Alignment Through Facilitation: Montana’s Work-Based Learning Collaborative
How Do You Turn a One-Time Retreat Into a Multi-Year Strategic Effort?
Client: Reach Higher Montanta
Services: Strategic Planning, System Design, Meeting & Retreat Facilitation
Focus Areas: Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning, Workforce Development, K-12 & Postsecondary Education
Facilitation as a Catalyst for Strategy
In Montana, momentum was building around apprenticeship and work-based learning programs—but there wasn’t yet a shared space for stakeholders to align on strategy or coordinate efforts. Reach Higher Montana, a program of the Montana Higher Education Student Assistance Corporation, saw the potential to do more. They turned to Kinetic West to help bring people together, design a path forward, and build the foundation for a long-term statewide initiative.
What started as a single retreat evolved into a lasting work-based learning collaborative thanks to intentional facilitation and structured strategic planning.
► Groundwork Before the Gathering: To maximize the impact of the first retreat in 2021, we gathered insights ahead of time—conducting surveys with participants to clarify shared priorities and guide agenda development.
► Agenda Design That Drives Action: We co-created a retreat agenda with Reach Higher Montana focused on clarity, flow, and results. It featured sharp discussion prompts, intentional pacing, and time for deep thinking and collaboration.
► Inclusive, Adaptive Formats: Our facilitation included a range of formats to meet different thinking styles—such as “think, pair, share” exercises and structured breakout discussions—to ensure every voice was heard.
► Real-Time Input, Real-Time Adaptation: We used live polling to surface insights and quickly adapt the conversation in the room, encouraging broad engagement and responsive facilitation.
►Ongoing Communication & Convening: Rather than treating the retreat as a one-and-done event, we supported quarterly meetings and returned each year to lead annual retreats. This ongoing structure became the backbone for deeper collaboration and long-term planning.
Our Approach
Kinetic West’s approach helped catalyze the Montana Work-Based Learning Collaborative—a coalition of education, workforce, and industry leaders united by a shared vision where:
Every young adult in Montana will have multiple pathways to economic self-sufficiency, supported by a statewide work-based learning system that honors the potential of students and addresses the workforce needs of Montana business today and tomorrow.
With this vision in mind, Kinetic West:
✔ Facilitated the development of a 3-year strategic plan that identified system-level priorities and gaps
✔ Created a trusted space for diverse stakeholders to align and collaborate
✔ Sustained momentum through quarterly meetings and annual retreats that build on each other year over year
Why It Matters
Strategic planning often starts with a single conversation. With the right structure and facilitation, it can lead to something much bigger. Through our work with Reach Higher Montana, Kinetic West helped spark a statewide movement toward better, more coordinated work-based learning.
Let’s Talk
Looking to bring focus and momentum to your organization’s next phase? Let’s talk about how strategic facilitation can catalyze meaningful planning and collaboration. Email avery@kineticwest.com to learn more.