ILR Directory

Tom Willett is the Director of Management Development Programs for the Cornell University ILR School in New York City.  His current responsibilities include oversight and direction of the Management Development training series, certificate curricula and special learning events.  He also develops and teaches a number of workshops, and consults with client organizations regarding their staff development initiatives.  He joined Cornell ILR in 1996 as a coordinator of the on-site Management training series and adjunct instructor.

In his 17 years' experience in various industries prior to joining Cornell ILR, Tom managed enterprises and departments in retail, engineering, shipping, manufacturing and design.  He has opened franchises, launched successful entrepreneurial ventures, earned two patents, and had his firm acquired in the M&A frenzy of the late '80s.  Tom's work with clients draws from his own experience in a variety of managerial roles and industries, and from over ten years in training supervisors and managers.  Although Tom has experience in management positions from supervisor to director, his preferred area of research and training is front-line management, and developing skill sets for increasing productivity and resolving day-to-day managerial difficulties.  He currently develops and facilitates workshops in Supervisory Skills, Behavior-Based Interviewing, Employee Performance, Organizational Vision/Strategy, and Project Management. 

Tom holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and has completed Master of Science coursework in Quality Assurance and Service Delivery.  He continues to research management issues in the workplace, focusing on clarifying linkages between culture, performance, leadership behaviors and organizational productivity.

Instructional Design & Training:

Classroom-based -

1. "Vision & Organizational Performance" (MD381)
2. "The Basic Tools of Project Management" with Tom Horvath (MD142)
3. "Managing Employee Performance" with Ron Katz (MD201)

Distance-learning -

1. "Overcoming Barriers to Successful Management" with Tony Panos (eCornell Course ILRMD503)
2. "Leading People to Higher Performance" with Tony Panos (eCornell Course ILRMD504)
3. "Managing Performance" with Cathy Gibson & Ron Katz (eCornell Course ILRMD511)