“LUDWIG SPEAKS”

Spring Session 

Wednesday April 29th, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Seminar 1 – Supervisory DO's and DON'T"s (8:00 AM to 12:00 PM) - In this session we will discuss the basics of what a supervisor should be doing, but more importantly, what you should not be doing. In this session we will discuss the basics of supervisory responsibilities and the tasks and behaviors we should develop, and avoid, in order to become, and remain, the best.

Seminar 2 – The Art of Teammate Excellence (1:00 PM to 5:00 PM) - We have all worked with amazing teammates and teammates with whom it feels difficult to be successful. In this session, we will explore who we are as teammates, why we are the way we are, why others are the way they are, and many insights as to how to better operate as a successful team/teammate. In high-performing teams, there is a presence of respect, appreciation, a behavior of due care, and a comfort that everyone else cares about my and the team's success. We will discuss the difficulties and differences of the human person and the best ways to overcome “me” thinking and work toward “we” thinking.

Fall Session

Wednesday, November 4th from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Session 1 – DO I REALLY HAVE TO BE NICE?  CUSTOMER SERVICE IN AN INCREASINGLY HARSH WORLD (8:00 AM to 12:00 PM) - When we begin our careers in municipal service, we are full of energy and ready to provide great customer service. Over time, we realize that our customers have no choice but to come to us for certain services. While we understand that our teams provide customer service, not all our customers are happy to engage with us. Over time, this can affect our behavior toward, engagement with, and, sometimes, respect for, our customers. In this session, we will work to understand our role, the varied customers we will encounter, strategies for good communication with others, boundaries in how we are to be treated, and how to maintain a joyful and professional provision of customer service.

Session 2 – THOUGHTFUL PLANNING FOR SMALL TEAMS (1:00 PM to 5:00 PM) - Often we are caught up in the day-to-day operational tasks and never stop to think about what our purpose is, what we're doing, why we're doing it, and how we might improve. Strategic planning is something that is done from a high level, typically at the board or upper management level. What if we apply this process to small teams, and specific tasks and projects? Smaller versions of this process work very effectively for small or frontline teams in defining specific actions and behaviors that can be created, seen, and adapted by everyone on the team. This process eliminates chaos, and defines simple, actionable plans where everyone understands the expectations and goals. in this session will discuss conducting small scale analysis, utilizing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as a tool to develop framework for who we are, and how we get things done.

2026 Tuition:

  Non-Member: $300.00 per student

  NIPSTA Tier 1 Member: $250.00 per student

  NIPSTA Tier 2 Member: $275.00 per student

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Meet Your Instructor

Steve Ludwig spent over 30 years in the public works industry and has managed dynamic and effective public works teams for over 25 years (Village of Algonquin, IL. General Services Superintendent). Steve brings his wealth of practical knowledge and management experiences to his speaking and training endeavors, believing the secret to our success resides in who we become as leaders. His passionate and insightful training style focuses on developing us as individuals to manage ourselves and others better.

He has working knowledge and experience in all areas of public works, including water/wastewater, streets, parks, forestry, buildings and grounds, and fleets and facilities. Steve has historically held an EPA water operator’s license, is currently a Board-Certified Master Arborist, holds a Class A CDL, and brings a wealth of training and teaching experiences to his work.

Steve’s current business, Ludwig Speaks, LLC, provides speaking and training services for public service organizations, as well as private industry. He is the past president of the Illinois Arborist Association, a past member of the Council of Representatives of the International Society of Arboriculture, and a regional winner of the American Public Works Association Donald C. Stone Award for Excellence in Education. Steve is the current facilitator and program coordinator for several American Public Works Association programs, including the Illinois Roads Scholar Program, the Michigan Roads Scholar Program, and the Ohio Public Service Institute.