Richard
Liles
ESP
2001 Visionary Leadership Award
Dr. Liles is recognized for his leadership
in guiding North Carolina Cooperative Extension to meet the challenges of the
twenty-first century. His expertise and vision in guiding the in-depth Blue
Ribbon Commission in a study of Extension staff development processes led to
the institution of a new staff development unit known as Personal and Organizational
Development or POD. This unit is rapidly becoming the national leader in competency
based staff development. The competency based approach and the seven core competencies
and sub competencies are the model for ECOP's development of a national set
of competencies. POD is also a leader in the Southern Region for guiding competency
based curriculum development. North Carolina Cooperative Extension has struggled
with budget issues the whole time POD has been in existence. To develop resources
to strengthen POD and Extension, Dr. Liles has fostered new partnerships through
his reputation and credibility in strategic planning, leadership development
and systems thinking. One notable partnership was with the City of Raleigh to
conduct a strategic plan for Southeast Raleigh. This partnership continues in
the consultation on implementation. Other accomplishments Dr. Liles has led
the POD faculty to achieve include the following:
- Validation of Secretary and County Director
competencies.
- Establishment of a POD web site.
- Providing leadership for planning, hosting
and facilitating the first ever Southeast Advisory Leadership Conference.
- Collaboration with six other Southern states
to develop curricula for training advisory leaders.
- Collaborating with District Directors to
develop training curricula for new County Directors.
- Led the COT in development of the current
strategic plan and will lead the next one.
- Revised and implemented plans for competency
plans for orientation and in-service training.
- Co-author in the proposal to the Southern
Region Directors in setting up the CCEP.
- Establishing a web site to inform faculty
about resources available on-line
- Have redone orientation and in-service training
to be competency based.
Richard Liles has been persistent in adhering to
the integrity of the BRC philosophy in every aspect of organizing and developing
the POD strategic plan. He has designed the system to be implemented in
phases to allow a smooth organizational transition. Each phase and stage
has value added elements identified. Value has been added through intentional
and systematic involvement of all job groups, teamwork, responsiveness,
and accountability. Dr. Liles's visionary leadership will leave a legacy
for faculty development both in North Carolina and around the country.
