ASCEND Leadership Academy 2026-27

Practical leadership for Maine's water and wastewater professionals.

The ASCEND Leadership Academy is a collaboration between Maine Rural Water Association and Career Management Associates. The purpose of this course is to develop the practical leadership, communication, supervisory, organizational, human resources, and financial skills needed to lead water and wastewater utilities. The academy is designed for technically capable operators who are moving into leadership or seeking to strengthen their effectiveness as supervisors and managers.

The Leadership Academy consists of 9 classroom sessions held monthly beginning in October 2026 and running through June 2027. Each class is 2 hours in length, with the exception of Class 1 and Class 9 which are 3 hours in length, and will be held in-person, at the MRWA Office in Richmond. Classes will be held on the second Tuesday of each month, except for December when class will be Tuesday, December 1st. Class dates and times can be found below.

An overview of the course schedule can be found below and more detailed information regarding ASCEND and learning objectives for each class can be found by clicking the "ASCEND Leadership Agenda" button at the top of this page.

State Agency Approval:

Maine BLWSO 20.0 TCHs for Water Operators
Maine DEP: 12.0 TCHs (6 Operations & 6 Management) for Wastewater Operators 

Class Fee: $1600*

$800 will be due upon registration. You will receive and invoice for the remaining $800 January 4th.

*The full price of the course is $3200. If you are eligible to use the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce through the Maine Workforce Development Compact, of which MRWA is a member, you could receive grant funding reimbursement of up to 50%. This is an independent Maine based program. MRWA will apply on your behalf. If you apply independently, you may be subject to pay a different fee. Contact MRWA with questions.

Overview of Course Schedule: All classes begin at 9AM

Class 1 - October 12, 2026 - Operator to Leader: Making the Transition from Skilled Operator to Credible Supervisor

Class 2 - November 10, 2026 - Communicating and Listening with Confidence: The Conversations that Keep Utilities Safe, Compliant, & Trusted

Class 3 - December 1, 2026 - Conflict Resolution: Deescalating Tension & Solving Problems Before They Damage Operations

Class 4 - January 12, 2027 - Team Building: Building Trust Through Accountability & Mindset

Class 5 - February 9, 2027 - Beyond the Annual Review: How to Give Feedback, Manage Performance, & Stay Compliant

Class 6 - March 9, 2027 - Empowering Teams & Enhancing Leadership Effectiveness

Class 7 - April 13, 2027 - Finance for Non-Financial Leaders: Budgeting Fundamentals & Financial Statements

Class 8 - May 11, 2027 - Leading Consistently & Compliantly: HR & Employment Law Essentials

Class 9 - June 8, 2027 - Utility Improvement Project Review