Read a book. Lead with inspiration.

SLA in partnership with Muncie Public Library is offering a unique quarterly gathering, highlighting important take-aways from inspirational leadership books. At each event, facilitators will share key leadership development lessons from leadership-focused books. This is not a book club, rather a guided discussion around the key takeaways from each book.

Prior reading of the book is not required but we encourage participants to share about what they learned and check-out one of the books from Muncie Public Library. All participants attending will be entered in a raffle to win a digital copy of one of the books discussed.

All sessions are FREE and open to the public thanks to our sponsor, eKeeper. Registration is required.

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How might we adjust or adapt our style in leading our project teams?

Managing projects is both a science and an art. Managing the work of the project towards the desired outcomes is at the core of project management. Yet, managing the people side of the project is significant. And, people can be unpredictable, challenging, and “messy.” In this interactive workshop, we’ll recap key factors in project management, and also address questions like- How do we become aware of our blind spots, and side effects/shortcomings of our natural leadership style? How might we adjust or adapt our style in leading our project teams? What have been some best practices you’ve seen, used, or developed in managing projects? 

Learning Objectives

1. Reinforce core project management practices to effectively balance tasks and team dynamics.

2. Describe six key leadership styles and identify your natural leadership style, evaluating how strengths and blind spots impact project outcomes.

3. Incorporate practical strategies and best practices to overcome common project management challenges.

Cost: Free for SLA Members. $80 non-member. $60 nonprofits.

Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.

About Our Facilitator

Mike Johnson serves as a catalyst to help clients move from survival towards significance – to bring your goals into focus and reach them. He blends experience and coaching skills with a proven, focused process to help clients develop or rediscover their careers.  Mike has worked with hundreds of individuals seeking help with leadership skills and practices; with organizations focused on talent and leadership development, and with career exploration, advancement, and mid-career transition. He has served people one-to-one and with universities, public and non-profit organizations, and multinational corporations. He leverages over 35 years’ experience from a career in Information Technology with IBM (including leadership, people management, professional development, and mentoring). He is a published author, including Survive and Thrive in Your Job Search: The Team Networking Group Process to Your Next Job, Abbott Press (co-author), and Editor, Passport to Employment Guidebook (now in its seventh edition). He is a Certified Professional Coach and member of the International Coaching Federation and Association for Talent Development, Central Indiana chapter.

In-Person 3 Hour NATURE WORKSHOP

Learning Objectives

1. 1.  Reconnect with the wisdom of the natural world to gain perspective on the patterns of change and resilience in your own life, work, and relationships.
   2.  Practice holding the tension between current challenges and future possibilities, developing a “grounded optimism” that is both realistic and hopeful.
   3. Explore the season of life you are in and how the seasons of nature provide perspective on navigating cycles of change.
   4. Craft a personal set of practices, routines, and actions that can help you maintain a grounded, resilient path regardless of season.

Cost: Free for SLA Members. $250 non-member. $200 nonprofits. Note: This is an outdoor workshop that will take place at Munsee Woods and will require participants to stand/walk during the workshop.

Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.

In partnership with:

About Our Facilitator

Adam Bouse is the founder of Optimistic Coaching, where he helps people move from feeling stuck to finding new possibilities. He draws on more than 15 years of leadership experience and 1,000+ hours of coaching to guide clients in navigating change and living a more grounded, fulfilling life. With a philosophy rooted in positive psychology, neuroscience, and nature-based experiences, Adam believes everyone deserves the chance to thrive and discover the clarity, connection, and fulfillment they’ve been longing for.

All Aboard: Board Leadership in Motion is a three-hour workshop ideal for individuals who have a desire to serve on a not-for-profit board but want to learn more about what serving as a board member entails, and how to find the potential board opportunity that suits their interests and skill sets.

Participant Takeaways

• An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a not-for-profit board member
• How to determine board opportunities that match interests, skills, & desired level of commitment
• Guidance on how to be an effective board member
• Insight on how to find potential board member opportunities
• Descriptions of board member opportunities currently available in the area

Who Should Attend?

All Aboard is ideal for individuals who have a desire to serve on a not-for-profit board but want to learn more about what serving as a board member entails and how to find the potential board opportunity that suits their interests and skill sets.

Tuition:

Thanks to our generous sponsors, All Aboard is available for free.

Managing a nonprofit’s mission means managing its money — but nonprofit accounting isn’t just business accounting with different vocabulary. It requires a unique understanding of fund restrictions, program allocations, compliance, and how to tell your financial story to donors, boards, and funders alike.

This 90-minute session will demystify the fundamentals of nonprofit accounting, helping you better understand the structure of nonprofit financial statements, how to track restricted vs. unrestricted funds, and what financial metrics really matter. Whether you’re new to financial oversight or seeking a better grasp of the numbers you report each month, this session will equip you with tools and insights to manage your mission with greater confidence and clarity.

Led by Dr. Ben Angelo, Assistant Professor of Accounting at Ball State University, this interactive session will blend clear explanation, hands-on examples, and practical tools designed for executive directors, board members, and emerging nonprofit leaders alike.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

1. Interpret key nonprofit financial statements (Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Activities, etc.) and understand what they reveal about organizational health.
2. Differentiate between restricted and unrestricted funds, and understand the importance of fund accounting in day-to-day operations and reporting.
3. Apply core budgeting and tracking practices that align with nonprofit compliance, grant requirements, and board expectations.
4. Identify the key financial indicators (e.g., liquidity, revenue mix, overhead ratio) that matter most to funders and boards.
5. Ask better financial questions — as a leader, board member, or partner — to strengthen fiscal transparency and strategy.

Cost: $25

Facilitator:

Ben Angelo, assistant professor of accounting, earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from Purdue University. Ben has a unique and diverse professional background. Ben has worked as an auditor specializing in non-profits, he has worked in the treasury department at Purdue University, he has worked as a managerial accountant in the Office of the Provost at Purdue University, and he has performed tax and consulting work in his own practice.

Ben teaches government and non-profit accounting. Ben has previously taught managerial accounting at Purdue University, where he repeatedly won the “Distinguished Teaching” award. Ben incorporates his professional experience into the classroom to provide relevant and practical examples to students.

Ben’s research interests include academic and educational research. Ben is interested in how companies use voluntary disclosures to shape the market’s perception of firm performance. Ben is also interested in writing academic cases that engage students and provide the analytical skills they will need in order to be successful.

Session Description:
In today’s mental health-aware workplace, leaders are called to embody both empathy and clarity—leading with heart and backbone. This 90-minute session offers practical tools and reflective dialogue to help leaders navigate the tension between compassion and accountability. Participants will explore how to set boundaries without losing connection, respond to emotional challenges with integrity, and foster a culture of psychological safety while maintaining clarity of expectations. Through vignettes, guided exercises, and peer exchange, leaders will leave with renewed confidence to lead with both courage and care.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key principles of compassionate accountability and understand how they apply to leadership in emotionally complex environments.
2. Practice communication strategies that balance empathy with clarity when setting expectations, giving feedback, or navigating difficult conversations.
3. Develop a personalized leadership approach that supports mental health awareness while maintaining team performance and psychological safety.

Cost: $25

Facilitator:

Dr. Beth Trammell is a licensed psychologist, author, speaker and advocate for growth promotion. In addition to her clinical psychology practice, Dr. Trammell also serves as Professor of Psychology at Indiana University East as well as the university’s Director of the Master of Mental Health counseling program. She specializes in communication and behavioral strategies related to connection, parenting, coaching and education. Dr. Trammell’s years of clinical and practical experience perpetually influence the specialized trainings she leads throughout the country. Rooted on the premise of ‘Make Words Matter’, Dr. Trammell blends the science of psychology with our contemporary culture to illuminate everyday bias while sharing better ways of communicating for authentic and productive interpersonal connections.

This panel will bring together local leaders from business and government who have experience supporting nonprofits—and who are willing to share candid insights on what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to sponsorship requests.

This session will explore

1. What makes a nonprofit’s sponsorship request compelling
2. How you evaluate potential partners
3. Common mistakes to avoid
4. What nonprofits can do to move beyond transactional asks and into sustained collaboration

Cost: $25

Panelists:

Stephen Brand, Delaware County Commissioner

Kelli Huth, Associate Vice President for Community Engagement at Ball State University

Will Isaacs, Wealth Strategies

Rob Keisling, External Affairs Manager for Indiana Michigan Power

Dan Ridenour, Mayor of the City of Muncie

Connections open the door to bigger conversations, but they must be earned. Corporate sponsorships are more than a funding source – they are strategic partnerships that provide resources, credibility, and momentum for nonprofits. This session will share practical tips and techniques to help you use your connections to build sponsorships that are clear, mutually beneficial, and positioned for long-term impact.

This session will explore

1. Awareness (what sponsorships look like today)
2. Understanding (what’s hard for small organizations)
3. Application (a doable set of techniques you can walk away and use)

Cost: $25

About Our Facilitator

Juli Metzger is owner of The JMetzger Group, a boutique strategic communications company, specializing in writing. She’s worked with clients like the George & Frances Ball Foundation, Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity, the 8twelve Coalition, Heart of Indiana United Way, Meridian Health Services and YWCA Central Indiana, on executive leadership, marketing, fund development and strategy. She writes for Forbes.com on topics of higher education, college access and workforce on behalf of Lumina Foundation. Juli previously was Associate Lecturer for the School Journalism and Strategic Communication at Ball State University. Juli, who holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in information and communication sciences, was inducted into the journalism school’s Hall of Fame in 2024. Over a 30-year career as a journalist, she was editor of three newspapers and president and publisher of three others including as Executive Editor for Digital at the Indianapolis Star. A Muncie native, she worked in newsrooms in Indiana, Ohio, Vermont and Louisiana before returning to her hometown in 2005. Juli is board president of Project Leadership, whose mission is to move students to and through college or another post-secondary experience. She is Chair of the Indiana Youth Institute Board of Directors. Juli lives in Yorktown with her husband, John. They have two adult children, both Yorktown High School and Ball State University graduates.