Matt Benge

0000-0002-5358-3233

Assessing the Relationship between Supervisors and Employees

Matthew Benge

Conducting the Needs Assessment #2: Using Needs Assessments in Extension Programming

Matthew Benge and Laura Warner

Fundamentals of Volunteer Orientation

Olivia Caillouet, Jessica Williams, Shelby Atwood, and Matt Benge

We created this fact sheet to assist volunteer managers when creating volunteer orientations for their new volunteers.

Developing a Mentorship Program in Higher Education Institutions

Jonathan M. Orsini, Matthew P. Benge, and Hannah S. Carter

Engaging Millennials in the Workplace

Lauren Headrick Sweeney, Matthew Benge, and Hannah Carter

Am I Ready? Competencies and Skill Sets Needed for Virtual Conference Hosts

Lauri M. Baker and Matt Benge

This new 3-page article is the third publication in the Don't Fake It, Make It! series. Implementing a virtual conference or meeting can be a challenging task. Whether hiring staff or recruiting colleagues to assemble a team, it is necessary to ensure your team is built based on the specific competency needs for hosting a virtual conference or meeting. Written by Lauri M. Baker and Matt Benge, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.

Enhancing Motivation through Work Meaningfulness

Jarred A. Shellhouse, Hannah S. Carter, and Matt P. Benge

Don't Fake It, Make It! Thriving in Virtual Conferences and Meetings

Lauri M. Baker, Matt P. Benge, Anissa Zagonel, Jarred Shellhouse, Cheryl R. Boyer, and Phillip Stokes

Our ways of working, meeting, and networking have become more virtual than ever before. This series dives into the preparation needed to host a successful virtual experience, as well as steps participants can take to get the most benefit from a virtual conference or meeting. This series will also help hosts understand the value of online conferences and meetings and demonstrate how to create engagement in an online format.

Conducting the Needs Assessment #1: Introduction

Matthew Benge, Amy Harder, and Laura Warner

Creating Interest in Learners

Matt Benge and Amy Harder

Conducting the Needs Assessment #4: Audience Motivations, Barriers, and Objections

Laura Warner and Matt Benge

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: ==Special Handling==

Conducting the Needs Assessment #9: The Nominal Group Technique

Mary Bammer, Matt Benge, and Laura Warner

This ninth publication in the Conducting the Needs Assessment series provides an overview of using the nominal group technique (NGT) to conduct a needs assessment. This document defines the scenarios in which the NGT is suitable, describes the steps involved in conducting the NGT, and provides examples of the use of this technique in Extension. Written by Mary Bammer, Matt Benge, and Laura Warner, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication; 5 pp.

Conducting the Needs Assessment #6: Phase 2—Assessment

Matt Benge and Savanna Turner

This is the sixth publication in the Conducting the Needs Assessment series. The assessment phase puts the management plan from the pre-assessment into action to determine the needs of your community. The assessment phase compares the “what is” of the issues to the vision of the “what should be” to understand the magnitude of the needs and their causes (Witkin & Altschuld, 1995).

A Guide for Volunteer Organizations to Assess Risk

Matt Benge

Volunteer organizations help communities in a variety of ways, and volunteers serve in various capacities relating to projects, goals, and tasks. With these varying roles, there are possible risks that volunteers, clients, and the organization can encounter. Risk management is a tool that many volunteer organizations and volunteer leaders should consider when thinking of the safety and protection of their organization and its volunteers. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication provides a brief guide to the risk management model. Written by Matt Benge.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Florida Extension Specialist

Matt Benge, Karlibeth Leitheiser, Saqib Mukhtar, Karla P. Shelnutt, LaToya O’Neal, Maia McGuire, Shannon J. Horrillo, and Peyton N. Beattie

This publication was created to help Florida Extension specialists and their mentors in understanding their roles and responsibilities and the way their expertise fits within the Florida Cooperative Extension Service (FCES). Written by Matt Benge, Karlibeth Leitheiser, Saqib Mukhtar, Karla P. Shelnutt, LaToya O’Neal, Maia McGuire, Shannon J. Horrillo, and Peyton N. Beattie, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, September 2024.

Conducting the Needs Assessment #5: Phase 1—Pre-assessment

Savanna Turner and Matt Benge

This new 5-page publication is the fifth in the Conducting the Needs Assessment series. The preassessment phase, also known as the exploration phase, of conducting a needs assessment includes defining the purpose, identifying existing information, and determining the appropriate methods to conducting the needs assessment. Extension professionals and service providers should complete the preassessment phase prior to conducting the actual needs assessment. Written by Savanna Turner and Matt Benge.

Tapping into Residents’ Perceptions to Diffuse Landscape Water Conservation and Protection Practices

Colby Silvert, Laura Warner, Matt Benge, and John Diaz

This new 4-page article provides real examples of how university researchers used the Diffusion of Innovations theory to analyze Florida residents’ perceptions of landscape conservation and fertilizer behaviors and identify barriers and opportunities to encourage widespread adoption. The information and recommendations are intended for Extension professionals and other practitioners to promote behavior change in household landscaping practices. Written by Colby Silvert, Laura Warner, Matt Benge, and John Diaz and published by the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.

4-H Archery Leader Guide: Basic and Advanced Levels, Ages 8–18 Years

Julia S. Kelly, Matt Benge, and Glenn Israel

The purpose of this guide is to provide a resource for archery leaders that includes reflection, application and evaluation with the activities. Written by Julia S. Kelly, and published by the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program, UF/IFAS Extension, June 2023.

What Is an Extension Program?

Glenn D. Israel, Peyton Beattie, Michelle Atkinson, Melinda Souers, and Matt Benge

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Academic audience(s).

Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory: Instrumentation and Application for Extension Professionals

Christy Chiarelli, Anne Parrish, Megan Cantrell, and Matt Benge

Conflict is inevitable in workplaces among people of all ages. Extension professionals have a unique position where in a single workday they may be engage with youth and volunteers, as well as colleagues and supervisors. Extension professionals may experience conflict with their stakeholders, volunteers, and supervisors; therefore, they must be able to understand conflict and conflict styles to navigate tense situations. The Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory (ROCI) is an instrument that can be used to understand one’s interpersonal conflict management style. By having a strong understanding of conflict components and for utilizing the ROCI tool, Extension professionals can manage conflict well and reduce the likelihood of dysfunctional conflict destroying relationships, teams, and organizations.

Conducting the Needs Assessment #7: Phase 3 — Post-Assessment

Matt Benge

This is the seventh publication in the Conducting the Needs Assessment series. The post-assessment phase, also known as the utilization phase, of conducting a needs assessment includes setting priorities to make informed decisions, creating and considering solutions, communicating results to appropriate audiences, and evaluating the needs assessment used. Extension professionals and service providers should complete the pre-assessment and assessment phases before making recommendations and considering solutions to resolve the identified needs. Written by Matt Benge, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, February 2025.

The Extension Mentor’s Discussion and Action Guide

Karlibeth Leitheiser and Matt Benge

Mentorship is a dynamic, developmental relationship between a mentor and a mentee (Kram, 1983). When the mentoring relationship is first established, it can be difficult to set norms and expectations for both parties. Mentor relationships should be established early in the mentee’s career, and the mentor relationship can benefit both the mentor and the mentee by providing a space for collaboration, learning, and support (Ragins, 1997). This publication provides a detailed discussion and action guide to help Extension mentors form and build their relationship with their mentee.

Recognizing Volunteers: Considerations for Volunteer Organizations and Coordinators

Tyler Carney, Deanna Brock, Kiera Packer, Vivian Rodriguez, and Matt Benge

Volunteers represent a critical population who contribute to nonprofits’ capacity to achieve missions and goals. Volunteers hold various motivations that enable them to pursue their important work. Volunteer coordinators and managers can implement appropriate recognition strategies to meet the motivational needs of their organization’s volunteers. This publication looks at volunteer motivations and relevant recognition strategies. Written by Tyler Carney, Deanna Brock, Kiera Packer, Vivian Rodriguez, and Matt Benge, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, May 2025.

Tailoring Recognition to Fit Your Employees' Needs

Matt Benge

Employee recognition plays a key role in the success and continuity of productivity, efficiency, and organizational change.

Conducting the Needs Assessment #3: Educator Motivations, Barriers, and Objections

Matt Benge

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. Published by ==Special Handling==

Logic Model Basics

Glenn D. Israel, Matt Benge, and Peyton N. Beattie

WC106 explains what logic models are and provides steps for creating a basic logic model.

Using the TOP Model to Measure Program Performance: A Pocket Reference

Amy Harder

Conducting the Needs Assessment #11: Causal Analysis Techniques

Amy Harder

This publication in the Conducting the Needs Assessment series provides Extension educators and other service providers with an introduction to two techniques that can easily be used when seeking information about relationships between causes and needs: fishboning and cause and consequence analysis.

Inclusion of Diverse Learners in the Educational System

Eric D. Rubenstein and Andrew C. Thoron

UF/IFAS Extension Mentoring Roles and Responsibilities

Amy Harder

Guidelines for Writing Quality Impact Statements for Workload and Marketing

Amy Harder and Ruth Borger

Defining and Performing the Functions of Extension Mentors

Amy Harder and Savanna Turner

This new 3-page document provides UF/IFAS Extension faculty serving as formal mentors with information about the three primary functions of a mentor and guidance on how to perform those functions using a mentor calendar. Written by Amy Harder and Savanna Turner and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.

Using Mentoring as a Part of Professional Development

Alexa Lamm and Amy Harder

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by ==Special Handling==

Conducting the Needs Assessment #8: The Borich Model

Olivia Caillouet and Amy Harder

This eighth publication in the Conducting the Needs Assessment series provides Extension professionals and other service providers with directions for how to use the Borich model to collect data about the training needs of a target audience and how to use that data to improve programming. Written by Olivia Caillouet and Amy Harder; published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication; 5 pp.

Determining Program Priorities

Amy Harder

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Priority Competencies Needed by UF/IFAS Extension County Faculty

Amy Harder

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by ==Special Handling==