Christopher K. Grady
Dynamic Leadership Portfolio
Northern Illinois University MPA Candidate | Construction Engineer
Mission & Vision
Guiding purpose and future aspirations
Mission
Be a leader that leads by example, enabling others to act and reach their maximum potential.
Vision
Create an atmosphere where leaders strengthen other leaders through mutual accountability and performance metrics.
About Me
Raised in a large family from Bellwood and Naperville, IL—with 6 siblings and over 30 cousins—family has shaped my core values and driven my commitment to public service in underrepresented communities.
My passion for clean drinking water began during my Environmental Studies research at North Central College and has grown through 3.5 years as a construction inspector at an engineering firm. I currently serve municipal clients by overseeing capital improvement projects, acting as a liaison between public works staff and contractors while managing resident communications, detour planning, and water/sewer infrastructure inspections.
I'm pursuing my MPA with an emphasis on local government management at Northern Illinois University, where leadership-focused training and group exercises have already proven invaluable. Looking ahead, I aim to transition into securing governmental grants and loans for municipal projects while developing expertise in public finance and municipal budgeting.
Leadership Philosophy
Core beliefs that guide my leadership approach
"Followership is a process whereby an individual or individuals accept the influence of others to accomplish a common goal."
— Northouse (2023)
My Interpretation: Lead well by following well. Before we could even attempt to be leaders, we were followers influenced by someone else. Authentic leadership is a core belief of my leadership—to be my true best self in every situation.
Enable Others to Act
Bring out the best in others, building them up rather than tearing them down
Challenge the Process
Push against the status quo, creating opportunities that wouldn't exist if we settled for the norm
Model the Way
Be clear about values which helps perform better in difficult times
Encourage the Heart
Instill the highest level of self-confidence in peers to accomplish great things
Leadership Assessments
Self-evaluation and professional assessment results
THE DiSC® MODEL
Your dot location and style are shown below, along with information on what people with different DiSC styles often value in the workplace.
Dominance
Cares about:
- Making quick progress
- Pushing through obstacles
Conscientiousness
Cares about:
- Getting things right
- Maintaining high standards
Influence
Cares about:
- Building strong relationships
- Being part of exciting new ventures
Steadiness
Cares about:
- Creating a harmonious environment
- Being a good teammate
DiSC Assessment
CD StyleC style (Conscientious): skeptical and reflective. D style (Dominant): active and skeptical. Motivated by success, knowledge, and attention to quality.
Insight: Drawn to positions with freedom to ensure things get done correctly. Growth area: building trust to allow team members to assist in the change-making process.
LPI-Self (Leadership Practices Inventory)
Enable Others to ActKouzes & Posner's assessment of the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership measuring frequency of leadership behaviors.
Insight: Strongest in Enabling Others to Act and Challenging the Process. Goal is to be a leader who brings out the best in others, equipping them with tools for meaningful change.
Authentic Leadership Assessment
High AlignmentNorthouse's four components: self-awareness, internalized moral perspective, balanced processing, and relational transparency.
Insight: Leadership style is the sum of all lived experiences. Skills and behaviors are transferable across different groups and contexts.
360-Degree Feedback Analysis
Development FocusMulti-rater feedback emphasizing self-awareness, transparency, and accountability for leadership growth.
Insight: Key insight: Nothing is hidden between member and leader. Heightened self-awareness helps recognize blind spots and implement necessary changes.
Leadership Experience Timeline
Journey of leadership development
Construction Engineer
Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers
Provides construction observation for infrastructure projects including lead service line replacement across Illinois municipalities. Overseen replacement of 1,400+ lead service lines.
MPA Graduate Student
Northern Illinois University
Master of Public Administration with specialization in Local Government Management
Water Operator In Training
Village of Montgomery Public Works
Water main distribution, treatment plant operations, IEPA compliance testing, and community boil order communications
Student Union President
North Central College
Managed payroll for musical bands, negotiated contracts, and created collaborative team atmosphere
Forensics Team Member
North Central College
National Novice Champion in Program Oral Interpretation, Duo Performance, and Informative Speaking. Traveled nationally sharing speeches on current events and social change.
Men's Track & Field Athlete
North Central College
Competed amongst nationally ranked athletes, maintained conference and national titles through consistent preparation
Security Officer
Rush Copley Medical Center
Protect safety of patients, guests, and medical staff while securing hospital facilities
SWOT Analysis
Situational self-assessment
Strengths
- National Champion public speaker - exceptional communication skills
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) - can serve diverse communities
- Hands-on public works and infrastructure experience
- Multiple technical certifications (IDOT, HMA, Nuclear Density)
- Leadership experience as Student Union President
- Environmental Studies background with sustainability focus
Weaknesses
- Limited direct municipal management experience
- Developing financial/budgeting expertise
- Building broader professional network in public administration
- Balancing graduate studies with full-time work demands
Opportunities
- Growing infrastructure investment nationwide (IIJA funding)
- High demand for bilingual public administrators
- MPA program expanding leadership competencies
- Baxter & Woodman exposure to multiple municipalities
- Lead service line replacement expertise increasingly valuable
Threats
- Competitive market for local government management positions
- Economic uncertainty affecting municipal budgets
- Aging infrastructure requiring continuous learning
- Political changes impacting environmental regulations
SMART Goals
Strategic objectives for leadership growth
Model the Way: Be Clear About My Values
30%Share values upfront with groups before busywork begins, creating transparency from the start
Implement value-sharing in 3+ team settings; receive feedback from team members
Can begin immediately in current role and MPA cohort
Aligned with Kouzes & Posner - helps perform better in difficult times
Establish habit within 6 months
Inspire a Shared Vision: Equitable Sharing of Responsibilities
40%Create group dynamics where no one feels like they're drowning from doing it alone
Implement individual contribution model supporting team objectives in 2+ projects
Direct application in current construction team leadership
As Kouzes & Posner say: 'Your side of the boat is sinking' affects everyone
Within next 12 months
Encourage the Heart: Build Team Confidence
25%Set up recurring meetings to assess contributions, compliment progress, and offer constructive advice
Establish bi-monthly check-ins with team members; track feedback given
Builds on existing relationships at Baxter & Woodman
Instill highest level of self-confidence in peers to accomplish great things
Implement system within 3 months
Complete MPA in Local Government Management
25%Earn Master of Public Administration degree from Northern Illinois University
Maintain strong GPA, complete capstone project, graduate
Currently enrolled while working full-time
Foundation for transition to municipal management career
By 2027
Leadership Action Plan
Roadmap for achieving leadership goals
Model the Way: Values Clarity
Immediate - 6 months
- Share values upfront with groups before getting into busywork and task accomplishment
- Be transparent from the beginning so others can hold me accountable
- Entrust leaders in various groups to call me out if not aligned with stated values
- Document values and share with MPA cohort and work team
- Bi-monthly check-ins to assess alignment between stated values and actions
Inspire Shared Vision: Team Dynamics
6 - 12 months
- Create group dynamics allowing equitable sharing of responsibilities
- Ensure no one person feels like they're drowning from doing it all alone
- Implement individual contribution model supporting team objectives
- Apply the 'both sides of the boat' principle to project teams
- Check-ins to assess workload distribution and team morale
Encourage the Heart: Confidence Building
Ongoing
- Set up recurring meetings with team members
- Adequately assess results of contributions
- Compliment team members on what is going well
- Offer constructive advice on ways to improve
- Let people know in word and deed that I am confident they can achieve great things
Guiding Values & Principles
Core values that shape my leadership
Followership Before Leadership
"Before we could even attempt to be leaders, we were followers influenced by someone else." - Northouse
Understanding why leaders exist - because of followers. Leadership is earned through serving others first.
Enable Others to Act
"My goal as a leader is not to be highly revered... I aim to be a leader who brings out the best in others."
If people are amazed by my accomplishments, I hope they recognize their own power to achieve even greater things.
Both Sides of the Boat
"It does not work for two people in a fishing boat to say 'your side is sinking, but my side looks fine.'" - Kouzes & Posner
Creating group dynamics where responsibilities are shared equitably and no one drowns alone.
Authentic Leadership
"Self-awareness, internalized moral perspective, balanced processing, and relational transparency." - Northouse
Show up the same for others each time. Leadership style is the sum of all lived experiences.
Confidence in Others
"You cannot realize the highest level of performance unless you let people know you are confident they can attain it." - Kouzes & Posner
Instilling self-confidence in peers through words and deeds, recognizing and celebrating their contributions.
Leadership Growth Reflection
Insights from my leadership journey
My definition of leadership has changed significantly through this course, moving toward understanding followership. I minored in leadership, ethics, and values as an undergraduate but never heard about the principle of followership until now. This understanding has reinforced why leaders exist in the first place—because of followers. The practices I resonate with most are challenging the process and enabling others to act. I have benefited from behaviors that push against the status quo, creating opportunities I might not have had if I settled for the norm. My goal is not to be highly revered or seen as a spectacle; instead, I aim to be a leader who brings out the best in others, building them up rather than tearing them down.
Key Lessons Learned
- •Leadership is a participatory group endeavor, stifled when members try to exert all force alone
- •My DiSC CD style shows I must build trust to allow team members to assist in change-making
- •Truly effective leaders leverage the assistance and contributions of others
- •Skills, tendencies, and behaviors are transferable regardless of context—be authentic
- •The Five Practices (especially Enable Others to Act and Challenge the Process) shaped my growth
Future Commitments
- •Be clear about my values upfront so others can hold me accountable
- •Create equitable sharing of responsibilities so no one drowns alone
- •Set up recurring meetings to assess, compliment, and offer constructive advice
- •Let people know in word and deed that I am confident they can achieve great things
- •Continue developing self-awareness through 360-degree feedback and reflection
Professional Resume
Education, experience, and affiliations
Education
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Northern Illinois University
Expected 2027 • Specialization in Local Government Management
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies
North Central College
May 2022 • Minor in Leadership | Naperville, IL
Experience
Construction Engineer
Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers
- •Provides construction observation services for infrastructure improvement projects across Illinois
- •Overseen replacement of 1,400+ lead service lines using open cut and directional bore methods
- •Ensures adherence to project specifications and maintains quality control standards
- •Coordinates with public works officials to minimize residential impact from construction
- •Proficient in VueWorks administration for efficient project management
- •Projects include Joliet, West Dundee, East Dundee, and Hanover Park water main improvements
Water Operator In Training
Village of Montgomery Public Works, Water Division
- •Assessed water main distribution and treatment plant operations
- •Tested sample water at ion exchange and lime softening plants to meet IEPA guidelines
- •Recorded daily treatment plant readings for water tower level, pressure, and chemical feed rates
- •Issued boil orders to community partners and residents on water quality status
Security Officer
Rush Copley Medical Center
- •Protect the safety of all patients, guests, and medical staff
- •Secure the interior and exterior of the hospital
- •Assist medical staff with transportation of patients