A New Chapter for TRSA’s Executive Management Institute

This August, the 61st TRSA Ehrlich-Stempler Executive Management Institute (EMI), the industry’s premier leadership-development program, will find a new home in Oak Brook, IL, just outside of Chicago.

The decision to move the program, traditionally hosted in College Park, MD, was made to ease travel for the hundreds of industry professionals that attend from across the country. While EMI will take place in a new central location, the program remains committed to its mission of bringing together industry leaders to benefit from unparalleled education, networking and professional-development opportunities specifically tailored for the linen, uniform and facility services industry.

Along with the new location, Year I students will have a new team of instructors leading them in their introduction to EMI. Scott Behson, Ph.D.; and Mark Clark, Ph.D., will serve as instructors for the Year I sessions traditionally led by former EMI Dean Kent Baker, who retired at the conclusion of last year’s EMI and passed away recently.

Dr. Behson, who assisted in teaching the Year I curriculum for the past two years with Baker, is a professor of management and Silberman Global Faculty Fellow at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). He is a leading expert in work-life, wellness and flexible workplaces. Behson co-founded FDU’s undergraduate program in human resources management, worked with the states of New York and New Jersey and with leading advocacy groups for enhanced parental leave policies, and has won eight awards for his scholarship, teaching and service to students. He is an accomplished speaker and consultant who has worked with leading companies on workplace flexibility and building supportive work cultures. He was a featured speaker at the UN’s International Day of the Family and the White House’s Summit for Working Families.

Dr. Clark has previous experience teaching both EMI Year I and Year II students. He has expertise in high performing teams, leadership, diversity and strategic human capital. Clark’s current research projects include work in multi-path leadership, team knowledge sharing, cybersecurity knowledge networks, team adaptation, innovation through design teams and multiteam systems, and stigmatized occupations. His field research engages a variety of organizations, including medical, design, sports teams, high-tech companies and entrepreneurial startups. Clark’s work has been published in top academic outlets, including the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Design Studies, Human Resource Management and Group Dynamics and has been presented at conferences and workshops worldwide.

Scheduled for Aug. 9-13 at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Resort & Conference Center, the 61st Annual EMI will continue to focus on building leadership through real-world experiences. Enrolling a company’s promising managers in EMI demonstrates a commitment to fostering industry leadership success. Over four years, attendees return to the program for a one-week session each August, engaging in progressive skill-building sessions led by university-level instructors.

Registration for EMI is now open. Attendees who register by May 1 can save $300. EMI offers an all-inclusive package covering education, meals, lodging and transportation for evening social/networking events. For more information and to register, visit www.trsa.org/emi.