KINGMAN — The City of Kingman officially launched its 2025 Leadership & Excellence Supervisor Academy last week, celebrating the kickoff with a welcome reception hosted by Mohave Community College (MCC) for the program’s newest participants. This transformative training initiative is designed to strengthen leadership across all City departments and is made possible through strong partnerships with MCC and AZ@Work.
Kingman Mayor Ken Watkins was in attendance to offer opening remarks and personally welcome the incoming cohorts. “This program is about more than just leadership training. It’s about investing in the future of our community,” said Mayor Watkins. “By equipping our supervisors with the tools they need to lead with confidence, integrity, and purpose, we’re strengthening not only our organization, but the services we deliver to the people of Kingman.”
Originally introduced in late 2022, the City’s Supervisor Academy and Innovation Day trained more than 50 employees and was led entirely by internal subject matter experts. Following its success, and recognizing a new group of supervisors in key positions who had yet to benefit from this training, the City made the decision to bring the program back in 2025.
This next chapter of the program reflects a strong regional commitment to workforce development. While other communities, including Lake Havasu, have found success in similar initiatives, the City of Kingman is proud to lead its own effort through a direct partnership with Mohave Community College (MCC) and AZ@Work.
Working closely with Gina Kremper of MCC and Joe Throneberry of AZ@Work, the City secured grant funding that fully covers the $3,265 cost per participant. This year, 34 City employees have enrolled in the 12-week program, which includes 96 hours of instruction led by MCC professional development instructor Dr. Lindsay Wagner, PhD. The curriculum covers a wide range of leadership and management topics, with 25 participants also earning college credit through MCC.
The program will conclude with a capstone event where participants will draft agenda items, deliver presentations, and engage in a simulated public meeting complete with Q&A and a mock council made up of City staff and leadership. This hands-on experience is designed to build confidence and demonstrate the real-world application of their training.
Kingman’s renewed investment in the Supervisor Academy underscores its dedication to continuous improvement and employee development through meaningful regional partnerships.
