FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

What is the EPPRENTICE Experience?

 

·         The Food EPPRENTICE Experience includes up to 100 of our state's future leaders within the food industry to collaborate and innovate for 1 action-packed day around critical issues including food supply & hunger, food safety, agriculture as an economic driver, and nutrition/child obesity. 

 

·         The Environment and Energy EPPRENTICE Experience includes up to 100 of our state's future leaders within ‘green’ industries to collaborate and innovate for 1 action-packed day around critical issues including energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, growing a green economy, and alternative energy.

 

·         The Next Generation EPPRENTICE Experience includes up to 100 of the Midwest region’s future leaders from a variety of industries and organizations to collaborate and innovate for 1 action-packed day around issues critical to the economic growth of the Midwest region.

 

Who should participate in the EPPRENTICE Experience?

 

High potential, emerging leaders – however your organization defines them. 

Participants are expected to be committed to their own development, collaborative, and energetic.  Most important, they must want to make a difference by contributing in responsible ways to their organizations and to society.

 

·         Food EPPRENTICE Experience participants will include emerging leaders from:  food manufacturers, processors, distributors, growers, retailers, wholesalers, non-profit organizations, government, education, or any other type of organizations that are engaged in or support the food industry.

 

·         Environment and Energy EPPRENTICE Experience participants will include emerging leaders from:  utilities, start-ups, renewable and alternative energy, building, energy efficiency, architectural, non-profit, education, government, consulting, or any area where sustainability and green leadership is critical.

A small percentage of the seats are open to recent college graduates and young professionals in career transition.  Special rates apply – refer to pricing.

As a participant, what will I get out of the EPPRENTICE Experience?

 

The EPPRENTICE Experience is a live learning journey, where everything that takes place in the day is a chance to explore and practice how you lead.  You will expand your leadership skills, both from the practice and coaching, and in learning from your peers.  Further, you will be able to transfer such skills directly to your job and workplace. 

 

Additionally, you will broaden your industry network, gain industry knowledge and visibility, be part of creating a better future for our region, and be energized by the experience!

 

What skills will be focused on?

 

How to:  turn ideas into strategic, sustainable solutions, influence followership, collaborate with others to innovate and problem-solve, work in compressed time frames, and enhance your communication and presentation skills. 

 

What will our organization get out of sponsoring a participant in the EPPRENTICE Experience?

 

·         Enhanced leadership skills of your emerging leader(s) that can be immediately transferred back to their day-to-day work

·         Enhanced connections of your emerging leaders(s) with industry leaders and peers

·         Enhanced positioning of your company as a leader in addressing issues of critical relevance to your industry and society

 

Who makes the choice about who gets to participate in the EPPRENTICE Experience?

 

Participants can register on their own, or an organization can determine who they desire to sponsor based on their own criteria. 

 

Can multiple participants from one company participate?

 

Yes, although multiple participants from one organization will be not placed on the same project team. 

 

How are teams formed?

 

Two teams will be formed for each project focus area and will compete to create the winning project outcome for that area.

 

Participants will be grouped to create diversity of gender, experience, function, and industry sector.  When registering, participants will be given the opportunity to express their project area preferences, which will also be considered when forming teams.

 

What happens throughout the day, and why is it 12 hours long? 

 

You will work in a team consisting of 6 to 10 emerging leaders from 8am until 8pm.   Throughout the day, participants will:


The day is 12 hours, intentionally designed to provide enough time to complete an actual project and make presentations, all while managing time limitations, similar to what is typical in real life.  Time is also built in for exchanging feedback and networking.

 

What does the learning coach do for me and my team?

 

Each team will have a PARAGON learning coach supporting them throughout the experience who will help the individuals and team focus on each participant’s leadership development opportunities.  Participants will be coached to exchange real-time peer coaching support to one another and will receive immediate feedback from the learning coach.  Additionally, participants will receive communications coaching to enhance their capacity to convey and inspire support for their ideas.

 

Why are the projects sponsored by non-profit organizations?

 

As part of PARAGON’s mission to support the future face of leadership with a purpose, several non-profit partners have been invited to provide a project for the teams to work on that are real challenges they want help with or problems they need to solve.  Not only will these projects provide participants with a real-world challenge to support their leadership development, but the experience they gain will also increase their awareness of environmental, economic, social and sustainability issues. 

 

How did you select the non-profit organizations and the projects for the teams?

 

We selected some of the most compelling social, economic and environmental challenges impacting our region at this time and in areas where we believe our region’s future leaders can make a profound difference.  Then we sought non-profit partners who are working on each challenge, and who also have the desire to engage in fostering innovation and engagement of our region’s next generation leaders.  We believe that organizations that engage young professionals as future leaders can greatly benefit from the fresh thinking and energy that are characteristic of the next generation. 

 

We met with each non-profit organization to assist them in scoping a project that fit the following criteria:

 

Please refer to the following respective web pages for further details about our non-profit EPPRENTICE Experience partners and project areas:

 

 

Can I choose the project focus I want to work on?

 

Project focus preferences can be submitted when registering and every effort will be made to place participants in one of their top two preferences. 

 

Who will judge the projects?

 

Industry thought leaders and experts to include, executives, leaders of non-profits, government, education, etc.

 

How does a team win?

 

Winning teams will be awarded based on their delivery of an innovative, strategic, sustainable solution to the project.  Teams will be encouraged to be creative in their presentation; via the team presentations, judges will also look for evidence of collaboration and engagement of the entire team. 

 

What happens to the project outcomes after the EPPRENTICE Experience is over?

 

The non-profit organizations have each intentionally selected a project that is relevant to their current objectives.  The expectation is that every winning project solution will be implementable and sustainable.   

 

Who will I have the opportunity to network with at the EPPRENTICE Experience?

 

Other emerging leaders from throughout the industry, as well as industry thought leaders and experts, including executives, leaders of non-profits, government, and education.

 

What do I need to bring and what can I do to prepare?

 

While most other offerings expect you to turn off technology, the EPPRENTICE Experience is all about turning ON your technology.  Bring your cell phone, laptop, Black Berry, and any other portable technology or resources that will be helpful to you and your team throughout the day, including your presentation delivery.  Preparation materials will be sent in advance to all participants to include an overview of the non-profit partners, project scope and any reference material deemed necessary.

 

What do I wear?

 

Business casual attire. 

 

What does it cost?

 

Investment per participant:

Companies with annual revenue exceeding $5 million: $444

Companies with annual revenue less than $5 million:   $333

Not-for-Profit Associations:                                        $222

University students & recent graduates*:                     $111

*Limited number of seats available to students

 

How can I sign up and what is the deadline?

 

You can register two ways:

(1)   Online – complete and submit the online registration form and make payment online

 

Registration for Food EPPRENTICE Experience

Registration for Environment & Energy EPPRENTICE Experience

 

(2)   Download the registration form and complete.  Mail, fax or email the registration form to:

 

Paragon Leadership, Attn: EPPRENTICE Experience, 43422 West Oaks Drive, Novi, MI  48377

Fax: 248-692-0389

Email: epprentice@paragon-lead.com

 

call Paragon at 248-719-7319 for further assistance.

 

Participants are encouraged to register as early as possible to ensure a seat, as space is limited.   Registrations will be accepted up to 14 days before the event, based on availability. 

 

What if I need overnight lodging?

 

There are a limited number of rooms on reserve for each EPPRENTICE Experience.  Refer to the respective EPPRENTICE registration form for details. 

 

What is the Cancellation Policy?

 

If Paragon is notified of cancellation 28 days or more prior to program, 50% of participant fee is reimbursable. 

 

If Paragon is notified of cancellation less than 28 days prior to program, participant fee is non-refundable, but is transferrable to another emerging leader within the same organization.

 

What happens after the EPPRENTICE Experience?

 

Keep in touch with us virtually on Face Book at Paragon Lead and check out our Calendar for future EPPRENTICE networking gatherings.  If you know someone who can’t participate in the 2009 EPPRENTICE Experiences or you think would enjoy participating in one of our 2010 EPPRENTICE Experiences, check out our calendar on the web site for further details.