Instructor: Jeff Kitchens

Biography: For 25 years Jeff Kitchens has been leading teams and organizations. From projects with only a handful of staff to organizations of a hundred plus employees, Jeff has diverse experience as a manager, supervisor, project director, strategic planner, and leader. His work has ranged from directing the management of hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands to serving on non-profit boards and public advisory councils. He has also been a professional mentor for over 15 years and is a professional coach. His varied career has taken him throughout the U.S. including the Southeast, Midwest, and various western states including, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. He has helped develop and implement several leadership training and professional development programs including a Line Officer Training Curriculum for the Bureau of Land Management and the Bend Chamber's Emerging Talent Mentoring Program. He also provides peer support to wildland firefighters and other federal emergency managers, including supporting those injured on the job.

Outside of work Jeff enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife and two teenage boys. He is an avid hiker and skier. His other passion is fitness, regularly enjoying CrossFit, running, and indoor climbing.

Classes by this instructor

Leading Successful and Resilient Teams

For a team to be successful they must have a common vision and mission, be cohesive, while capitalizing on individual strengths and show adaptability and resiliency to turn challenges into opportunities. To effectively lead a team of people takes specific skills associated with communication, direction, decision making, flexibility, organization and strategic thinking. This course will provide practical skills and steps for leading teams at any level of an organization/business. Discussions will also include project management, emotional intelligence, inspiring others and public speaking. Techniques shared are adaptable and will work for businesses with teams of any size. Opportunities for interactive question and answer sessions will also be a part of the class, allowing participants to share specific issues that the instructor will troubleshoot with them.
Thursday, February 18, 2027 | 1:00pm-4:00pm PST | Redmond

Think Critically - Plan Strategically

What is your plan? Do you have one for your team, project, or business? Do you have a mission statement or articulated vision? What are the core values of your business/team and does everyone you work with know them? Do you have common goals or objectives defined? What does success look like? What happens if your vision/goals/image of success must adapt to changing needs or resources? This course will walk you through 10 key steps to successfully create a strategic plan for your organization that includes both successional and sustainable planning. The class will mix instruction, case studies, and discussions for an interactive experience. It will also walk participants through a process of critical thinking and goal prioritization.
Thursday, March 18, 2027 | 1:00pm-4:00pm PDT | Bend

Leading Across the Generations

Today's workplace may include members of five generations: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z. Gen Alpha is also approaching working age, with its oldest members beginning to take part-time and entry-level jobs. A multigenerational workforce brings a wide range of experiences, career stages, communication habits and expectations. These differences can enrich teams, but they can also create misunderstandings when leaders rely on assumptions or stereotypes. What does this mean for supervisors and team leaders? This seminar provides an overview of the generations in today's workforce. Participants will explore strategies for effective leadership, communication and team facilitation and examine stereotypes that can interfere with workplace relationships.
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | 1:00pm-5:00pm PST | Bend