Training results in paws-itive impact for FWACC staff

Published on April 04, 2024

Denareus Turner, North Campus shelter tech, was one of the many FWACC staffers to attend the training.

HR’s Organizational Development team recently conducted two onsite training sessions focused on the unique setting of animal shelters.

Trainer Shannon Luce visited the Silcox Campus on Tuesday, March 19, and the North Campus on Wednesday, March 27. (Silcox is dedicated to team development and pet enrichment on Tuesdays, while North focuses on these activities on Wednesdays. For further details on their new Pause for Paws program, refer to the City News story.)

Luce delivered an interactive two-hour course titled “Navigating Difficult Conversations: Turning Tension Into Progress.” She equipped participants with strategies to effectively manage emotional reactions, both in themselves and others.

The training emphasized a mindset shift, empowering team members to view challenging discussions not as threats but as opportunities for meaningful progress on crucial issues.

“Conversations involving animals are often filled with emotions and this course gave us methods to recognize and deal with emotions and provided us strategies to communicate even difficult resolutions with intent and empathy,” said Supervisor Jennifer Mize. “This course will help us provide better customer service to our community and cultivate a better relationship with our residents and teams.”

By the end of the sessions, employees reported feeling prepared and confident to engage in difficult conversations.

“An invaluable takeaway from the training is the importance of active listening and empathy in navigating difficult conversations,” said Superintendent Anastasia Ramsey, who also helped coordinate the sessions. “We plan to implement these skills to foster deeper understanding and resolution in challenging situations to better serve our customers in the community.”

Silcox staff

North staff

North staff