JD Solomon Inc. provides a variety of training opportunities, including ethics training.
JD Solomon Inc. recently provided ethics training to board members from Renewable Water, Greenville Water, and MetroConnects in Greenville, SC. The half-day event was sponsored and hosted by Renewable Water.
The interactive session provided case examples from across the US, key insights, and pitfalls for utility board members. Key learning objectives included understanding the differences between legal and ethical requirements, applying ethics to decision making, and applying ethics to board-staff interactions.
An audience response system (ARS) was used to collect anonymous opinions during case examples and scenarios from the real world.
“Everyone loves to hear ethics stories from places like New Orleans, Puerto Rico, Michigan, and Alabama," explained facilitator JD Solomon. "We all have similar ethics issues, but some people take them to places that are hard to imagine."
JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for facilitation, asset management, and program development at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment.
JD Solomon has three decades of experience consulting, training, and advising local and state boards and commissions. His practical experience includes serving as a key member of the consulting team that is developing statewide board training for the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority, serving twice as the chairman of the 15-member NC Environmental Management Commission, and serving as an interim town manager, planning director, and in roles on various local boards.
Johnston County Commissioners were recently briefed on ways to make the long-term water supply program more affordable.
The Johnston County (NC) Board of Commissioners was briefed on a short-term water supply assessment at their regular June 16 and July 21, 2025, board meetings. The assessment’s purpose is to evaluate whether there are more affordable alternatives to meet customer needs in the 2030 to 2040 timeframe.
The current long-term water supply targets providing Johnston County with adequate water through 2050. The cost of that program, known as the Lower Neuse Water Supply Program, was recently increased again to $770M.
The financial model for Johnston County was recently updated. Currently, the integration of the County’s model and the Town of Clayton model is being performed. Including scenarios for additional wholesale agreements with Raleigh, Wilson, Harnett County, and Goldsboro will be performed next.
Johnston County and the Town of Clayton, the county’s two largest utilities, are partnering on the water supply program. Both boards have expressed concerns about the affordability of water to customers. Both utilities are completing major wastewater system upgrades and have raised rates to meet those needs.
Commissioners are looking for updated scenarios in the financial model. “We don’t need all of our eggs in one basket. We need options available to us,” stated Commissioner Bill Stovall.
JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for program development, asset management, and facilitation at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment. Visit our Program Development page for more information on businesses cases, third-party assessments, phasing projects, and related services.
Is it possible to facilitate a meeting at the last minute? Here are a few insights for knowing whether you are facilitating or simply leading (managing) a meeting.
I was recently asked on Wednesday to review an agenda for a meeting on the following Tuesday. The meeting involved two technical teams, their consultants, and senior administrators from two organizations. On Thursday afternoon, I was asked to “facilitate the discussions.” As an accomplished facilitator, I asked myself, “Is facilitating at the last minute possible?”
Facilitation Defined
Facilitation is defined as a structured session(s) in which the meeting leader (the facilitator) guides the participants through a series of predefined steps to arrive at a result that is created, understood, and accepted by all participants.
Key concepts include:
Guides the participants
Predefined steps
Created, understood, and accepted
By all participants
The Problem Most Managers Have
The problem most managers have is that they believe they are facilitators, too.
After all, managers lead meetings all the time and meetings have agendas. Plus, one way or another, the meeting results are accepted by all.
(By the way, the preceding paragraph was all tongue-in-cheek)
CATER
CATER is a mental model that helps you move from good to great facilitation. CATER also defines the essential elements of helping determine what constitutes facilitation and what constitutes leading (or managing) a business meeting.
CATER stands for:
Communicate in pre-session exchanges.
Ask powerful questions.
Anticipate Trouble.
Use engaging Exercises.
Manage the Rhythm.
Pre-Session Exchange
A pre-session exchange involves the facilitator (session leader) collecting information from the participants before the facilitated session. The exchange usually occurs via face-to-face interviews, phone interviews, or online surveys. The pre-session exchange should be planned and structured in a manner equal to planning and structuring the main session.
Ask Powerful Questions
Powerful questions lead participants to active thought, debate, and compelling results. Weak questions do the opposite. Introductory questions and clarifying questions are the two major classes of powerful questions.
Anticipate Trouble
Disruption is a reality. Trouble will occur. Great facilitators embrace the reality of disruption and are prepared to navigate challenges.
Engaging Exercises
Engaging exercises are what draw favorable attention or interest. Some synonyms for engaging make the point better: alluring, appealing, captivating, charismatic, enchanting, entrancing, fascinating, glamorous, magnetic, and seductive. From experience, a facilitated session can achieve its outcomes if its exercises rise to the level of engagement.
Manage the Rhythm
Whether a single or multiple sessions, “ups” and “downs” will occur during the facilitation process. Like many things in business and life, the lowest points are followed by the highest. Experienced facilitators understand this. Great facilitators look for and can spot subtle changes in tempo and attitudes. All facilitators must master the rhythm and timing associated with group dynamics.
The Difference Between Leading and Facilitating
Understanding what facilitation is and the elements of CATER provides the foundation for guiding participants to solutions that are created, understood, and accepted by all. Is it possible to facilitate at the last minute? Not really. But look for a follow-up article on how I attempted to do it in this case.
JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for program development, asset management, and facilitation at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment. Visit our Facilitation page for more information related to all types of facilitation.
CATER is discussed more in "Facilitating with FINESSE: A Guide to Successful Business Solutions." The book applies CATER to ten commonly facilitated business applications, ranging from risk assessments, business cases, failure analysis, and strategic plans. Move your facilitation from good to great by CATERing to participants!
