Executive Director Education Program:

A comprehensive approach to professional development for housing authority executive directors.

This program is sponsored by the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association in partnership with The Center for Government Services at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. For the past ten years it has provided a significant professional development opportunity for housing authority executive directors throughout the country who desire to stay current with industry standards and gain new insight into the profession.

The PHADA/Rutgers Program is modeled after the New Jersey Local Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency Training Program developed by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.  Based on the model, which has been in place in New Jersey since 1994, the program consists of a series of ten courses designed to reinforce the technical, managerial and strategic competencies required of a successful executive director.  The curriculum has been modified to meet the needs of a national audience under the direction of PHADA’s Professional Development Committee, and it exposes the experienced professional to theoretical concepts as well as practical problem-solving techniques.  Nuts and bolts issues are addressed in a classroom setting with ample opportunity for discussion.

Upon completion of the program each participant receives a PHADA/Rutgers University certificate.

Join other directors from around the country in this high-quality program and:

• Gain increased prestige and recognition from your peers
• Network with other senior housing authority officials
• Support the professionalization of the industry
• Enhance your knowledge, skills and abilities

General Information

This program takes a comprehensive look at those critical functions that serve to define the executive director’s position and provides a structured environment in which mid-career professionals can hone their management skills and enhance their knowledge.  An overview of executive housing management issues is followed by nine special topic seminars, all of which are detailed in Course Offerings.

Class size is restricted to 40 registrants to allow ample opportunity for discussion.  Since January of 1999, courses have been offered three times per year in conjunction with PHADA’s commissioners, national and legislative conferences.  Executive Housing Management introduces the series, and each of the courses is scheduled at least once during a training cycle. Participants should be able to complete the entire series within 24 months.

Registration information is available on the PHADA website at www.phada.org approximately three months prior to each set of training dates.

Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis from housing authority executive directors and senior staff until the maximum class size is reached. No on-site registrations are accepted, and commissioners are not eligible to participate.

Refunds will be issued only to registrants who withdraw from a course by the deadline established by PHADA.  Refund requests must be received by Norma Bellew at PHADA in writing and can be faxed to 202-543-4381.

Registration

To enroll in the next round of classes, go to the PHADA website at www.phada.org.  You may register on-line using a credit card or you may print out the registration form, and send it along with the required payment to PHADA at:

Washington, D.C. 20002-4937

Registrations also may be faxed to 202/543-4381. Faxed registrations must include credit card payment information.

Certificate Requirements

To qualify for the PHADA/Rutgers certificate, participants must successfully complete all ten courses comprising the curriculum, which are:

• Executive Housing Management
• Ethics
• Financial Management
• Legal Issues
• Maintenance Management
• Personnel Management
• Procurement and Contract Management
• PHAS/SEMAP
• Planning for Change
• Public Relations/Communications

Executive Housing Management is a two-day course involving twelve classroom hours. All of the other topics are covered in one-day sessions involving six classroom hours. All of the sessions are held at the conference hotels.

To receive credit for a course, participants must be in attendance for the entire length of each session and pass a brief in-class test administered at the conclusion of each session.

Course integrity is maintained to the high standards of Rutgers and PHADA. The presence of a Rutgers official at each session guarantees the display of your certificate of completion as an expression of outstanding professional achievement at the executive level.

For those who are not interested in obtaining a certificate, registration for individual courses may be possible on a “space available” basis. Please call 732-932-3640 x625 to discuss this option before registering for any courses.

Course Offerings

Executive Housing Management


This two-day program offers executive directors the opportunity to improve their administrative and leadership skills. Organizational and behavioral issues are analyzed in the context of the key functions of the position, including planning, staffing and managing.  A case study approach is used to cover a wide array of topics, such as time management, performance appraisal, negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building.

Ethics


This seminar is designed to familiarize participants with the ethical standards and legal requirements relevant to public housing authority officials. Typical state statutes and HUD regulations are examined and applied to ethical issues faced by executive directors using a case study approach.

Financial Management


This one-day course offers the executive director a "big picture" approach to fiscal resource management. Participants learn the basics of budget preparation as well as HUD audit requirements. Management and entrepreneurial options are introduced which will help executive directors to cope with anticipated changes at HUD.

Legal Issues


This seminar is intended to provide a practical overview of state statutes and federal legal requirements pertaining to housing authorities. Five major topic areas are covered: tenancy and evictions, Section 8 contracts and leases, personnel rights and responsibilities, contractual agreements, and general litigation and liability.

Maintenance Management


Maintenance management includes such diverse topics as budget preparation, staffing, quality control, work order systems, resident involvement, and insurance and liability. This one-day program addresses each of these issues and uses examples of well-maintained public housing authorities to illustrate the concepts learned.

Personnel Management


This one-day course familiarizes executive directors with the principles of managing people to achieve established goals. Specific management tools, such as performance appraisal systems, are explained, and the components of a good personnel policy are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the role of the executive director in leading and motivating housing authority staff.

Procurement and Contract Management


The components of a “good” procurement policy, responsive to both HUD and state statutes, are presented. HUD requirements for small purchases, emergencies, formal bidding and competitive negotiations are reviewed in detail, and “typical” state public contract laws are compared. Internal controls for contract performance monitoring are stressed, and contract administration procedures, including the oversight role of the board of commissioners are discussed.

PHAS/SEMAP

This session reviews the theory behind PHAS/SEMAP and provides a detailed explanation of each of the HUD indicators, including how each is measured and graded. The use of PHAS/SEMAP as management tools is discussed, and participants are shown how to improve their authority's scores through a systems approach.

Planning for Change


This course provides executive directors with the management tools and skills necessary to adapt to the changes that are occurring in the industry. Emphasis is placed on strategic planning and creative problem solving. The most current information available about the evolving changes at HUD is incorporated into the program.

Public Relations/Communications


When should a press conference be held? Who are the local media, and what do they want? This useful program addresses these questions and more, including writing and distributing press releases, developing newsletters, image building, developing and maintaining press contacts, and managing the media during a crisis.

Information

For more information about the conferences and how to register, call PHADA at 202/546-5445.

Please direct questions about program content to Jackie Zelinka at the Center for Government Services at Rutgers University, 732/932-3640, ext. 625.