Washington State University Tri-Cities’ continuing education program, Cougar Tracks, has announced February 2026 dates for its Manager Coaching Series, an applied, four-part leadership development program designed to strengthen management capacity across the Tri-Cities region.

Delivered in person on the ���سԹ� campus, the series equips new and mid-level managers with practical tools, proven frameworks and hands-on coaching techniques that support organizational performance, employee��engagement��and regional workforce readiness.

“As industries across the Tri-Cities continue to evolve, there is a growing need for managers who can lead with clarity, communicate effectively and support high-performing teams,” said Michelle��Hrycauk��Nassif, director of Cougar Tracks Continuing Education. “This series supports employers by developing confident leaders who are ready to meet today’s workforce challenges and drive our region’s economic vitality.”

Manager Coaching Series details

Each 2.5-hour session blends interactive learning with real-world scenarios, enabling participants to apply new skills��immediately. Workshop topics include:

• Feb. 3:��Manager Essentials — building trust, setting��expectations��and coaching performance

Washington State University Tri-Cities’ Cougar Tracks program will host a new professional development workshop to help regional professionals use artificial intelligence strategically and ethically in the workplace.

The Generative AI Essentials: Workplace Applications & Ethical Use workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Sept. 18, in the Elson S. Floyd Building, Room 145, on the ���سԹ� campus.

The three-hour, in-person session will provide hands-on training in selecting AI tools, applying prompt engineering, addressing ethical considerations and creating organizational AI codes of conduct. Participants will also work directly with tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT.

“Tri-Cities is on the cusp of transformative growth,” said Michelle Hrycauk Nassif, director of Cougar Tracks. “As industries adopt AI, our workforce must be ready to use these tools and use them wisely. By building AI fluency, we strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.”

The workshop will be led by Neelam Chahlia, Ph.D., senior technical project manager at T-Mobile. Chahlia has extensive experience in software development, agile methodologies and large-scale technology implementation, including projects handling $5 billion to $6 billion in monthly transactions and global cybersecurity initiatives. A recipient of India’s National Young Scientist Award, she is also a frequent STEM keynote speaker and advocate for women in technology.

“AI is no longer a future skill, it’s a now skill,” Chahlia said. “Professionals who integrate AI strategically and ethically will be the ones driving innovation in the coming decade.”

The workshop is open to professionals in business, education, human resources, compliance, marketing, project management and other sectors. Registration is $149, with limited seats available.

By Lacey Desserault

Washington State University Tri-Cities Cougar Tracks is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Field Office (DOE) and its Hanford contractors to host the One Hanford Leadership Academy. In six learning sessions throughout 2025, the program will develop the next generation of executive leaders to advance the One Hanford mission and drive impactful progress.

Cougar Tracks, ���سԹ�’ continuing education department, was invited to serve as a bridge to connect its innovative academic resources with the real-world demands of the department and its contractors. By aligning leadership development programs with the needs of industry, Cougar Tracks ensures that professionals in the region gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to address complex challenges and drive economic growth.

“The One Hanford Leadership Academy is an opportunity to invest in the future of Hanford and the Tri-Cities region,” said Brian Stickney, deputy manager of the Hanford Field Office. “By partnering with ���سԹ� and leveraging their academic excellence, we are equipping our next generation of leaders with skills and vision to advance progress in the One Hanford mission.”

The academy kicked off on Jan. 9 with an orientation for 15 participants from the Hanford field office and Hanford contractors Bechtel, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS), Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo), Navarro-ATL, Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C), and Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS). The sessions will conclude on Dec. 18.

Director of Cougar Tracks at ���سԹ� Michelle Hrycauk Nassif explained that the university is cultivating a workforce that will not only excel within the Hanford ecosystem but also drive economic and technological growth in the Tri-Cities region. “Our Cougar Tracks programs are designed with industry collaboration at their core, ensuring that we not only meet but anticipate the workforce development needs of STEM-driven enterprises. The One Hanford Leadership Academy exemplifies this partnership, leveraging the strength of our research expertise and our innovative learning programs to prepare mid-level managers for transformative leadership roles.”

The academy concept arose organically, beginning with a simple mention of management training for leadership positions in an unrelated meeting. The concept was passed on to the program managers of Cougar Tracks, who began working interactively and iteratively for approximately six months to develop the curriculum topics, curriculum and project faculty, schedules, venues, budgets, and relationships with the DOE and the Hanford contractors.

The academy will prepare individuals in mid-level management roles for challenges in C-suite executive roles. Six faculty members from WSU will individually lead each session, covering the following topics:

• building trust
• communication and persuasion
• teamwork and collaboration
• negotiation and managing conflict
• culture and change management
• One Hanford collaboration

The learning sessions will be separated by project workshops, where participants work alongside Learning Integration Project Facilitators. Each participant will complete a project that applies the knowledge and skills the participants develop in the seminars.

Chancellor of ���سԹ� Sandra Haynes said that the Academy is instrumental in developing the next wave of innovative leadership. “By drawing on the unique strengths of both Washington State University and the world-class work being done at the Hanford Site, this program offers a rich blend of theory and practice that will help professionals thrive in their careers while making a meaningful impact on the region’s clean energy future.”

By Lacey Desserault

For some, pursuing professional development may be a great opportunity to take the next step in their careers. For others, it may change the trajectory of their whole lives.

At Washington State University Tri-Cities, the Cougar Tracks program is designed specifically to meet the professional development needs of industry for the region. Courses are geared toward various employment levels and are offered online and on-demand, making it easy for individuals to enhance their professional skills at their own pace. Local businesses also frequently utilize the courses as onboarding tools, or to upskill and reskill their workforce.

“As a land grant university, it is ���سԹ�’ mission to support the local population with educational solutions, programming that is credit and non-credit,” said Michelle Hrycauk Nassif, director of Cougar Tracks. “We are really providing the pathway for the region to advance professionally and to increase economic growth and sustainability with our partners.”

In a diverse and fast-growing region like the Tri-Cities, the need for professional growth is not limited to a singular industry or organization, and ���سԹ� continues to seek new partners that can benefit from Cougar Tracks’ course offerings. One of those partners is Grace Kitchen.

Building a community

Located in downtown Pasco, Grace Kitchen serves the Tri-Cities by providing sanctuary employment and resources that help women exit trafficking, addiction, incarceration, homelessness, and poverty.

Grace Kitchen houses a catering company that serves local businesses, and they also make homemade artisan pasta and BBQ rubs that are sold online and in stores. Each product from Grace Kitchen is crafted by the women they serve in exchange for professional development opportunities, living wages, a supportive community, and a fresh start.

Partnering with the Department of Corrections and several other nonprofit organizations in the region, the women who come through the doors of Grace Kitchen are immediately greeted by trauma informed mentors, who then spend several hours getting to know them and help them feel comfortable in the program.

Grace Kitchen was founded by Amanda Lorraine, who was inspired by her own story of escaping poverty and addiction. “In my twenties, I started having a lot of people walk alongside me, investing time in me and mentoring me and I got out,” she said. “When I moved here in 2014, I knew I wanted to continue to walk alongside women who had similar stories as my own.”

After spending several years volunteering with similar organizations, Lorraine noticed that the same women would frequently return in need of assistance, unable to escape their destructive cycles, so she began to put her own dreams into action.

“I started dreaming and praying about what it would look like to start a sanctuary work program, because what I realized is that these women are incredibly isolated, they are pushed to the margins of our society, and they’ve missed so many opportunities in their life. They needed this sanctuary workplace where they can come just as they are, right out of addiction, into clean and sober living, and they can have a safe place to grow and to learn to work and communicate, build community. That’s what Grace Kitchen is all about. It’s a sisterhood for life,” she said.

A partnership to cultivate service excellence

With professional development as a cornerstone of Grace Kitchen’s philosophy, a partnership was formed with Cougar Tracks to enroll some of their employees in the Cultivating Service Excellence (CSE) course. Covering a variety of topics associated with professionalism, personal accountability, and effective customer service, the course equips employees from any industry with knowledge and skills to grow and succeed in the workplace.

Sixteen women participated in the first Grace Kitchen cohort, learning valuable tools they can apply to their current roles and carry with them after graduating from the Grace Kitchen program. Many of them recalled that they learned the importance of first impressions through body language, facial expressions, and vocal tone when interacting with customers and donors.

“I feel more confident in helping customers when they come in. I can still be myself but now I’m more mindful of how I would want to be treated,” one employee explained.

Other women connected what they learned with how they communicate with fellow employees and were reminded of skills they had learned in previous employment experiences.

“[The courses] are a really valuable tool that they are going to be able to put into their toolbox when they graduate the Grace Kitchen program and move into their next career. It’s a lightbulb moment for them, and it is truly foundational,” Lorraine said.

Scholarships for professional growth

Enrolling in the CSE course with Cougar Tracks costs approximately $250 per person, which can add up quickly for an organization like Grace Kitchen, which relies on donations and grants for 75% of their annual operating budget. Fortunately, the employees were funded through scholarships provided by Visit Tri-Cities, created in partnership with the cities of Pasco, Richland, and Kennewick to enhance professional growth in the community.

Hector Cruz, vice president of development and community engagement at Visit Tri-Cities, explained that the scholarships are crucial in funding opportunities for small businesses to retain their employees.

“Our local businesses need as many resources as they can get, and this program really going to help them keep those employees, stay open, and help them get more revenue,” he said.

Continuing to collaborate

Grace Kitchen is setting the bar for what is possible in collaboration with ���سԹ�, and plans are already in the works to continue educating women in need. A workshop based on the CSE course is being planned and will soon be available for Grace Kitchen employees so the women will have opportunities to further apply what they learned in group exercises and discussions.

Hrycauk Nassif emphasized that the passion and dedication shown by the employees of Grace Kitchen exemplified the profound impact of both organizations’ shared mission of community success.

“At ���سԹ�, we see firsthand how empowering women through education and skill-building can ignite lasting change,” she said. “Within the Tri-Cities community, the Cougar Pride is so strong- once a Coug always a Coug. Now those women are in that community, when they may not have otherwise had that opportunity.”

There are currently ten Cougar Tracks courses available for individuals to enroll in, covering a range of subjects.

The ���سԹ� School of Engineering & Applied Sciences has just launched the December 2023 edition of the newsletter Momentum.

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities is offering workforce training opportunities under an expanded professional development learning program with initial collaboration offered by the City of Richland, Port of Benton, and Visit Tri-Cities.��

The courses in these certificate programs are designed for professionals at varying levels, including entry level workers, early-career supervisors, mid-level employees and managers, and business owners across organizations and industries. Professionals in non-business roles such as healthcare and those without an undergraduate or business degree can also benefit. Designed to enhance professional growth, these courses develop skillsets for an ever-changing workforce landscape.��

Joan Giese, associate professor of marketing and director of Lifelong Learning at ���سԹ� Carson College of Business said, “The over-arching goal of these programs is to offer a professional development pathway to prepare, upskill and reskill employees. For employers, this program can help enhance employee experience, satisfaction and retention while resulting in organization-wide growth and stability.”����

“These courses offer a practical resource that can quickly address worker training and growth in a constantly evolving economy,” said Miles Thomas, director of economic development and government affairs at the Port of Benton. “Effective career skills result in job fulfillment, recruitment and promotion that the Port sees as a clear nexus for community investment.”

“Many of our hospitality related businesses are struggling to find and retain qualified candidates to support the services they provide. The courses offered under this program will help strengthen the industry and the visitor experience and will improve job satisfaction for tourism professionals,” said Kim Shugart, senior vice president of Visit Tri-Cities. “We appreciate the funding we received from the City of Richland through their Business License Reserve program which allowed us to participate.”����

Each course has been designed interactively with industry professionals starting with a needs assessment, development of topics and outcomes and finally testing the course. This fall, three professional development certificates will be offered: Wine Tasting Room Server certificate, Fundamentals of Business certificate, and Cultivating Service Excellence certificate. These certificate courses are delivered entirely online and can be completed whenever convenient. In addition, a course specifically designed for managers or owners, Financial Well-Being of the Organization, is scheduled for fall. This course will be delivered online with scheduled live training sessions and organization-specific application activities. Other courses specific to wine business and senior living are also offered.����

Individuals or businesses interested in career advancement can view upcoming course offerings and register through the Washington State University Tri-Cities website.

Scholarships for specific courses and series will be offered throughout the year by partner organizations. To determine eligibility and apply for scholarships as they are offered, please .��Public and private organizations are invited and encouraged to join the initial group in extending workforce benefits by contacting Joan Giese at joan.giese@wsu.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Leslie Streeter, Office of Marketing and Communication, (509) 372-7333,��leslie.streeter@wsu.edu

The ���سԹ� School of Engineering & Applied Sciences has just launched the first edition of the newsletter Momentum. It will be distributed biannually to students, campus, professional societies, alumni and communities to communicate accomplishments to date and goals for the future.

RICHLAND, WA – Washington River Protection Solution’s (WRPS) and Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities have partnered to build a diverse workforce by establishing a robust cooperative work experience program (Co-Op Program) that will prepare students to be the next generation employees for WRPS. The collaboration provides both academic and professional opportunities for growth and development while helping selected students build the skills necessary for full-time employment with WRPS post-graduation. As part of the partnership, WRPS donated $250,000 to ���سԹ� to fund program costs.

Anna Plemons, associate vice chancellor academic and student affairs at ���سԹ� said, “I am very excited to see this program develop because, as a career-oriented campus, it is foundational to what we do. Many students choose ���سԹ� because they want to stay local to earn their degree. This program fits perfectly with that desire because it connects them with career experience and future job opportunities in our region.”

Up to 10 students, who have junior, senior or graduate status during the next academic year, will receive full-time summer employment and continue working part time during the school year in their chosen fields.

A ���سԹ� program coordinator and WRPS managers and mentors will closely monitor the development of co-op participants to ensure sufficient progress is taking place, both academically and professionally.

The 2022-2023 cohort consists of six students studying in the following academic programs: computer science (2), mechanical engineering (1), electrical engineering (1), civil engineering (1), and environmental and ecosystems sciences (1). All students will begin this summer and continue through at least one full academic year. Applications will open again so that all 10 spots can be filled.

Colby Morris, one of the students selected to participate in the 2022-2023 cohort says the best part about the program so far has been the opportunity to meet and interact with people who have years of experience in the field. “This internship has significantly increased my ability to see what real world coding is. Here I have had the ability to see what people are really programming and how I can apply it to my schooling,” he said.

Another student in the cohort, Omar De La Mora said, “This is making a great deal of a difference. Being able to gain real-world experience on what happens on a day-to-day basis changes your perspective on what to focus on during school.” He is looking forward to the flexibility the program allows him to have while attending ���سԹ�, as well as the possibility of a full-time position after graduation.

Additionally, two students not part of the cohort were offered full-time positions at WRPS. Both students are women of color who have, or will soon, wrap up their graduate programs in computer science and engineering and technology management.

To learn more about the WRPS/WSU Co-Op program contact Laura Sanchez, director of student services: laura.sanchez1@wsu.edu�� (509) 372-7660

MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Leslie Streeter, Office of Marketing and Communication, (509) 372-7333,��leslie.streeter@wsu.edu