1. “Thinking Like a Reformer” Tim Penny, President/CEO July 23, 2009

2. Hard to Reform Government Why?

3. Status Quo Has Interest Groups Healthcare  AARP  ALF-CIO  AMA  Insurance  Pharmaceutical

4. New Dollars Compete with Existing Budget  Entitlement vs. Discretionary  Consumption vs. Investments  Innovation loses out Crisis Mentality – Reform requires deliberation

5. Committees Geared to Turf  New programs on top of old  Jurisdiction (silos)  Seniority – old ideas

6. Bureaucracy  Political leadership Not real leadership No management skills Limited expertise  Staff ingenuity not rewarded  Use it or lose it mentality  Silos

7. Reform Requires Thinking Differently

8. Focus on ASSETS  Individuals  Organizations  Communities  Region

9. ASSET -Focus leads to... ASSET -Focus leads to...  Creativity  Synergy  Results

10. What’s possible … for individuals?

11. ASSET - Focused “ StrengthsFinder” ASSET - Focused “ StrengthsFinder” Helps individuals find greatest potential for a Strength

12. Strengths  Natural talent themes (5 Strengths)  Easy  Hard-wired  Almost no effort  Fun

13. Strengths Provide  Foundation to individual development  Springboard to excellence  Self awareness & self confidence leading to new achievements  Appreciation of co-workers strengths  Stronger internal relationships

14. Examples: Strengths  Focus  Belief  Maximizer  Strategic  Responsibility  Context  Ideation  Relator  Harmony  Positivity  Woo  Input

15. What’s possible … for organizations & businesses?

16. ASSET - Focused “ Strengths-Based Organization”: WHY?  Outcome focused  Use assets to grow individual staffers  “Walk the talk” from the inside out  Dwell in possibilities, not limitations  Break down walls & silos

17. SMIF’s Process  All staff identified their strengths  Internal foundation based on strengths – not weaknesses  Common language  Strength based teams  Coaching

18. Signs of a Strengths- Based Organization  Asset mentality permeates all levels  Action oriented cohesive staff  Achieve greater results  Staff excited to volunteer their strengths  Confident decisions  More integration of work

19. Result  Only 20% of employees at top companies say they have an opportunity to do what they do best at work  At SMIF 82% of employees say they have an opportunity to do what they do best at work!

20. Examples  Activity teams Re-branding Internal Communications  Intranet & internal database Business Training  Identifying new marketing strategies Outcomes  New grant criteria

21. What’s possible … for communities?

22. ASSET - Focused “Town Meeting Initiative"  Facilitated Process Asset Mapping Visioning/Planning Project Implementation Evaluation  SMIF Provides Leadership Training Technical Assistance $15,000 Grant & Meeting Expenses/ Coordinator Stipend

23. Engages Everyone’s Assets Engages Everyone’s Assets

24. Advantages to ABCD Approach  Develops leadership base of a community  Focuses on local individual and group talents related to current issues  Increases civic engagement leading to sustainability

25. Examples  St. Peter’s Creative Play Place  St. Peter Community Child Care Center  Fairmont’s Area Career Exploration

26. What’s possible … for a region?

27.  Activities 10 Local Roundtables 3 Regional Roundtables 2 Summits ASSET -Focus “Southern MN Opportunity Roundtable”

28. Southern MN Best Economic Strategies  Current Strengths Manufacturing Health Care Food/Agriculture  Future Strengths High technology Bioscience Renewable Energy

29. Example: Bioscience The Region has powerful bioscience assets. World-class agricultural prowess. World-class medical research & practice. World-class life science research.

30. Example: Renewable Energy The Region has abundant renewable energy assets. Big footprint in corn ethanol, deep expertise & capital. Some of the best wind patterns Huge capacity for biomass production in cellulosic ethanol

31.  AgStar Financial Services  Alliant Energy  BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota  Blandin Foundation  Center for Rural Policy and Development  DEED  MinnStar Bank  MnSCU)  Region Nine Development Commission  Renewable Energy Marketplace Partners  RUPRI  South Central Workforce Council  Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation  Southwest Initiative Foundation  Southwest MN Workforce Council  United FCS  Workforce Development Inc.  Winona Investment Board

32. Vision Southern Minnesota will be a prosperous and growing region with vibrant communities, innovative and successful businesses, and a skilled and valued workforce.

33. Again ASSET -Focus leads to... Again ASSET -Focus leads to...  Creativity  Synergy  Results

34. Contact Information Tim Penny President/CEO 507-455-3215 timp@smifoundation.org www.smifoundation.org