Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, is continuing its highly successful North American Leadership Academy in collaboration with Abilene Christian University (ACU) to develop operational management skills, create a pathway for career growth and to continue being an employer of choice in the cargo and ground handling markets.
This year’s program will accept 35 participants, a combination of external hires and internal employees, into the Operational Leadership Academy. This 20-week leadership training program will be held in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. They will complete the program’s custom-made curriculum, including a 7-week core academic program and 13 weeks of on-the-job training with additional online coursework.
The academy’s second cohort underscores WFS’ commitment to recruit top talent and invest in the professional growth and acceleration of current employees. The incoming cohort builds on last year’s pioneer batch of 28 participants, which comprised WFS team members and staff from other cargo industry companies, thus creating a conducive learning environment for cross-sharing of ideas and experiences among industry professionals.
Senior internal and external leaders will present to the class, lecturing on Cargo, Ground, Express, Project Management, Continuous Improvement, Human Capital, Finance, Safety, and Security. Select guest speakers from key customers also present on their specific company relationship with WFS.
The course consists of various modules, including decision-making, relationship-building, resilience, communication skills, influence, collaboration, managing and leading, ethics, and goal-setting.
“We rely on our professionals – those who are new to the company and our seasoned employees — so it makes sense that we would invest in their development and ensure they’re fully equipped to serve our customers,” said Mike Simpson, CEO of Americas. “Our Leadership Academy is an opportunity to invest in our best and brightest and expand their capabilities with new skills and new ways of thinking critically about their work and the people that serve under them.”
“We are excited to announce the launch of our second cohort of the WFS Operations Leadership Program, which is designed to cultivate and enhance our bench strength for future operational leadership roles. This initiative reflects our commitment to investing in our talented employees and empowering them to grow within our organization. By providing targeted development opportunities, we aim to foster a culture of leadership and collaboration that will significantly enhance the overall climate at many of our work locations. Together with ACU, key customers, and internal subject matter experts and mentors, we continue to build a stronger, more resilient team ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow and drive our success forward.” said John Derry, WFS America’s SVP of Human Capital.
Upon successful completion of the program, certification for each participant will include an Operational Leadership Academy Credly Badge and up to nine hours of college credit in Theories and Practices in Effective Leadership, Harnessing the Power of Emotional Intelligence, and Management and Organizational Behavior.
“We are excited to once again team up with Worldwide Flight Services for the WFS Operational Leadership Academy Powered by ACU. This program is about empowering WFS team members with the knowledge and skills to lead in a dynamic industry confidently,” said Dr. Brenda McAdoo, Executive Director of Executive Education and Professional Advancement at ACU, which is located in Abilene, Texas. “By offering specialized courses in leadership, decision-making, and emotional intelligence, we give WFS leaders the skills to navigate challenges, inspire their teams, drive meaningful change, and thrive in this fast-paced industry. Our goal is to help WFS build strong leaders who will make a lasting impact within the company and beyond.”
“I appreciate the tools and framework gained through the investment WFS makes in me and my peers. I have grown as a leader, building upon my strengths, and have become more resilient,” said Nick Chilcote, Regional Manager-West. “WFS is building a stronger, more resilient workforce, and I’m excited to continue growing in my role with the company.”
Following its successful launch last year, the North American Leadership Academy has established itself an annual WFS training program with fresh recruits and employees selected from the company’s network of 85 North American stations in key cities in Canada and the United States. The program forms part of efforts by WFS to recruit, retain and retrain employees by developing them to their fullest potential.
