Imagine a meeting of busy government officials where everyone arrived on time, came prepared, weren’t checking their electronic devices constantly, participated enthusiastically, stayed for the entire all-day event—and best of all, left with substantial new knowledge about leadership.

That describes the Leadership Development Program for Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez and his team, presented by Florida International University’s (FIU) Center for Leadership (CFL) on January 31, 2012.

“This highly-concentrated 10-hour program offered insight, motivation, research and new leadership models,” said FIU’s president emeritus Modesto A. Maidique, who serves as the center’s executive director.

“At FIU, we learned about ourselves as leaders plus acquired specific ways to understand, motivate and help our teams,” Gimenez said. “It was definitely a worthwhile experience.”

Maidique and Gimenez, who had both been involved in a learning workshop earlier this year, had discussed developing a program for the mayor’s team. Maidique and his staff got to work on the idea.

The packed agenda included Maidique’s presentations “The Transcendent Leader,” “The Why and How of Leadership” and his research on the six-level Purpose-Driven Model of Leadership. FIU Business faculty member Nathan Hiller, Center for Leadership fellow who teaches courses on leadership, presented “The Canvas of Decision Making” and Anne Freedman, CEO of Speakout, Inc., helped participants learn more about workplace motivators.

Besides the mayor, participants were the county’s five deputy mayors—Russell Benford, Alina Hudak, Chip Iglesias (EMBA ’07), Ed Marquez (BBA ’76) and Jack Osterholt—and administrators Fernando Figueredo (MBA ’79), communications director; Alex Ferro, deputy chief of staff; Inson Kim, director of policy and legislative affairs; Lisa Martinez, senior advisor (MS ’98, BA ’93); and Jennifer Moon, budget director.

“The mayor has assembled a talented team of experienced, hard-working administrators who want the best for Miami-Dade County,” Maidique said. “Their participation and enthusiasm were exceptional.”

Program presents growth opportunity for center.

The Center for Leadership, known for successful development programs for business executives and for teachers, is about to grow.

“This program for the Miami-Dade County marks the beginning of an additional direction: leadership programs for public officials,” Maidique said.