Registrants will receive a link to watch the recording online as many times as they would like. However, this recording link may expire three months from the date of registration. We cannot guarantee it will be available after those three months.

General Information

• Cost: $45.00 (sales tax included)
• Recording Duration: 60 Minutes
• Broadcast Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
• Credits Available for Self-Reporting: None

Webinar Overview

What happens when a key staff member leaves your agency—unexpectedly or otherwise? Do you have a plan in place to ensure continuity and leadership stability? Succession planning is critical for building a resilient organization that can adapt to change and maintain momentum through transitions.

In this webinar, staff from the City of Lake Stevens will share their journey in developing and implementing a forward-thinking succession plan. Learn how they’ve embedded leadership development into their agency’s culture and strategic planning. You’ll walk away with practical strategies, lessons learned, and real-world examples to help your agency proactively prepare for the future.

Educational Objectives

Participants will gain insights into how the City of Lake Stevens has implemented a sustainable succession planning framework, including:

• Allocating budget and staff time for professional development through conferences, training, and leadership programs.
• Encouraging participation in external boards, cohorts, and affinity groups to broaden leadership exposure.
• Providing leadership opportunities for employees in the line of succession during staff absences, executive-level meetings, and short-term stretch assignments.
• Hiring a dedicated staff member to develop department-specific career pathways and leadership pipelines.
• Embedding succession strategies into the city’s 5-year strategic plan to ensure long-term commitment, even when elected officials change.
• Establishing supportive policies such as tuition reimbursement, out-of-class pay, temporary assignment pay, and a formal succession plan policy.
• Collaborating with labor partners and/or aligning with bargaining agreements to support implementation of these strategies.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and explore how these strategies can be adapted for agencies of all sizes, including those with limited resources.

Presenters

• Anya Warrington, Human Resources Director, City of Lake Stevens.
• Gene Brazel, City Administrator, City of Lake Stevens.
• Aaron Halverson, Public Works Director, City of Lake Stevens.
• Melanie Harding, Executive Director, MRSC (Moderator).