Mayors Academy I & Commit to Civility II

Venue Address:

Goldsboro City Hall Addition

200 North Center Street

Goldsboro, NC 27530

Registration Cost:

• Full Day Participant: $115

• Mayors Academy I (morning course): $65

Course Description:
Congratulations on your recent election or appointment as Mayor, or perhaps you are a seasoned mayor seeking to enhance your leadership capabilities. The Mayors Academy is designed specifically with you in mind.
This course aims to deliver an essential primer on the multifaceted roles and duties that accompany your new position. While the curriculum does not claim to encompass every potential scenario you may face, it serves as a foundation from which you can embark on a continuous learning journey. The goal of this training is to equip you with the necessary tools to refine your skills and effectively address the unique challenges of your city or town.
The Mayors Academy’s curriculum is rooted in the specific legal and operational framework defined by the North Carolina General Assembly, ensuring that the training aligns with local governance requirements. Participants will engage with content that highlights the expansive responsibilities expected of newly appointed mayors in North Carolina, empowering them to not only meet but exceed the expectations of their constituents.
 

Learning Objectives:
• Apply practical information about the key roles and responsibilities of being a municipal elected official during the first few months in office.
• Identify the challenges of municipal governance.
• Acquire skills, tools, best practices/solutions, and approaches to address the challenges of municipal governance.
 

Course Description: 
Take your civility leadership skills to the next level. Building on the Commit to Civility Program, this course equips municipal officials with advanced tools and practical strategies to promote civility, strengthen communication, enhance emotional intelligence, and prioritize self-care. Participants will leave prepared to lead with greater empathy, resilience, and effectiveness in today's complex municipal environment.

What to Expect:
In this course, participants will:
• Apply advanced civility principles and practices to foster respectful, productive relationships within municipalities/governing bodies.
• Demonstrate effective communication techniques that promote collaboration, reduce conflict, and strengthen engagement with others.
• Utilize emotional intelligence strategies to increase self-awareness, manage emotions, and respond constructively during challenging interactions and high-pressure situations.
• Employ conflict management and de-escalation approaches to navigate difficult conversations while maintaining professionalism and mutual respect.
 

Mike McLaurin, MPA, ICMA-RET
Michael McLaurinis a 49-year veteran of North Carolina local government.  He began as a civilian employee with the Charlotte Police Department (now Charlotte Mecklenburg Police) in communications and was later promoted to shift supervisor.

In 1985, he joined Centralina Council of Governments (now Centralina Regional Council), a nine-county regional planning agency in Charlotte.  While there, his focus areas included special projects, strategic planning, personnel, public safety, water quality and intergovernmental relations. 

He served as Waxhaw’s town manager from 2006-2014.  During that time, Waxhaw grew from 7500 to 14,500.  McLaurin and his team worked together to increase the capacity to serve this growth and to bring greater planning, transparency and citizen service.  He retired in 2014.  In addition to serving in Waxhaw, he served as the interim town manager in Stanley, Claremont (2 times), Oxford and Angier, NC.  
In 2020, he came out of retirement to accept the Indian Trail Town Manager’s position.  Indian Trail is located just outside of Charlotte with approximately 45,000+ population.  During his tenure, accomplishments included enhanced public outreach, finance management and reporting.  Other accomplishments include developing and implementation of major capital projects focusing on transportation, parks and recreation and downtown development.  He retired from Indian Trail on December 31, 2025.

McLaurin holds undergraduate degrees in criminal justice and a master’s in public administration from UNC Charlotte.  He is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government's Municipal Administration program and Public Executive Leadership Academy, as well as the University of Virginia's Senior Executive Institute and the Gettysburg Leadership Institute.   Association (ICMA). He is a two-time presenter at the International City County Management national conference.  He is a member of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.  He is currently a part-instructor at UNC-Charlotte.

Vickie Miller, NCLM, Director of Learning and Development

Vickie Miller, MEd, CPM, MCA is the Director of Learning and Development for the N.C. League of Municipalities. Vickie is responsible for leading, managing, and delivering the League's training and education programs for elected and municipal officials. Vickie has a distinguished career that has placed a focus on helping others. She has held many roles including Grassroots Coordinator for the League, Executive Director for the 501(c)3 North Carolina Operation Lifesaver, and Director of Community Investment and Assistance where she oversaw the state Community Development Block Grant program for the North Carolina Department of Commerce with responsibility for an annual appropriation of $45 million and a grant and loan portfolio over $200 million. Vickie holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in education from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She is currently pursuing a doctorate with the University of the Cumberlands in leadership with a specialization in public administration. Vickie holds the Certified Public Manager designation from the North Carolina State Office of Personnel, the Certified Housing Development Professional, the Certified Finance Development Professional from the National Development Council, and the County Municipal Administration certification from the UNC School of Government. 

Dr. Linda Jordan

Dr. Linda R Jordon is a dynamic international speaker, high performance coach, Amazon Best Selling author and trainer who has devoted her career to helping women transform their lives. With over 30 years of professional leadership experience, Dr. Jordon's work focuses on cultivating a winning mindset, enhancing communication skills, and inspiring individuals to embrace leadership roles. As the founder of LRJ Coaching & Business Solutions, LLC, Breast Cancer Angel Network, Inc and 2 real estate businesses, Dr. Jordon specializes in guiding women transitioning from corporate roles to entrepreneurship. Her expertise in leadership coaching, diversity, inclusion and belonging training, and business process improvement has empowered countless professionals to achieve their goals. Her achievements led to her currently being a course facilitator for Cornell University. Dr. Jordon’s Transformational Leadership is her superpower—she doesn’t just lead; she inspires real change in individuals and organizations, helping them reach new levels of success.