Page 44 - BusinessWest December 8, 2021
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 The graduation ceremonies for the LPV class of 2020 were drive-through in nature, one of the many challenges to contend with during the pandemic.
as I look for new opportunities for our organization.”
Over the past decade, Wondolowski has become a leader in her own right. She is currently serving on several boards, including those for the Unit- ed Way of Pioneer Valley, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachu- setts, and the Connecticut River Con- servancy. Meanwhile, at LPV itself, she has managed and grown the organiza- tion, expanding its original mission in several different ways that have collec- tively made it an important addition to the region and its business community.
And, like those at the helm of virtu- ally every business and nonprofit in
the region, she has seen her leadership skills tested during COVID-19, a time of extreme challenge for LPV.
In the spring of 2020, the pandemic forced the agency to offer its program- ming remotely, make difficult but nec- essary staff cuts — Wondolowski was a one-person show (and on reduced time) for several months —and even- tually take its graduation to a drive- through format similar to what was seen with area high schools.
In 2021, staffing is back to some- thing approaching normal thanks in part to two rounds of PPP, program- ming has returned to the in-person format, and another class is working its way toward commencement next spring. But some companies are strug- gling to enroll employees in the pro- gram due to staffing constraints and other challenges, and ‘normal,’ as in
“There’s still so much more work to do. And that’s the thing I really appreciate about this organization; it allows me to be entrepreneurial and to try new things. Some things work and some things don’t, so we take small risks. Overall, the need for leadership keeps expanding.”
what existed prior to COVID, is very much a moving target.
Meanwhile, COVID has also made its way into the curriculum. Sort of. Indeed, the pandemic and its side effects have put new emphasis on decision making, conflict resolution, and other matters that have prompted changes to some of the programs, Wondolowski said.
“There’s a difference between lead- ership in crisis, which it was in the beginning — you had to make quick decisions in a certain way — and
then this sort of adaptive leadership, which we are now in, which is a lot about resilience and how to get people through change and things that are uncomfortable, because no one wants to do things differently,” she explained, adding that LPV changed up one of its sessions, from a hard focus on negotia- tion skills to one recalibrated to center on collaboration and conflict manage- ment — out of necessity and the times we’re in.
“I’m seeing more conflict,” she said. “I think some of it is dealing with peo- ple remotely, and the communication skills you need are different, and how
  THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The City of Springfield is requesting proposals for the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds in the following categories: Household Assistance, Senior Assistance, and Economic Development/Job Creation. The RFPs are available at 70 Tapley Street in Springfield, and through the City’s website: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/finance/arpa. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis, starting November 1, with qualified respondents receiving grants to address negative health and/or economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to apply.
La Ciudad de Springfield está solicitando propuestas para el uso de los
fondos de la Ley del Plan de Rescate Americano en las siguientes categorías: Asistencia al Hogar, Asistencia para Personas Mayores y Desarrollo Económico / Creación de Empleo. Las RFP están disponibles en 70 Tapley Street en Springfield, y a través del sitio web de la Ciudad: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/finance/arpa. Las propuestas se aceptarán
de forma continua, a partir del 1 de noviembre, y los encuestados calificados recibirán subvenciones para abordar los impactos negativos para la salud y / o económicos de la pandemia de COVID-19. Se recomienda encarecidamente a las partes interesadas que presenten su solicitud.
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DECEMBER 8, 2021
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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