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Managing the content and pace of information within the governance structure of a community requires the integration of communication and change management strategies.
Using a Discovery, Design, Delivery model in working with Band leadership, the process encompasses the specific issues of the past and the present which then provides a focus for identifying a desired future.
Professional Development Seminars
Managing the needs of a community and it’s individuals can seem like a daunting process. Learning the skills and implementing the right processes can make things easier.
Communication Planning
The Communication Planning Seminar is designed for those in leadership and supervisory positions where having a strategic communication plan with communications delivery vehicles enhances the accountability and transparency and feedback between leadership and band members.
Change Management
With the increasing content and pace of information, managing and controlling change demands clarity of purpose for everyone involved affected by change. The Change Management Seminar integrates key communication and organizational development principles based on community values.
Appreciative Inquiry
If community leadership can slowly move away from a “problem solving” style to a Discovery, Design, Delivery style, then the community moves from “a problem to be solved” to “a mystery to be embraced”. The Appreciative Inquiry Seminar reflects and integrates common values among members working in small or large groups where seemingly differing goals can be merged into common successful results.
Personal Financial Management
The majority of Band members experience some level of personal financial stress during their careers. The Personal Financial Management Seminar provides a personal financial management structure with skill development, tools, and information for participants to be motivated to actively manage their personal financial future.
Pension Plan Basics
Many communities have a Defined Contribution Pension Plan for their Band employees, yet many members are unsure of how their personal circumstances such as a change in their employment status, disability, and retirement will affect their pension benefit for themselves and their family. The Pension Plan Basics Seminar details the facts and the decision criteria regarding options and alternatives regarding their pension benefits under varying situations.
Retirement Planning
At some point in time everyone retires from active employment and live off of their employment pension, government retirement income programs, and personal savings, the Retirement Planning Seminar provides a process of integrating the key elements of retirement planning.
Featured Articles
Ismo has been a featured contributor in publications such as AFOA Canada’s “The Journal of Aboriginal Management (JAM)”; and “Aboriginal Marketplace”.
Ismo Heikkila
With over 25 years of consulting and management experience in financial services in mainstream corporations and with First Nations communities, the creation and implementation of a communication and change management framework for First Nation leadership is my passionate focus.
With a demonstrated ability for developing and executing communication and change management programs through seminars, workshops, and real-time consulting, community’s organizational outcomes are achieved through collaborative strategic and tactical initiatives.
Supporting my consulting efforts with Band leadership, I have published articles for The Journal of Aboriginal Management for AFOA Canada along with being a speaker at both their National and Provincial Chapter’s conferences. In addition, I have presented at the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association – NATOA conferences, and at conferences of the Canadian Association of Native Development Officers -CANDO on communication and change management.
I look forward to learning about the opportunities and challenges that community leadership is dealing with on behalf of their members and citizens.
Ismo Heikkila
“Working with Indigenous Communities is a passion.
The rewards are seeing communities grow and develop with health, happiness and prosperity.”
References
Welcoming your feedback and support.
AFOA Saskatchewan had been lucky enough to have experienced Ismo’s facilitation skills on several occasions with both large and small groups. AFOA Sk is always amazed at Ismo’s ability to engage the audience. His expertise is reflected in his approach to facilitation. As an expert facilitator Ismo researches his audience and the host organization to better understand and correlate his presentations to the organization’s needs. I would highly recommend Ismo’s facilitation services.
Eugene McKay MBA, B.Comm
AFOA – SK Executive Director
Ismo is an excellent facilitator, he is clear, concise and takes a participatory approach to his presentations. His Change management workshop prepared my team to work together in defining the key factors for a successful organization transition.
Romeo Crow Chief
Crow Chief Consulting
Ismo has provided us with a different view of strategic planning with the Appreciative Inquiry method. We are grateful for what we have and bring to the organization and to build on our successes and acknowledge our champions.
With the thought process and visioning exercises, we can envision the change that we are pursuing. Ismo helped us to see the path to our future.
Sharon Stevenson BA, HBA, CAFM, CAPA
Trust Manager
Peguis Surrender Claim Trust
a focussed effort for all departments within our administration to strengthen our way of doing, our way of knowing, and our way of working smarter together, was enhanced significantly by Ismo’s skills, knowledge and experience that he provided to our in-house training session held recently…
…Miigwech Ismo!”
Valerie Monague
Beausoleil First Nation
Ismo, thank-you, it’s always a pleasure to work with you and help guide us from your perspective, knowledge and experience.
We look forward to working with you as we keep expanding our concepts and eventually turn them into reality.
Chief Guy Monagu
Beausoleil First Nation
I have worked with Ismo on various projects since 2013 when his firm assisted Nipissing First Nation in developing its investment approach for a large boundary claim settlement trust. I immediately found Ismo to be a source of comprehensive knowledge in many areas, a critical thinker and most importantly, an excellent listener. Over the years I have grown to value his wise counsel and enjoy trading ideas with him about “big picture” concepts and the tools and methods to move us toward realizing those visions. I have always found Ismo to be readily accessible, open to new ideas that challenged or broadened his thinking and to be prepared to help at a moment’s notice.
Dwayne Nashkawa
Nipissing First Nation
Strategic Advisor
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Moving your community towards the achievement of sustainable long-term goals starts with a conversation.