area professionals have completed the training, strengthening leadership capacity within businesses throughout the region.

Employers are encouraged to send entry- to mid-level managers. Participants engage in interactive sessions focused on real-world workplace scenarios, developing practical leadership and communication strategies they can immediately apply in their roles.

Through three interactive, half-day sessions (April 20-22, from 8:00am-12:30pm), participants will explore scenario-based, practical strategies for strengthening workplace leadership, including:

• Self-awareness and personal leadership
• Communication and influence
• Building trust and healthy workplace relationships
• Coaching and developing others
• Emotional intelligence and workplace culture

Participants are expected to attend all three sessions. The program also includes a follow-up luncheon held two weeks after the workshop, on Thursday, May 7 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Chamber Depot. This facilitated check-in provides an opportunity to reflect on the training, share real-world applications, and connect with peers. Participants will also receive a certificate of completion.

Because the program has filled quickly in previous years, the Chamber is expanding the 2026 workshop to accommodate up to 60 participants. Registration for the Essential Skills Workshop opens Monday, March 23. Businesses are encouraged to plan ahead and identify employees who would benefit from participation.

The program is offered at no cost to participants thanks to the support of the Chamber’s Impact Investors, whose investments make professional development opportunities more accessible to local businesses. While there is no fee to attend, the program is valued at approximately $500 per participant. Businesses that participate are invited to consider a tax-deductible contribution to the Springfield Chamber Foundation to help sustain and expand this work.

The facilitator: Andrew Robinson, Oxygen
Andrew Robinson earned his graduate degree in Organizational Systems from the University of Oregon, graduating with top honors. He designs systems, strategies, and content that disrupt how organizations develop their people. Since 2006, he has built frameworks and methodologies adopted by executives at Nike, Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, and leaders across professional sports, healthcare, retail, and hospitality. As a keynote speaker, author, and podcaster, Andrew challenges conventional approaches to leadership development. He architects scalable systems that transform how organizations develop people – systems that cultivate leader engagement and retention, deepen customer loyalty, and generate profit through activation rather than extraction.

About WorkReady
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s WorkReady initiative is a collaborative effort led by business and economic development leaders in Springfield, aimed at revitalizing the local economy, enhancing career-based learning opportunities, and cultivating a well-trained workforce. The initiative aims to achieve these goals through targeted investments and collaborative partnerships that create a strong workforce development system, contributing to business growth, talent attraction, and retention. WorkReady is committed to building a robust education and workforce development ecosystem, recognizing its significance in driving economic prosperity.