NFPA Executive Leadership Program
Conducted in partnership with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Program Overview
The National Fluid Power Association’s Executive Leadership Program (NELP), delivered in partnership with the world-class faculty of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, is designed to prepare emerging leaders to assume enterprise-level leadership roles. Participants engage in an intensive, practice-based learning experience that builds strategic capacity, expands influence, and strengthens the network of rising executives across the industry.
Program Goals
- Expand strategic thinking and enterprise-level business acumen
- Strengthen leadership presence, sound judgment, and influence
- Accelerate readiness for full P&L and organizational responsibility
- Deepen cross-functional and cross-company collaboration across the fluid power industry
Key Program Features
- Eight executive learning sessions over one year with hands-on application
- Instruction from Kellogg faculty and top industry thought leaders
- A different industry CEO guest speaker at each session
- Personalized leadership coaching to support individual growth
- Action planning after each session for real-time application
- End-of-course paper integrating key concepts and growth
- Rotating learning partners to deepen and expand connections
- Interaction dinners with past NELP fellows at NFPA events
- Structured peer dialogue and curated cohort networking
Nomination Information
This program is ideal for emerging or senior leaders who are developing or poised to take on enterprise-wide responsibility. To nominate a candidate for NELP, contact Eric Lanke at elanke@nfpa.com or (414) 778-3351.
Program Cohorts and Additional Information
Fourth Cohort launches in January 2026 and graduates in November 2026.
Third Cohort launched in August 2024 and graduated in June 2025.
Second Cohort launched in July 2022 and graduated in June 2024.
First Cohort launched in February 2020 and graduated in August 2021.
Fourth Cohort launches in January 2026 and graduates in November 2026.
Planned Schedule of Sessions
| Session | Dates | Location | Content (Faculty) | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Virtual |
Intro to Program (Fred Harburg) Spotlight (NELP Fellows) Building a Network (Fred Harburg) Who Helped Me Grow and How (Jeff Hand, ROSS Controls) |
Complete AJIL and submit Flight Plan 1 to Partner 1 and Fred Harburg Complete Core Ethos and submit to Partner 1 and Fred Harburg Create Spotlight - My Life Path and My Company Read Chapter One of Peter Rea's eBook Support Calls: 1 with Partner 1 before 2/16 |
| 2 | Feb 16-17, 2026 |
NFPA Annual Conference Ritz-Carlton New Orleans New Orleans, LA |
Spotlight (NELP Fellows) Executive Foundations (Fred Harburg) Culture, Values and Virtues (Peter Rea) My Company Culture, Values and Virtues (Keith Simons, OEM Controls) |
Amend Flight Plan 1 based on Culture, Values and Virtues content Support Calls: 3 with Partner 1 before 4/16 |
| 3 | April 16, 2026 | Virtual |
Spotlight (NELP Fellows) Implementation Update (NELP Fellows) Leader as Coach (Fred Harburg) How I Grow Talent in My Company (Tom Hunter, Husco) |
Partner Implementation/Success report Flight Plan 1 Amend Flight Plan 1 to include Coaching Others Support Calls: 1 with Partner 1 and 1 with Partner 2 before 5/20 |
| 4 | May 20-21, 2026 |
Kellogg Global Hub Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
Spotlight (NELP Fellows) The Strategic Cascade (Matt Ranen) Frictionless Implementation (Loran Nordgren) How I Make Strategy Stick (Jim Kaas, IFP Motion Solutions) |
Create Flight Plan 2 based on Strategic Cascade and Frictionless Implementation content Support Calls: 1 with Partner 1 and 3 with Partner 2 before 7/16 |
| 5 | July 16, 2026 | Virtual |
Spotlight (NELP Fellows) Implementation Update (NELP Fellows) Leading When the Sky Is Falling (Fred Harburg) How I Handle Hard Times (Marc Weston, Applied Industrial Technology) |
Partner Implementation/Success Report Flight Plan 2 Support Calls: 1 with Partner 1 and 1 with Partner 3 before 8/16 |
| 6 | August 16-17, 2026 |
NFPA Industry & Economic Outlook Conference Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Oak Brook, IL, AZ |
Spotlight (NELP Fellows) Financial Acumen (Marion Powers) Strategic Negotiation (Leigh Thompson) What I've Learned About Negotiating (Industry Exec) |
Create Flight Plan 3 based on Financial Acumen and Strategic Negotiation content Support Calls: 3 with Partner 3 and 1 with Partner 1 before 10/15 |
| 7 | October 15, 2026 |
Virtual |
Spotlight (NELP Fellows) Implementation Update (NELP Fellows) Influence for Impact (Fred Harburg) How I Learned to Make an Impact (Industry Exec) |
Partner Implementation/Success Report Flight Plan 3 Support Calls: 1 with Partner 2 and 1 with Partner 1 before 11/18 |
| 8 | November 18-19, 2026 |
Kellogg Global Hub Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
Spotlight (NELP Fellows) Presenting with Presence (Heather Barnes) Change Management (David Schonthal) What I've Learned About Getting Things Done (Jon Goreham, QCC) |
Create Flight Plan 4 based on Presenting with Presence and Change Management content Support Calls: 1 with Partner 2 and 1 with Partner 1 before XX/XX |
Each in-person session will begin with a networking dinner on the first program date and conclude before dinner on the second program date.
Confirmed Participants (as of November 25, 2025)
- Thomas Behrens, Stauff Corporation
- Jessica Bratzel, FORCE America
- Jeff Caldwell, Fluidyne Fluid Power
- Jainil Chikani, Bucher Hydraulics
- Elexus Comyne, National Fluid Power Association
- Nicole Farrell, Fluidyne Fluid Power
- Cory Fisher, Sun Hydraulics
- John Halwix, Anchor Harvey
- Kyle Hrodey, Husco
- Brian Mallory, Hydraulic Controls
- Ali Mohammed, QCC
- Andy Schneider, Auburn Gear
- Harvinderjit Singh, Hydraulic Controls
- Matt Stahr, Brennan Industries
Cost: Tuition for entire program is $18,000 per participant. Second participants from the same company are $9,000.
Third Cohort launched in August 2024 and graduated in June 2025.
Completed Schedule of Sessions
| Session | Dates | Location | Content | Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 11-12, 2024 |
NFPA Industry & Economic Outlook Conference Westin Chicago Northwest Itasca, IL |
Executive Foundations (Leader as Coach; Executive Judgment) | Fred Harburg |
| 2 | Oct 13-14, 2024 |
Kellogg Allen Center Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
Strategy & Execution (Strategic Frameworks; Operational Excellence) |
Matt Ranen Loren Nordgren |
| 3 | Dec 11-12, 2024 |
Kellogg Global Hub Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
Strategic Negotiation (Working with Attorneys and Third-Party Neutrals; Team-on-Team Integrative Negotiation Case) | Nour Kteily |
| 4 | Feb 24-25, 2025 |
NFPA Annual Conference Loews Ventana Canyon Tucson, AZ |
Cultivating Culture, Values and Virtues (A Value Based Leader; A Value Based Culture) |
Peter Rea |
| 5 | Apr 16-17, 2025 |
Kellogg Wieboldt Hall Northwestern University Chicago, IL |
Presentations with Presence (Presenting for Impact; Executive Presence) |
Steve Franconeri Kate LeVan |
| 6 | Jun 25-26, 2025 |
Kellogg Global Hub Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
Leading Under Pressure (Leading in a VUCA World; Thriving in Challenge) |
Richard Jolly Fred Harburg |
Each session will begin with a networking dinner the night before the program date, and conclude before dinner of the program date.
Participants
- Michael Biancamano, Bosch Rexroth
- Mazharul Hoque, Bucher Hydraulics
- Jason Yu, Bucher Hydraulics
- Joe Dzierwa, Helios Technologies
- Kyle Ballweg, Husco
- Jason Greenwood, Husco
- Chase Saylor, HYDAC
- Dave Tengler, Hydrotech
- Chandlar Armstrong, IFP Motion Solutions
- Tim Gale, Linde Hydraulics
- Stephanie Scaccianoce, NFPA
- Martin Halwix, New Dimensions Precision Machining
- Josh Wilson, QCC
- Shawn Moore, ROSS Controls
- Louis Tisch, ROSS Controls
- Andy Gray, Scanreco
Second Cohort launched in July 2022 and graduated in June 2024.
Completed Schedule of Sessions
| Session | Dates | Location | Content | Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 15, 2022 |
NFPA Industry & Economic Outlook Conference Westin Chicago Northwest Itasca, IL |
Executive Foundations (Leader as Coach; Executive Judgment | Fred Harburg |
| 2 | Feb 13, 2023 |
NFPA Annual Conference Ojai Valley Inn Ojai, CA |
Strategy & Execution (Strategic Frameworks; Operational Excellence |
Matt Ranen Achal Bassamboo |
| 3 | May 8, 2023 |
Kellogg Allen Center Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
Strategic Negotiation (Working with Attorneys and Third Party Neutrals; Team-on-Team Integrative Negotiation Case) |
Alyson Carrel Leigh Thompson |
| 4 | Aug 14, 2023 |
NFPA Industry & Economic Outlook Conference Westin Chicago Northwest Itasca, IL |
Presentations with Presence (Presenting for Impact; Executive Presence) |
Steven Franconeri Brooke Vuckovic |
| 5 | Feb 26, 2024 |
NFPA Annual Conference Waldorf Astoria Orlando Orlando, FL |
Cultivating Culture, Values and Virtues (A Value Based Leader; A Value Based Culture) | Peter Rea |
| 6 | May 13, 2024 |
Kellogg Allen Center Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
Leading Under Pressure (Leading in a VUCA World; Thriving in Challenge) |
Michelle Buck Fred Harburg |
Participants
- Pete Alles, National Fluid Power Association
- Dustin Brooks, OPS Controls
- Carlos Cano, Sun Hydraulics
- Tim Dolan, Husco
- Joshua Dresher, Enovation Controls
- Kyle Gerhardstein, Parker Hannifin
- Bill Heath, Bosch Rexroth
- Marcus Herrera, HYDAC
- Ben Holter, Husco
- Bernd Hunger, IC-Fluid Power
- Kristen Lasecki, ROSS Controls
- David Price, QCC
- Ryan Schenk, Stauff
- David Stevenson, Bucher Hydraulics
- Edgar Torres, Bucher Hydraulics
- Adam Vogts, IFP Motion Solutions
First Cohort launched in February 2020 and graduated in August 2021.
Completed Schedule of Sessions
| Session | Dates | Location | Content | Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 10-11, 2020 |
NFPA Annual Conference Mandarin Oriental Miami Miami, FL |
Core Ethos (The Reason for Leading; Good Judgement for a Change) | Fred Harburg |
| 2 | Jun 2, 5, 9, 11, 2020 | Virtual | Strategy & Execution (Strategic Innovation; Operational Excellence) |
Paul, Earle Achal Bassamboo |
| 3 | Aug 24-25, 2020 | Virtual | Negotiation (Building Collective Understanding & Leveraging Knowledge Across Teams; Collaboration Among Internal Business Units: Negotiating with Colleagues; Strategies for Maximizing Economic and Relational Value with Colleagues and Co-Workers; Teaming Across Geographies and Functions) | Leigh Thompson |
| 4 | Feb 22-23, 2021 | Virtual | Leading with Virtue (Leadership Perspectives; The Business Case for Virtue/Integrating Virtue into Daily Operations) |
Steve Myers Peter Rea |
| 5 | May 10-11, 2021 | Virtual | Leading with Vision and Purpose (Leading in Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) Environments; Leading with Vision and Purpose: What's Your Story) |
Bernie Banks Michelle Buck |
| 6 | Aug 16, 2021 |
NFPA Industry & Economic Outlook Conference Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort Oak Brook, IL |
Economics & Marketing (Macrotrends Impacting Business; The Future of Marketing) |
Sergio Rebelo Mohan Sawhney |
Participants
- Lane Boger, Comer Industries
- Bill Clippard, Clippard Instrument Laboratory
- Brandon Coursey, Sun Hydraulics
- Dan Covel, Hydra-Power Systems
- Christian Eitel, Bucher Hydraulics
- John Falcon, ROSS Controls
- Rob Fuller, Husco
- Nicholas Hajewski, Bimba/IMI Precision
- Bill Haley, FORCE America
- Raffa Invrea, Continental Hydraulics
- Michael Lashure, Auburn Gear
- Tim Multerer, HAWE Hydraulik
- Tom Nicholson, GS Global Resources
- Mark Paxton, Hansa-Flex USA
- Corey Quinnell, Husco
- Katrina Schwarz, National Fluid Power Association
- Shawn Scott, Stauff Corporation
- Mark Snyder, Festo
- Richard Tatum, Cross Company
- Joel Tjepkes, Aggressive Hydraulics
- Brian Tritle, IFP Motion Solutions
- David Verhoff, JARP Industries
- Tom Walendzewicz, QCC